`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` FILING DATE
`
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`
`12/760,582
`
`04/15/2010
`
`Naoki TAKADA
`
`1497.50706X00
`
`9351
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`09/20/2012
`
`ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON,VA 22209-3873
`
`RABINDRANATH, ROY P
`
`2629
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`09/20/2012
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`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.
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`
` 12/760,582 TAKADAET AL.
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`ROY RABINDRANATH
`2629
`
`-- 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 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY(30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from 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) MONTHS from 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).
`
`1)X] Responsive to communication(s)filed on 14 August 2012.
`2a)L] This action is FINAL.
`2b) This action is non-final.
`3)L]
`Anelection was made bythe applicant in responseto a restriction requirementset forth during the interview on
`___; the restriction requirement and election have beenincorporated into this action.
`4)L] Sincethis application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Status
`
` U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`5)X] Claim(s) 1-17 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 3-4,7-8,13-14 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6)L] Claim(s) _____is/are allowed.
`
`7)X] Claim(s) 1,2,5,6,9-12 and 15-17 is/are rejected.
`8)L] Claim(s) ___ is/are objected to.
`9)L] Claim(s)___ are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)L] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)L] The drawing(s)filed on
`is/are: a)L_] 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).
`12) The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`13).] Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`a)LJ All
`b)L] Some * c)L] None of:
`1.] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.L] Copiesof the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in 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) x Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2) [J Notice of Draftsperson’s Patent Drawing Review (PTO-948)
`3) XX] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date.
`
`4) | Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date. __
`5) L] Noticeof Informal Patent Application
`6) C Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-11)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20120910
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`1.
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`The following NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTIONis being issued in responseto the
`
`Application filed on April 15, 2010. Claims 1-17 are pending.
`
`Election/Restrictions
`
`2.
`
`Applicant’s election of Species A and C in the reply filed on August 15, 2012 is
`
`acknowledged. Applicant has indicated that claims 1-2, 5-6, 9-12 and 15-17 are drawn
`
`to the elected species. As such claims 3-4, 7-8 and 13-14 are withdrawn from further
`
`consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), there being no allowable generic or linking
`
`claim. Because Applicant did not state whether it was electing with or without traverse,
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`the Office deems its election as being made withouttraverse.
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`Priority
`
`3.
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which
`
`papers have beenplaced of recordin the file.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 3
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`Information Disclosure Statement
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`4.
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`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on April 15, 2010 has been
`
`considered by the examiner.
`
`Drawings
`
`5.
`
`Figures 2A-C should be designated by a legend such as--Prior Art-- because
`
`only that whichis oldis illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawingsin
`
`compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid
`
`abandonmentof the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled
`
`“Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct
`
`any portion of the drawing figures. If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the
`
`applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office
`
`action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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`6.
`
`The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) becausetheyfail to show
`
`the “comparison circuit” as described in the specification and in claims 2 and 12. While
`
`the specification describes a “comparator” (e.g., element 109 of Fig. 1), said comparator
`
`doesnot receive a voltage input as required by the aforementioned claims. Rather, the
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`comparator comparesa reference voltage 114 to a divided step up voltage 113 (output
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`voltage) and outputs a selection signal to the PWM generation circuit 104. The input
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`voltage in the specification is believed to be VCC 110. As such, for purposesofthis
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`Office Action, Examinerwill interpret element 109 as the "comparisoncircuit.”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 4
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`Anystructural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed
`
`invention should be shownin the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). Corrected drawing
`
`sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to
`
`avoid abandonmentof the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should
`
`include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, evenif
`
`only one figure is being amended. Thefigure or figure number of an amended drawing
`
`should not be labeled as “amended.”If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the
`
`appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary,
`
`the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes madeto the brief
`
`description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement
`
`sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each
`
`drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top
`
`margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If
`
`the changesare not accepted by the examiner, the applicantwill be notified and
`
`informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the
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`drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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`Claim Objections
`
`7.
`
`Claims 2, 6, 10-12 are objected to becauseofthe following informalities: claims
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`2, 6 and 10 reference a “comparison circuit that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the input voltage.” However, as stated above, the Figures do not show a
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`comparison circuit with this functionality. As best understood to Examiner, element 109
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 5
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`of Fig. 1
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`is the comparison circuit that Applicant is claiming. However, element 109
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`receives a reference voltage and comparesit to an output voltage. As such, Examiner
`
`will interpret this limitation in claims 2, 6 and 10-12 as follows: "a comparison circuit that
`
`comparesthe voltage ratio of the output voltage and reference voltage."
`
`If Applicant meant either element 503 or 506 of Fig. 5 as the “comparison circuit,”
`
`please note that Examiner is not clear as to how these elements receive an input
`
`voltage and compareit to an output voltage or otherwise serve as the “comparison
`
`circuit" with the functionality as claimed.
`
`Claims 11-12 are objected to because they depend on claims 2, 6 and 10.
