`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`13/643,461
`
`10/25/2012
`
`Tomoki Katsumata
`
`734156.609USPC
`
`7309
`
`Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`HENZE'GONGOLAa DAVID V
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2859
`
`PAPER NUIVIBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`08/17/2015
`
`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):
`
`patentinfo @ seedip.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 13/643,461 KATSUMATA, TOMOKI
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2859DAVID v. HENZE-GONGOLA first“
`
`-- 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 CFR 1.136(a).
`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).
`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)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 4/6/15.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:| This action is non-final.
`2a)IZ| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:I 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 EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PT0_413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`—
`4) I:I Other'
`2) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date .
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20150807
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)|XI Claim(s) fins/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`s fl is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`I )
`
`_
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|:l Claim(s
`I
`* 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
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atentS/init events"
`h/index.‘s
`
`
`
`
`
`or send an inquiry to PF"I-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Z| The drawing(s) filed on 10/25/12 is/are: a)lZl 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)IZI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some” c)I:I None of the:
`a)le All
`1.IZI Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:| Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`33.le 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)
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Examiner acknowledges receipt of amendment to application 13/643,461 filed on
`
`April 16, 2015. The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to
`
`invent provisions.
`
`Status of Claims
`
`Claims 1-13 are still pending, with claim 1 being currently amended, and claims
`
`4-13 being newly added.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis
`
`for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described
`as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to
`be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been
`obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which
`said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the
`invention was made.
`
`Claims 1-13 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Kanamori US PGPUB 2008/0272741 in view of Fu et al. US
`
`PGPUB 2007/0088967.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Kanamori discloses an electronic device comprising:
`
`an electronic device main body [figure 5, electronic device 500];
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`a USB connection unit provided to the electronic device main body terminals
`
`[figure 5, USB socket 509; paragraph 44, "An electronic device 500 may include a USB
`
`socket 509 for receiving a USB cab/9”];
`
`a VBUS detecting unit, which in operation determines that a USB device has
`
`been connected to the USB connection unit [paragraph 45, "In this example, the
`
`electronic device may include a USB controller 501 coupled to the USB socket for
`
`receiving VBUS, GND, 0+, and 0-. USB controller may coup/e data between integrated
`
`circuit 502 to a USB host or hub controller, for example.
`
`In this example, the USB
`
`controller acts as an interface circuit. The USB controller 501 may include a power
`
`source detection circuit 561 as describe above.
`
`In one embodiment the controller 501
`
`may include an internal pull up resistor. The pull up resistor may be selectively coupled
`
`to the D+ input terminal of the controller or the 0- input terminal of the controller.
`
`If a
`
`USB power source is provided to socket 509, controller 501 may detect the power
`
`and/or ground lines and generate an enable signal after a time period"; paragraphs 44 &
`
`46; The power source detection unit 561 detects a USB device has been connected if
`
`the power source ("the power source voltage VBUS”) is detected];
`
`a USB control unit, which in operation detects whether D+ and D- terminals of the
`
`USB connection unit are short-circuited [paragraph 45, “If the socket 509 is coupled to
`
`an AC adapter with 0+ and D- shorted together, then the voltage on both the 0+ and D-
`
`termina/s will increase. This state may be sensed and used to indicate that the power
`
`source is a dedicated charging power source such as an AC adapter (e.g., a USB
`
`adapter). A characteristic of the power source may correspond to a type of power
`
`

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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`conversion employed by the power source. Alternatively, if the socket 509 is coupled to
`
`an USB port with D+ and D- coupled to ground through separate pull down resistors,
`
`then the voltage on the D+ and D- terminals will be different. One of the terminals will
`
`be pulled to ground through the pull down resistor, and the other terminal will be pulled
`
`up through the pull up resistor. This state may be sensed and used to indicate that the
`
`power source is a USB port’];
`
`a battery contained in the electronic device main body [figure 5, battery 513];
`
`a charging control unit, which in operation, charges the battery [figure 5, charge
`
`control 503];
`
`a system control unit, which in operation that controls a switch and the charging
`
`control unit [figure 5, digital control 504; paragraph 46, " The digital controller 504 may
`
`receive information from USB controller 501 and configure registers or other data
`
`storage elements in the integrated circuit to program the circuit to perform the desired
`
`functions, including programming charge current levels, current limits, threshold
`
`voltages, or expected power source input voltages, for example” ; thus digital control 504
`
`controls the charge control 503 and the switches 506 and 507];
`
`wherein the VBUS detecting unit detects connection of the USB device
`
`[paragraph 45];
`
`and after the USB control unit has determined the D+ terminal and the D-
`
`terminal of the USB connection unit are not short-circuited the USB control unit starts
`
`charging of the battery [paragraphs 45-46, if the D+ and D- terminals are not short-
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`circuited charging may be performed via a method for USB port sources, which
`
`comprises a charging current less than that of the method for dedicated sources].
