UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`15/259,222
`
`09/08/2016
`
`EIJI TAKAHASHI
`
`PANDP0173US
`
`7428
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`MOURAD RASEM
`
`ART UNIT
`2836
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/20/2019
`
`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.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/259,222
`Examiner
`RASEM MOU RAD
`
`Applicant(s)
`TAKAHASHI et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2836
`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 3/7/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
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`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4)[:] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
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`1—12 is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
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`6 7
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`8
`
`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are: a)D 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):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a)D All
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`b)I:l Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3.[:] 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)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190312
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 2
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR
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`1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for
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`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 3/7/2019 has been entered.
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`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1 have been considered but are moot because the
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`arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection.
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`Claim 4 is objected to because of the following informalities:
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`Claim Objections
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`Claim 4 recites ”wherein, after the adjustment of the voltage of the AC power using the control
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`parameter, the transmitting-side receiver receives error information indicating error between
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`the voltage of the second DC power and the requested voltage from the receiving-side
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`transmitter...” This language seems to be repetitive to the language in the amended portions in
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`claim 1 regarding the error information/error signals. The applicant is encouraged to amend the
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`language in claim 4 to match what is already in claim 1.
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`Appropriate correction is required.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections
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`set forth in this Office action:
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 3
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`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is
`not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention
`and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`Claims 1-4, 6-7, 9, 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yamakawa et
`
`al. (2015/0048688 A1) in view of Jeong et al. (2016/0079798 A1) in further view of Kim et al.
`
`(2012/0306285 A1) and in further view of Karma (2016/0020634 A1).
`
`Regarding Claim 1,
`
`Yamakawa (Figs.1 and 11) teaches a wireless power transmission system comprising: Yamakawa
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`teaches a power transmitting device (Fig.1) including an inverter circuit (item 130) that converts
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`a first DC power supplied from a power source (item 110 and 120) into AC power and outputs
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`the AC power (par [42]), Yamakawa teaches a power transmitting antenna (item 140) that
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`wirelessly transmits the output AC power (see Fig.1), and a power transmission control circuit
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`(item 150) that adjusts voltage and frequency of the AC power output from the inverter circuit
`
`(pars [44, 48, 51]); Yamakawa teaches a power receiving device (Fig.1) including a power
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`receiving antenna (item 210) that receives the AC power transmitted from the power
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`transmitting antenna (140), and a rectifying circuit (item 220) that converts the received AC
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`power into a second DC power (par [54]); and Yamakawa teaches a load (item 240) into which
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`the second DC power is input (par [54]), wherein the power transmitting device and the power
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`receiving device are capable of being coupled and detached (par [37]; when the vehicle carrying
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`the power receiving device is parked in a space where the power transmitting device is located,
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`the devices are "capable of being coupled". In contrast, when the vehicle carrying the power
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`receiving device is not parked in a space where the power transmitting device is located, the
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`devices are ”capable of being detached”. This meets the broadest reasonable interpretation of
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`”capable of being coupled and detached”), wherein the power receiving device further includes
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 4
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`a receiving-side transmitter (item 257) that transmits, to the power transmitting device (via item
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`157), control information of the power receiving device including (ii) voltage of the load (240) of
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`the power receiving device (pars [55 and 58]), wherein the power transmitting device further
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`includes a transmitting-side receiver (item 157) that receives the control information of the
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`power receiving device from the receiving-side transmitter (257), and a table (item 151)
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`containing control parameters correlated with (i) a coupling coefficient (pars [50, 93-94, 96]), (ii)
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`the voltage (pars [55, 58, 50, 93-94]; the voltage is the voltage used to power the battery), and
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`wherein the power transmission control circuit (150) initially: causes the inverter circuit (130) to
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`output preliminary AC power to activate the power receiving device in a state where the power
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`transmitting device and power receiving device are coupled (pars [44-45]), causes the
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`transmitting-side receiver (157) to receive the control information of the power receiving device
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`from the power receiving device (pars [55, 58]), determines the control parameter based on the
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`control information by referring to the table (pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88, 93-94]; Yamakawa
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`teaches determining the control parameter as the frequency to drive the inverter by referring to
`
`the table 151 which includes the coupling coefficient control information), and adjusts the
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`voltage of the AC power output from the inverter circuit (130) using the control parameter (pars
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`[44, 48, 50-51, 86-88, 93-94, 96]; Yamakwa teaches adjusting the voltage of the AC power
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`output from the inverter circuit by determining and using the determined frequency/control
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`parameter).
