`
`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
`
`
`
`
`
`15/266,381
`
`09/15/2016
`
`TSUTOMU SAKATA
`
`PANDP0175US
`
`8361
`
`03/29/2018 —MARK D. SARALINO (PAN) m
`7590
`51921
`RENNER, OTTO, BOIS SELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`KESSIE’ DANIEL
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`2836
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/29/2018
`
`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)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application No.
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`
` _ _ _ _ 15/266,381 SAKATA ET AL.
`
`
`Examiner-Initiated Interwew Summary
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`
`
`
`
`
`All participants (applicant, applicant’s representative, PTO personnel):
`
`(1) DAN/EL KESS/E.
`
`DANIEL KESSIE
`
`2836
`
`(2) Mark D Sara/ino.
`
`Date of Interview: 16 March 2018.
`
`Type:
`
`IZI Telephonic D Video Conference
`D Personal [copy given to: D applicant D applicant’s representative]
`
`Exhibit shown or demonstration conducted: D Yes
`If Yes, brief description:
`
`D No.
`
`Issues Discussed D101 D112 D102 D103 IXlOthers
`(For each of the checked box(es) above, please describe below the issue and detailed description of the discussion)
`
`Claim(s) discussed: 1-3 and 5-15.
`
`Identification of prior art discussed: M.
`
`Substance of Interview
`(For each issue discussed, provide a detailed description and indicate if agreement was reached. Some topics may include: identification or clarification of a
`reference or a portion thereof, claim interpretation, proposed amendments, arguments of any applied references etc...)
`
`Discussed filing a TD because the claims are identical to 15/199408.
`
`
`
`Applicant recordation instructions:
`
`It is not necessary for applicant to provide a separate record of the substance of interview.
`
`Examiner recordation instructions: Examiners must summarize the substance of any interview of record. A complete and proper recordation of the
`substance of an interview should include the items listed in MPEP 713.04 for complete and proper recordation including the identification of the
`general thrust of each argument or issue discussed, a general indication of any other pertinent matters discussed regarding patentability and the
`general results or outcome of the interview, to include an indication as to whether or not agreement was reached on the issues raised.
`
`D Attachment
`/DAN|EL KESSIE/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`PTOL-41sB (Rev. 8/11/2010)
`
`Interview Summary
`
`Paper No. 20180315
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/266,381 SAKATA ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`DANIEL KESSIE $2213 2836
`
`-- 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 05/11/2017.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|ZI This action is non-final.
`2a)|:l This action is FINAL.
`3)|:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`; 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
`
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-3 and 5-15 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)|:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1 --3and5 15is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|: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
`:/'I’\WIIW.LIsmo. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`i1/index.‘s 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 09/15/2016 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.IXI 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) m 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
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180315
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 2
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Claim Objections
`
`2.
`
`Claims 1, 3, 6, 8-11 and 14 objected to because of the following informalities: the claims contains
`
`“if statement” and should be amended to “when”. Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Double Patenting
`
`3.
`
`A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the
`
`language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process...
`
`may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context,
`
`means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894);
`
`In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330
`
`(CCPA 1957).
`
`A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or
`
`amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope.
`
`The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C.
`
`101.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 5-15 provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention
`
`as that of claim 1-15 of copending Application No. 15/199408. This is a provisional statutory double
`
`patenting rejection since the claims directed to the same invention have not in fact been patented.
