`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www .uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` FILING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO.
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`14/131,847
`
`01/09/2014
`
`Suguru Fujita
`
`734256448USPC
`
`8361
`
`Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`GAUTHIER, STEVEN B
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2893
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`09/24/2015
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`patentinfo @ seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`
` 14/131,847 FUJITA ET AL.
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA(First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2893STEVEN B. GAUTHIER Status
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 9/1/2015.
`L] A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filedon___
`2a)L] This action is FINAL.
`2b)X] This action is non-final.
`3)L] An election was made bythe applicant in responseto a restriction requirementset forth during the interview on
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)L] Sincethis application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordancewith the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)K] Claim(s) 1.3 and 6-8 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)L] Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`7) Claim(s) 1,3 and 6-8 is/are rejected.
`8)L] Claim(s)___ is/are objectedto.
`
`9)L] Claim(s)
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement.
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`nite://www.usoto.dov/patenis/init events/pph/index.isp or send an inquiry to PPHieedback@uspte.dov.
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)KX] The drawing(s)filed on 4/23/2015 is/are: a)>X] accepted or b)[_] objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`a)X] All
`b)[-] Some** c)L] None ofthe:
`1.X] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.L] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`““ See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`
`
`Attachment(s)
`3) TC Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) X Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date.
`;
`;
`Oo Other:
`2) CT] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20150918-A
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,847
`
`Art Unit: 2893
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`1.
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`The present application is being examined under the pre-AlAfirst to invent provisions.
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`Continued Prosecution Application
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`A requestfor continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR
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`1.17(e), wasfiled in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued
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`examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the
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`finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's
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`submission filed on September 1, 2014 has been entered.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`2.
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`The text of those sectionsof Title 35, U.S. Code notincluded in this action can be foundin a prior
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`Office action.
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`3.
`
`Claim 1
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`is rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Desai et al. (U.S.
`
`Patent No. 5,159,535), in view of Watanabeet al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0230824).
`
`
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`4. Regarding claim 1, Desai et al. teaches a wireless module comprisingafirst board (Fig. 1A, 6,
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`Col. 3 line 66 — Col. 4 line 26) on which a mounting component(Fig. 1A, 8, Col. 3 line 66 — Col. 4 line
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`26) of a wireless circuit is mounted (Fig. 1A), a second board (Fig. 1A, 4, Col. 3 line 66 — Col. 4 line
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`26) whichis laminated on thefirst board (Fig. 1A, 6, Col. 3 line 66 — Col. 4 line 26); and a plurality of
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`connecting members(Fig. 1A, 10, Col. 3 line 66 — Col. 4 line 26), each of which is connected to both
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`the first board and the second board (Fig. 1A), and forms a gap allowing mounting of the mounting
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`componentbetweenthe first board and the second board (Fig. 1A).
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`Desai et al. fails to teach one or more dummy connecting members, each of which is
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`connectedto either the first board or the second board, and forms a gap allowing mounting of the
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`mounting component betweenthefirst board and the second board, wherein the plurality of
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`connecting members and one or more dummy connecting membersare arranged at a symmetrical
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`position with respect to a center position of the first board and the second board in a planar
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`direction. Watanabeet al. teaches one or more dummy connecting members(Fig. 4F, 14, 7 [0049]-
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`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,847
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`Art Unit: 2893
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`Page 3
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`[0050]), each of which is connectedto eitherthe first board or the second board ({[0049]-[0050)),
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`and forms a gap allowing mounting of the mounting component betweenthefirst board and the
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`second board (Fig. 4F), wherein the plurality of connecting members (Fig. 11A, 13, 4 [0005]) and
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`one or more dummyconnecting members(Fig. 11A, 14, § [0008]) are arranged at a symmetrical
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`position with respect to a center position of the first board and the second board in a planar
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`direction (Fig. 11A). Watanabe teaches that adding the one or more dummy connecting members
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`reinforces the thermal bending strength of the device (Ff [0008] & [0050]).
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`It would have been obvious to
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`one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to modify the wireless module of Desai et al. with the
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`dummy connecting members of Watanabeetal. in order to achieve the predictable result of reinforcing
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`the thermal bonding strength of the wireless module.
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`5.
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`Claim 3 is rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Desai et al. (U.S.
`
`Patent No. 5,159,535) in view of Watanabeet al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0230824), further in view of Chen
`
`et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0190464).
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`6.
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`Regarding claim 3, Desai et al. in view of Watanabeetal. fail to teach an antenna having one or
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`a plurality of antenna devices are arranged on the second board, and theplurality of connecting
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`members are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center portion in a planar direction of the
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`antenna.
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`Chen et al. teaches an antenna having oneor a plurality of antenna devices(Fig. 45, items
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`104, J [0118] & [0123]) are arranged on the second board (Fig. 45, item 4102, Ff [0118] & [0123)),
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`and theplurality of connecting members(Fig. 45, items 4561, {{ [0118] & [0123]) are arranged
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`symmetrically with respect to a center portion in a planar direction of the antenna (Fig. 45). Chen
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`et al. teaches that adding antennae to modules and arranging them as disclosed allows a steerable
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`radiation pattern array to be made with more ease and less expense ([0002]).
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`It would have been
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`obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to add the antenna of Chen etal. to
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`the module of Desai et al. and Watanabe etal. in order to obtain wireless module which has an antenna,
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`whichis also relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
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`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,847
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`Art Unit: 2893
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`Page 4
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`7.
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`Claim 6 is rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Desai et al. (U.S.