`
`Kanamori discloses that the method of charging of the battery when the USB
`
`control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit
`
`are not short-circuited is a different method than that of when the USB control unit
`
`determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit are short-
`
`circuited [paragraphs 45-46, for a USB port source] and further discloses using
`
`threshold voltages and charging algorithms for charging [paragraph 4-5 & 46], but does
`
`not explicitly disclose that after the USB control unit has determined a USB port source
`
`is connected, in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the battery
`
`monitoring unit being a preset threshold value or less, the USB control unit starts
`
`charging of the battery.
`
`Kanamori discloses charging the battery according to the batteries specifications
`
`and monitoring a charging current to the battery, and that a battery’s voltage is
`
`indicative of the battery's state of charge [paragraph 4-5 & 46] but does not explicitly
`
`disclose a battery monitoring unit, which in operation, monitors the state of the battery.
`
`Kanamori discloses does not explicitly disclose a switch, which in operation
`
`controls supply of power from the USB device connected to the USB connection unit to
`
`the charging control unit.
`
`However, Fu discloses a battery monitoring unit, which in operation, monitors the
`
`state of the battery [figure 6, battery level comparator; paragraph 32, battery voltage
`
`level is monitored and comparted to a threshold value].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`Fu discloses a switch, which in operation controls supply of power from the USB
`
`device connected to the USB connection unit to the charging control unit [figure 6, USB
`
`charger IC 520; paragraphs 26 & 30, USB charger IC 520 (as further described with
`
`respect to USB charger IC 350 of figure 3) allows supply of power from a USB device
`
`connected to USB port 540 via dynamic power-path management, thus comprises a
`
`switch].
`
`Fu discloses after the USB control unit has determined a USB port source is
`
`connected, in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the battery monitoring
`
`unit being a preset threshold value or less, the USB control unit starts charging of the
`
`My [figure 8, step 600, a USB charging/synch cable is plugged in and USB
`
`controller 510 handles the connection, if the battery voltage is not greater than a
`
`threshold (equal or less) in step 620 then the battery is charged in step 625; paragraphs
`
`6, 24 & 31-32].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to modify Kanamori to further include a battery monitoring unit,
`
`which in operation, monitors the state of the battery; a switch, which in operation
`
`controls supply of power from the USB device connected to the USB connection unit to
`
`the charging control unit and after the USB control unit has determined a USB port
`
`source is connected, in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the battery
`
`monitoring unit being a preset threshold value or less, the USB control unit starts
`
`charging of the battery for the purpose of allowing a handheld device to utilize a low-
`
`current USB source, which does not provide enough current to start up the device
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`chipset, to charge up the handheld device battery to a level which will allow the battery
`
`to provide the necessary current to start up the device chipset via dynamic power
`
`management, as taught by Fu (paragraphs 25 & 31 -32).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kanamori discloses wherein the VBUS detecting unit
`
`detects the connection of the USB device [paragraph 45]; and
`
`wherein if the USB control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the
`
`USB connection unit are short-circuited, charging of the battery is started [paragraphs
`
`45-46, if the D+ and D- terminals are short-circuited charging may be performed via a
`
`method for dedicated charging sources (Le. a USB wall charging adapter), which
`
`comprises a charging current more than that of the method for USB port sources].
`
`Regarding claim 3, Kanamori discloses wherein the VBUS detecting unit
`
`detects the connection of the USB device [paragraph 45].
`
`Kanamori discloses a USB control unit determines that a USB port source is
`
`connected if the USB control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals are not short-
`
`circuited [paragraphs 45-46].
`
`Kanamori discloses that the method of charging of the battery when the USB
`
`control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit
`
`are not short-circuited is a different method than that of when the USB control unit
`
`determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit are short-
`
`circuited [paragraphs 45-46] and further discloses using threshold voltages and
`
`charging algorithms for charging [paragraph 4-5 & 46], but does not explicitly disclose if
`
`the USB control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals are not short-circuited,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`that is, when a USB port source is determined to be connected, when the battery
`
`voltage obtained from the battery monitoring unit is a preset threshold value or larger,
`
`supply of power to the charging control unit is not performed.
