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
`
`17/756,542
`
`05/26/2022
`
`NAOKI UMAHASHI
`
`083710-3764
`
`8099
`
`Rimon PC - Panasonic Corporation
`8300 Greensboro Dr.
`Suite 500
`McLean, VA 22102
`
`FERGUSON,DION
`
`2848
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/20/2024
`
`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):
`USPTOmail@rimonlaw.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/756,542
`UMAHASHetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`DION R FERGUSON
`2848
`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 26 January 2024.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)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*
`1,5-14 and 16-22 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the aboveclaim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`Claim(s) 16-22 is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,5-8,10-12 and 14 is/are rejected.
`)
`Claim(s) 9and13 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:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)C) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 26 May 2022is/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)LJ None ofthe:
`b)LJ Some**
`a)¥) 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.
`3.4 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 20240222
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`1.
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR
`
`1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued
`
`examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the
`
`finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's
`
`submission filed on 26 January 2024 has been entered.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102
`
`and 103 (or as subject to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
`
`basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AlA) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same
`
`under either status.
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all 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
`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 manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`4.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contentsofthe prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 3
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`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`5.
`
`This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the
`
`examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly ownedas of the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised
`
`of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effectivefiling dates of each claim that
`
`was not commonly ownedas of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner
`
`to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art
`
`against the later invention.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hongetal. (US
`
`Pat. App. Pub. No. 2021/0166886) in view of Kawamotoetal. (WO 2019/130677).
`
`7.
`
`With respect to claim 1, Hong teachesan electrolytic capacitor comprising at least one capacitor
`
`element (see FIG. 1), the at least one capacitor element including: an anode body having a sheet shape
`
`(see FIG. 3, element 110), the anode body including an anode lead portion (see FIG. 2, element 120), and
`
`a cathode forming portion (see FIG. 2); a dielectric layer disposed on at least a surface of the cathode
`
`forming portion of the anode body (not shown, but taught at paragraph [0036]); and a cathode part
`
`covering at least a part of the dielectric layer (see FIG. 3, element 4, disposed on element2), wherein:
`
`the anode body includesa first end and a second end (see FIG. 2), the anode lead portion includes the
`
`first end (see FIG. 2, element 120), the cathode forming portion includes the second end (see FIG. 2), the
`
`cathode partincludesa solid electrolyte layer (see FIG. 2, element 130) containing a conductive polymer
`
`(see paragraph [0039]), the solid electrolyte layer covering at least a part of the dielectric layer (see FIG.
`
`2), and aratio T1/T2 of a thickness T1 of the solid electrolyte layer formed at a corner portion of the
`
`anode bodyto a thickness T2 of the solid electrolyte layer formed at a center portion of a principal
`
`surface of the anode bodyis more than or equal to 0.835 and less than 1.0 in a cross section of the at
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 4
`
`least one capacitor element at an arbitrary position in a first end side portion of the cathode part (see
`
`FIG. 3, element t1 and t2, and paragraph [0027], noting a t2/t1 ratio of between 0.35 and 0.9), the cross
`
`section being perpendicular to a direction directed from the first end to the second end (see FIG. 2).
`
`8.
`
`Hongfails to teach that the solid electrolyte layer further contains a water-soluble polymer, and
`
`the water-soluble polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol
`
`compound,a water-soluble polyurethane, a water-soluble polyamide, a water- soluble polyimide, a
`
`water-soluble acrylic resin, and polyvinyl alcohol.
`
`9.
`
`Kawamoto,on the other hand, teachesthat a solid electrolyte layer further contains a water-
`
`soluble polymer, and the water-soluble polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a
`
`polyalkylene glycol compound, a water-soluble polyurethane, a water-soluble polyamide, a water-
`
`soluble polyimide, a water-soluble acrylic resin, and polyvinyl alcohol. See paragraphs [0068]-[0070].
`
`Such an arrangement results in an improvementin the coating performance ofthe solid electrolyte
`
`layer. See paragraphs [0068]-[0070].
`
`10.
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art, at the time of
`
`application, to modify Hong, as taught by Kawamoto,in order to improve the coating performance of
`
`the solid electrolyte layer.
`
`11.
`
`With respect to claim 7, the combined teachings of Hong and Kawamoto teach that a content
`
`proportion of the water-soluble polymer in the solid electrolyte layer is in a range from 25% by mass to
`
`70% by mass, inclusive. See Kawamoto, paragraph [0071].
`
`12.
`
`Claims 5, 6, 8, and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Honget al.
`
`(US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2021/0166886) view of Kawamotoetal. (WO 2019/130677), and further,in
`
`view of Takahashi et al. (US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0044615).
`
`13.