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`Yamakawa teaches determining the frequency/control parameter based on calculating
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`the coupling coefficient on the transmitter side. Yamakawa does not explicitly disclose among
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`the control information transmitted from the power receiving device to the power transmitting
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`device includes (i) a coupling coefficient between the power transmitting antenna and the
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`power receiving antenna and (ii) the requested voltage.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 5
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`Jeong, however, teaches it is known in the art for the coupling coefficient to be
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`calculated in either the transmitter (such as in Yamakawa) or in the receiver and transmitted
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`back to the power transmitting device (pars [105 and 107]). Thus, the combination teaches that
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`calculating the coupling coefficient at the transmitter side (Yamakawa) and/or calculating the
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`coupling coefficient at the receiver side and transmitting it back to the transmitter is well-within
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`the level of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, Jeong teaches among the control information
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`transmitted to the power transmitting device includes (ii) requested voltage of the load/battery
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`of the power receiving device (pars [39, 98-99 and 105]; Jeong teaches information on the
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`charging state, operating state, charging power of the battery B is continuously needed and
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`communicated from the receiver in order to continuously supply the requisite amount of power
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`to activate and maintain the battery. This meets the broadest reasonable interpretation of
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`”requested voltage”). The combination thus teaches transmitting the control information to the
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`transmitter to determine the control parameter and adjust the AC power output from the
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`inverter.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
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`date of the claimed invention to have modified the teachings of Yamakawa to that ofJeong. The
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`motivation would have been because there are a finite number of options in calculating the
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`coupling coefficient- calculate the coupling coefficient in the transmitter side or in the receiver
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`and have it transmit the coupling coefficient back to the transmitter. One of ordinary skill in the
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`art would have realized the two options and selected the one that best meets the intended
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`design (see MPEP 2143 (E)). It is further noted that sending additional control information such
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`as requested voltage of the load only makes the system more efficient and robust in
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`determining the control parameter for adjusting the inverter.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 6
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`The combination of Yamakawa in view of Jeong does not explicitly disclose transmitting
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`to the power transmitting device control information including (iii) load impedance of the load.
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`Kim (Fig.1), however, teaches the receiver-side transmitter (126) transmits to the power
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`transmitting (110), control information of the power receiving device including (iii) load
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`impedance of the load (par [81]). Thus, the combination teaches receiving all the claimed
`
`control information and determining the control parameter to adjust the voltage of the power
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`output of the inverter circuit of Yamakawa.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have modified the teachings Yamakawa in view of Jeong to that
`
`of Kim. The motivation would have been to build a more robust and efficient system when
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`determining the control parameter. By taking into account additional control information, the
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`more precise the system is in controlling the inverter.
`
`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong and Kim does not explicitly disclose after
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`the power transmission control circuit has adjusted the voltage of the AC power output from the
`
`inverter circuit using the control parameter, the power receiving device creates and transmits,
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`to the power transmitting device via the receiving-side transmitter, control error signals
`
`representing a difference between a requested voltage value of the load and a current voltage
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`value of the load, and the power transmission control circuit adjusts the voltage of the AC power
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`output from the inverter circuit using the control error signals.
