www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/298,669
`
`06/01/2021
`
`HIDEKI SUMI
`
`PIPMM-65923
`
`7861
`
`impos
`
`ORI
`PEA
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
`CLEVELAND,OH 44114-3108
`
`ZAAB, SHARAH
`
`2863
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/20/2024
`
`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):
`
`patdocket@ pearne.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`17/298,669
`Examiner
`SHARAH ZAAB
`
`Applicant(s)
`SUMI et al.
`Art Unit
`2863
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof 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 03/14/2024.
`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) 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)(2) 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*
`1-20 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected.
`(] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* 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://www.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) filed on 06/01/2021 is/are: a)[¥) 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)£) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`_—_c)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)Q) All
`1.1) 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)
`
`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)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240507
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined
`
`underthefirst inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
`
`(a) INGENERAL.—Thespecification shall contain a written
`
`description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and
`
`using it,
`
`in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any
`
`person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly
`
`connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode
`
`contemplated by the inventor orjoint inventor of carrying out the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
`
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention,
`
`and of the manner and process of making and usingit, in suchfull, clear,
`
`concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 3
`
`which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and
`
`use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the
`
`inventor of carrying out his invention.
`
`Claims 1 and 9-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-
`
`AIA), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The
`
`claim(s) contains subject matter which wasnot described in the specification in such a
`
`way as to enable oneskilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly
`
`connected, to make and/or use the invention.
`
`The specification does not disclose “an inspection electrode to mount the second
`
`componentthereon to inspect electrical characteristics of the second component.”
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`
`(b) CONCLUSION. —Thespecification shall conclude with one or more
`
`claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter
`
`which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph:
`
`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly
`
`pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant
`
`regards as his invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 4
`
`Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-
`
`AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point
`
`out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor ora joint
`
`inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the
`
`applicant), regards as the invention.
`
`Claim 1 recites the limitation “an inspection electrode to mount the second
`
`componentthereon to inspect electrical characteristics of the second component”. It is
`
`unclear how the inspection electrode can mount and electrically characterize the second
`
`component.
`
`The Examiner did not give patentable weight to the inspection electrode
`
`mounting the second component.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis forall
`
`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 effectivefiling date of the claimed invention to a person having
`
`ordinary skill
`
`in the art to which the claimed invention pertains.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page5S
`
`Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention
`
`was made.
`
`Claims 1-8 and 12-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Shibata et al. (US20160150687), hereinafter referred to as ‘Shibata’ and Hoshina
`
`et al. (JP2003133658), hereinafter referred to as ‘Hoshina’ and further in view of
`
`Mizoguchi et al. (US20040207423), hereinafter referred to as ‘Mizoguchi’.
`
`Regarding Claim 1, Shibata discloses a component mounter comprising (a
`
`mounting management device of the invention is a mounting management device that
`
`manages information relating to a component of a mounting process device in which a
`
`storage section with the component stored therein is installed and which executes a
`
`mounting process to mount the component on a printed circuit board [0007]): a
`
`component feeder that is configured to feed components stored in a tape the
`
`components including first and second components (a tape feeder unit which feeds
`
`out the tape which is wound around the reel 55 to the pickup position and is not
`
`depicted in the drawings, and the reel 55 around which the tape in which the
`
`components P are stored is wound [0043]); a board transporter that is configured to
`
`convey in and out a board (The mounting machine 21 is provided with a printed circuit
`
`board processing unit 30 which executes transporting and clamping of a printed circuit
`
`board as a unit which executes the mounting process, a pick-and-place processing unit
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
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`Page 6
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`33 which executes a process of disposing the component P on theprinted circuit board,
`
`a supply unit 37 which supplies the component P which is stored in the reel 55 or the
`
`tray to a predetermined pickup position [0036]), an installation head that is
`
`configured toinstall a first component picked up from the componentfeeder in
`
`the product area according to aninstallation sequence program (the componentis
`
`mounted using the suction nozzle 36 whichis installed in the mounting head 35,for
`
`example, a configuration may be adopted in which a chuck (a componentholding unit)
`
`which grasps and holds the component P using opening-closing clawsor the like is
`
`attached to the mounting head 35, the componentP is picked up from the supply unit 37
`
`using the chuck, and the component P is mounted on the printed circuit board [0042]);,
`
`wherein the installation head is further configured to install the second
`
`component (the component is mounted using the suction nozzle 36 which is installed in
`
`the mounting head 35, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which a chuck (a
`
`componentholding unit) which grasps and holds the component P using opening-
`
`closing clawsor the like is attached to the mounting head 35, the componentP is picked
`
`up from the supply unit 37 using the chuck, and the component P is mounted on the
`
`printed circuit board [0042]).
