UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
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`15/637,449
`
`06/29/2017
`
`Hirofumi KONISHI
`
`HOKUP0356US
`
`4787
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`YANG AMYX
`
`ART UNIT
`2844
`
`PAPER NUMBER
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`12/04/2019
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/637,449
`Examiner
`AMY x YANG
`
`Applicant(s)
`KONISHI et al.
`Art Unit
`2844
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
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`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 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.
`|f 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).
`
`Status
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 06/26/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)[:] This action is FINAL.
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`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] 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.
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`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 Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s)
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`1—13 and 17—21 is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`
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`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(ss)1— and 12—21 is/are rejected.
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`Claim(ss)3—_11is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentsflnit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
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`Application Papers
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`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`is/are: a)[:| accepted or b)D objected to by the Examiner.
`11):] The drawing(s) filed on
`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).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`12). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a). All
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`b)C] Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`SD 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)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190319
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`1.
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 102
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`2.
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
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`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art
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`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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`3.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
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`basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless ,
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`(a)(l) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or
`otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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`(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for
`patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the
`case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the
`claimed invention.
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`4.
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`Claim(s) 1-2, and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(2) as being
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`anticipated by Chemel et al. (US 2011/0001436 A1).
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`5.
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`Regarding claim 1, Chemel discloses a signal transmitter (Fig. la—1b), comprising a
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`power supply configured to receive DC power to supply a DC output voltage to a light fixture
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`([0057][00194] Fig. 21 A); an external signal (sensors[0030]) receiver configured to receive an
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`external instruction signal that represents a lighting state of the light fixture based on an output of
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`a sensor ([0030] [0360] 120 Fig. 1a—b) configured to detect a state of a lighting space illuminated
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`by the light fixture [0030] ;([0132]) and a communication controller (power management module
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`PMM 112 and light management module118) configured to control signal transmission to the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 3
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`light fixture by controlling the power supply([003 87]), the communication controller being
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`configured to change an output voltage level of the power supply to transmit(PMM), to the light
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`fixture, a transmission signal for setting the light fixture to the lighting state represented by at
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`least the external instruction signal([003 87]).
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`6.
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`Regarding claim 2, Chemel discloses the signal transmitter of claim 1, wherein the
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`transmission signal contains identification data uniquely assigned to the light fixture [0384], and
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`control data representing the lighting state for the light fixture [0387].
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`7.
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`Regarding claim 13, Chemel discloses the signal transmitter of claim 1, wherein the
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`lighting state represents at least one of a color temperature and a dimming amount of the lighting
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`fixture [0175].
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`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 103
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`8.
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
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`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art
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`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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`9.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
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`rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`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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`10.
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`Claims 12, and 17-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Chemel as applied to claim 1 above, and further in View of Yao (US 20140145645A1).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 4
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`11.
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`Regarding claim 12, Cheme1 discloses the signal transmitter of claim 1, except wherein
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`the communication controller is configured to change the output voltage level between a first
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`voltage level and a second voltage level to transmit the transmission signal.
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`12.
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`Yao discloses a controller is configured to change the output voltage level between a first
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`voltage level and a second voltage level to transmit the transmission signal (two voltage outputs
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`for dimming [0033]).
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`13.
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`Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art to adjust the output voltage to a first and second voltage as disclosed in Yao to the
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`system of Cheme1 to provide an easy way to provide dimming with a simple circuit.
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`14.
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`Regarding claim 17, Cheme1 discloses the signal transmitter of claim 1, except wherein
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`the communication controller is configured to: adjust the output voltage level to a first voltage
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`level by making a detection value of the DC output voltage accord with a first target value; and
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`adjust the output voltage level to a second voltage level by making the detection value of the DC
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`output voltage accord with a second target value.
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`15.
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`Yao discloses controller is configured to: adjust the output voltage level to a first voltage
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`level by making a detection value of the DC output voltage accord with a first target value; and
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`adjust the output voltage level to a second voltage level by making the detection value of the DC
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`output voltage accord with a second target value ([0033]).
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`16.
