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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
`
`16/634,666
`
`01/28/2020
`
`Shinya Nakano
`
`P200040US00
`
`4299
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`JAGAN, MIRELLYS
`
`2855
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`08/03/2022
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`Thetime 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)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/634 ,666
`Nakano etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`MIRELLYS JAGAN
`2855
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- 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 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 7/22/22.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)[¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J 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*
`1-7 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`Cj} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected.
`1) Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`Cj) 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)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J 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)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1... Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.1.) 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)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) (J Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20220727
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`The present application,filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthefirst
`
`inventorto file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`1.
`
`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.
`
`2.
`
`Claims 1, 2, and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`JP2002 164509 to Mitsubishi (see the attached translation) in view of Getschmann (see the
`
`attached translation) and the prior art disclosed by the Applicants in paragraph 2 of the
`
`specification [hereinafter Prior Art].
`
`Referring to claim 1, Mitsubishi discloses a circuit device (figures 1, 3, 5, 6, 8;
`
`paragraphs 15-23) connected to a temperature detection element(1) that detects the temperature
`
`of an object via an external signal line (connected from 1 to 3a) and an external signal ground
`
`line (connected from 1 to 3b) (figure 1; paragraphs 18, 19), the circuit device comprising:
`
`an internal signal line (3a) connected to the external signal line;
`
`an internal signal ground line (3b) connected to the external signal groundline;
`
`a controlling circuit (10) that is connected to the internal signalline (3a) and the internal
`
`signal groundline (3b) and detects the temperature of the object (paragraph 19); and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 3
`
`a high-frequencyfilter (4a, 4b, and 5) (figure 1; paragraph 18) that is inserted into at least
`
`one of a frontmost stage of the internal signal line (3a) and a frontmost stage of the internal
`
`signal groundline (3b) (figure 1).
`
`Mitsubishi does not explicitly disclose that the device comprises a connectorthatis
`
`connected to the external signal line and the external signal ground line; wherein the internal
`
`signal line is connected to the external signal line via the connector, the internal signal ground
`
`line is connected to the external signal ground line via the connector, the high-frequencyfilter is
`
`inserted into at least one of a frontmost stage of the internal signal line and a frontmoststage of
`
`the internal signal ground line as viewed from the connector, and the external signal line and the
`
`external signal ground line each include a wire harness connected to the connector.
`
`However, Getschmanndiscloses a circuit (figure 2; Abstract) for connecting to a
`
`temperature sensor (21) via signal lines, wherein the circuit comprises a connector (plug 26, 27)
`
`that is connected to an external signal line (24) and an external signal groundline (25) of the
`
`temperature sensor (21) (Description, paragraph 12); wherein an internal signal line is connected
`
`to the external signal line via the connector, and an internal signal groundline is connected to the
`
`external signal groundline via the connector in order to reduce size and cost of the circuit
`
`(Description, paragraph 43).
`
`Furthermore,it is knownin the Prior Art to connect a temperature detection element
`
`(thermistor) to a circuit (circuitry) via a wire harness in order to detect a temperature of an
`
`object.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide Mitsubishi with a connectorthat is
`
`connected to the external signal line and the external signal ground line; wherein the internal
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 4
`
`signal line is connected to the external signal line via the connector, the internal signal ground
`
`line is connected to the external signal ground line via the connector, as suggested by
`
`Getschmann,in order to reducethe size and cost of the device (in Mitsubishi in view of
`
`Getschmannstated above, the high-frequency filter of Mitsubishi will be inserted into at least
`
`one of a frontmost stage of the internal signal line and a frontmost stage of the internal signal
`
`groundline as viewed from the connector).
`
`Lastly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to makethe external signal line and the external signal
`
`ground line of Mitsubishi in view of Getschmannsuchthat they each include a wire harness, as
`
`suggested by the Prior Art, in order to provide electrical connections for the temperature
`
`detection elementto the circuit device (in Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann andthe Prior Art
`
`stated above, the external signal line and the external signal ground line (of Mitsubishi) are each
`
`connected to a connector (suggested by Getschmann)that is connected to the circuitry of
`
`Mitsubishi. Therefore, each of the external signal line and the external signal groundline will
`
`have the wire harness connectedto the circuitry of Mitsubishi (as suggested by the Prior Art) via
`
`the connector).
