www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/649,057
`
`07/13/2017
`
`Satoru MASAOKA
`
`20296.0108USW1
`
`2081
`
`53148
`
`759°
`
`08/06/20”
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON RC.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`CHAN'DANNY
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2186
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`08/06/2019
`
`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.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMail@hsml.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/649,057
`Examiner
`DAN NY CHAN
`
`Applicant(s)
`MASAOKA et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2186
`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 03 July 2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) C] 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 Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`1 and 3—9 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) 1 and 3—9 is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`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
`
`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). The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
`
`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:
`
`a)D All
`
`b)I:l Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`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) C] 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-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190731
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1, 3-9 are pending.
`
`Claims 1, 3, and 7-9 have been amended.
`
`This action is Final.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Claim 1 has been amended to include the previous limitations of claim 2.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 7/3/2019 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`persuasive. Applicant appears to argue on page 7 in the 3rd paragraph that it would not
`
`be obvious to modify the diodes 34 and 35 of Takizawa with the FET switch of Harada
`
`because it would compromise Takizawa’s intended purpose of the diodes to isolate
`
`back-up battery 18 from DC-DC converter. Applicant then appears to argue in the next
`
`paragraph that even if the diodes of Takizawa can be modified with the FET of Harada,
`
`it would not teach the second switch is controlled by a controller based on detection
`
`results of the latch opening/closing detector and the battery remaining amount detector
`
`as required by the claim. Finally, in the last paragraph of page 7 through page 8 in the
`
`2nOI paragraph, applicant appears to argue that Takizawa and Harada do not teach
`
`parallel operation of the built in battery when opening of a latch has been detected
`
`because it first determines voltages of another battery and stops when the voltage is not
`
`sufficient, rather than use the built-in battery. Examiner respectfully disagrees with
`
`applicant’s arguments.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 3
`
`Regarding applicant’s first argument, Examiner did not suggest replacement of
`
`Takizawa’s diodes 34 and 35 with Harada’s FET switch, but merely that the FET switch
`
`be used in addition to the diodes. For instance, placing Harada’s FET switch in between
`
`Takizawa’s back-up battery 18 and diode 35 would not compromise the function of the
`
`diodes to isolate the back-up battery 18 from the DC-DC converter while providing the
`
`benefits described in the motivation to combine Takizawa and Harada. Thus it would be
`
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Harada’s FET switch in Takizawa.
`
`Regarding applicant’s second argument, Takizawa already teaches determining
`
`which battery cover was opened, using a back-up battery to provide power when it is
`
`needed, and comparing voltage levels of battery packs to determine whether to use
`
`back-up battery to provide power. Meanwhile, Harada was brought in to teach the
`
`concept of a switch controllable by a controller for providing power from an internal
`
`battery. It would therefore be reasonable, in the combination of Takizawa and Harada,
`
`for the controller to control the switch for providing built-in/internal battery power based
`
`on whether a battery cover was opened and the voltage level of the battery packs.
`
`Regarding applicant’s last argument, Takizawa indicates that when the two
`
`battery packs are discharged below a level, supply of power is switched from battery
`
`packs to back-up battery [Takizawa col. 10 lines 6-24 and claim 2], and that a back-up
`
`battery or another battery pack may provide back-up power [col. 6 lines 65-67]. It is
`
`apparent that the purpose of the back-up battery is to provide power to the system when
`
`the battery packs are unable to supply power. Therefore, when the cover for a battery
`
`pack is open, the back-up battery is capable of supplying power to the system in the
`
`event the battery pack is removed and not able to supply power. Furthermore, as shown
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 4
`
`in FIG. 1, the back-up battery 18 is connected in parallel to battery packs 101 and 102.
`
`Thus Takizawa does show parallel operation of the built-in/backup battery.
`
`For the reasons above, the U.S.C. 103(a) rejections are maintained.
`
`Title
`
`7.