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`Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art to adjust the output voltage to a first and second voltage as disclosed in Yao to the
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`system of Cheme1 to provide an easy way to provide dimming with a simple circuit.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 5
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`17.
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`Regarding claim 18, Chemel discloses a lighting system, comprising a signal transmitter
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`of claim 1, except an AC/DC converter configured to receive AC power to supply the DC power
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`to the signal transmitter, and the light fixture.
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`18.
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`Yao disclose an AC/DC converter configured to receive AC power to supply the DC
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`power to the signal transmitter, and the light fixture (Fig. 1 [0022—23]).
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`19.
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`Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art to include an AC/DC converter as disclosed in Yao to the system of Chemel to
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`allow the system to be used with AC power.
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`20.
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`Regarding claim 19, Chemel discloses a lighting system, comprising signal
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`transmitters(Fig. la—1b), and light fixture sets that are electrically connected to the signal
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`transmitters, respectively, each of the light fixture sets comprising at least a light fixture(light
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`module Fig. 26), wherein each of the signal transmitters comprises: a power supply configured to
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`receive the DC power to supply a DC output voltage to a corresponding light fixture
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`set([0057][00194] Fig. 21 A); an external signal (sensors[0030]) receiver configured to receive
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`an external instruction signal that represents a lighting state of the corresponding light fixture set
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`based on an output of a sensor configured to detect a state of a lighting space illuminated by the
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`corresponding light fixture set ([0030]([0132]); and a communication controller (power
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`management module PMM 112 and light management modulel 18) configured to control signal
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`transmission to the corresponding light fixture set by controlling the power supply ([003 87]),
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`the
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`communication controller being configured to change an output voltage level of the power
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`supply to transmit(PMM), to the corresponding light fixture set, a transmission signal for setting
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`the corresponding light fixture set to the lighting state represented by at least the external
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`instruction signal ([003 87]).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 6
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`21.
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`Chemel does not specify one AC/DC converter configured to receive AC power to supply
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`DC power to each of the signal transmitters.
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`22.
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`Yao disclose an AC/DC converter configured to receive AC power to supply the DC
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`power to the signal transmitter (Fig. 1 [0022—23]).
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`23.
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`Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art to include an AC/DC converter as disclosed in Yao to the system of Chemel to
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`allow the system to be used with AC power.
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`24.
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`Regarding claim 20, Chemel discloses the lighting system of claim 19, wherein the
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`transmission signal contains identification data uniquely assigned to the light fixture, and control
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`data representing the lighting state for the light fixture [0175].
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`25.
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`Regarding claim 21, Chemel discloses a light fixture, comprising: a light source; a
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`constant current circuit configured to receive a DC output voltage to supply a load current to the
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`light source, the DC output voltage being input via two power supply lines from the signal
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`transmitter of claim 1; and a signal receiver configured to monitor the DC output
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`voltage([0371]), the signal receiver being configured to detect a change in the output voltage
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`level to acquire a transmission signal and adjust a lighting state of the light fixture by controlling
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`the constant current circuit based on data of the transmission signal([0371]).
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`26.
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`Chemel does not specify a constant current circuit configured to receive a DC output
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`voltage to supply a load current to the light source and controlling the constant current circuit.
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`27.
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`Yao discloses constant current circuit ([0006]) configured to receive a DC output voltage
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`to supply a load current to the light source and controlling the constant current circuit ([0006]).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 7
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`28.
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`Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would be obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art to include constant current circuit of Yao to the system of Chemel as a known way
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`to drive and control the LEDs.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`29.
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`Claims 3—11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be
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`allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and
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`any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`30.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to AMY X YANG whose telephone number is (571)270—5498. The
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`examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Friday,9am—6pm, EST.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in—person, and video conferencing using
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`a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Alexander Taningco can be reached on (571)272—8048. The fax phone number for
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571—273—8300.
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`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
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`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
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`system, see https://ppair—my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/637,449
`Art Unit: 2844
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`Page 8
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`the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866—217—9197 (toll—
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`free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to
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`1000.
`
`/AMY X YANG/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2844
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`/DEDEI K HAMMOND/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844
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`