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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`15/936,779
`
`03/27/2018
`
`Masanobu MURAKAMI
`
`HOKUP0376US
`
`3443
`
`MARKD. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`ISTH FLOOR
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`YANG, AMY X
`
`2844
`
`08/25/2021
`
`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 @rennerotto.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/936,779
`Examiner
`AMY X YANG
`
`Applicant(s)
`MURAKAM| etal.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2844
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133}.
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 01/14/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1.and 3-17 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s)
`1 and 3-17 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)() objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210813
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`1.
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in
`
`37 CFR 1.17(e), wasfiled in this application after final rejection. Since this application is
`
`eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e)
`
`has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuantto
`
`37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 01/14/2021 has been entered.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`2.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 5, and 8 have been considered but are
`
`moot because the new ground ofrejection had be applied including new prior arts Kitagawa
`
`(JP2014-148253) and Ido (JP2011-106987) to address the newly addedlimitations.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to ATA 35 U.S.C.
`
`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
`
`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new groundof rejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
`
`4,
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
`
`rejectionsset forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`5.
`
`Claim(s) 1, 3-7 and 15-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Nakamura (US 2013/0320850 A1) in view of Kitagawa (JP2014-148253).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 3
`
`6.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7 and 8 a lighting device for lighting an
`
`illumination load in whicha first light source block (51) including one or morefirst light sources
`
`and a secondlight source block (52) including one or more second light sources are coupled in
`
`series with each other, the lighting device comprising: a power conversion circuit (2) configured
`
`to supply a DC load currentto the illumination load; a switching circuit (4) including a switch
`
`(41) unit configured to be coupled in parallel with the second light source block; and a control
`
`circuit(6 and 4), wherein: the switch unit includesaseries circuit of a switching element and a
`
`resistor(41 and 411[0108]); the control circuit is configured to keep the switching elementoff to
`
`changea state of the illumination loadtoafirst state, the first state being a state of the
`
`illumination load wherethe first light source block and the second light source blockare lit
`
`(when switch 41 is off both 51 and 52 produce light [0062]);the control circuit is configured to
`
`keep the switching element on to changethestate of the illumination load to a secondstate, the
`
`second state being a state of the illumination load wherethefirst light source blockis lit and the
`
`second light source block is extinguished(when 41 is switched on only 51 produceslight and 52
`
`is bypassed [0062]); and a resistance of the resistor is set to such that, while the switching
`
`elementis on, a value of a voltage across the switch unit is smaller than a value of a voltage
`
`across the second light source block which causes the second light source block to star lighting (
`
`the on resistance of the active element is dependentonresistor 41 land 424 [0111] [0062]).
`
`7.
`
`Nakamura does not specify wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on and off the
`
`switching elementat least one time during transition of the state of the illumination load from the
`
`first state to the secondstate.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 4
`
`8.
`
`Kitagawadiscloses the control circuit is configured to turn on and off the switching
`
`elementat least one time during transition of the state of the illumination load from thefirst state
`
`to the secondstate (constant current source 6 switches at least one time [0026-27] Fig. 3 and 5).
`
`9.
`
`Before the effective filing date of the invention it would be obvious to include the
`
`switching on and off as disclosed in Kitagawainto the system of Nakamura to provide proper
`
`dimming control and prevent overshoot and undershoot(Kitagawa: [0026]).
`
`10.
`
`Regarding claim 3, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device according
`
`to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on and off the switching elementto
`
`providea first switching time period in which an off-time period and an on-time period of the
`
`switching element occuralternately during transition of the state of the illuminating load from
`
`the first state to the second state (Kitagawa: [0026-27] Fig. 3 and 5).