`
`However, Fu as applied in claim 1 discloses when a USB port source is
`
`determined to be connected, when the battery voltage obtained from the battery
`
`monitoring unit is a preset threshold value or larger, supply of power to the charging
`
`control unit is not performed [paragraphs 25 & 31 -32; figure 8; when the handheld
`
`device is connected to a low-power USB port and the battery voltage is lower than a
`
`threshold required to start-up the chipset, the battery is charged, however, if the battery
`
`voltage is higher than the threshold (or fully charged) the battery is not charged].
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kanamori discloses an electronic device comprising:
`
`an electronic device main body [figure 5, electronic device 500];
`
`a connection unit provided in the electronic device main body [figure 5, USB
`
`socket 509; paragraph 44];
`
`a detecting unit, which in operation, determines that a device has been
`
`connected to the connection unit [paragraphs 44-46; the power source detection unit
`
`561 detects a USB device has been connected if the power source ("the power source
`
`voltage VBUS”) is detected];
`
`a control unit, which in operation, detects whether a positive terminal and a
`
`negative terminal of the connection unit are short-circuited [paragraph 45];
`
`a battery contained in the electronic device main body [figure 5, battery 513];
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`a charging control unit, which in operation, charges the battery [figure 5, charge
`
`control 503];
`
`a system control unit, which in operation, controls the switch [figure 5, digital
`
`control 504; paragraph 46; digital control 504 controls the charge control 503 and the
`
`switches 506 and 507];
`
`wherein the detecting unit detects connection of the device [paragraph 45];
`
`and the system control unit starts charging of the battery, if the control unit has
`
`determined the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the connection unit are not
`
`short-circuited [paragraphs 45-46, charging for a USB port source].
`
`Kanamori discloses that the method of charging of the battery when the control
`
`unit determines that the positive and negative terminals of the of the connection unit are
`
`not short-circuited is a different method than that of when the control unit determines
`
`that the positive and negative terminals of the of the connection unit are short-circuited
`
`[paragraphs 45-46, for a USB port source] and further discloses using threshold
`
`voltages and charging algorithms for charging [paragraph 4-5 & 46], but does not
`
`explicitly disclose that in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the battery
`
`monitoring unit being a preset threshold value or less, the control unit starts charging of
`
`the battery, if the control unit has determined a port source is connected.
`
`Kanamori discloses charging the battery according to the batteries specifications
`
`and monitoring a charging current to the battery, and that a battery’s voltage is
`
`indicative of the battery's state of charge [paragraph 4-5 & 46] but does not explicitly
`
`disclose a battery monitoring unit, which in operation, monitors the state of the battery.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
`
`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Kanamori discloses does not explicitly disclose a switch, which in operation
`
`controls supply of power from the USB device connected to the USB connection unit to
`
`the charging control unit.
`
`However, Fu discloses a battery monitoring unit, which in operation,_monitors the
`
`state of the battery [figure 6, battery level comparator; paragraph 32, battery voltage
`
`level is monitored and comparted to a threshold value].
`
`Fu discloses a switch, which in operation controls supply of power from the
`
`device connected to the connection unit to the charging control unit [figure 6, USB
`
`charger IC 520; paragraphs 26 & 30, USB charger IC 520 (as further described with
`
`respect to USB charger IC 350 of figure 3) allows supply of power from a USB device
`
`connected to USB port 540 via dynamic power-path management, thus comprises a
`
`switch].
`
`Fu discloses in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the battery
`
`monitoring unit being a preset threshold value or less, the control unit starts charging of
`
`the battery, if the control unit has determined a port source is connected [figure 8, step
`
`600, a USB charging/synch cable is plugged in and USB controller 510 handles the
`
`connection, if the battery voltage is not greater than a threshold (equal or less) in step
`
`620 then the battery is charged in step 625; paragraphs 6, 24 & 31 -32].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to modify Kanamori to further include a battery monitoring unit,
`
`which in operation, monitors the state of the battery; a switch, which in operation
`
`controls supply of power from the device connected to the connection unit to the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 11
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`charging control unit and in direct response to a battery voltage obtained from the
`
`battery monitoring unit being a preset threshold value or less, the control unit starts
`
`charging of the battery, if the control unit has determined a port source is connected for
`
`the purpose of allowing a handheld device to utilize a low-current USB source, which
`
`does not provide enough current by itself to start up the device chipset, to charge up the
`
`handheld device battery to a level which will allow the battery to provide the necessary
`
`current to start up the device chipset via dynamic power management, as taught by Fu
`
`(paragraphs 25 & 31 -32).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Kanamori discloses wherein the connection unit is a USB
`
`connection unit [figure 5, USB socket 509; paragraph 44].
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kanamori discloses wherein the detecting unit is a VBUS
`
`detecting unit [paragraphs 44-46; the power source detection unit 561 detects a USB
`
`device has been connected if the power source ("the power source voltage VBUS”) is
`
`detected].
