`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`14/633,376
`
`02/27/2015
`
`Masaki IKEDA
`
`ONDAP0136US
`
`1045
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`THAPA~ SAILESH
`
`ART UNIT
`2859
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`01/ 1 0/2020
`
`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):
`
`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`
`
`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`14/633,376
`Examiner
`SAILESH THAPA
`
`Applicant(s)
`IKEDA et al.
`Art Unit
`2359
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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). 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
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 12/19/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)[:] This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`This action is non-final.
`
`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.
`
`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.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s)
`
`1—2 and 4—10 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(ss)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(ss) 1 —2 and 4— 10 is/are rejected.
`
`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 02/27/2015 is/are: a). accepted or b)(j 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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`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)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/OBa 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-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20191229
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Priority
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`The certified copy has been filed on 06/25/2015.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1. 1 14
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in
`
`37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed 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 pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/19/2019 has
`
`been entered.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`This is in response to an application/remarks made filed on 12/19/2019.
`
`Claim 1 and 5 has been currently amended and claim 3 is cancelled.
`
`Claims 1 and 5 has been amended to include the new limitations that recites as,
`
`“...wherein the condition information includes state of charge of the battery pack and
`
`remaining charging time when the battery pack is being charged.”
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 3
`
`In view of Applicant Argument/Remarks Made to an amended independent
`
`claims have been fully considered and upon further consideration with a prior art
`
`search, a new ground(s) of rejection is made.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to NA 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 ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`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.
`
`Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in View of Takano et al. (US 2015/0236523 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Abe teaches a charger that charges a battery unit
`
`comprising; a charging unit (charger 200, fig.1) that supplies direct current power
`
`(AC/DC converter 202, fig.1) to at least one battery cell of the battery pack (battery
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 4
`
`pack 100, fig.1) for charging a rechargeable battery of a power tool (refer fig.1 that
`
`shows the charger 200 to charge the battery pack 100 when attached to the
`
`charger); a condition detection unit that measures the voltage of the battery pack to
`
`detect condition information of the battery pack (voltage detector 303/105, current
`
`detector 302/104, communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer para [0022-0024])
`
`when the battery pack is being charged (refer para [0025], fig.1-4); and an information
`
`processing unit that receives the condition information of the battery pack from the
`
`condition detection unit and outputs the received condition information of the battery
`
`pack to a communication unit (the communication unit 304 communicates with the
`
`communication unit 106 in the battery pack 100 and receives the battery state
`
`information, refer fig.1, para [0025-0028]) when the battery pack is being charged
`
`(refer para [0025], fig.1-4), further comprising a charger body (charger 200, fig.1) that
`
`accommodates the charging unit, the condition detection unit, and the information
`
`processing unit (refer fig.1 that discloses the charger 200 including AC/DC
`
`converter 202, the charging control IC 203, a current control device 204, a current
`
`detecting device 208, a display unit 206, and a charger microcomputer 301), the
`
`charger body (charger 200) includes: a plurality of terminals of the charger body that
`
`are respectively connectable to a plurality of electrodes of the battery pack (refer fig.1
`
`that shows + and — terminals of charger 200 and battery pack 100 that are
`
`respectively connectable),
`
`Abe fails to teach, wherein the condition information includes state of charge of
`
`the battery pack and remaining charging time when the battery pack is being charged.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 5
`
`Takano et al. teaches, wherein the condition information includes state of charge
`
`of the battery pack (refer fig.1 that shows SOC calculation unit that calculates the
`
`SOC of the battery 20) and remaining charging time when the battery pack is being
`
`charged (remaining charge time calculation unit 58 that calculates the remaining
`
`charge time of the battery 20 being charge, para [0023, 0047], refer fig.8).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify the
`
`charger of Abe to combine the SOC calculation unit and remaining charge time
`
`calculation unit that respectively calculates the SOC of battery and remaining charge
`
`time of the battery as taught by Takano et al. such that to charge the battery efficiently
`
`and preventing possible damages from overcharging.
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in view of Takano et al. (US 2015/0236523 A1) and in further view of
`
`Huang (us 2015/0171638 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 1. Abe teaches the condition detection unit
`
`detects the condition information of the rechargeable battery (voltage detector
`
`303/105, current detector 302/104, communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer
`
`para [0022-0024]), and the information processing unit outputs the condition
`
`information of the rechargeable battery detected by the condition detection unit to the
`
`communication unit (the communication unit 304 communicates with the
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 6
`
`communication unit 106 in the battery pack 100 and receives the battery state
`
`information, refer fig.1, para [0025-0028]).