`
`11.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device according
`
`to claim 3, wherein in the first switching time period, the off-time period is shorter than the on-
`
`time period (Kitagawa: depending on the duty cycle of PWM control the off period can be
`
`shorter than the on period 100-90%[0026])
`
`12.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7 and 8 a lighting device for lighting an
`
`illumination load in whicha first light source block (51) including one or morefirst light sources
`
`and a secondlight source block (52) including one or more second light sources are coupled in
`
`series with each other, the lighting device comprising: a power conversion circuit (2) configured
`
`to supply a DC load currentto the illumination load; a switching circuit (4) including a switch
`
`(41) unit configured to be coupled in parallel with the second light source block; and a control
`
`circuit(6 and 4), wherein: the switch unit includesaseries circuit of a switching element and a
`
`resistor(41 and 411[0108]); the control circuit is configured to keep the switching elementoff to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 5
`
`changea state of the illumination loadtoafirst state, the first state being a state of the
`
`illumination load wherethe first light source block and the second light source blockare lit
`
`(when switch 41 is off both 51 and 52 produce light [0062]);the control circuit is configured to
`
`keep the switching element on to changethestate of the illumination load to a secondstate, the
`
`second state being a state of the illumination load wherethefirst light source blockis lit and the
`
`second light source block is extinguished(when 41 is switched on only 51 produceslight and 52
`
`is bypassed [0062]); and a resistance of the resistor is set to such that, while the switching
`
`elementis on, a value of a voltage across the switch unit is smaller than a value of a voltage
`
`across the second light source block which causes the second light source block to star lighting (
`
`the on resistance of the active element is dependentonresistor 41 land 424 [0111] [0062]).
`
`13.
`
`Nakamura doesnot specify wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on and off the
`
`switching elementat least one time during transition of the state of the illumination load from the
`
`secondstate to the first state (Kitagawa: undershootis prevented [0026-27] Fig. 3 and 5).
`
`14.
`
`Regarding claim 6, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device according
`
`to claim 5, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on and off the switching elementto
`
`provide a second switching time period in which an off-time period and an on-time period of the
`
`switching element occuralternately during transition of the state of the illumination load from
`
`the secondstate to the first state (Kitagawa: [0026-27] Fig. 3 and 5).
`
`15.
`
`Regarding claim 7, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device according
`
`to claim 6, wherein in the second switching time period, the on-timeperiod is shorter than the
`
`off- time period (Kitagawa: depending on the duty cycle of PWM control the off period can be
`
`shorter than the on period 100-90%[0026]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 6
`
`16.
`
`Regarding claim 15, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 a lighting device according
`
`to claim 1, wherein the one or morefirst light sources and the one or more second light sources
`
`each are a solid light emitting device(light emitting diodes 51 and 52[0004], Fig. 23).
`
`17.
`
`Regarding claim 16, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 a vehicle headlamp
`
`comprising: the lighting device according to claim 1; a lamp body wherethe lighting deviceis
`
`attached; and the illumination load to belit by the lighting device (used in headlamp [0005], fig.
`
`23).
`
`18.
`
`Regarding claim 17, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7 and 8 a lighting device according to
`
`claim 1, vehicle comprising: the vehicle headlamp according to claim 16; and a vehicle body
`
`where the vehicle headlamp is mounted (headlamp part of a vehicle [0004-5], Fig 23).
`
`19.
`
`Claim(s) 8-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Nakamura (US 2013/0320850 A1) in view of Ido (JP2011-106987).
`
`20.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7 and 8 a lighting device for lighting an
`
`illumination load in whicha first light source block (51) including one or morefirst light sources
`
`and a secondlight source block (52) including one or more second light sources are coupled in
`
`series with each other, the lighting device comprising: a power conversion circuit (2) configured
`
`to supply a DC load currentto the illumination load; a switching circuit (4) including a switch
`
`(41) unit configured to be coupled in parallel with the second light source block; and a control
`
`circuit(6 and 4), wherein: the switch unit includesaseries circuit of a switching element and a
`
`resistor(41 and 411[0108]); the control circuit is configured to keep the switching elementoff to
`
`changea state of the illumination loadtoafirst state, the first state being a state of the
`
`illumination load wherethe first light source block and the second light source blockare lit
`
`(when switch 41 is off both 51 and 52 produce light [0062]);the control circuit is configured to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 7
`
`keep the switching element on to changethestate of the illumination load to a secondstate, the
`
`second state being a state of the illumination load wherethefirst light source blockis lit and the
`
`second light source block is extinguished(when 41 is switched on only 51 produceslight and 52
`
`is bypassed [0062]); and a resistance of the resistor is set to such that, while the switching
`
`elementis on, a value of a voltage across the switch unit is smaller than a value of a voltage
`
`across the second light source block which causes the second light source block to star lighting (
`
`the on resistance of the active element is dependentonresistor 41 land 424 [0111] [0062])
`
`wherein the switching elementis defined as a first switching element(41); and the switching
`
`circuit further includes a second switching element coupled(425)
`
`21.
