`
`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
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`
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`
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`15/103,405
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`06/10/2016
`
`Furnio MURAMATSU
`
`OKUDP1047WOUS
`
`6880
`
`03/09/2018 —MARK D. SARALINO (PAN) m
`7590
`51921
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`LEE JR, KENNETH B
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
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`2697
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`03/09/2018
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdocket @rennerott0.c0m
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`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/103,405 MURAMATSU, FUMIO
`
`
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`KENNETH B. LEE JR $2215 2697
`-- 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 CFR1. 136( a).
`after SIX () 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
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`Status
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`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 12/5/2017.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2b)|:l This action is non-final.
`2a)|Z| 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
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4)|:| Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
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`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)IZI Claim(s) 1 3-16 18 21 and 22 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`6)I:I Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
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`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1 3- 16 18 21 and 22is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`hit
`:/'/\W¢W.LISI>I‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
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`
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`h/index.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
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`Application Papers
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`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)I:l The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)I:I 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).
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`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`12)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a)I:l All
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`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
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`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
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`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.
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`Attachment(s)
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`
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`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) D Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) I] InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180306
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`

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

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`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`elastic member (base 140 supports 122, 130 and 131 ; in particular the connectors
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`comprise a damper and intercepts vibrations or impact caused by bending attributable
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`to an external force being applied which reads on applicant’s elastic member, fig. 1,
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`[0053]), wherein the touch panel being supported by the elastic member by way of the
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`vibration transmitting section ([0047], first connector 121 ; [0052], third connectors 122;
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`[0049], second connectors 131).
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`Regarding claim 3, Kim teaches wherein vibration of the vibration transmitting
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`section propagates to the elastic member to vibrate the elastic member, and causes the
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`touch panel supported by the elastic member to vibrate ([0036], fig. 1).
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`Regarding claim 6, Kim teaches wherein at an interval from the touch panel, the
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`vibration transmitting section is disposed on an opposite side of the touch panel from a
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`side thereof to be touched; and the elastic member supports the vibration transmitting
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`section at an opposite side of the vibration transmitting section from the touch panel (fig.
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`1 and accompanying text).
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`Regarding claim 7, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is a piezoelectric
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`element ([0057]).
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`Regarding claim 8, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is disposed at a
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`position closer to a central portion, than to ends, of the vibration transmitting section
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`([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
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`Regarding claim 9, Kim teaches wherein the vibrating section is disposed at a
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`position closer to an antinode, than to nodes, of vibration of the vibration transmitting
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`section ([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`Regarding claim 10, Kim teaches wherein a weight piece is disposed at a
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`position closer to a central portion, than to ends, of the vibration transmitting section
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`([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
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`Regarding claim 11, Kim teaches wherein a weight piece is disposed in a
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`position closer to an antinode, than to nodes, of vibration of the vibration transmitting
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`section ([0058, 0061]; fig. 2).
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`Regarding claim 16, Kim teaches wherein the touch panel is shaped to present a
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`curved surface ([0039]).
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`Regarding claim 18, Kim teaches a display section to display an image ([0035],
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`fig. 1).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`5.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`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.
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`6.
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`Claims 4, 5, 14, 15, 21 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
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`unpatentable over Kim (see above), in view of Jung et al. (hereinafter “Jung”), US Pub.
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`No. 2013/0229088.
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`Regarding claim 4, Kim fails to explicitly teach wherein a resonant frequency of
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`the vibration transmitting section and a resonant frequency of spring-mass system
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`vibration are equal.
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`

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

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`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`However, Examiner takes official notice that this feature is well known (see Park,
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`[0039]; fig. 1) and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate it
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`into Kim.
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`8.
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`Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as
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`applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Woo et al. (hereinafter “Woo”), US Pub.
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`No. 2012/0026103.
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`Regarding claim 13, fails to explicitly teach wherein a resonant frequency of
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`spring-mass system vibration is adjusted by the mass of the weight piece.
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`However, Examiner takes official notice that this feature is well known (see Woo,
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`[0065, 0069—0070]) and would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate
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`it into Kim.
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`Response to Arguments
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`9.
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`Applicant's arguments filed 12/5/2017 have been fully considered but they are
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`not persuasive. Applicant argues that prior art fails to teach wherein the elastic member
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`is supported by a base. Examiner, respectfully, disagrees. According to applicant's
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`specification (see [0041]), the elastic member (or pieces) are described as bearing the
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`masses of the touch panel, the support portions, the diaphragm and the vibrating
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`section to generate vibration of a so-called spring mass system. The specification also
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`states that the positions at which to mount the elastic pieces are not limited to between
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`the diaphragm 203 and the base 500. Therefore, the connectors of the prior art perform
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`the same function of support and vibration generation of applicant's elastic member and
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`the particular location is design choice and the only feature required is elasticity.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`Conclusion
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`10.
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`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
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`policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
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`the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to KENNETH B. LEE JR whose telephone number is
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`(571 )270-3147. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon. - Fri. 7:30AM - 4:00
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`PM EST.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
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`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
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`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/103,405
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Alexander Eisen can be reached on 571-272—7687. The fax phone number
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`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
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`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
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`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
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`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
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`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
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`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272—1000.
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`/KENNETH B LEE JR/
`
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2697
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`