`
`With respect to claim 5, the combined teachings of Hong and Kawamototeachthatthe solid
`
`electrolyte layer includes: a first layer that contains a first conductive polymer, the first layer covering at
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 5
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`least a part of the dielectric layer (see Hong, FIG. 2 and paragraph [0063]), but fails to teach a second
`
`layer that contains a second conductive polymer, the second layer covering at least a part of the first
`
`layer; and at least one continuous or discontinuous layer disposed between the first layer and the
`
`second layer, and the at least one continuous layer or the discontinuous layer contains a surface
`
`conditioner.
`
`14.
`
`Takahashi, on the other hand, teaches that a second layer that contains a second conductive
`
`polymer, the second layer covering at least a part of the first layer; and at least one continuous or
`
`discontinuous layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and the at least one
`
`continuous layer or the discontinuous layer contains a surface conditioner. See paragraphs [0032],
`
`citing a continuous/discontinuous amine layer, and [0037], citing a second conductive polymer layer.
`
`Such an arrangement results in a capacitor having a high tolerance to externally-exerted heat and
`
`stresses with excellent reliability. See paragraph [0022].
`
`15.
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art, at the time of
`
`application, to modify the combined teachings of Hong and Kawamoto,as taught by Takahashi, in order
`
`to produce a capacitor having a high tolerance to externally-exerted heat and stresses with excellent
`
`reliability.
`
`16.
`
`With respect to claim 6, the combined teachings of Hong and Kawamototeachthatthe solid
`
`electrolyte layer includes: a first layer that contains a first conductive polymer, the first layer covering at
`
`least a part of the dielectric layer (see Hong, FIG. 2 and paragraph [0039]), but fails to teach a second
`
`layer that contains a second conductive polymer, the second layer covering at least a part of the first
`
`layer; and at least one continuous or discontinuous layer disposed between the first layer and the
`
`second layer, the at least one continuous layer or the discontinuous layer contains a surface conditioner,
`
`and at least the second layer contains the water-soluble polymer.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 6
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`17.
`
`Takahashi, on the other hand, teaches that a second layer that contains a second conductive
`
`polymer, the second layer covering at least a part of the first layer; and at least one continuous or
`
`discontinuous layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and the at least one
`
`continuous layer or the discontinuous layer contains a surface conditioner, and at least the second layer
`
`contains the water-soluble polymer. See paragraphs [0032], citing a continuous/discontinuous amine
`
`layer, and [0037], citing a second conductive polymer layer which is water-soluble; when taken in
`
`conjunction with paragraphs [0068]-[0070] of Kawamoto,the use of the water-soluble polymer would
`
`be least one selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol compound, a water-soluble
`
`polyurethane, a water-soluble polyamide, a water- soluble polyimide, a water-soluble acrylic resin, and
`
`polyvinyl alcohol). Such an arrangementresults in a capacitor having a high tolerance to externally-
`
`exerted heat and stresses with excellent reliability. See paragraph [0022].
`
`18.
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art, at the time of
`
`application, to modify the combined teachings of Hong and Kawamoto,as taught by Takahashi, in order
`
`to produce a capacitor having a high tolerance to externally-exerted heat and stresses with excellent
`
`reliability.
`
`19.
`
`With respect to claim 8, the combined teachings of Hong, Kawamoto, and Takahashi teach that
`
`the surface conditionerincludes at least one kind of surfactant selected from the group consisting of a
`
`nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant. See
`
`Takahashi, paragraph [0032].
`
`20.
`
`With respect to claim 10, the combined teachings of Hong, Kawamoto, and Takahashi teach that
`
`a content proportion of the surface conditioner in the at least one continuous or discontinuous layer is
`
`in a range from 0.01% by mass to 30% by mass, inclusive. See Takahashi, paragraph [0050], citing an
`
`amine amount of 5%.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 7
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`21.
`
`Claims 11, 12, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi
`
`et al. (US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2012/0044615) in view of Hongetal. (US Pat. App. Pub. No.
`
`2021/0166886) and Kawamotoetal. (WO 2019/130677).
`
`22.
`
`With respect to claim 11, Takahashi teaches a method for producing an electrolytic capacitor
`
`that includes at least one capacitor element including an anode body, the method comprising: a first
`
`step of preparing an anode body (see paragraph [0029]); a second step of forming a dielectric layer ona
`
`surface of the anode body (see paragraph [0029]); a third step of treating the anode body withafirst
`
`treatment solution that contains a first conductive polymer or a precursor of the first conductive
`
`polymer, the anode bodyhaving the dielectric layer (see paragraphs [0029] and [0030]); a fourth step of
`
`treating the anode body with a second treatment solution containing a surface conditioner, the anode
`
`body being already treated by the first treatment solution (see paragraph [0032]); and a fifth step of
`
`treating the anode bodywith a third treatment solution containing a second conductive polymer, the
`
`anode bodybeing already treated by the second treatmentsolution (see paragraph [0036]), wherein in
`
`the third step, the fourth step, and the fifth step, a cathode part including a solid electrolyte layer is
`
`formed to cover at least a part of the dielectric layer, the solid electrolyte layer containing the first
`
`conductive polymer and the second conductive polymer, the anode bodyincludesa first end anda
`
`second end (see FIG. 1A and paragraphs [0029], [0032], and [0036]).