`
`Nakamura doesnot specify a second switching element coupled in parallel with the
`
`second light source block.
`
`22.
`
`Ido discloses a second switching element coupled in parallel with the second light source
`
`block (by pass switch 21 connected to the resistor in parallel [0041-43]. Fig. 4).
`
`23.
`
`Before the effective filing date of the invention it would be obvious to include the switch
`
`disclosed in Ido into the system of Nakamura to reduce the power consumption from the resistor
`
`and increase efficiency (Ido [0043]).
`
`24.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Nakamuradiscloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device according
`
`to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on the second switching elementafter
`
`first predetermined time passes from turning on the first switching element in switching the state
`
`of the illumination load from the first state to the second state (Ido: bypass switch 21 is inserted
`
`aft a predetermined period of time has passed [0043]).
`
`25.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device
`
`according to claim 9, wherein: the first predetermined timeis set to be longer than time
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 8
`
`necessary for the output voltage of the power conversion circuit to decrease to a predetermined
`
`value after the first switching elementis turned on (Ido: predetermined time can beset to
`
`anytime including less than a predeterminedvalue).
`
`26.
`
`Regarding claim 11, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device
`
`according to claim 9, wherein the resistance of the resistor is set so that a difference between a
`
`value of a peak in the load current which occurs whenthefirst switching elementis turned on
`
`and a value of a peak in the load current which occurs when the second switching elementis
`
`turned on is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (resistor value can be set to value
`
`depending on other values of circuit or trying to reduce resister value to improve efficiency so
`
`can be changeable).
`
`27.
`
`Regarding claim 12, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device
`
`according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn off the first switching
`
`element after second predetermined time passes from turning off the second switching element in
`
`switching the state of the illumination load from the secondstate to the first state (Ido: bypass
`
`switch 21 is inserted aft a predetermined period of time has passed [0043])..
`
`28.
`
`Regarding claim 13, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device
`
`according to claim 12, wherein: the second predetermined timeis set to be longer than time
`
`necessary for the output voltage of the power conversion circuit to increase to a predetermined
`
`value after the first switching elementis turned off (Ido: predetermined time can beset to
`
`anytime including less than a predetermined value)..
`
`29.
`
`Regarding claim 14, Nakamura discloses in Fig. 7, 8, and 23 the lighting device
`
`according to claim 12, wherein the resistance of the resistor is set so that a difference between an
`
`amount of decrease in the load current which occurs whenthefirst switching elementis turned
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 9
`
`off and an amountof decrease in the load current which occurs when the second switching
`
`elementis turned off is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value(resistor value can be set
`
`to value depending on other values of circuit or trying to reduce resister value to improve
`
`efficiency so can be changeable).
`
`Conclusion
`
`30.
`
`Anyinquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to AMY X YANGwhosetelephone numberis (571)270-5498. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday,9am-6pm, EST.
`
`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
`
`a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicantis
`
`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR)at
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examinerby telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Alexander Taningco can be reached on (571)272-8048. The fax phone numberfor
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
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`Application/Control Number: 15/936,779
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 10
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`the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-
`
`1000.
`
`/AMY X YANG/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2844
`
`/ALEXANDER H TANINGCO/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2844
`
`