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`Kanno (Fig.5), however, similarly teaches a wireless power transmission system with a
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`power transmitter device (50), a power receiving device (1) and an inverter (item 56) (pars [57,
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`71]). Kanno teaches after the power transmission control circuit has adjusted the voltage of the
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`AC power output from the inverter circuit using the control parameter, the power receiving
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`device (1) creates and transmits, to the power transmitting device (50) via the receiving-side
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 7
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`transmitter (11b), control error signals representing a difference between a requested voltage
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`value of the load and a current voltage value of the load (par [71]; Kanno teaches initially
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`transmitting power to the receiver as also taught by Yamakawa and then calculating/creating
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`control error signals by taking the difference between a desired/requested load power value
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`(noting that Power=voltage*current so power obviously includes voltage) and an actual/current
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`power value (P=V*|). Kanno teaches transmitting the control error signals from the antenna of
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`receiver 1 back to the antenna of transmitter 50), and the power transmission control circuit
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`adjusts the voltage of the AC power output from the inverter (56) using the control error signals
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`(par [71]; Kanno teaches receiving the feedback control error signals from the receiver 1 and
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`determining a new power/voltage (power obviously includes voltage P=V*|) by adjusting the
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`power including voltage of the inverter 56 so that the new transmitted power outputted from
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`the inverter to the receiver is closer to a target value and the error value is zeroed). Thus, the
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`combination teaches after the initial adjustment of the voltage of the inverter to control the AC
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`power output from the inverter, control error signals are fed back in order to adjust the voltage
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`of the inverter and hence the AC power output from the inverter so that the error value
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`between the requested voltage value of the load and the actual/current voltage value of the
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`load is zeroed.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have modified the teachings of Yamakawa, Jeong, and Kim to
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`that of Kanno of providing control error signals from the receiver, after the initial adjustment of
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`the inverter, to adjust the voltage of the inverter and thus AC power output to the receiver. The
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`motivation would have been to zero down on the error value between the initial transmitted
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`power and the desired/requested power which includes voltage of the load by adjusting the
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`voltage of the inverter for a second time.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 8
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`Note: the examiner takes official notice and provides further support in Partovi (2009/0096413
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`A1), pars [107, 113, 142]; ”the receiver in the battery or mobile device also includes a means for
`
`providing information regarding battery manufacturer, required voltage...”
`
`Regarding Claim 2,
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`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the power transmission control
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`circuit adjusts to match the voltage of the AC power to the requested voltage (Jeong, pars [39,
`
`98-99, 105]), by adjusting the voltage of the AC power using the control parameter (Yamakwa,
`
`pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88, 93-94] and Jeong, pars [39, 98-99, 105], Kanno, par [71]; The
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`combination teaches that the voltage requested from the battery information communicated to
`
`the transmitter is used to adjust the voltage of the AC power output via the inverter by using the
`
`determined control parameter/frequency).
`
`Regarding Claim 3,
`
`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the power transmission control
`
`circuit adjusts to bring the voltage of the AC power close to the requested voltage, by adjusting
`
`the voltage of AC power using the control parameter (Yamakwa, pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88, 93-
`
`94] and Jeong, pars [39, 98-99, 105], Kanno, par [71]). The combination does not explicitly
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`disclose adjusting to a range of 80% to 120% of the requested voltage; however, it would have
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`been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed
`
`invention to have adjusted to a range of 80% to 120%, since it has been held that where the
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`general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or working
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`ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ.
`
`Regarding Claim 4,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 9
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`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 3 and the combination further teaches wherein, after the adjustment of the
`
`voltage of the AC power using the control parameter, the transmitter-side receiver receives
`
`error information indicating error between the voltage of the second DC power and the
`
`requested voltage from the receiving-side transmitter (Yamakawa, pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88,
`
`93-94], Jeong, pars [39, 98-99, 105] and Kanno, par [71]; The combination teaches after the
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`initial adjustment of the voltage of AC power in Yamakawa, error information is fed back from
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`the receiver to the transmitter indicating an error value between the current/ actual received
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`power (i.e. the rectified second DC power to charge the load) and the requested/desired power
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`value including the voltage value of the load as taught by Kanno), and wherein the power
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`transmission control circuit updates the control parameter to converge the error that the error
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`information indicates (Yamakawa, pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88, 93-94], Jeong, pars [39, 98-99,
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`105] and Kanno, par [71]), and adjusts the voltage and frequency of the AC power output from
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`the inverter circuit using the updated control parameter (Yamakawa, pars [44, 48, 50-51, 86-88,
`
`93-94], Jeong, pars [39, 98-99, 105], and Kanno, par [71]; Yamakawa teaches initially controlling
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`the voltage of the inverter and determining a frequency to drive the inverter in order to output
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`and transmit initial AC power. Kanno teaches receiving the error message from the receiver and
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`updating the control of the inverter output to a new AC power output to be transmitted to the
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`receiver. Jeong, par [39], teaches controlling the inverter includes controlling the duty cycle of
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`the inverter. Thus, the combination teaches obviously updating the parameter/frequency
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`and/or updating the control duty cycle to drive the inverter of Yamakawa according to a new AC
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`power and thereby adjusting the voltage (P=V*|) and frequency from the inverter circuit in
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`response to the error information in order to output a new transmitted AC power from the
`
`inverter).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 10
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`Note: Also see Partovi (2012/0235636) - Fig.3, par [97]; the receiver reports an error of the
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`rectified voltage from the desired voltage so that the transmitter adjusts the frequency or duty
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`of the applied AC voltage.
