`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/785,732
`
`10/17/2017
`
`TOShihikO TSUJIKAWA
`
`PIPMM-58223
`
`3559
`
`759°
`52°“
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
`
`04’16’2020
`
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44114-3108
`
`CAZAN LIVIUS RADU
`
`3729
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/ 1 6/2020
`
`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):
`
`patdoeket@pearne.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`
`
`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/785,732
`Examiner
`LIVIUS R CAZAN
`
`Applicant(s)
`TSUJIKAWA et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`3729
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f 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).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1/3/2020.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) D This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] 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):] 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 Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above Claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) 1 and 3—6 is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s) 2 is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* 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
`
`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentsflnit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`is/are: a)[:| accepted or b)D objected to by the Examiner.
`11):] The drawing(s) filed on
`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)i:i All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.1:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`SD 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)
`
`1) [3 Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200413
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 15/785,732
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Objections
`
`2.
`
`Claim 3 is objected to because ofthe following informalities: In claim 3, lines 2 and 3, it is believed
`
`”board which the board” should read --board, wherein the board--. Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`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.
`
`Claimlsl 1 and 3-6 are reiected under 35 U.S.C. 102lallll as being anticipated by Sakai
`
`lUS7483277l.
`
`5.
`
`Sakai discloses lrefer to Fig. 7 and 10l.
`
`Claim 1. A component mounter (see Fig. 1) configured to perform work related to
`
`component mounting on a board (7) after a mark (7b) provided on a transparent end region of
`
`the board is recognized, the component mounter comprising:
`
`an imaging camera (25) provided with an imaging optical axis extending downwards;
`
`a light emitter (25a) configured to irradiate the end region with illumination light from
`
`above the board in a state where the mark is positioned within an imaging visual field of the
`
`imaging camera; and
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 15/785,732
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 3
`
`a light reflecting member (8) that is provided below the imaging camera and configured
`
`to reflect the illumination light, which is emitted by the light emitter and is
`
`transmitted
`
`downwards through the end region, back to the end region,
`
`wherein the imaging camera is configured to image the mark under the illumination light,
`
`which is reflected by the light reflecting member and is transmitted upwards through the end
`
`region.
`
`Claim 3. The component mounter of Claim 1, wherein the component mounter is
`
`configured to mount a component on the board, wherein the board could be formed of a film
`
`member.
`
`Claim 4. The component mounter of Claim 1, wherein an irradiation optical axis of the
`
`illumination light of the light emitter and the imaging optical axis of the imaging camera are in
`
`parallel with each other and are non-coaxial. See fig 10.
`
`Claim 5. A mounting board manufacturing method for a component mounter that
`
`performs work related to component mounting on a board (7) after a mark provided on a
`
`transparent end region of the board is recognized, the method comprising:
`
`a step of placing the board on the component mounter (see col. 15,
`
`lns. 49-55), the
`
`component mounter having an imaging camera (25) and a light emitter (25a) and a light reflecting
`
`member (8);
`
`a light emission step of emitting illumination light to the end region from above the board
`
`by the light emitter (25a) in a state where the mark (7b) is positioned within an imaging visual
`
`field of the imaging camera (25) provided with an imaging optical axis extending downwards;
`
`a light reflection step (see W12) of reflecting the illumination light (W11), which is emitted
`
`by the light emitter and is transmitted downwards through the end region, back to the end region
`
`by the light reflecting member (8) provided below the imaging camera; and
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 15/785,732
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 4
`
`an imaging step of imaging the mark under the illumination light, which is reflected in the
`
`light reflection step and is transmitted upwards through the end region, by the imaging camera.
`
`Claim 6. The component mounter of claim 1, wherein the light reflecting member is
`
`disposed on a surface of the component mounter (i.e. when the board is loaded).
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`6.
`
`Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1 and 3-6 have been fully considered but they are
`
`not persuasive.
`
`7.
`
`Applicant argues Sakai does not teach a reflecting member as part of the component mounter,
`
`only as part of the jig board.
`
`8.
`
`The examiner respectfully disagrees. At col. 13, Ins. 18-30, Sakai mentions (emphasis added):
`
`Moreover, the electric component mounting apparatus 101 has a mounting accuracy
`
`inspection apparatus (or may have a mounting error detection apparatus). The mounting
`
`accuracy inspection apparatus has an inspection-use jig component 5 exemplifying the
`
`inspection-use component shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. SB and an inspection-use iig board
`
`7 exemplifying the inspection board shown in FIG. 7 prepared, and also includes
`
`component recognition camera 24 and board recognition camera 25 shown in FIG. 2, and
`
`an image processing controller 62, a holding posture recognition section 63, a mounting
`
`position recognition section 64 and a mounting accuracy operation section 73 in the
`
`control device 50 shown in FIG. 4.
`
`9.
`
`It
`
`is clear that Sakai considers jig board 7 part of the mounting inspection apparatus of the
`
`component mounting apparatus 101. The limitations of claims 5 and 6 are also disclosed by Sakai, since
`
`the board 7 is loaded as claimed, but is also considered a part of the apparatus, by Sakai. Therefore, when
`
`the board is loaded, the light reflecting member is disposed on a surface of the component mounter.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`10.
`
`Claim 2 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if
`
`rewritten in independent form including all ofthe limitations ofthe base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 15/785,732
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 5
`
`Conclusion
`
`11.
`
`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth
`
`in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the
`
`mailing date of this action.
`
`In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of
`
`this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened
`
`statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed,
`
`and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory
`
`action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the
`
`mailing date of this final action.
`
`12.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to LIVIUS R CAZAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8032. The examiner can normally
`
`be reached on Monday - Friday noon-8:30pm.
`
`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.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Peter
`
`Vo can be reached on 571-272-4690. 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
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 15/785,732
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 6
`
`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.
`
`/L|V|US R. CAZAN/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729
`
`