`
`23.
`
`Takahashi fails to teach that 1) a ratio T1/T2 of a thickness T1 of the solid electrolyte layer
`
`formed at a corner portion of the anode bodyto a thickness T2 of the solid electrolyte layer formed at a
`
`center portion of a principal surface of the anode bodyis more than or equal to 0.835 and less than 1.0
`
`in a cross section of the at least one capacitor element at an arbitrary position in a first end side portion
`
`of the cathode part, the cross section being perpendicular to a direction directed from the first end to
`
`the second end, and 2) the third treatment solution further contains a water-soluble polymer, and the
`
`water-soluble polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 8
`
`compound,a water-soluble polyurethane, a water-soluble polyamide, a water- soluble polyimide, a
`
`water-soluble acrylic resin, and polyvinyl alcohol.
`
`24.
`
`Hong, on the other hand, teaches a ratio T1/T2 of a thickness T1 of the solid electrolyte layer
`
`formed at a corner portion of the anode bodyto a thickness T2 of the solid electrolyte layer formed at a
`
`center portion of a principal surface of the anode bodyis more than or equal to 0.835 and less than 1.0
`
`in a cross section of the at least one capacitor element at an arbitrary position in a first end side portion
`
`of the cathode part (see FIG. 3, element t1 and t2, and paragraph [0027], noting a t2/t1 ratio of between
`
`0.35 and 0.9), the cross section being perpendicular to a direction directed from the first end to the
`
`second end (see FIG. 2). Such an arrangement results in improved thermal stability and reliability. See
`
`paragraph [0054].
`
`25.
`
`Kawamoto, on the other hand, teaches that a treatment solution further contains a water-
`
`soluble polymer, and the water-soluble polymer is at least one selected from the group consisting of a
`
`polyalkylene glycol compound, a water-soluble polyurethane, a water-soluble polyamide, a water-
`
`soluble polyimide, a water-soluble acrylic resin, and polyvinyl alcohol. See paragraphs [0068]-[0070].
`
`Such an arrangement results in an improvementin the coating performance ofthe solid electrolyte
`
`layer. See paragraphs [0068]-[0070].
`
`26.
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art, at the time of
`
`application, to modify Takahashi, as taught by Hong and Kawamoto,in order to improve thermal
`
`stability and reliability and improve the coating performance of the solid electrolyte layer.
`
`27.
`
`With respect to claim 12, the combined teachings of Takahashi, Hong, and Kawamototeach that
`
`the surface conditioner includes at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of a nonionic
`
`surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant. See Takahashi,
`
`paragraph [0032].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 9
`
`28.
`
`With respect to claim 14, the combined teachings of Takahashi, Hong, and Kawamototeach that
`
`a content proportion of the surface conditioner in the second treatment solution is in a range from
`
`0.01% by mass to 5% by mass, inclusive. See Takahashi, paragraph [0050], noting an amine amount of
`
`5%.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`29.
`
`Claims 9 and 13 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be
`
`allowable if rewritten in independent form includingall of the limitations of the base claim and any
`
`intervening claims.
`
`30.
`
`The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: claim 9
`
`and 13 are allowable as the prior artfails to teach, or fairly suggest, the combination of surfactants and
`
`agents in the continuous/discontinuous layer, when taken in conjunction with limitations of claims 1 and
`
`11, respectively.
`
`31.
`
`Claims 16-22 are allowed.
`
`32.
`
`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claims 16 and 19 are allowed
`
`for reasons analogous to those noted with respect to claims 9 and 13. Claims 17-18 and 20-22 are
`
`allowedby virtue of their respective dependencies.
`
`33.
`
`Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment
`
`of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompanythe issue fee. Such
`
`submissions should beclearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to DION R FERGUSON whosetelephone number is (571)270-7566. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached Monday-Friday, 5:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m..
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/756,542
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 10
`
`Examiner interviewsare available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
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`
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`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`Timothy Dole can be reached on 571-272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this
`
`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
`Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To
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`file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov.Visit
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional
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`571-272-1000.
`
`/DION R. FERGUSON/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2848
`
`