`
`However, Shibata does not explicitly disclose the board comprising a product
`
`area and an inspection area, the product area in which a pattern electrode to mount a
`
`componentthereon to form an electrical product is disposed,
`
`the inspection area which
`
`includes an inspection electrode to mount the second componentis to be mounted
`
`thereon to inspect electrical characteristics of the second component when an
`
`occurrence of an event requiring an inspection occurs, a controller that is configured to
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 7
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`detect the occurrence of the event that requires the inspection, and is also configured to
`
`determine whether or not the inspection area is vacant, and the installation head is
`
`further configured to install the componentin the inspection area as an inspection-
`
`required component when the event occurs and the inspection area is vacant.
`
`Nevertheless, Hoshina discloses the board comprising a product area and an
`
`inspection area (a quality inspection part can be provided outside the product area of
`
`one mother board, so that quality inspection can be performed without reducing
`
`production efficiency... the product area and the dummy electronic component , area
`
`can be separated before performing a connection test [0021]; Fig 1), the product area
`
`in which a pattern electrode to mount a componentthereon to form anelectrical
`
`product is disposed (Each printed circuit board circuit (or inside) has a conductive
`
`pattern such as copperfoil [0003]), and a controller (a control unit 312 that adjusts the
`
`load strength of the tool 310 on the inspection substrate [0036]) the inspection area
`
`and an inspection-required component and the componentin the inspection area
`
`as an inspection-required component (The method for manufacturing a printed circuit
`
`board of the present invention includes the steps of: mounting an electronic component
`
`on a product board area of the board; mounting a dummy electrode on an inspection
`
`area of the board; separating the inspection area from the board; and a step of
`
`separating the product board area from the board to form a printed circuit board [0019)).
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata, in view of Hoshina to have the
`
`board comprising a product area and an inspection area to enable continuous/smooth
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 8
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`inspection of the components to reduceerror in the product and inspection areas and
`
`increase efficiency.
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata, in view of Hoshina to have the
`
`product area in which a pattern electrode to mount a first component thereon to form an
`
`electrical product is disposed to develop the printed circuit for inspection and to
`
`separate the product area from the inspection area to increaseefficiency.
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata, in view of Hoshina to have a
`
`controller that is configured to detect the occurrenceof the event that requires the
`
`inspection, and is also configured to determine whetheror not the inspection area is
`
`vacant to enable continuous/smooth process of mounting and inspecting the
`
`components in the inspection area to reduce error and increase efficiency.
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata, in view of Hoshina to have the
`
`installation head configured to install the componentin the inspection area as an
`
`inspection-required Component when the event occurs and the inspection area is vacant
`
`to determine the vacancyof the inspection area and replenish the components for
`
`inspection to reduce error and increaseefficiency.
`
`However, the combination does not explicitly disclose the inspection area which
`
`includes an inspection electrode to mount the second component is to be mounted
`
`thereon to inspect electrical characteristics of the second component when an
`
`occurrenceof an event requiring an inspection occurs.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 9
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`Nevertheless, Mizoguchi discloses the inspection area which includes an
`
`inspection electrode to inspect electrical characteristics of the component(an
`
`electrical conduction inspection is performed in such a waythat the inspection probes
`
`34 and 44 are simultaneously brought into contact with the lower surface and upper
`
`surface of the printed board 11, which contributes to a remarkable improvementin
`
`inspection efficiency. Furthermore, the inspected area and its proximate area of the
`
`printed board 11 are fixedly held by use of the lower-side fixing member 37 and the
`
`upper-side fixing member 47 [0042]).
