`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMlVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`14/633,376
`
`02/27/2015
`
`Masaki IKEDA
`
`ONDAP0136US
`
`1045
`
`06/29/2018
`
`7590
`51921
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`:
`
`EXAMINR
`
`
`THAPASA ESH
`
`PAPER NUMBER
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`2859
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`06/29/2018
`
`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):
`
`ipdocket @rennerott0.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/633,376 IKEDA ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`SAILESH THAPA $2213 2859
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136( a).
`after SIX () 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, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1 .704(b).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on RCE 04/25/2018.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2b)|Z| This action is non-final.
`2a)|Z| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:| Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
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`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1,2 and 5-10 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1,2 and 5-10 is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`hit
`:/'/\W¢W.LISI>I‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
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`h/index.‘3 or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Xl The drawing(s) filed on 02/27/2015 is/are: a)IXI accepted or b)|:l 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)IXI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)IZl All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| Copies of 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)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) E InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date 05/25/2018 and 04/06/2018 .
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180619
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/25/2018 and
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`04/06/2018 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the
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`information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1. 1 14
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`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set
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`forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this
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`application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set
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`forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action
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`has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on
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`04/25/2018 has been entered.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 3
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`Response to Arguments
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`This is in response to an application/remarks made in filed on 04/25/2018.
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`Claims 1 and 5 have been amended, claim 3 is cancelled.
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`In view of Applicant Argument/Remarks Made to an amended independent
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`claims have been fully considered and are not persuasive. However, upon further
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`consideration with a prior art search, a new ground(s) of rejection is made.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
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`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`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.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 4
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`Claim 1, 5, 6-7 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
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`unpatentable over Abe (US 2012/0019200 A1) in view of Arashima et al. (US
`
`2016/0087314 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Abe teaches a charger that charges a battery unit
`
`comprising; a charging unit (charger 200, fig.1) that supplies direct current power
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`(AC/DC converter 202, fig.1) to at least one battery cell of the battery pack (battery
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`pack 100, fig.1) for charging a rechargeable battery of a power tool (refer fig.1 that
`
`shows the charger 200 to charge the battery pack 100 when attached to the
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`charger); a condition detection unit that measures the voltage of the battery pack to
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`detect condition information of the battery pack (voltage detector 303/105, current
`
`detector 302/104, communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer para [0022-0024]);
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`and an information processing unit that receives the condition information of the battery
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`pack from the condition detection unit and outputs the received condition information of
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`the battery pack to a communication unit (the communication unit 304
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`communicates with the communication unit 106 in the battery pack 100 and
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`receives the battery state information, refer fig.1, para [0025-0028]), further
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`comprising a charger body (charger 200, fig.1) that accommodates the charging unit,
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`the condition detection unit, and the information processing unit (refer fig.1 that
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`discloses the charger 200 including AC/DC converter 202, the charging control IC
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`203, a current control device 204, a current detecting device 208, a display unit
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`206, and a charger microcomputer 301), the charger body (charger 200) includes: a
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 5
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`plurality of terminals of the charger body that are respectively connectable to a plurality
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`of electrodes of the battery pack (refer fig.1 that shows + and — terminals of charger
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`200 and battery pack 100 that are respectively connectable).
`
`Abe fails to teach, configured to perform wireless communication with another
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`device in accordance with a near field communication standard, wherein the condition
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`information includes information specifying that the charging of the battery pack is
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`completed.