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kanamori discloses wherein the positive terminal is a D+
`
`terminal and the negative terminal is a D- terminal [paragraphs 45-46].
`
`Regarding claim 8, Kanamori discloses an electronic device [figure 5, electronic
`
`device 500] comprising:
`
`a connector connectable to another device [figure 5, USB socket 509; paragraph
`
`44], the connector including a first terminal and a second terminal are connected to
`
`signal lines, and a third terminal which, in operation, receives power supplied from the
`
`other device [figure 5, a first terminal (D+) and a second terminal (D-) connected to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`signal line, and a third terminal which, in operation, receives power supplied from the
`
`other device (VBUS); paragraphs 44-46];
`
`a battery [figure 5, battery 513]; and
`
`wherein when the first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited, the
`
`battery is charged via the third terminal [paragraph 45, when D+ or D- are shorted
`
`together, the power source is an AC adapter and the battery is charged].
`
`Though Kanamori discloses that the method of charging of the battery when the
`
`control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit
`
`are not short-circuited is a different method than that of when the USB control unit
`
`determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit are short-
`
`circuited [paragraphs 45-46, for a USB port source] and further discloses using
`
`threshold voltages and charging algorithms for charging [paragraph 4-5 & 46], Kanamori
`
`does not explicitly disclose a battery monitor which, in operation, compares a battery
`
`voltage with a threshold voltage only when the first terminal and the second terminal are
`
`not short-circuited.
`
`However, Fu discloses a battery monitor which, in operation, compares a battery
`
`voltage with a threshold voltage only when the first terminal and the second terminal are
`
`not short-circuited [figure 8, step 620 of comparing the battery voltage with a threshold
`
`voltage is only performed if a USB port source is connected; paragraphs 31 -32];
`
`when the first terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited and the
`
`battery voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, the battery is not charged
`
`[paragraphs 25 & 31 -32; figure 8; when the handheld device is connected to a low-
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2859
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`power USB port and the battery voltage is lower than a threshold required to start-up
`
`the chipset, the battery is charged, however, if the battery voltage is higher than the
`
`threshold (or fully charged) the battery is not charged], and
`
`when the first terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited and the
`
`battery voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, the battery is charged via
`
`the third terminal [figure 8, step 600, a USB charging/synch cable is plugged in and
`
`USB controller 510 handles the connection, if the battery voltage is not greater than a
`
`threshold (equal or less) in step 620 then the battery is charged in step 625; paragraphs
`
`6, 24 & 31 -32].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to modify Kanamori to further include a battery monitor which, in
`
`operation, compares a battery voltage with a threshold voltage only when the first
`
`terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited, and that when the first terminal
`
`and the second terminal are not short-circuited and the battery voltage is higher than
`
`the threshold voltage, the battery is not charged, and when the first terminal and the
`
`second terminal are not short-circuited and the battery voltage is equal to or lower than
`
`the threshold voltage, the battery is charged via the third terminal for the purpose of
`
`allowing a handheld device to utilize a low-current USB source, which does not provide
`
`enough current to start up the device chipset, to charge up the handheld device battery
`
`to a level which will allow the battery to provide the necessary current to start up the
`
`device chipset via dynamic power management, as taught by Fu (paragraphs 25 & 31 -
`
`32).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/643,461
`
`Page 14
`
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Regarding claim 9, Kanamori discloses wherein the connection unit is a USB
`
`connection unit [figure 5, USB socket 509; paragraph 44].
`
`Regarding claim 10, Kanamori discloses wherein the third terminal is a VBUS
`
`[paragraphs 44-46; the power source detection unit 561 detects a USB device has been
`
`connected if the power source ("the power source voltage VBUS”) is detected].
`
`Regarding claim 11, Kanamori discloses wherein the first terminal is a D+
`
`terminal and the second terminal is a D- terminal [paragraphs 45-46].
`
`Regarding claim 12, Kanamori discloses wherein when the first terminal and the
`
`second terminal are not short-circuited a USB port source is detected to be attached
`
`and the battery is charged in a different manner [paragraphs 45-46].
`
`Kanamori does not explicitly disclose when a USB port source is detected to be
`
`attached and the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, in direct
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`response to the battery voltage being equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, the
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`battery is charged via the third terminal.