`
`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`IN GEN ERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the
`(a)
`invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise,
`and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 3
`
`is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode
`contemplated by the inventor orjoint inventor of carrying out the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112:
`
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the
`manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to
`enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly
`connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the
`inventor of carrying out his invention.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 5-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), first
`
`paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject
`
`matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled
`
`in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the
`
`application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
`
`Claims 1 recites “ A power transmitting device comprising: a transmitter resonator that is
`
`electromagnetically coupled with a receiver resonator of a power receiving device and that transmits
`
`transmitting power; an inverter circuit that generates the transmitting power to be output to the transmitter
`
`resonator; and a power transmission control circuit that adjusts the transmitting power output from the
`
`inverter circuit by adjusting a control parameter O that determines a voltage of the transmitting power
`
`based on information indicating a voltage inside the power receiving device, the information being input
`
`from the power receiving device, wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a
`
`beginning of power transmission and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range,
`
`the power transmission control circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1 , which is a
`
`beginning of a first unit time, and transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first
`
`unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines
`
`a voltage of the transmitting power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a
`
`control parameter Q(t4) that determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an
`
`end of the second unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference
`
`AP = P(t2) - P(t1) and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the AP is
`
`equal to or larger than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 4
`
`second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between
`
`the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from
`
`the inverter circuit, and wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the
`
`A0 is smaller than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is
`
`no foreign object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter
`
`circuit to continue transmitting the same transmitting power, and wherein the control parameter Q
`
`includes at least either a parameter that determines an output period ratio, which is a ratio of a period of
`
`time for which the voltage output from the inverter circuit is not zero to one period of the voltage, or a
`
`frequency of the voltage.”
`
`However the is no support in the originally filed specification for the “and a power transmission
`
`control circuit that adjusts the transmitting power output from the inverter circuit by adjusting a control
`
`parameter O that determines a voltage of the transmitting power based on information indicating a
`
`voltage inside the power receiving device, the information being input from the power receiving device,
`
`wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a beginning of power transmission
`
`and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range, the power transmission control
`
`circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1, which is a beginning of a first unit time, and
`
`transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first unit time, wherein the power
`
`transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines a voltage of the transmitting
`
`power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a control parameter Q(t4) that
`
`determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an end of the second unit time,
`
`wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference AP = P(t2) - P(t1) and a
`
`difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the AP is equal to or larger than a first
`
`threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a second threshold, the power
`
`transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between the receiver resonator and
`
`the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from the inverter circuit, and
`
`wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the A0 is smaller than the
`
`second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is no foreign object
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 5
`
`between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter circuit to continue
`
`transmitting the same transmitting power, and wherein the control parameter Q includes at least either a
`
`parameter that determines an output period ratio, which is a ratio of a period of time for which the voltage
`
`output from the inverter circuit is not zero to one period of the voltage, or a frequency of the voltage.”
`
`Independent claims 8 and 11 are analogous to claim 1 and are rejected as patent ineligible
`
`following the same reasoning.
`
`7.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 5-15 are directed to a controlling having an algorithm to determine foreign object.
`
`However the specification does not include or disclose any detection of foreign object and does not
`
`address the claims set forth.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 5-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), first
`
`paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter
`
`which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it
`
`pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention.
`
`For respect to Claims 1, 8 and 11, the claim recites “power transmission control circuit that
`
`adjusts the transmitting power output from the inverter circuit by adjusting a control parameter O that
`
`determines a voltage of the transmitting power based on information indicating a voltage inside the power
`
`receiving device, the information being input from the power receiving device”
`
`However the specification does not provide any information on how the control circuit could adjust
`
`the transmitting power output from the inverter circuit and also does not disclose any information on the
`
`control parameter Q or how the control parameter Q is generated. Also the specification need not contain
`
`an example if the invention is otherwise disclosed in such manner that one skilled in the art will be able to
`
`practice it without an undue amount of experimentation, However with the specification provided, the
`
`specification lacks description in such manner that one skilled in the art will be able to practice it without
`
`an undue amount of experimentation.
`
`Also there were no details in the specification of how the parts should be interconnected, timed
`
`and controlled so as to obtain the specific operations desired by the applicant as claimed.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 6
`
`Claims directed to a device of determining as claimed failed to comply with enablement
`
`requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112 because certain computer programming details used to perform claimed
`
`functions were not disclosed in the specification, and the record showed that a person of skill in art would
`
`not understand how to " adjusting a control parameter Q” as recited in the claims in order to perform the
`
`claimed invention.
`
`Furthermore the claim recites wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a
`
`beginning of power transmission and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range,
`
`the power transmission control circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1, which is a
`
`beginning of a first unit time, and transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first
`
`unit time,” [the claim is summarized as (determines power at the beginning of the transmission and
`
`determines power at the end of the transmission)].
`
`However the specification is missing information about one or more essential parts or
`
`relationships between parts which one skilled in the art could not develop without undue experimentation.