`
`Referring to claim 2, Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann and the Prior Art disclose a
`
`device havingall of the limitations of claim 2, as stated above with respect to claim 1, wherein in
`
`Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann,thefilter (4a, 4b, 5) will be disposed near the connector.
`
`Referring to claim 6, Mitsubishi discloses a temperature detection system (figures 1, 3, 5,
`
`6, 8; paragraphs 15-23) comprising:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 5
`
`a temperature detection element (1) that detects a temperature of an object;
`
`an external signal line (connected from 1 to 3a) that is connected to one end of the
`
`temperature detection element(1):
`
`an external signal ground line (connected from 1 to 3b) that is connected to another end
`
`of the temperature detection element: and
`
`a circuit device that is connected to the temperature detection elementvia the external
`
`signal line and the external signal aroundline;
`
`wherein the circuit device includes:
`
`an internal signal line (3a) connected to the external signal line;
`
`an internal signal ground line (3b) connected to the external signal groundline;
`
`a controlling circuit (10) that is connected to the internal signal line (3a) and the
`
`internal signal groundline (3b) and detects the temperature of the object (paragraph 19);
`
`and
`
`a high-frequencyfilter (4a, 4b, and 5) (figure 1; paragraph 18) that is inserted into
`
`at least one of a frontmost stage of the internal signal line (3a) and a frontmost stage of
`
`the internal signal groundline (3b) (figure 1).
`
`Mitsubishi does not explicitly disclose that the device comprises a connectorthatis
`
`connected to the external signal line and the external signal ground line; wherein the internal
`
`signal line is connected to the external signal line via the connector, the internal signal ground
`
`line is connected to the external signal ground line via the connector, the high-frequencyfilteris
`
`inserted into at least one of a frontmost stage of the internal signal line and a frontmost stage of
`
`the internal signal ground line as viewed from the connector, and the external signal line and the
`
`external signal ground line each include a wire harness connected to the connector.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 6
`
`However, Getschmanndisclosesa circuit (figure 2; Abstract) for connecting to a
`
`temperature sensor (21) via signal lines, wherein the circuit comprises a connector (plug 26, 27)
`
`that is connected to an external signal line (24) and an external signal groundline (25) of the
`
`temperature sensor (21) (Description, paragraph 12); wherein an internal signal line is connected
`
`to the external signal line via the connector, and an internal signal groundline is connected to the
`
`external signal ground line via the connector in order to reduce size and costof the circuit
`
`(Description, paragraph 43).
`
`Furthermore,it is knownin the Prior Art to connect a temperature detection element
`
`(thermistor) to a circuit (circuitry) via a wire harness in order to detect a temperature of an
`
`object.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide Mitsubishi with a connectorthat is
`
`connected to the external signal line and the external signal ground line; wherein the internal
`
`signal line is connected to the external signal line via the connector, the internal signal ground
`
`line is connected to the external signal ground line via the connector, as suggested by
`
`Getschmann,in order to reduce size and cost of the device (in Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann
`
`stated above, the high-frequencyfilter of Mitsubishi will be inserted into at least one of a
`
`frontmost stage of the internal signal line and a frontmost stage of the internal signal ground line
`
`as viewed from the connector).
`
`Lastly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to makethe external signal line and the external signal
`
`ground line of Mitsubishi in view of Getschmannsuchthat they each include a wire harness, as
`
`suggested by the Prior Art, in order to provide electrical connections for the temperature
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 7
`
`detection elementto the circuit device (in Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann andthe Prior Art
`
`stated above, the external signal line and the external signal ground line (of Mitsubishi) are each
`
`connected to a connector (suggested by Getschmann)that is connected to the circuitry of
`
`Mitsubishi. Therefore, each of the external signal line and the external signal groundline will
`
`have the wire harness connectedto the circuitry of Mitsubishi (as suggested by the Prior Art) via
`
`the connector).
`
`3.