`
`Patent No. 5,159,535) in view of Watanabe et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0230824) and Chen etal. (U.S.
`
`Pub. No. 2010/0190464), further in view of Fumio et al. (JP Pub. No. 72363449).
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`Desai et al., Watanabeet al., and Chen etal. fail to teach at least one of the plurality of
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`connecting membersis different in external dimension from other connecting members.
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`Fumio et al. teaches at least one of the plurality of connecting members(Figs. 1 & 2, item
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`106, J [0021]) is different in external dimension from other connecting members (Figs. 1 & 2, item
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`107, § [0021]). Fumio et al. teaches the use of these differing external dimensions in order to improve
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`connection strength and heat dissipation (FF [0002]-[0003] & [0012]).
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`It would have been cbvious to one
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`with ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the external dimensions of at least one of
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`the connecting members of Desaiet al., Watanabe et al., and Chen et al. as taught by Fumio et al. in
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`order to achieve the predictable result of increased connection strength and heatdissipation.
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`8.
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`Claims 7 & 8 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Desaiet al.
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`(U.S. Patent No. 5,159,535) in view of Watanabeet al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0230824), further in view
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`Suzuki (U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0163919).
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`9.
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`Regarding claim 7, Desai et al. in view of Watanabeetal. fail to teach the plurality of
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`connecting membersinclude a ground connecting member, and the wireless module further
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`comprises: a first wiring pad which is formed on thefirst board or the second board whichis
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`connected to the ground connecting member, and oneor morefirst vias which connectthefirst
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`wiring pad to a groundofthe first board or the second board.
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`Suzuki teaches the plurality of connecting members include a ground connecting member
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`(Figs. 2 & 3, items 30G1, 30G2, 30G3, { [0032]), and the wireless module (Fig. 2) further comprises:
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`a first wiring pad (Fig. 2, items GP, 9 [0030]-[0032]) which is formed onthefirst board (Fig. 2, item
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`3) or the second board(Fig. 2, item 20) which is connected to the ground connecting member
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`(Figs. 2 & 3, items 30G1, 30G2, 30G3, J [0032]), and one or morefirst vias (Fig. 2, items GB,
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`[0030]-[0032]) which connectthefirst wiring pad (Fig. 2, items GP, 4 [0030]-[0032]) to a groundof
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`the first board (Fig. 2, item 3) or the second board (Fig. 2, item 20, Ff [0030]-[0032]). Suzuki teaches
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`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,847
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`Art Unit: 2893
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`Page 5
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`this arrangement of known elements in order to achieve electro-magnetic shielding and isolation for high-
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`frequency applications at a lower cost ({ [0005]).
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`It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in
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`the art at the time of the invention to modify the module of Desaiet al. in view of Watanabe etal. with the
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`arrangement of components as taught by Suzuki in order to obtain the predictable and desirable result of
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`electro-magnetic shielding and isolation at a lower cost.
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`10.
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`Regarding claim 8, Desai et al. in view of Watanabeetal. fail to teach the plurality of
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`connecting members include a connecting member for signal transmission, and the wireless
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`module further comprises: a second wiring pad which is formed on thefirst board or the second
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`board whichis connected to the connecting memberfor signal transmission; and a second via
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`which connects the second wiring pad to a wiring portion of the first board or the second board,
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`wherein atleast a part around the secondvia is surrounded by the morefirst vias.
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`Suzuki teaches the plurality of connecting members include a connecting member for
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`signaltransmission (Figs. 2 & 3, item 3081, J [0032]), and the wireless module further comprises: a
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`secondwiring pad (Fig. 2, item 41, 4 [0031]) which is formed onthefirst board or the second board
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`(Fig. 2, items 3 & 20, JF [0030]-[0031]) which is connected to the connecting memberfor signal
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`transmission (Figs. 2 & 3, items 3081, ¥ [0032]); and a second via (Fig. 2, item 40, § [0031]) which
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`connects the secondwiring pad (Fig. 2, item 41, § [0031]) to a wiring portion (Fig. 2, item 42,
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`[0031]) of the first board or the second board (Fig. 2, items 3 & 20, JJ [0030]-[0031]), wherein at least
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`a part around the secondvia(Fig. 2, item 40, { [0031]) is surrounded by the morefirst vias (Fig. 2,
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`items GB, Ff [0030]-[0032]). Suzuki teaches this arrangement of known elements in order to achieve
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`electro-magnetic shielding and isolation for high-frequency applications at a lower cost (§ [0005]).
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`It
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`would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the
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`module of Desai et al. in view of Watanabeet al. with the arrangement of components as taught by
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`Suzuki in order to obtain the predictable and desirable result of electro-magnetic shielding and isolation at
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`a lower cost.
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`Response to Amendments/Remarks
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/131 ,847
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`Art Unit: 2893
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`Page 6
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`1.
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`Applicant's amendments and argumentsfiled September 1, 2015 with respectto the rejection of
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`claims 1, 3 & 6-8 under 35 USC § 103(a) have been fully considered, and they persuasive. Accordingly,
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`the previous rejections under 35 USC § 103(a) have been withdrawn.
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to STEVEN B. GAUTHIER whosetelephone number is (571)270-0373. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached on M-F: 7:30AM-4PM EST.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Tom
`
`Thomas can be reached on (571) 272-1664. The fax phone number for the organization where this
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`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application
`
`Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from
`
`either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through
`
`Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on accessto the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)
`
`at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative
`
`or accessto the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-
`
`1000.
`
`/STEVEN B GAUTHIER/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2893
`
`/JEROME JACKSON JR/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2815
`
`