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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
`
`17/807,886
`
`06/21/2022
`
`YUJI MIYACHI
`
`083710-3711
`
`6514
`
`Rimon PC - MWE
`423 WashingtonStreet
`Suite 600
`San Francisco, CA 94111
`
`FERGUSON,DION
`
`2848
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/25/2023
`
`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):
`USPTOmail@rimonlaw.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-13 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 1-13 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`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) The drawing(s) filed on 21 June 2022 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)¥) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2 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)
`
`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)
`
`(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 20231016
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/807 ,886
`MIYACHI etal.
`
`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 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 21 June 2023.
`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)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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis
`
`for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless — (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in
`a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-4 and 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP 58-
`
`193628 (submitted as part of an IDS dated 21 June 2022).
`
`5.
`
`With respect to claim 1, JP ‘628 discloses an electrolytic capacitor comprising: a capacitor
`
`element including an anode part and a cathode part (see FIG. 3, elements 1 and 3); a cathode lead
`
`terminal electrically connected to the cathode part (see FIG. 3, element 5); and an exterior body
`
`covering the capacitor element so that a part of the cathode lead terminal is exposed (see FIG. 3,
`
`element 8), wherein: the capacitor element has a first main surface, a second main surface, and a third
`
`main surface, the second main surface sharing one side with the first main surface, the third main
`
`surface sharing one side with the first main surface and being located opposite to the second main
`
`surface (see FIG. 3), the cathode lead terminal includesa first cathode lead part (see FIG. 4, portion 5a),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 3
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`a second cathode lead part bent from the first cathode lead part at a first bent part (see FIG. 4), a third
`
`cathode lead part bent from the second cathode lead part (see FIG. 4), and a fourth cathode lead part
`
`bent from the first cathode lead part at a location different from the first bent part (see FIG. 4, element
`
`7a), the first cathode lead part faces the first main surface of the capacitor element (see FIG. 3, element
`
`5a), the second cathode lead part extends in a direction along a surface intersecting with any of the first
`
`main surface, the second main surface, and the third main surface (see FIG. 3), the third cathode lead
`
`part extends in a direction along the first main surface to be exposed from the exterior body, and
`
`further bends to extend along an outer surface of the exterior body (see FIG. 3), the fourth cathode lead
`
`part extends along the second main surface, and in a normal direction of the first main surface (see FIG.
`
`4), a height h of the fourth cathode lead partis less than or equal to a height H from the first cathode
`
`lead part to a portion of the third cathode lead part that is not exposed from the exterior body (see FIG.
`
`4).
`
`6.
`
`With respect to claim 2, JP ‘628 discloses that the anode part includes an anode body disposed
`
`inside the cathode part, and an anode wire extending from the anode bodyto an outside of the cathode
`
`part, and in a normal direction of the first main surface, the height h of the fourth cathode lead partis
`
`less than a height H2 from the first cathode lead part to the anode wire. See FIGS. 3 and 4, noting that
`
`the anodelead 4 is disposed at the same height as the fourth cathode part.
`
`7.
`
`With respect to claim 3, JP ‘628 discloses an electrolytic capacitor comprising: a capacitor
`
`element including an anode part and a cathode part (see FIG. 3, elements 1 and 3); a cathode lead
`
`terminal electrically connected to the cathode part (see FIG. 3, element 5); and an exterior body
`
`covering the capacitor element so that a part of the cathode lead terminal is exposed (see FIG. 3,
`
`element 8), wherein: the anode part includes an anode bodydisposed inside the cathode part (see FIG.
`
`3, element 1), and an anode wire extending from the anode body to an outside of the cathode part (see
`
`FIG. 3, element 2), the capacitor element has a first main surface, a second main surface, and a third
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 4
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`main surface, the second main surface sharing one side with the first main surface, the third main
`
`surface sharing one side with the first main surface and being located opposite to the second main
`
`surface (see FIG. 3), the cathode lead terminal includesa first cathode lead part facing the first main
`
`surface of the capacitor element and a fourth cathode lead part bent from the first cathode lead part
`
`and extending along the second main surface (see FIG. 4 and elements 5a and 7a, respectively), andina
`
`normal direction of the first main surface, a height h of the fourth cathode lead partis less than a height
`
`H2 from the first cathode lead part to the anode wire (see FIGS. 3 and 4, noting that the anode lead4is
`
`disposed at the same heightas the fourth cathode part).
`
`8.
`
`With respect to claim 4, JP ‘628 discloses that the cathode lead terminal further includes a
`
`second cathode lead part bent from the first cathode lead part and a third cathode lead part bent from
`
`the second cathode lead part, the second cathode lead part extends in a direction along a surface that
`
`intersects with any of the first main surface, the second main surface, and the third main surface and is
`
`located opposite to a surface from which the anode wire of the capacitor element extends, and the third
`
`cathode lead part extends in a direction along the first main surface to be exposed from the exterior
`
`body, and further bends to extend along an outer surface of the exterior body. See FIGS. 3 and 4.
`
`9.