`
`Regarding Claim 6,
`
`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the control parameter is a value
`
`indicating a predetermined range (Yamakawa, Fig.14, pars [89 and 94]; predetermined range of
`
`frequencies).
`
`Regarding Claim 7,
`
`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 6 and the combination further teaches wherein the power transmission control
`
`circuit adjusts the voltage and frequency of the AC power output from the inverter circuit using
`
`a median value of the control parameter indicated by the predetermined range (Yamakawa,
`
`Fig.14, par [94]; the control parameter/frequency is 477kHz, which is the median between the
`
`predetermined range which includes 460, 470, 477, 480, 490 kHz). Moreover, Yamakawa
`
`teaches taking the intermediate/median value of a range of frequencies is generally well-known
`
`in the art (par [4]). It is further noted that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have used the median value,
`
`since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable (coupling
`
`coefficient changes and thus the frequency does too), involves only routine skill in the art. In re
`
`Boesch, 617 F.2d 272, 205 USPQ 215 (CCPA 1980).
`
`Regarding Claim 9,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 11
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`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the load is included in the power
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`receiving device (Yamakawa, Fig.1).
`
`Regarding Claim 11,
`
`The combination of Yamakawa in view ofJeong, Kim, and Kanno teaches the claimed subject
`
`matter in claim 1 and the combination further teaches wherein the power transmission control
`
`circuit adjusts the voltage of the AC power output from the inverter circuit in which the control
`
`parameter is a value representing the frequency (Yamakawa, Figs.1 and 11, pars [pars [44, 48,
`
`50-51, 86-88, 93-94, 96]; Yamakawa teaches the control parameter is a value representing the
`
`frequency to control the inverter output power).
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yamakawa et al.
`
`(2015/0048688 A1) in view of Jeong et al. (2016/0079798 A1) in further view of Kim et al.
`
`(2012/0306285 A1) and in further view of Karma (2016/0020634 A1) as applied to claim 1
`
`above and in further view of Leabman et al. (2016/0099614 A1).
`
`Regarding Claim 5,
`
`The combination of references teaches the claimed subject matter in claim 1. The combination
`
`does not explicitly disclose the voltage of the power receiving device is a value indicating a
`
`predetermined range. Leabman (Fig.36), however, teaches that it is known for power receiving
`
`device (3620a) to have voltage ranges and that the memory of transmitter device (3601) stores
`
`the voltage ranges (par [147]). Thus, the combination teaches that the receiver device operates
`
`over a range of voltages and therefore the combination teaches that the requested voltage
`
`includes a range of operational voltages. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the teachings
`
`of the combination to that of Leabman. The motivation would have been because discovering
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 12
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`the working operational ranges of a receiver is well-within the level of ordinary skill in the art.
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`The receiving device could become operational between a certain range of voltages and by
`
`sending a range instead of a value to the transmitter, it allows the transmitter to know a range
`
`of acceptable voltages to operate the receiver instead of a value.
`
`Claim Sis rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yamakawa et al.
`
`(2015/0048688 A1) in view of Jeong et al. (2016/0079798 A1) in further view of Kim et al.
`
`(2012/0306285 A1) and in further view of Karma (2016/0020634 A1) as applied to claim 1
`
`above and in further view of Xu et al. (2016/0181821 A1).
`
`Regarding Claim 8,
`
`The combination of references teaches the claimed matter in claim 1. The combination does not
`
`explicitly disclose wherein the power transmitting device includes a protrusion or a recess on a
`
`surface of the power transmitting device, wherein the power receiving device includes a
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`protrusion or a recess on a surface of the power receiving device, and wherein the power
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`transmitting device and the power receiving device can be coupled and separated, by the
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`protrusion of the power transmitting device and the recess of the power receiving device being
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`engaged, or by the recess of the power transmitting device and the protrusion of the power
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`receiving device being engaged.