`
`For example, the specification does not provide information on determining the P(t1) and P(t2) because
`
`the specification does not include or recite any means of determining power at the beginning of the initial
`
`power P(t1) and the final power P(t2).
`
`The specification lacks description in such manner that one skilled in the art will be able to
`
`practice it without an undue amount of experimentation.
`
`Also there were no details in the specification of how the parts should be interconnected, timed
`
`and controlled so as to obtain the specific operations desired by the applicant as claimed.
`
`Claims 1, 8 and 11 directed to a device of determining as claimed failed to comply with
`
`enablement requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112 because certain computer programming details used to
`
`perform claimed functions were not disclosed in the specification, and the record showed that a person of
`
`skill in art would not understand how to " adjusting a control parameter Q as recited in the claims in order
`
`to perform the claimed invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 7
`
`wherein the power transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines a voltage
`
`of the transmitting power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a control
`
`parameter Q(t4) that determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an end
`
`of the second unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference AP
`
`= P(t2) - P(t1) and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q,
`
`[the claim is summarized as (determines voltage at the beginning of a second transmission and
`
`determines voltage at the end of the transmission)]
`
`The specification does not provide enablement on how to set the time (T1, T2). There isn’t any
`
`indication of separation, there is no indication on how much time passes between the sensing events.
`
`One skill in the art would not be able to measure time Without undue experimentation in order to find the
`
`right value of time for the system to capture delta P to determine foreign object.
`
`For instance they would have to test and try numerals time in order to determine the appropriate
`
`time Windows to set in order to capture presence of foreign object.
`
`wherein, if the AP is equal to or larger than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or
`
`larger than a second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign
`
`object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting
`
`power output from the inverter circuit, and
`
`wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the A0 is smaller
`
`than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is no foreign
`
`object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter circuit to
`
`continue transmitting the same transmitting power,”
`
`Claims 1, 8 and 11 recites wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power
`
`difference AP = P(t2) - P(t1) and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 8
`
`AP is equal to or larger than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a
`
`second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between
`
`the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from
`
`the inverter circuit, and wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the
`
`A0 is smaller than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is
`
`no foreign object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter
`
`circuit to continue transmitting the same transmitting power, and wherein the control parameter Q
`
`includes at least either a parameter that determines an output period ratio, which is a ratio of a period of
`
`time for which the voltage output from the inverter circuit is not zero to one period of the voltage, or a
`
`frequency of the voltage.
`
`However the specification does not disclose what the first and second threshold is and how to
`
`ascertain those thresholds. In order to determine both or either the first and second threshold, an undue
`
`experimentation to find the right value of threshold. Furthermore does not even disclose that the
`
`thresholds is rated according to either time or power characteristics, that is power itself or voltage,
`
`current, frequency etc. since the units of the threshold is unknown, one of the ordinary skill in the art
`
`wouldn’t be able to compare delta P and delta Q with it motivated by the desire to determine the presence
`
`of foreign object.
`
`The dependent claims is also subjected to the same 112 enablement rejection since they fail to
`
`remedy a cure to the 112 (a) deficiency o the independent claims.
`
`8.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly
`pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 1-3, 5-15 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph,
`
`as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the
`
`inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 9
`
`10.
