`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` FILING DATE
`
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`
`12/760,582
`
`04/15/2010
`
`Naoki TAKADA
`
`1497.50706X00
`
`9351
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`01/24/2013
`
`ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON,VA 22209-3873
`
`RABINDRANATH, ROY P
`
`2691
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`01/24/2013
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`12/760,582
`Examiner
`ROY RABINDRANATH
`
`TAKADAETAL.
`Art Unit
`2691
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY(30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Anyreply 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)X] Responsive to communication(s)filed on 20 December 2012.
`2a)X] This action is FINAL.
`2b)L] This action is non-final.
`3)L] An election was made bythe 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)_] Sincethis application is in condition for allowance exceptfor formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`5)X] Claim(s) 1,2,5,6,9-12 and 15-17 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6)L] Claim(s) ___ is/are allowed.
`
`7) Claim(s) 1,2,5,6,9-12 and 15-17 is/are rejected.
`8)L] Claim(s) ___is/are objectedto.
`
`9)L] Claim(s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`* 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
`htto/Awww.uspto.gov/patenis/init events/ooh/index.jiso or send an inquiry to PPHieedback@usopio.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)L] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11) The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)[_] 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)[] Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`a)L] All
`)LJ Some * c)L] None of:
`1..] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.L] Copiesof the certified copies of the priority documents have been 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) C] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) | Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) CT] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date.
`4) | Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 09-12)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20130117
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`1.
`
`The following FINAL OFFICE ACTION is being issued in response to the
`
`Amendmentsfiled on December 20, 2012. Claims 1-2, 5-6, 9-12 and 15-17 are
`
`pending.
`
`Claim Objections
`
`2.
`
`The objections madeto Claims 2, 6, 10-11 are withdrawn. However, Applicant
`
`has not changed "input voltage” to "reference voltage" in claim 12, lines 2-3, as required
`
`in the prior Office Action. As such the objection to claim 12 remains.
`
`3.
`
`Claims 9-12 are objected to for the following informalities:
`
`In claim 9, line 10
`
`(p5), the word “discharing” should be changedto “discharging.” Appropriate correction
`
`is required. Claims 10-12 are objected to because they depend on claim 9.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections underthis section madein this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in
`public use or on sale in this country, more than one yearprior to the date of application for patent in
`the United States.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 1-2, 5-6, 9-12 and 15-17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) as being
`
`anticipated by Nobuyuki, JP2006-054969.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 3
`
`Regarding Claim 1, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025);
`
`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging of the coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch device is turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9A to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`-wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF states of the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal that is amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9ais off then Vo = Vi + VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), and
`
`-the driving circuit (7) determines an off-period of the switch device according to an on-
`
`period of the switch device (e.g., the longer the on period the shorter the off period;
`
`par. 0036-0037) and a voltage ratio of the output voltage and the input voltage, thereby
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 4
`
`changing a repetition period including the on period andthe off period of the switch
`
`device (e.g., the voltage ratio of the output voltage to input voltage, Vo/Vi, is
`
`controlled by the driving circuit in such manner that Vo changesandthe length of
`
`the on/off period of switch 9a changes; par. 0036-0037).
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches the powercircuit according to claim 1,
`
`further comprising a comparison circuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the reference voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage
`
`Vb from element 1 and output voltage Vo, comparesthe two voltages, and
`
`outputs an error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a sothat is on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result of the comparison
`
`circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless than Vb based on
`
`comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal does not control driver
`
`circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 5, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025):
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 5
`
`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging of the coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch device is turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9a to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF statesof the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal thatis amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9ais off then Vo = Vi + VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), and the driving circuit (7) determines an off-period of the switch device
`
`according to an on-period of the switch device (e.g., the longer the on period the
`
`shorterthe off period; par. 0036-0037) and a voltage ratio of the output voltage and
`
`the input voltage (e.g., the voltage ratio of the output voltage to input voltage,
`
`Vo/Vi, is controlled by the driving circuit in such manner that Vo changes and the
`
`length of the on/off period of switch 9a changes; par. 0036-0037),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 6
`
`-thereby changing the on-period andthe off-period of the switch device (e.g., on/off
`
`period length of switch 9a, as described above) such that a repetition period
`
`including the on period andthe off period of the switch device coincides with any one of
`
`the at least two repetition periods different from each other (e.g., during at least one
`
`cycle of the PWM signal; par. 0017).
`
`Regarding Claim 6, Nobuyuki teaches the powercircuit (Fig. 2) according to claim 5,
`
`further comprising a comparisoncircuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and a reference voltage (e.g., error amplifier 3 compares Vo and Vb; par.
`
`0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driver 7 controls gate of switching transistor 9a to turn it on or off; par. 0025-
`
`0026), and a second period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the
`
`switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison
`
`result of the comparison circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomes
`
`less than Vb according to comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal
`
`does not control driver circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 9, Nobuyuki teaches a powercircuit (Fig. 2) comprising:
`
`-a coil (11) that charges an electric charge of an input voltage (Vi) (par. 0025):
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 7
`
`-a switch device (9a) that controls charging and discharging of the coil (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is on then current flows into coil 11, when it is off then current does not
`
`flow; par. 0034-0035);
`
`-a diode (9b) that rectifies flow of the electric charge from the coil (e.g., current that
`
`flows through coil 11 is transmitted to diode 9b);
`
`-a capacitor (13) that stabilizes an output voltage when the switch device is turned on
`
`(e.g., when switch 9a is on, capacitor 13 is charged to output voltage Vo; par.