`
`Arashima et al. teaches, configured to perform wireless communication with
`
`another device in accordance with a near field communication standard (The controller
`
`10 according to the present embodiment is configured to communicate with an
`
`external device (e.g., the user terminal 500) via the RFID tag 20 and the antenna
`
`15. The RFID tag 20 is an example of a communication device that employs
`
`wireless communication technology such as NFC-based communication
`
`technology and RFID technology, para [0091], refer fig.1, 13), wherein the condition
`
`information includes information specifying that the charging of the battery pack is
`
`completed (The controller 50 of the user terminal 500 receives the notification that
`
`the charging to the battery 7 is completed from the battery apparatus 120 via the
`
`established communication path, para[0354-0355], fig.13).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify the
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`charger of Abe with the battery apparatus with a communication unit configured to
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`communicate with an external device as taught by Arashima et al. such that to prevent
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 6
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`from overcharging or over discharging and to detect any abnormal state of a battery
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`(para 0002, 0004).
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`Regarding claim 5, Abe teaches a charger that charges a battery unit
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`comprising; a battery pack of a power tool (battery pack 100, fig.1); a power tool
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`charger (charger 200) that charges a battery pack (100, fig.1) of a power tool (in view
`
`of broadest reasonable interpretation, charger 200 is interpreted as a power tool
`
`charger that is capable of charging the battery pack of the power tool), wherein the
`
`power tool charger (charger 200, fig.1) includes; a charging unit (charger 200, fig.1)
`
`that supplies direct current power (AC/DC converter 202, fig.1) to at least one battery
`
`cell of the battery pack (battery pack 100, fig.1) for charging a rechargeable battery of
`
`a power tool (refer fig.1 that shows the charger 200 to charge the battery pack 100
`
`when attached to the charger); a condition detection unit that detects condition
`
`information of the battery pack (voltage detector 303/105, current detector 302/104,
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`communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer para [0022-0024]); and an information
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`processing unit that receives the condition information of the battery pack from the
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`condition detection unit (the communication unit 304 communicates with the
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`communication unit 106 in the battery pack 100 and receives the battery state
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`information, refer fig.1, para [0025-0028]), the power tool charger further including a
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`charger body (charger 200, fig.1) that accommodates the charging unit, the condition
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`detection unit, and the information processing unit (refer fig.1 that discloses the
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`charger 200 including AC/DC converter 202, the charging control IC 203, a current
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 7
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`control device 204, a current detecting device 208, a display unit 206, and a
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`charger microcomputer 301), the charger body (charger 200) includes: a plurality of
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`terminals of the charger body that are respectively connectable to a plurality of
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`electrodes of the battery pack (refer fig.1 that shows + and — terminals of charger
`
`200 and battery pack 100 that are respectively connectable), wherein the condition
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`information includes information regarding whether or not the charging of the battery
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`pack is completed (in step 8005, it is determined whether the charging of the
`
`battery pack 100 attached to the charger 200 is completed, fig.2, para [0028]).
`
`Abe fails to teach, configured to perform wireless communication with another
`
`device in accordance with a near field communication standard, wherein the condition
`
`information includes information specifying that the charging of the battery pack is
`
`completed.
`
`Arashima et al. teaches, configured to perform wireless communication with
`
`another device in accordance with a near field communication standard (The controller
`
`10 according to the present embodiment is configured to communicate with an
`
`external device (e.g., the user terminal 500) via the RFID tag 20 and the antenna
`
`15. The RFID tag 20 is an example of a communication device that employs
`
`wireless communication technology such as NFC-based communication
`
`technology and RFID technology, para [0091], refer fig.1, 13), wherein the condition
`
`information includes information specifying that the charging of the battery pack is
`
`completed (The controller 50 of the user terminal 500 receives the notification that
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 8
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`the charging to the battery 7 is completed from the battery apparatus 120 via the
`
`established communication path, para[0354-0355], fig.13).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify the
`
`charger of Abe with the battery apparatus with a communication unit configured to
`
`communicate with an external device as taught by Arashima et al. such that to prevent
`
`from overcharging or over discharging and to detect any abnormal state of a battery
`
`(para 0002, 0004).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
`
`charger according to claim 1. Abe further teaches, wherein the battery pack remains
`
`external to the charger when the battery pack is connected to the charger (refer fig.1
`
`that clearly discloses the battery pack 100 is separate unit when connected to the
`
`charger 200).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
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`charger according to claim 1. Abe further teaches, wherein the plurality of terminals of
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`the charger body is at least partially arranged on an outer surface of the charger body
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`(refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the we and —ve terminals on an outer surface of
`
`the charger 200).