`
`Claim 1 recites “ A power transmitting device comprising: a transmitter resonator that is
`
`electromagnetically coupled with a receiver resonator of a power receiving device and that transmits
`
`transmitting power; an inverter circuit that generates the transmitting power to be output to the transmitter
`
`resonator; and a power transmission control circuit that adjusts the transmitting power output from the
`
`inverter circuit by adjusting a control parameter O that determines a voltage of the transmitting power
`
`based on information indicating a voltage inside the power receiving device, the information being input
`
`from the power receiving device, wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a
`
`beginning of power transmission and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range,
`
`the power transmission control circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1 , which is a
`
`beginning of a first unit time, and transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first
`
`unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines
`
`a voltage of the transmitting power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a
`
`control parameter Q(t4) that determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an
`
`end of the second unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference
`
`AP = P(t2) - P(t1) and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the AP is
`
`equal to or larger than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a
`
`second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between
`
`the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from
`
`the inverter circuit, and wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the
`
`A0 is smaller than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is
`
`no foreign object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter
`
`circuit to continue transmitting the same transmitting power, and wherein the control parameter Q
`
`includes at least either a parameter that determines an output period ratio, which is a ratio of a period of
`
`time for which the voltage output from the inverter circuit is not zero to one period of the voltage, or a
`
`frequency of the voltage.”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 10
`
`The claim 1 recites “a power transmission control circuit that adjusts the transmitting power output from
`
`the inverter circuit by adjusting a control parameter O that determines a voltage of the transmitting power
`
`based on information indicating a voltage inside the power receiving device, the information being input
`
`from the power receiving device, wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a
`
`beginning of power transmission and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range,
`
`the power transmission control circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1, which is a
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`beginning of a first unit time, and transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first
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`unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines
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`a voltage of the transmitting power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a
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`control parameter Q(t4) that determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an
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`end of the second unit time, wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference
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`AP = P(t2) - P(t1) and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the AP is
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`equal to or larger than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a
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`second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between
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`the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from
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`the inverter circuit, and wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the
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`A0 is smaller than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is
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`no foreign object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter
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`circuit to continue transmitting the same transmitting power, and wherein the control parameter Q
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`includes at least either a parameter that determines an output period ratio, which is a ratio of a period of
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`time for which the voltage output from the inverter circuit is not zero to one period of the voltage, or a
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`frequency of the voltage.”
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`However it’s unclear how the recitation beginning from “a power transmission control circuit” and
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`ending with “a frequency of the voltage.” is performed. The specification was consulted for clarification
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`to understand the claims and has no support.
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`Independent claims 8 and 11 are analogous to claim 1 and are rejected as patent ineligible
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`following the same reasoning.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
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`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 11
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`At best the claims 1-3 and 5-15 are best understood as a power transmitting device comprising: a
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`transmitter resonator that is electromagnetically coupled with a receiver resonator of a power receiving
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`device and that transmits transmitting power; an inverter circuit that generates the transmitting power to
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`be output to the transmitter resonator;
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`1.
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`35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
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`Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture,
`or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain
`a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
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`Claims 1-3 and 5-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed
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`to a judicial exception (Le. a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without
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`significantly more. For instance, claim 1 are directed to an abstract idea, as follows (the abstract part of
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`the claim is in normal font and the “additional elements” are in bold):
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`A power transmitting device comprising: a transmitter resonator that is eiectromegneticaiiy counted
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`with a receiver resonator of a power receiving device and that transmits transmitting power; an inverter circuit
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`that generates the transmitting power to be output to the transmitter resonator; and
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`power transmission control circuit that adjusts the transmitting power output from the
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`inverter circuit by adjusting a control parameter O that determines a voltage of the transmitting power
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`based on information indicating a voltage inside the power receiving device, the information being input
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`from the power receiving device,
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`wherein, in a state in which a predetermined period has elapsed since a beginning of power
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`transmission and the transmitting power has converged within a predetermined range, the power
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`transmission control circuit determines transmitting power P(t1) at a first time t1, which is a beginning of a
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`first unit time, and transmitting power P(t2) at a second time t2, which is an end of the first unit time,
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/266,381
`
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 12
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`wherein the power transmission control circuit stores a control parameter Q(t3) that determines a
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`voltage of the transmitting power at a third time t3, which is a beginning of a second unit time, and a
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`control parameter Q(t4) that determines a voltage of the transmitting power at a fourth time t4, which is an
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`end of the second unit time,
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`wherein the power transmission control circuit determines a power difference AP = P(t2) - P(t1)
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`and a difference A0 = Q(t4) - Q(t3) in the control parameter Q, wherein, if the AP is equal to or larger
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`than a first threshold and an absolute value of the A0 is equal to or larger than a second threshold, the
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`power transmission control circuit determines that there is a foreign object between the receiver resonator
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`and the transmitter resonator and decreases the transmitting power output from the inverter circuit, and
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`wherein, if the AP is smaller than the first threshold or if the absolute value of the A0 is smaller
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`than the second threshold, the power transmission control circuit determines that there is no foreign
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`object between the receiver resonator and the transmitter resonator and causes the inverter circuit to
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`continue transmitting the same transmitting power, and w