`
`0025); and
`
`-a driving circuit (7) that controls ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g., driver 7
`
`controls gate of switching transistor 9a to turn it on or off; par. 0025-0026),
`
`-a detection circuit (19) that detects a discharge current from the coil (par. 0033),
`
`-wherein the powercircuit (Fig. 2) alternately switches the ON and OFF states of the
`
`switch device to control charging and discharging of the coil and the capacitor (e.g.,
`
`switch device is turned on and off based on level of PWM signal that is amplified
`
`through driver 7; par. 0025-0026), and generates and supplies an output voltage
`
`higher than the input voltage (e.g., when switch 9ais off then Vo = Vi +VI, where Vo
`
`is the output voltage, Vi is the input voltage and VI is the voltage acrosscoil 11;
`
`par. 0025), and the driving circuit (7) determines an off-period of the switch device
`
`based on a period of discharging of the coil detected by the detection circuit (e.g., when
`
`switch 9a is off, coil 11 does not discharge and current does notflow into switch
`
`9a. the off time of switch 9a can be detected based on the time of no discharge;
`
`par. 0034-0035), thereby changing a repetition period including the on period and off
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 8
`
`period of the switch device (e.g., the more the off time, the less the on time of
`
`switch 9a; par. 0036-0037).
`
`Regarding Claim 10, Nobuyuki teaches the powercircuit (Fig. 2) according to claim 9,
`
`further comprising a comparison circuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output
`
`voltage and the reference voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage
`
`Vb from element 1 and output voltage Vo, compares the two voltages, and
`
`outputs an error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a sothat is on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result of the comparison
`
`circuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless than Vb according
`
`to comparison result of element 3, otherwise PWM signal does not control driver
`
`circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 11, Nobuyki (Fig. 2) teaches the powercircuit according to claim 10,
`
`wherein the detection circuit (19) includes a circuit which is connected to one end of the
`
`coil (e.g., connected to coil 11 through switch 9a) having the other end to which the
`
`input voltage is applied (e.g., top end of coil 11 connected to Vi), and directly detects
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`the discharge currentof the coil (par. 0033).
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding Claim 12, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) the powercircuit according to claim 10, further
`
`comprising a comparison circuit (3) that compares the voltage ratio of the output voltage
`
`and the reference voltage (e.g., element 3 receives both reference voltage Vb from
`
`element 1 and output voltage Vo, comparesthe two voltages, and outputs an
`
`error signal to PWM controller 5; par. 0008),
`
`-wherein the driving circuit (7) switchesafirst period, in which the output voltage is
`
`controlled by controlling switching of the ON and OFF states of the switch device (e.g.,
`
`driving circuit 7 controls switch 9a sothat is on or off; par. 0035), and a second
`
`period, in which the output voltage is controlled by stopping the switching of the ON and
`
`OFF states of the switch device, according to a comparison result and a detection result
`
`of the comparisoncircuit (e.g., PWM signal is only output when Vo becomesless
`
`than Vb according to the error differential determined by element 3, otherwise
`
`PWM signal doesnot control driver circuit 7; par. 0027).
`
`Regarding Claim 15, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising: a display
`
`driving circuit including the power circuit according to claim 1; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device has a display screen; par. 0002).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 10
`
`Regarding Claim 16, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising: a display
`
`driving circuit including the power circuit according to claim 5; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device device has a display screen; par. 0002).
`
`Regarding Claim 17, Nobuyuki (Fig. 2) teaches a display device comprising:
`
`a display driving circuit including the powercircuit according to claim 9; and
`
`-a display panel that displays an image according to display data from the display
`
`driving circuit (e.g., device may be used on a personal handheld unit such ascell
`
`phone. presumably such a device has a display screen; par. 0002).
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`6.
`
`Applicant's arguments have beenfully considered but they are not persuasive.
`
`As stated above, the referencesstill read on the claims. For example, Applicant argues
`
`that the new limitation of claims 1, 5 and 9 “thereby changing a repetition rate including
`
`the on period and off period of the switch device" overcomes Noboyuki (Applicant’s
`
`Arguments p9). However, Examinerfeels that this is merely re-wording the claims.
`
`Thus, Nobuyukistill meet the claim limitation as set forth in the rejection. For this
`
`reason Examiner respectfully disagrees with Applicant. Claims 1-2, 5-6, 9-12 and 15-17
`
`remain rejected. Withdrawn claims 3-4, 7-8 and 13-14 cannot be rejoined atthis time.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/760,582
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 11
`
`Inquiry
`
`7.
`
`Anyinquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to ROY RABINDRANATHwhosetelephone numberis
`
`(571)270-5722. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-
`
`5:00 PM.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
`
`supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached on (571) 272-7772. The fax phone number
`
`for the organization wherethis application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on accessto the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automatedinformation
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/ROY RABINDRANATH/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2691
`January 17, 2013
`
`/CHANH NGUYEN/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2691
`
`