`
`Regarding claim 9, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
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`charger according to claim 5. Abe further teaches, wherein the battery pack remains
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 9
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`external to the charger when the battery pack is connected to the charger (refer fig.1
`
`that clearly discloses the battery pack 100 is separate unit when connected to the
`
`charger 200).
`
`Regarding claim 10, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
`
`charger according to claim 9. Abe further teaches, wherein the plurality of terminals of
`
`the charger body is at least partially arranged on an outer surface of the charger body
`
`(refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the we and —ve terminals on an outer surface of
`
`the charger 200).
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in view of Arashima et al. (US 2016/0087314 A1) with further view of
`
`Huang (US 2015/0171638 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
`
`charger according to claim 1. Abe teaches the condition detection unit detects the
`
`condition information of the rechargeable battery (voltage detector 303/105, current
`
`detector 302/104, communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer para [0022-0024]),
`
`and the information processing unit outputs the condition information of the
`
`rechargeable battery detected by the condition detection unit to the communication unit
`
`(the communication unit 304 communicates with the communication unit 106 in
`
`the battery pack 100 and receives the battery state information, refer fig.1, para
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 10
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`[0025-0028]). Abe in view of Arashima et al. fails to teach, wherein the condition
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`detection unit detects the condition information of the rechargeable battery regardless of
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`whether or not the charging unit is charging the rechargeable battery.
`
`Huang teaches, wherein the condition detection unit detects the condition
`
`information of the rechargeable battery regardless of whether or not the charging unit is
`
`charging the rechargeable battery (continuously receiving the battery information
`
`from a battery management system in each rechargeable battery, also refer para
`
`[0031]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine the
`
`teachings of Huang into a system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. such that for
`
`charging the rechargeable battery having the minimal value of the battery information
`
`(abstract) and which can control every rechargeable battery to increase state of charge
`
`in a consistent path (para 0007).
`
`Claims 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in view of Arashima et al. (US 2016/0087314 A1) with further view of
`
`Jones (US 2011/0248576 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
`
`charger according to claim 1. Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches all the claimed
`
`limitations except for, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 11
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`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
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`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery.
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`Jones teaches, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
`
`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery (the receiver may receive
`
`a control signal from a remote control device ......... the processor may identify a
`
`control signal to turn off the battery charger, para [0010], also refer claim 2).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine a
`
`remote control device for turning off the battery charger as taught by Jones within a
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`charging system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. which prevents battery chargers from
`
`consuming energy while not actually connected to a battery pack, but which also gives
`
`users the convenience of leaving the battery chargers plugged into the same electrical
`
`outlet at all times (para 0006).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches the power tool
`
`charger according to claim 5. Abe in view of Arashima et al. teaches all the claimed
`
`limitations except for, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
`
`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery.
`
`Jones teaches, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
`
`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery (the receiver may receive
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 12
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`a control signal from a remote control device ......... the processor may identify a
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`control signal to turn off the battery charger, para [0010]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine a
`
`remote control device for turning off the battery charger as taught by Jones within a
`
`charging system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. which prevents battery chargers from
`
`consuming energy while not actually connected to a battery pack, but which also gives
`
`users the convenience of leaving the battery chargers plugged into the same electrical
`
`outlet at all times (para 0006).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SAILESH THAPA whose telephone number is (469)295-
`
`9108. The examiner can normally be reached on IFP.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Drew Dunn can be reached on 571-272—2312. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this 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 access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 13
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`Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO
`
`Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call
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`800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272—1 000.
`
`/S. T./
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`Drew A. Dunn
`
`/Drew A. Dunn/
`
`