`
`Claims 3 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitsubishi in
`
`view of Getschmannand the Prior Art, as stated above with respect to claim 1, and further in
`
`view of U.S. Patent 6,215,076 to Inagawa et al [hereinafter Inagawa].
`
`Referring to claims 3 and 4, Mitsubishi in view of Getschmannandthe Prior Art disclose
`
`a device havingall of the limitations of claims 3 and 4, as stated above with respect to claim 1,
`
`except for Mitsubishi disclosing that the high-frequencyfilter is a chip bead [as in claim 3], and
`
`that the high-frequencyfilter is a dampingresistor [as in claim 4].
`
`However, Inagawadiscloses a circuit device using a high-frequencyfilter comprising a
`
`chip bead (ferrite bead) and a dampingresistor for suppressing noise in the circuit device
`
`(column 13, line 27-47).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann and
`
`the Prior Art with the high-frequencyfilter that is a chip bead [as in claim 3], or that the high-
`
`frequencyfilter is a dampingresistor [as in claim 4], as suggested by Inagawa,in orderto further
`
`suppress noise in the circuit device.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 8
`
`4.
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitsubishi in view of
`
`Getschmannandthe Prior Art, as stated above with respect to claim 1, and further in view of
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication 2015/0346131 to Mohseniet al [hereinafter Mohseni].
`
`Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann and the Prior Art disclose a device havingall of the
`
`limitations of claim 5, as stated above with respect to claim 1, except for Mitsubishi disclosing
`
`that the internal signal line includesa strip line or a microstrip line, and the internal signal
`
`ground line includes a groundplane.
`
`However, Mohsenidiscloses a sensor circuit using a microstrip line for an internal signal
`
`line and a ground planeasan internal groundline in order to provide electrical communication
`
`for the circuit (paragraphs 53, 54).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann and
`
`the Prior Art such that the internal signal line includes a microstrip line, and the internal signal
`
`groundline includes a groundplane, as suggested by Mohseni,in orderto provide electrical
`
`connectionsfor the temperature detection elementin the circuit device.
`
`5.
`
`Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitsubishi in view of
`
`Getschmannandthe Prior Art, as stated above with respect to claim 6, and further in view of
`
`JP2000307403 to Toyota (see the attached translation).
`
`Mitsubishi in view of Getschmannand the Prior Art disclose a device havingall of the
`
`limitations of claim 7, as stated above with respect to claim 6, except for Mitsubishi disclosing a
`
`capacitor that is connected in parallel to the temperature detection element.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 9
`
`However, Toyota discloses a circuit device having a capacitor (43) connected in parallel
`
`to a temperature detection elementin order to reduce noise in the circuit (abstract; paragraph 20).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide Mitsubishi in view of Getschmann and
`
`the Prior Art with a capacitor that is connected in parallel to the temperature detection element,
`
`as suggested by Toyota, in order to further reduce noise in the circuit.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`6.
`
`Applicant’s arguments (filed 7/22/22) with respect to independent claims 1 and 6 have
`
`been considered, but are not persuasive.
`
`Applicant’s arguments (pages 6-7 of the response regarding independentclaims 1 and 6)
`
`that the Prior Art in combination with Mitsubishi and Getschmannfail to disclose or suggest the
`
`feature of the external signal line and the external signal ground line each including a wire
`
`harness connected to the connector are not persuasive becauseof the following reasons.
`
`In Mitsubishi in view of Getschmannand the Prior Art stated above, the external signal
`
`line and the external signal ground line, as taught by Mitsubishi, are each connected to a
`
`connector, as suggested by Getschmann. The connectoris connectedto the circuitry of
`
`Mitsubishi. Therefore, each of the external signal line and the external signal groundline of
`
`Mitsubishi will have the wire harness connected to the circuitry of Mitsubishi, as suggested by
`
`the Prior Art, via the connector.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,666
`Art Unit: 2855
`
`Page 10
`
`Conclusion
`
`7.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to MIRELLYS JAGANwhose telephone numberis (571)272-2247.
`
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`
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`
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`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`
`organization wherethis application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`
`/MIRELLYS JAGAN/
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2855
`
`7/28/22
`
`