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`However, Fu as applied in claim 8, discloses when a USB port source is detected
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`to be attached and the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, in
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`direct response to the battery voltage being equal to or lower than the threshold voltage,
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`the battery is charged via the third terminal [figure 8, step 600, a USB charging/synch
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`cable is plugged in and USB controller 510 handles the connection, if the battery
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`voltage is not greater than a threshold (equal or less) in step 620 then the battery is
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`charged in step 625; paragraphs 6, 24 & 31 -32].
`
`Regarding claim 13, Kanamori discloses an electronic device comprising:
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`an electronic device main body [figure 5, electronic device 500];
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`a connector connectable to another device [figure 5, USB socket 509; paragraph
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`44],, the connector including a first terminal and a second terminal which are connected
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`to signal lines, and a third terminal which, in operation, receives power supplied from
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`the other device [figure 5, a first terminal (D+) and a second terminal (D-) connected to
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`signal line, and a third terminal which, in operation, receives power supplied from the
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`other device (VBUS); paragraphs 44-46];
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`a detecting unit, which in operation, determines that the other device has been
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`connected to the connector [paragraphs 44-46; the power source detection unit 561
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`detects a USB device has been connected if the power source ("the power source
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`voltage VBUS”) is detected];
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`a control unit, which in operation, detects whether the first terminal and the
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`second terminal of the connector are short circuited [paragraph 45];
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`a battery [figure 5, battery 513];
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`a charging control unit, which in operation, charges the battery [figure 5, charge
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`control 503]; and
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`wherein the detecting unit detects connection of the other device, and when the
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`first terminal and the second terminal are short-circuited, the battery is charged via the
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`third terminal [paragraphs 44-46, when a device is detected (VBUS present) and when
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`D+ or D- are shorted together, the power source is an AC adapter and the battery is
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`charged].
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`Though Kanamori discloses that the method of charging of the battery when the
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`control unit determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit
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`are not short-circuited is a different method than that of when the USB control unit
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`determines that the D+ and D- terminals of the of the USB connection unit are short-
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`circuited [paragraphs 45-46, for a USB port source] and further discloses using
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`threshold voltages and charging algorithms for charging [paragraph 4-5 & 46], Kanamori
`
`does not explicitly disclose a battery monitor which, in operation, compares a battery
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`voltage with a threshold voltage only when the first terminal and the second terminal are
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`not short-circuited.
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`Likewise, Kanamori does not explicitly disclose when the first terminal and the
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`second terminal are not short-circuited and the battery voltage is higher than the
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`threshold voltage, the battery is not charged, and when the first terminal and the second
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`terminal are not short-circuited and the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the
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`threshold voltage, the battery is charged via the third terminal.
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`Kanamori does not explicitly disclose a switch, which in operation, controls
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`supply of power from the other device connected to the connector to the charging
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`control unit.
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`However, Fu discloses a switch, which in operation controls supply of power from
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`the other device connected to the connection unit to the charging control unit [figure 6,
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`USB charger IC 520; paragraphs 26 & 30, USB charger IC 520 (as further described
`
`with respect to USB charger IC 350 of figure 3) allows supply of power from a USB
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`device connected to USB port 540 via dynamic power-path management, thus
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`comprises a switch].
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`Fu discloses a battery monitor which, in operation, compares a battery voltage
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`with a threshold voltage only when the first terminal and the second terminal are not
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`short-circuited [figure 8, step 620 of comparing the battery voltage with a threshold
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`voltage is only performed if a USB port source is connected; paragraphs 31 -32];
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`when the first terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited and the
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`battery voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, the battery is not charged
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`[paragraphs 25 & 31 -32; figure 8; when the handheld device is connected to a low-
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`power USB port and the battery voltage is lower than a threshold required to start-up
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`the chipset, the battery is charged, however, if the battery voltage is higher than the
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`threshold (or fully charged) the battery is not charged], and
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`when the first terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited and the
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`battery voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, the battery is charged via
`
`the third terminal [figure 8, step 600, a USB charging/synch cable is plugged in and
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`USB controller 510 handles the connection, if the battery voltage is not greater than a
`
`threshold (equal or less) in step 620 then the battery is charged in step 625; paragraphs
`
`6, 24 & 31 -32].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the
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`invention was made to modify Kanamori to further include a switch, which in operation
`
`controls supply of power from the other device connected to the connection unit to the
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`charging control unit and a battery monitor which, in operation, compares a battery
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`voltage with a threshold voltage only when the first terminal and the second terminal are
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`not short-circuited, and that when the first terminal and the second terminal are not
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`short-circuited and the battery voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, the battery is
`
`not charged, and when the first terminal and the second terminal are not short-circuited
`
`and the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the threshold voltage, the battery is
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`charged via the third terminal for the purpose of allowing a handheld device to utilize a
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`low-current USB source, which