`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMlVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`15/103,405
`
`06/10/2016
`
`Furnio MURAMATSU
`
`OKUDP1047WOUS
`
`6880
`
`09/06/2017 —MARK D. SARALINO (PAN) m
`7590
`51921
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`LEE JR, KENNETH B
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`2697
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`09/06/2017
`
`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):
`
`ipdocket @rennerott0.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/103,405 MURAMATSU, FUMIO
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2697KENNETH B. LEE JR $233
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g 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, even if 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)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 6/10/16.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)lX| This action is non-final.
`2a)I:| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:I Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IXI C|aim(s) 1-1618 21 and 22 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`
`1- 16 18 21 and 22 is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`
`
`are subject to 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
` S
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atents/init events) .h/index.‘
`
`
`
`
`
`, or send an inquiry to PRI-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Z| The drawing(s) filed on 6/10/16 is/are: a)lZl accepted or b)I:I 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)IZI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some” c)I:I None of the:
`a)le All
`1.IZI Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.I:I Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in 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) D Interview Summary (PT0_413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`—
`4) I:I Other'
`2) E Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date .
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20170829
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
`
`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use,
`on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claim(s) 1-3, 6-11, 16 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
`
`anticipated by Kim, US Pub. Application No. 2011/0057888.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches an electronic device ([0035], touch screen
`
`device 100) comprising: a touch panel ([0035], touch screen panel 110); a vibration
`
`transmitting section coupled to the touch panel at an interval therefrom ([0035], rigid
`
`body 130); a vibrating section to vibrate the vibration transmitting section ([0046],
`
`vibration units 132 which generate vibrations are provided on the rigid body 130); and
`
`an elastic member supporting the vibration transmitting section and capable of vibrating
`
`responsive to vibration of the vibration transmitting section, wherein the touch panel
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`being supported by the elastic member by way of the vibration transmitting section
`
`([0047], first connector 121 ; [0052], third connectors 122; [0049], second connectors
`
`131).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kim teaches a base supporting the elastic member ([0035],
`
`lower support 140).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Kim teaches wherein vibration of the vibration transmitting
`
`section propagates to the elastic member to vibrate the elastic member, and causes the
`
`touch panel supported by the elastic member to vibrate ([0036], fig. 1).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kim teaches wherein at an interval from the touch panel, the
`
`vibration transmitting section is disposed on an opposite side of the touch panel from a
`
`side thereof to be touched; and the elastic member supports the vibration transmitting
`
`section at an opposite side of the vibration transmitting section from the touch panel (fig.
`
`1 and accompanying text).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is a piezoelectric
`
`element ([0057]).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is disposed at a
`
`position closer to a central portion, than to ends, of the vibration transmitting section
`
`([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
`
`Regarding claim 9, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is disposed at a
`
`position closer to an antinode, than to nodes, of vibration of the vibration transmitting
`
`section ([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`Regarding claim 10, Kim teaches wherein a weight piece is disposed at a
`
`position closer to a central portion, than to ends, of the vibration transmitting section
`
`([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
`
`Regarding claim 11, Kim teaches wherein a weight piece is disposed in a
`
`position closer to an antinode, than to nodes, of vibration of the vibration transmitting
`
`section ([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
`
`Regarding claim 16, Kim teaches wherein the touch panel is shaped to present a
`
`curved surface ([0039]).
`
`Regarding claim 18, Kim teaches a display section to display an image ([0035],
`
`fig. 1).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having
`ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 4, 5, 14, 15, 21 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over Kim (see above), in view of Jung et al. (hereinafter “Jung”), US Pub.
`
`No. 2013/0229088.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kim fails to explicitly teach wherein a resonant frequency of
`
`the vibration transmitting section and a resonant frequency of spring-mass system
`
`vibration are equal.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 5
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`However, Examiner takes official notice that it would have been obvious and well
`
`known to one of ordinary skill in the art as an obvious design choice that would result in
`
`a maximized displacement of the vibrating parts (see Jung, [0150-0151]).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Jung teaches wherein a resonant frequency of the vibration
`
`transmitting section is 50Hz to 200Hz ([0153]).
`
`Regarding claim 14, Kim teaches a weight piece and a support portion coupling
`
`the panel and the vibration transmitting section together (see figs. 1 and 2; [0059-
`
`0060]). Jung teaches a supporting arm (fig. 2, item 135; [0061]).
`
`Regarding claim 15, Jung teaches wherein the vibrating section is disposed on
`
`the arm ([0058]; fig. 3).
`
`Regarding claim 21, Examiner takes official notice that it would have been
`
`obvious and well known to apply the touch screen device in the context of a car
`
`navigation system as well as various other applications according to circumstances.
`
`Regarding claim 22, Examiner takes official notice that it would have been
`
`obvious and well known to one of ordinary skill in the art to determine the specific type
`
`of actuation according to design needs and specifications.
`
`7.
`
`Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as
`
`applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Park et al. (hereinafter “Park”), US Pub.
`
`No. 2013/0328447.
`
`Regarding claim 12, Kim fails to explicitly teach wherein the weight piece is in
`
`contact with the vibration transmitting section in an area which is smaller than an area
`
`occupied by the weight piece at the vibration transmitting section side.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`However, Examiner takes official notice that this feature is well known (see Park,
`
`[0039]; fig. 1) and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate it
`
`into Kim.
`
`8.
`
`Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as
`
`applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Woo et al. (hereinafter “Woo”), US Pub.
`
`No. 2012/0026103.
`
`Regarding claim 13, fails to explicitly teach wherein a resonant frequency of
`
`spring-mass system vibration is adjusted by the mass of the weight piece.
`
`However, Examiner takes official notice that this feature is well known (see Woo,
`
`[0065, 0069-0070]) and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate
`
`it into Kim.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to KENNETH B. LEE JR whose telephone number is
`
`(571)270-3147. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon. - Fri. 7:30AM - 4:00
`
`PM EST.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
`
`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Alexander Eisen can be reached on 571-272—7687. The fax phone number
`
`for the organization where this 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 access to 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 access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272—1000.
`
`/KENNETH B LEE JR/
`
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2697
`
`