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata and Hoshina,
`
`in view of Mizoguchi
`
`to have the inspection area which includes an inspection electrode to mount the second
`
`componentthereon to inspect electrical characteristics of the second component when
`
`an occurrence of an event requiring an inspection occurs to ensure continuous/smooth
`
`inspection of the components in the inspection areas to reduce cost and increase
`
`efficiency.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 1.
`
`Shibata discloses the controller is further configured to add additional data
`
`for installing the inspection-required componentin the inspection area to the
`
`installation sequence program whenthe controller is configured to detect the
`
`occurrence of the event (The management device controller 61 is configured as a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 10
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`microprocessor centered on a CPU which is not depicted in the drawings and is
`
`provided with flash memory in which various processing programs and thelike are
`
`stored, and a RAM which stores data temporarily. The mounting management server 60
`
`has a function of executing an operation corresponding to an input operation when a
`
`workerperforms the input operation of a cursoror the like which is displayed on the
`
`display 66 via the input device 67. The management device controller 61 is electrically
`
`connected to the memorysection 65, the display 66, the input device 67, the I/F 68, and
`
`the like using a bus 69. The mounting management server 60 commands the mounting
`
`process device 20 to perform the mounting process using aninstalled program [0048}),
`
`wherein the installation head is configured to install the inspection-required
`
`componentin the inspection area based on the additional data added to the
`
`installation sequence program (For example, there are cases in which the feeder 50
`
`is removed from the supply unit 37 and temporarily kept in a warehouse,
`
`is attached to
`
`a different mounting machine 21, or the like. In the mounting process device,it is
`
`conceivable to perform the measurementof the electrical characteristics of the stored
`
`component P every time this re-installation takes place. Here, when the measurement
`
`information is present in step S130, that is, when measurementresults are obtained
`
`which indicate that the corresponding componentP is stored in the correct reel 55, the
`
`mounting process is performed without performing the re-measurement of the
`
`corresponding componentP. In this case,it is possible to further suppress the number
`
`of times the component P is measured by the characteristic measuring unit 40. After
`
`step S160, the mounting process device 20 can restart the mounting processafter
`
`interrupting the mounting process in the measurementprocess ofthe electrical
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 11
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`characteristics.
`
`In the mounting process of step S170, the CPU of the mounting
`
`machinecontroller 22 moves the mounting head 35 to the pickup position of the
`
`component to be mounted on the printed circuit board based on the pickup position, the
`
`mounting position, the movement conditions, and the like of the component which are
`
`stored in the mounting process condition information 26b [0059)).
`
`However, the combination does not explicitly disclose the controller is configured
`
`to determine that the inspection area is vacant.
`
`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata and Hoshina,
`
`in view of Mizoguchi
`
`to the controller detects the occurrence of the event and determining that the inspection
`
`area is vacant to determine the vacancyof in the inspection area and enable the device
`
`to dispose an electrical product in the area.
`
`Regarding Claim 3, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 2.
`
`Shibata discloses the controller is further configured to add the additional
`
`data to an endofthe installation sequence program (Meanwhile, when the
`
`measurementresult in step S150 is not within the normal range, the CPU of the
`
`mounting machine controller 22 assumes that the wrong componentP is stored in the
`
`reel 55, causes a messageor the like indicating this to be displayed on the operation
`
`panel 39, performs an error display process, also alarming of a warning sound or the
`
`like (step S180), and, for example, transmits the error information to the mounting
`
`

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`management server 60 (step S190) and endsthe routine in this state.
`
`In other words,
`
`the CPU stops the mounting process of the componentP. In this manner, in the
`
`mounting process device 20, when the measurementinformation is not present, the
`
`electrical characteristics of the component P are confirmed, and the mounting process
`
`is interrupted when the componentP is determined to be wrong. Note that, as the error
`
`information to be transmitted, information may be adopted indicating that the wrong
`
`componentis stored in the reel 55 of the component P which is measuredthis time.
`
`Here, although the routine is ended in this state, the mounting process may be capable
`
`of restarting, forexample, after displaying the error, when the feeder 50 is exchanged,
`
`the processes from step S140 onward are performed [0058]; The mounting
`
`management server 60 commands the mounting process device 20 to perform the
`
`mounting process using an installed program, displays the information of the mounting
`
`process device 20, andthe like [0048)).
`
`Regarding Claim 4, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 1.