`
`Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`8.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections underthis section madein this Office action:
`
`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in
`public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in
`the United States.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 1-2, 5-6, 9-12 and 15-17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) as being
`
`anticipated by Nobuyuki, JP2006-054969.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 6
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`Regarding Claim 1, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025);
`
`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging ofthe coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch deviceis turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9A to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`-wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF states of the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal that is amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9Ais off then Vo = Vi + VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), and
`
`-the driving circuit (7) controls an off-period of the switch device according to an on-
`
`period of the switch device (e.g., the longer the on period the shorter the off period;
`
`par. 0036-0037) and a voltage ratio of the output voltage and the input voltage while
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 7
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`changing a repetition period of the ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g., the
`
`voltage ratio of the output voltage to input voltage, Vo/Vi, is controlled by the
`
`driving circuit in such manner that Vo changesandthe length of the on/off period
`
`changes; par. 0036-0037).
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches the powercircuit according to claim 1,
`
`further comprising a comparisoncircuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the reference voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage
`
`Vb from element 1 and output voltage Vo, comparesthe two voltages, and
`
`outputs an error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a so that is on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result of the comparison
`
`circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless than Vb based on
`
`comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal does not control driver
`
`circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 5, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 8
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`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging of the coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch deviceis turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9A to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF statesof the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal that is amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9Ais off then Vo = Vi + VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), and the driving circuit (7) controls an off-period of the switch device
`
`according to an on-period of the switch device (e.g., the longer the on period the
`
`shorterthe off period; par. 0036-0037) and a voltage ratio of the output voltage and
`
`the input voltage (e.g., the voltage ratio of the output voltage to input voltage,
`
`Vo/Vi, is controlled by the driving circuit in such manner that Vo changes and the
`
`length of the on/off period changes; par. 0036-0037),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 9
`
`-while controlling the on-period and the off-period of the switch device such that a
`
`repetition period of the ON and OFF states of the switch device coincides with any one
`
`of the at least two repetition periods different from each other (e.g., during at least one
`
`cycle of the PWM signal; par. 0017).
`
`Regarding Claim 6, Nobuyuki teaches the powercircuit (Fig. 2) according to claim 5,
`
`further comprising a comparisoncircuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the input voltage (e.g., error amplifier 3 compares Vo and Vb; par.
`
`0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driver 7 controls gate of switching transistor 9A to turn it on or off; par. 0025-
`
`0026), and a second period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the
`
`switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison
`
`result of the comparison circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomes
`
`less than Vb according to comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal
`
`does not control driver circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 9, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 10
`
`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging ofthe coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch deviceis turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9A to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`-a detection circuit (19) that detects a discharge current from the coil (par. 0033),
`
`-wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF states of the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal that is amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9Ais off then Vo = Vi +VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), the driving circuit (7) controls an off-period of the switch device based on a
`
`period in which the discharge current detected by the detection circuit becomes zero
`
`(e.g., zero current; par. 0023).
`
`Regarding Claim 10, Nobuyuki teaches the powercircuit (Fig. 2) according to claim 9,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 11
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`further comprising a comparisoncircuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the input voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage Vb
`
`from element 1 and output voltage Vo, compares the two voltages, and outputs
`
`an error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a sothatis on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result of the comparison
`
`circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless than Vb according
`
`to comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal does not control driver
`
`circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 11, Nobuyki (Fig. 2) teaches the powercircuit according to claim 10,
`
`wherein the detection circuit (19) includes a circuit which is connected to one end of the
`
`coil (e.g., connected to coil 11 through switch 9A) having the other end to which the
`
`input voltage is applied (e.g., top end of coil 11 connected to Vi), and directly detects
`
`the discharge current of the coil (par. 0033).
`
`Regarding Claim 12, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) the powercircuit according to claim 10, further
`
`comprising a comparison circuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output voltage
`
`and the input voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage Vb from
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 12
`
`element 1 and output voltage Vo, comparesthe two voltages, and outputs an
`
`error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF statesof the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a sothatis on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result and a detection result
`
`of the comparison circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless
`
`than Vb according to the error differential determined by element 3, otherwise
`
`PWM signal doesnot control driver circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 15, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising: a display
`
`driving circuit including the powercircuit according to claim 1; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device hasa display screen; par. 0002).
`
`Regarding Claim 16, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising: a display
`
`driving circuit including the powercircuit according to claim 5; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device device has a display screen; par. 0002).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 13
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`Regarding Claim 17, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising:
`
`a display driving circuit including the power circuit according to claim 9; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device hasa display screen; par. 0002).
`
`Conclusion
`
`10.
`
`The prior art made of record and notrelied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`applicant's disclosure.
`
`a.
`
`Kimura, US 7,408,543 teaches a powersupply circuit with a, diode, coil,
`
`switch and comparator for comparing a high reference voltage to a reference
`
`voltage.
`
`b.
`
`Kang, US 2010/0110059, teaches a control device for an LED device that
`
`comprises a coil, diode, capacitor, switch and comparator.
`
`11.=Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`Inquiry
`
`examiner should be directed to ROY RABINDRANATHwhosetelephone numberis
`
`(571)270-5722. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-
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`5:00 PM.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Page 14
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached on (571) 272-7772. The fax phone number
`
`for the organization wherethis application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on accessto the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automatedinformation
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/ROY RABINDRANATH/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2629
`September 11, 2012
`
`/CHANH NGUYEN/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2629
`
`