`
`Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak fails to teach, wherein the condition
`
`detection unit detects the condition information of the rechargeable battery regardless of
`
`whether or not the charging unit is charging the rechargeable battery.
`
`Huang teaches, wherein the condition detection unit detects the condition
`
`information of the rechargeable battery regardless of whether or not the charging unit is
`
`charging the rechargeable battery (continuously receiving the battery information
`
`from a battery management system in each rechargeable battery, also refer para
`
`[0031]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine the
`
`teachings of Huang into a system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak such
`
`that for charging the rechargeable battery having the minimal value of the battery
`
`information (abstract) and which can control every rechargeable battery to increase
`
`state of charge in a consistent path (para 0007).
`
`Claims 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in view of Takano et al. (US 2015/0236523 A1) and in further view of
`
`Jones (US 2011/0248576 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 1. Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 7
`
`teaches all the claimed limitations except for, wherein when receiving a charging
`
`termination signal from another device via the communication unit, the information
`
`processing unit has the charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery.
`
`Jones teaches, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
`
`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery (the receiver may receive
`
`a control signal from a remote control device ......... the processor may identify a
`
`control signal to turn off the battery charger, para [0010], also refer claim 2).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine a
`
`remote control device for turning off the battery charger as taught by Jones within a
`
`charging system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak which prevents battery
`
`chargers from consuming energy while not actually connected to a battery pack, but
`
`which also gives users the convenience of leaving the battery chargers plugged into the
`
`same electrical outlet at all times (para 0006).
`
`Claim 5, 6-7 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Abe (US 2012/0019200 A1) in view of Takano et al. (US 2015/0236523 A1) in
`
`further view of Arashima et al. (US 2016/0087314 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Abe teaches a charger that charges a battery unit
`
`comprising; a battery pack of a power tool (battery pack 100, fig.1); a power tool
`
`charger (charger 200) that charges a battery pack (100, fig.1) of a power tool (in view
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 8
`
`of broadest reasonable interpretation, charger 200 is interpreted as a power tool
`
`charger that is capable of charging the battery pack of the power tool), wherein the
`
`power tool charger (charger 200, fig.1) includes; a charging unit (charger 200, fig.1)
`
`that supplies direct current power (AC/DC converter 202, fig.1) to at least one battery
`
`cell of the battery pack (battery pack 100, fig.1) for charging a rechargeable battery of
`
`a power tool (refer fig.1 that shows the charger 200 to charge the battery pack 100
`
`when attached to the charger); a condition detection unit that detects condition
`
`information of the battery pack (voltage detector 303/105, current detector 302/104,
`
`communication unit 304/106, fig.1, also refer para [0022-0024]) when the battery
`
`pack is being charged (refer para [0025], fig.1-4); and an information processing unit
`
`that receives the condition information of the battery pack from the condition detection
`
`unit (the communication unit 304 communicates with the communication unit 106
`
`in the battery pack 100 and receives the battery state information, refer fig.1, para
`
`[0025-0028]), a communication unit (106, fig.1) that is configured to communicate with
`
`device (charger 200 with communication unit 304, fig.1) when the battery pack is
`
`being charged (refer para [0025], fig.1-4), the power tool charger further including a
`
`charger body (charger 200, fig.1) that accommodates the charging unit, the condition
`
`detection unit, and the information processing unit (refer fig.1 that discloses the
`
`charger 200 including AC/DC converter 202, the charging control IC 203, a current
`
`control device 204, a current detecting device 208, a display unit 206, and a
`
`charger microcomputer 301), the charger body (charger 200) includes: a plurality of
`
`terminals of the charger body that are respectively connectable to a plurality of
`
`electrodes of the battery pack (refer fig.1 that shows + and — terminals of charger
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 9
`
`200 and battery pack 100 that are respectively connectable), wherein the condition
`
`information includes information regarding whether or not the charging of the battery
`
`pack is completed (in step 8005, it is determined whether the charging of the
`
`battery pack 100 attached to the charger 200 is completed, fig.2, para [0028]),
`
`Abe fails to teach, wherein the condition information includes state of charge of
`
`the battery pack and remaining charging time when the battery pack is being charged.