`
`Shibata discloses the component feeder comprises a tape feeder configured
`
`to sequentially supply fed from tapes containing the components, the controller
`
`is further configured to detect the occurrence of the event based on a fact that a
`
`preceding tape containing components is switched to a succeeding tape
`
`containing components (The supply unit 37 is provided with aninstallation section in
`
`which a feeder 50 is installed, and a cutting section which cuts and removesthe tape
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
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`
`Page 13
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`from which the component P has been picked up. One or moreof the feeders 50 which
`
`supply the component P from the reel 55 are installed in the supply unit 37. The feeder
`
`50 is provided with a control section 51 which controls the feeder 50, a memory section
`
`52 whichstores information relating to the feeder 50, a tape feeder unit which feeds out
`
`the tape which is wound around the reel 55 to the pickup position and is not depicted in
`
`the drawings, and the reel 55 around which the tape in which the components P are
`
`stored is wound. In the memory section 52, the feeder ID which is the identifier of the
`
`feeder 50, for example,is stored as the information relating to the feeder 50, and itis
`
`possible to store the reel ID whichis the identifier of the reel 55, the component ID
`
`whichis the identifier of the component P whichis stored in the reel 55, and the like as
`
`other information. When the feeder 50 is installed in the supply unit 37, the control
`
`section 51 performs communication with the mounting machine controller 22, and
`
`performs a process in which the information (for example, the feeder ID and thelike)
`
`relating to the feeder 50 which is stored in the memory section 52 is output. The control
`
`section 51 controls the tape feeder unit to feed out the tape to a predetermined pickup
`
`position at which the componentP which is stored in the reel 55 is sucked to by the
`
`suction nozzle 36. The reel 55 is provided with a tape in which a storage section which
`
`stores the component P and is not depicted in the drawings is formed, and a label 56
`
`which describes the information relating to the stored component P and a bar-code 57
`
`whichidentifies the reel 55 are stuck to the reel 55 [0043)).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 14
`
`Regarding Claim 5, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 1.
`
`Shibata discloses the component feeder comprises a tape feeder configured
`
`to sequentially supply components fed from tapes containing the components,
`
`controller is further configured to detect the occurrence of the event based on a
`
`fact that a connector for connecting a preceding tape containing components and
`
`a succeeding tape containing components is detected (In the memory section 52,
`
`the feeder ID whichis the identifier of the feeder 50, for example, is stored as the
`
`information relating to the feeder 50, andit is possible to store the reel
`
`ID which is the
`
`identifier of the reel 55, the component ID whichis the identifier of the component P
`
`which is stored in the reel 55, and the like as other information. When the feeder 50 is
`
`installed in the supply unit 37, the control section 51 performs communication with the
`
`mounting machine controller 22, and performs a processin which the information (for
`
`example, the feeder ID and the like) relating to the feeder 50 which is stored in the
`
`memory section 52 is output. The control section 51 controls the tape feeder unit to feed
`
`out the tape to a predetermined pickup position at which the component P which is
`
`stored in the reel 55 is sucked to by the suction nozzle 36. The reel 55 is provided with
`
`a tape in which a storage section which stores the componentPandis not depicted in
`
`the drawings is formed, and a label 56 which describes the information relating to the
`
`stored component P and a bar-code 57 which identifies the reel 55 are stuck to the reel
`
`55. [0043]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
`
`Page 15
`
`Regarding Claim 6, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 1.
`
`Shibata discloses the controller is further configured to detect the
`
`occurrence of the event based ona fact that the componentfeederis installed in
`
`the component mounter (The supply unit 37 is provided with an installation section in
`
`which a feeder 50 is installed, and a cutting section which cuts and removesthe tape
`
`from which the component P has been picked up. One or moreof the feeders 50 which
`
`supply the component P from the reel 55 are installed in the supply unit 37 [0043]).
`
`Regarding Claim 7, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
`
`discussed in claim 1.
`
`Shibata discloses the controller comprises: a receiver configured to receive,
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`from an external management device, inspection area componentinformation in
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`whichaninstalled state of the inspection-required componentin the inspection
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`area is recorded (The mounting management server 60 commands the mounting
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`process device 20 to perform the mounting process using an installed program, displays
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`the information of the mounting process device 20, and the like. The management
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`device controller 61 outputs information to the mounting process device 20, the PC 15,
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`the measurement PC 80, and thelike via the I/F 68, outputs display data to the display
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`66, and the like. The management device controller 61 receives input of information
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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
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`Page 16
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`from the mounting process device 20, the PC 15, the measurement PC 80, and thelike
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`via the I/F 68, receives input of signals from the input device 67, and thelike [0048)).
