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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/431,134
`
`06/04/2019
`
`Shigeharu Taira
`
`P190575US00
`
`8336
`
`WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`TRAN, UYEN M
`
`ART UNIT
`1726
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/13/2021
`
`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):
`
`patentmail @ whda.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/431 ,134
`Examiner
`UYEN M TRAN
`
`Applicant(s)
`Taira etal.
`Art Unit
`1726
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis 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 underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 03/25/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-4,6-7 and 9-12 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 5 and 8 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`() Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-4,6-7 and 9-12 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)() The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)C) accepted or b)C) 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:
`cc) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)¥) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.2.) 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)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210331
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AJA.
`
`Election/Restrictions
`
`Applicant’s election without traverse of species A, E andKin thereplyfiled on
`
`03/25/2021 is acknowledged. Claims 1-4, 6-7, 9-12 are read on the elected species.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
`
`rejectionsset forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
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`1. Determining the scope and contents of the priorart.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences betweenthe prior art and the claimsat issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
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`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
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`nonobviousness.
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`Claims 1-4, 6-7, 9-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Ogawaet al (PG pub 20160268466), and further in view of Nishiet al (JP2014042065,
`
`equivalent English translation is provided).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 3
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`Regarding claim 1, Ogawaetal teaches a solar module comprising:
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`multiple solar cell [fig 1B]
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`a first protective member40 provided on a light receiving surface side of the
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`multiple solar cells [fig 1B];
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`a second protective member 50 provided on a rear surface side of the multiple
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`solar cells [fig 1B]
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`a first wiring material 11 for connecting adjacentsolar cells of the multiple solar
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`cells [fig 1B]
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`a second wiring material (the interconnection wiring member) for connecting
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`strings, obtained by connecting the adjacent multiple solar cells via the first
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`wiring materials to each other[fig 1B para 46]
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`a third wiring material configured to connecta solar cell of the multiple solar cells
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`positioned on one endofthe string and the second wiring material [fig 1B].
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 4
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`“ary
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`fey oo 37 20
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`640 42
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`
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`Ogawaetal teachesfirst, second and third wiring memberasset forth above, but Ogawa
`
`et al does not teach first, second and third wiring member having core material and the color
`
`layer as claimed.
`
`Nishiet al teaches a lead wire for solar battery comprising the a core member, a color
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`layer 5 being formed onthe surfaces of the core material [fig 1 abstract] where the color layer 5
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`includes the colorant such as carbon black [para 33].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`wasfiled to replace the first, second and third wiring memberbythe lead wire of Nishi et al for
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`low cost, excellent in design and bonding with a cell [para 1]. As for combination, colored layer
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`that covers at least a surface on a side of the core material that faces the first protective member.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 5
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`In the instant application, the application show the color layer exhibits black [para 24].
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`Modified Ogawaet al teaches the color layer includes the back color, thus the colored layer
`
`absorb at least 30% ofvisible light having wavelength of 380nm to 780nm.It is noted that
`
`"Products of identical chemical composition can not have mutually exclusive properties.” In re
`
`Spada, 911 F.2d 705, 709, 15 USPQ2d 1655, 1658 (Fed. Cir. 1990). A chemical composition
`
`and its properties are inseparable. Therefore, if the prior art teaches the identical chemical
`
`structure, the properties applicant discloses and/or claims are necessarily present.
`
`Regarding claim 2, 9-10, modified Ogawaetal teacheseither of the first wiring material
`
`or the third wiring material each hasthe colored layer as set forth above, the multiple solar cells
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`each include a photoelectric conversion part, and collector electrodes provided on the
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`photoelectric conversion part [para 49, Ogawaeta 1], and Nishi et al teaches the colored layer 5
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`has self-adhesiveness resin which is melted by heat and adheredto the solar cell without using a
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`separate bonding material and by heating, the colored layer 5 is melted and the wiring is bonded
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`to the electrode of the cell [para 33 46-48]; thus the collector electrodes of a solar cell of the
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`multiple solar cells are connected to the either of the first wiring material or the third wiring
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`material while penetrating the colored layer of the either ofthe first wiring material or the third
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`wiring material [para 33, Nishi etal]
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`Regarding claim 3, 11-12, modified Ogawaet al teaches either of the first wiring
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`material or the third wiring material include includes a base layer4 [fig 1, Nishi] provided
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`between the core material and the colored layer of the either of the first wiring material or the
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`third wiring material, and Nishi et al teaches the colored layer 5 has self-adhesiveness resin
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`whichis melted by heat and adheredto the solar cell without using a separate bonding material
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 6
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`and by heating, the colored layer 5 is melted and the wiring is bondedto the electrode ofthe cell
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`[para 33 46-48]; thus, the collector electrodes that have penetrated the colored layer of the either
`
`of the first wiring material or the third wiring material pierce into the base layer of the either of
`
`the first wiring material or the third wiring material.
`
`Regarding claim 4,in the instant application, the application show the color layer
`
`exhibits black [para 24]. Modified Ogawaet al teaches the color layer includes the back color,
`
`thus the colored layer transmits at least 30% of light having wavelengths over an entire range
`
`from 780 nm to 1200 nm,or transmits at least 70% of light having partial wavelengths in a range
`
`from 780 nm to 1200 nm.It is noted that "Products of identical chemical composition can not
`
`have mutually exclusive properties." In re Spada, 911 F.2d 705, 709, 15 USPQ2d 1655, 1658
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1990). A chemical composition and its properties are inseparable. Therefore, if the
`
`prior art teaches the identical chemicalstructure, the properties applicant discloses and/or claims
`
`are necessarily present.
`
`Regarding claim 6, modified Ogawaetal teaches the colored layer of at least one of the
`
`first wiring material the second wiring material, and third wiring material is formed on an entire
`
`surface except for both end surfaces in a longitudinal direction of the core material [fig 1, Nishi
`
`et all].
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`Regarding claim 7, modified Ogawaetal teaches the colored layer of at least one of the
`
`first wiring material the second wiring material, and the third wiring material is an insulator [para
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`33-35, Nishiet al].
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`Conclusion
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 7
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to UYEN M TRANwhosetelephone numberis (571)270-7602.
`
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/431,134
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`/UYEN M TRAN/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1726
`
`Page 8
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`