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`Xu (Figs.6A-6D), however, teaches wherein the power transmitting device (item 605) includes a
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`recess (see Fig.63; recess) on a surface of the power transmitting device (pars [37-40]), wherein
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`the power receiving device (610) includes a protrusion (615) on a surface of the power receiving
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`device (see Fig.6A), and wherein the power transmitting device (605) and the power receiving
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`device (610) can be coupled and separated (see Figs.6C and 6D), by the recess of the power
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`transmitting device (605) and the protrusion (615) of the power receiving device (610) being
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`engaged (pars [37-40]).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 13
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of
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`the claimed invention to have modified the teachings of the combination to that of Xu. The
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`motivation would have been because insertion of the protruding portion into the recess can
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`increase overlap between the primary and the secondary coils which generates additional
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`magnetic flux coupling between the primary and secondary thereby allowing greater efficiency
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`in wireless power transfer (Xu, par [40]).
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`Claims 10 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yamakawa et al.
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`(2015/0048688 A1) in view of Jeong et al. (2016/0079798 A1) in further view of Kim et al.
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`(2012/0306285 A1) and in further view of Karma (2016/0020634 A1) as applied to claim 1
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`above and in further view of Murayama et al. (2015/0364947 A1).
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`Regarding Claim 10,
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`The combination of references teaches the claimed subject matter in claim 1 and the
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`combination further teaches wherein the inverter circuit includes four switching devices
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`(Yamakawa, Fig.3), wherein the four switching devices make up a first switching pair (Yamakwa,
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`par [43]; QA and QD) that outputs voltage of the same polarity as the voltage of the first DC
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`power supplied from the power source when conducting (par [43]; QA and QD are conducting
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`and turned on when QB and QC are off and thus outputting voltage of the same polarity), and a
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`second switching device pair (QB and QC) that outputs voltage of opposite polarity from the
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`voltage of the first DC power supplied from the power source when conducting (Yamawaka, par
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`[43]), wherein the power transmitting control circuit supplies pulse signals to each of the four
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`switching devices, to switch between conducting and non-conducting states (Yamawaka, par
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`[43]).
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`The combination does not explicitly disclose adjusting a phase difference of pulse signals
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`supplied to the first and second switching pairs of the inverter circuit.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 14
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`Murayama (Figs.1 and 3), however, similarly teaches an inverter circuit (3) with first and second
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`switching device pairs (see Fig.3). Murayama further teaches supplying pulse signals to each of
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`the four switching devices (par [65]; switching signals 51 to S4), and adjusts a phase difference
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`of two pulse signals supplied to the first switching device pair (par [65]; Murayama teachers
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`adjusting a phase difference of switching signals 51 to S4 supplied to inverter 3 via control unit
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`7), and a phase difference of two pulse signals supplied to the second switching device pair (par
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`[65]), and wherein the control parameter is a value indicating the phase difference (par [65];
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`Murayama teaches the control parameter is a phase difference value supplied to the inverter
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`circuit 3).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of
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`the claimed invention to have modified the teachings of the combination to that of Murayama.
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`The motivation would have been because there are various known control parameters in the art
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`used to control output from the inverter circuit. One of ordinary skill in the art would have
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`realized that the phase difference is a well-known control parameter in the art used to control
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`the inverter and the output power of the inverter.
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`Regarding Claim 12,
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`The combination of references teaches the claimed subject matter in claim 1 and the
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`combination further teaches wherein the inverter circuit includes a plurality of switching devices
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`(Yamakawa, Fig.3, QA-QD), wherein the power transmission control circuit supplies pulse signals
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`to each of the plurality of switching devices, to switch between conducting and non-conducting
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`states (Yamawaka, par [43]; QA and QD controlled to be conducting while QB and QC are off and
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`vice versa), and wherein the voltage of AC power output from the inverter circuit is adjusted by
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`adjusting a duty ratio of the pulse signals (Jeong, par [39], Claim 9; controlling the switching duty
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/259,222
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 15
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`of the switches), and wherein the control parameter is a value representing a duty ratio (par
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`[39])-
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`For further support of adjusting a duty ratio of the pulse signals, and wherein the control
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`parameter is a value representing a duty ratio, Murayama is being relied upon.
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`Murayama (Figs.1 and 3) similarly teaches an inverter circuit (3) with first and second switching
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`device pairs (see Fig.3). Murayama further teaches disclose wherein the voltage of wherein the
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`voltage of the AC power output from the inverter circuit (3) is adjusted by adjusting a duty ratio
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`of the pulse signals (par [51]; ”switching control unit 7 adjusts duty ratios of the respective
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`switching signals 51 to S4”), and wherein the control parameter is a value representing a duty
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`ratio (par [51]).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of
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`the claimed invention to have modified the teachings of the references to that of Murayama.
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`The motivation would have been t