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`However, the combination does not explicitly disclose the controller is further
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`configured to determine whetheror not the inspection area is vacant based on the
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`inspection area componentinformation received by the receiver.
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`It would have been obvious to oneof ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata and Hoshina,
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`in view of Mizoguchi
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`to incorporate the controller to be configured to determine whether or not the inspection
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`area is vacant based on the inspection area componentinformation received by the
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`receiver to determine the electrical characteristics of the product and confirm an errorin
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`the mounting procedure.
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`Regarding Claim 8, Shibata, Hoshina, Mizoguchi disclose the claimed invention
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`discussed in claim 7.
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`Shibata discloses the controller is further configured to update the
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`inspection area componentinformation by writing information into the inspection
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`area componentinformation, the writing information indicative of the inspection-
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`required componentis installed in the inspection area into the inspection area
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`componentinformation (In the measurement PC 80, the new measurement
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`information is registered in the device information 72 which is managed by the mounting
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`management server 60, and an update program which updates the device information
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`72 is stored in the memory device 83. In this update program, for example, after the
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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
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`Page 17
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`componentP is picked up from the reel 55 and the componentID and the reel ID
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`thereof are selected, the measurement of the component P is performed, and, when the
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`measured electrical characteristics (for example, 10) are within a normal range [0053)).
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`However, Shibata does not explicitly disclose the controller further comprises an
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`inspection area componentinformation transmitter that is configured to transmit, to the
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`external managementdevice, the inspection area componentinformation updated by
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`the inspection area componentinformation updater.
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`Nevertheless, Hoshina discloses the controller further comprises an
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`inspection area componentinformation transmitter that is configured to transmit,
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`to the external management device, the inspection area component information
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`updated by the inspection area componentinformation updater (a mounting table
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`301 on which the test board 106 is placed, a hooking tool 310 that hooks the capacitor
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`105 on the test board 106 to check its strength, and A drive unit 311 that drives the tool
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`310 and a control unit 312 that adjusts the load strength of the tool 310 on the
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`inspection substrate 106 are provided. [0036])
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Shibata and Hoshina,
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`in view of Mizoguchi
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`to have the controller further comprises an inspection area componentinformation
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`transmitter that is configured to transmit, to the external managementdevice, the
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`inspection area componentinformation updated by the inspection area component
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`information updater to enable continuous/smooth inspection of the components and
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`reduce error in the inspection area.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/298,669
`Art Unit: 2863
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`Page 18
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`Regarding Claim 12, Shibata discloses a component mounting method
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`comprising: providing componentsin a tape (a tape feeder unit which feeds out the
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`tape which is wound around the reel 55 to the pickup position and is not depicted in the
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`drawings, and the reel 55 around which the tape in which the components P are stored
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`is wound [0043]), the components including first and second components
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`detecting an occurrence of an event that requires an inspection (a tape feederunit
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`which feeds out the tape which is wound around the reel 55 to the pickup position and is
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`not depicted in the drawings, and the reel 55 around which the tape in which the
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`components P are stored is wound [0043]); when the occurrence of the eventis
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`detected andit is determined that the inspection area is vacant (mounting
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`managementdeviceof the invention is a mounting management device that manages
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`information relating to a component of a mounting process device in which a storage
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`section with the componentstored therein is installed and which executes a mounting
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`process to mount the component on a printed circuit board [0007]); The characteristic
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`measuring unit 40 is configured as an LCR meter which measuresthe electrical
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`characteristics of the component P such as, for example, inductance, capacitance,
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`resistance, and impedance.Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the characteristic measuring unit 40
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`is provided with terminals 41 which are connected to contacts of the component P, a
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`measuring circuit 42, and the like [0046)).
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`However, the Shibata does not explicitly disclose determining whether or not the
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`inspection area is vacant; the product area in which a pattern electrode to mounta first
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`componentthereon to form in an electrical product is disposed, the