`
`Takano et aI. teaches, wherein the condition information includes state of charge
`
`of the battery pack (refer fig.1 that shows SOC calculation unit that calculates the
`
`SOC of the battery 20) and remaining charging time when the battery pack is being
`
`charged (remaining charge time calculation unit 58 that calculates the remaining
`
`charge time of the battery 20 being charge, para [0023, 0047], refer fig.8).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify the
`
`charger of Abe to combine the SOC calculation unit and remaining charge time
`
`calculation unit that respectively calculates the SOC of battery and remaining charge
`
`time of the battery as taught by Takano et aI. such that to charge the battery efficiently
`
`and preventing possible damages from overcharging.
`
`Abe in view of Takano et aI. teaches a communication unit but fails to teach, that
`
`performs wireless communication with another device in accordance with a near field
`
`communication standard.
`
`Arashima et aI. teaches, configured to perform wireless communication with
`
`another device in accordance with a near field communication standard (The controller
`
`10 according to the present embodiment is configured to communicate with an
`
`external device (e.g., the user terminal 500) via the RFID tag 20 and the antenna
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 10
`
`15. The RFID tag 20 is an example of a communication device that employs
`
`wireless communication technology such as NFC-based communication
`
`technology and RFID technology, para [0091], refer fig.1, 13),
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to modify the
`
`charger of Abe in view of Takano et al. providing a communication unit configured to
`
`wirelessly communicate with an external device as taught by Arashima et al. such that
`
`the communication unit allows the information obtained from an external device to be
`
`stored in the storage unit or allows the information stored in the storage unit to be
`
`outputted to the external device which enables the battery charging/discharging
`
`protection (para 0091).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Abe in view of Takano et al. and Arashima et al. teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 1. Abe further teaches, wherein the battery pack
`
`remains external to the charger when the battery pack is connected to the charger
`
`(refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the battery pack 100 is separate unit when
`
`connected to the charger 200).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Abe in view of Takano et al. and Arashima et al. teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 1. Abe further teaches, wherein the plurality of
`
`terminals of the charger body is at least partially arranged on an outer surface of the
`
`charger body (refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the we and —ve terminals on an
`
`outer surface of the charger 200).
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 11
`
`Regarding claim 9, Abe in view of Takano et al. and Arashima et al. teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 5. Abe further teaches, wherein the battery pack
`
`remains external to the charger when the battery pack is connected to the charger
`
`(refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the battery pack 100 is separate unit when
`
`connected to the charger 200).
`
`Regarding claim 10, Abe in view of Takano et al. and Arashima et al. teaches
`
`the power tool charger according to claim 9. Abe further teaches, wherein the plurality of
`
`terminals of the charger body is at least partially arranged on an outer surface of the
`
`charger body (refer fig.1 that clearly discloses the we and —ve terminals on an
`
`outer surface of the charger 200).
`
`Claims 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abe (US
`
`2012/0019200 A1) in view of Takano et al. (US 2015/0236523 A1) and Arashima et al.
`
`(US 2016/0087314 A1) with in further view of Jones (US 2011/0248576 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak teaches the
`
`power tool charger according to claim 5. Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak
`
`teaches all the claimed limitations except for, wherein when receiving a charging
`
`termination signal from another device via the communication unit, the information
`
`processing unit has the charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery.
`
`Jones teaches, wherein when receiving a charging termination signal from
`
`another device via the communication unit, the information processing unit has the
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 12
`
`charging unit terminate charging of the rechargeable battery (the receiver may receive
`
`a control signal from a remote control device ......... the processor may identify a
`
`control signal to turn off the battery charger, para [0010]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine a
`
`remote control device for turning off the battery charger as taught by Jones within a
`
`charging system of Abe in view of Arashima et al. and Hubinak which prevents battery
`
`chargers from consuming energy while not actually connected to a battery pack, but
`
`which also gives users the convenience of leaving the battery chargers plugged into the
`
`same electrical outlet at all times (para 0006).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SAILESH THAPA whose telephone number is (469)295-
`
`9108. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8am to 5pm.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
`
`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Drew Dunn can be reached on 571-272—2312. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/633,376
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 13
`
`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 access to 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 automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272-1 000.
`
`/S. T./
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`/DREW A DUNN/
`
`
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