`
`With respect to claim 11, JP ‘628 discloses that the cathode lead terminal further includesa fifth
`
`cathode lead part bent from the first cathode lead part at a location different from thefirst bent part,
`
`the fifth cathode lead part extends along the third main surface, and in a normal direction of the first
`
`main surface, a height of the fifth cathode lead partis less than or equal to the height H. See FIG. 4.
`
`10.
`
`With respect to claim 12, JP ‘628 discloses that the third cathode lead part has an exposed
`
`portion that is exposed from the exterior body, the exposed portion being bent in a direction going away
`
`from the first main surface and further being bent and extending along the exterior body. See FIGS. 3
`
`and 4.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 5
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`11.
`
`With respect to claim 13, JP ‘628 discloses that the third cathode lead part has an exposed
`
`portion that is exposed from the exterior body, the exposed portion being bentin a direction going away
`
`from the first main surface and further being bent and extending along the exterior body, the anode
`
`wire is electrically connected to an anodelead terminal at a side opposite to the second cathode lead
`
`part, the anode lead terminal includes a first anode lead part extendingin a direction along the first
`
`main surface and a second anode lead part bent from the first anode lead part, the first anode lead part
`
`is in contact with the anode wire, the second anode lead part is exposed from the exterior body and
`
`extends along the outer surface of the exterior body, and the first anode lead part is flush with a portion
`
`of the third cathode lead part that is not exposed from the exterior body. See FIG. 3.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`12.
`
`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.
`
`13.
`
`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 ordinary skill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`14.
`
`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 contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 6
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`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence presentin the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`15.
`
`This application currently namesjoint 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.
`
`16.
`
`Claims 5-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 58-193628 in view
`
`of JP 58-115811.
`
`17.
`
`With respect to claim 5, JP ‘628 fails to explicitly teach that the fourth cathode lead part extends
`
`along the second main surface of the capacitor element while being away from the second main surface.
`
`18.
`
`JP ‘811, on the other hand, teachesthat the fourth cathode lead part extends along the second
`
`main surface of the capacitor element while being away from the second main surface. See FIG. 1B.
`
`Such and arrangement results in the ability to fix the capacitor element between the flange parts 8b
`
`using an adhesive. See page 4 of the translation submitted with the IDS filed 21 June 2022.
`
`19.
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art, at the time of
`
`application, to modify JP ‘628 as taught by JP ‘611 in order to fix the capacitor element between the
`
`flange parts using an adhesive.
`
`20.
`
`With respect to claim 6, the combined teachingsof JP ‘628 and JP ‘611 teach that a constituent
`
`material of the exterior body is disposed in a gap between the second main surface and the fourth
`
`cathode lead part. See JP ‘611, FIG. 2(B), noting that the adhesive 6 doesnotfill the entirety of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 7
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`space betweenthe flange parts 8b and the capacitor element 2, and as such, these gaps would befilled
`
`by the resin of the exterior body; see also, FIG. 4(B), wherein the resin would fill the space between the
`
`ends of the flange portions and the capacitor body.
`
`21.
`
`With respect to claim 7, the combined teachings of JP ‘628 and JP ‘611 teach that the cathode
`
`partis electrically connected to the first cathode lead part via a conductive adhesive disposed between
`
`the first main surface and the first cathode lead part, and the conductive adhesiveis further disposed in
`
`the gap between the second main surface and the fourth cathode lead part. See JP ‘611, FIGS. 2(B) and
`
`4(B), conductive adhesive 6.
`
`22.
`
`With respect to claim 8, the combined teachings of JP ‘628 and JP ‘611 teach that the conductive
`
`adhesive disposedin the gap is not present in a region higher than the fourth cathode lead part with
`
`respectto the first main surface. See JP ‘611, FIGS. 2(B) and 4(B).
`
`23.
`
`With respect to claim 9, the combined teachingsof JP ‘628 and JP ‘611 teach that the height h of
`
`the fourth cathode lead part is greater than a thickness of the conductive adhesive disposed between
`
`the first cathode lead part and the first main surface. See JP ‘611, FIGS. 2(B) and 4(B).
`
`24.
`
`With respect to claim 10, the combined teachings of JP ‘628 and JP ‘611 teach that a constituent
`
`material of the exterior body is filled in a region in the gap between the fourth cathode lead part and
`
`the second main surface, the region not beingfilled with the conductive adhesive. See JP ‘611, FIG. 2(B),
`
`noting that the adhesive 6 doesnotfill the entirety of the space between the flange parts 8b and the
`
`capacitor element 2, and as such, these gaps would befilled by the resin of the exterior body; see also,
`
`FIG. 4(B), wherein the resin would fill the space between the ends of the flange portions and the
`
`capacitor body.
`
`Conclusion
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/807,886
`Art Unit: 2848
`
`Page 8
`
`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..
`
`Examiner interviewsare available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
`USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use
`
`the USPTO Automated Interview Request(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`Timothy Dole can be reached on 571-272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this
`
`application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and
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`571-272-1000.
`
`/DION R. FERGUSON/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2848
`
`