`
`The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly
`
`indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. The examiner believes that
`
`the title of the invention is imprecise. A descriptive title indicative of the invention will
`
`help in proper indexing, classifying, searching, etc. See MPEP 606.01. However, the
`
`title of the invention should be limited to 500 characters. Examiner suggests “Electronic
`
`Device with a Built-in Battery to Supply Power When Latches of Detachable Batteries
`
`are Opened”.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`8.
`
`The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can
`
`be found in a prior Office action.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 1 and 3-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Takizawa et al. (hereinafter as Takizawa) USPAT 5,739,596, and further in view of
`
`
`Harada et al. (hereinafter as Harada) USPAT 6,031,356.
`
`10.
`
`As per claim 1, Takizawa teaches an electronic device which is operable by
`
`power supplied from a battery [col. 1 lines 7-10], the electronic device comprising:
`
`a first mounting unit to which a first battery is mounted in a detachable
`
`manner [col. 5 line 40-43: (battery compartment for battery pack 101) and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 5
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`FIG. 3: (battery pack 101 is detachable to the computer through battery
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`compartment and cover)];
`
`a second mounting unit to which a second battery different from the first
`
`battery is mounted in a detachable manner [col. 5 line 40-43: (battery
`
`compartment for battery pack 102; each battery pack has its respective
`
`battery compartment and cover) and FIG. 3: (battery pack 102 is detachable
`
`to the computer through battery compartment and cover)];
`
`a built-in battery incorporated in a main body [FIG. 1 back-up battery 18
`
`and col. 4 lines 61-64: (back-up battery 18 powers all circuitry in the
`
`computer when battery packs are removed and back-up battery is
`
`incorporated within the main body of the computer)];
`
`a first switch that alternatively selects a battery for supplying power to the
`
`electronic device from the first battery mounted to the first mounting unit and the
`
`second battery mounted to the second mounting unit [FIG. 1, col. 5 lines 60-63,
`
`and col. 6 lines 34-63: (switches 103, 104, 105, and 106 together are used as
`
`switching elements for turning the power supply from any battery pack on
`
`or off)];
`
`supply of power from the built-in battery to the electronic device [col. 5
`
`lines 63-67: (diodes 34 and 35 control whether power is output from back-
`
`up battery 18)];
`
`a first latch that locks the first battery mounted to the first mounting unit
`
`[col. 5 lines 39-44: (battery cover 45 secures battery pack 101 in place to its
`
`battery compartment)];
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 6
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`a second latch that locks the second battery mounted to the second
`
`mounting unit [col. 5 lines 39-44: (battery cover 46 secures battery pack 102
`
`in place to its battery compartment)];
`
`a latch opening/closing detector that detects opening/closing of the first
`
`latch and the second latch [col. 5 lines 55-59: (switches 14 and 15 detects
`
`respective covers opening)];
`
`a battery remaining amount detector that detects remaining amounts of
`
`the first battery and the second battery [col. 4 lines 12-15: (sub-CPU 107a
`
`monitors the power supply voltage of battery packs) and col. 8 line 65 — col.
`
`9 line 30: (detected voltage is indicative of the remaining amount of battery
`
`power available in battery pack8)]; and
`
`a power controller configured to control the first switch [col. 8 line 65 —
`
`col. 9 line 8 and col. 11 lines 17-25: battery controller 107 selects battery
`
`pack 101 or 102] based on detection results of the latch opening/closing
`
`detector and the battery remaining amount detector [col. 6 lines 34-67, col. 8
`
`line 65 — col. 9 line 8, and col. 12 lines 28-31: (battery controller 107 selects
`
`battery packs based on detected voltage and whether a battery cover is
`
`opened)],
`
`wherein when the latch opening/closing detector detects opening of at
`
`least one of the first latch and the second latch [Takizawa col. 5 lines 55-59 and
`
`col. 12 lines 28-32: determined which battery cover was opened], the power
`
`controller is further configured to:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 7
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`control so that the built-in battery is capable of supplying power to
`
`the electronic device [col. 10 lines 6-24 and col. 6 lines 63-67: (back-up
`
`battery 18 is switched in by diodes to provide power when needed)],
`
`and
`
`control the first switch so that power is supplied to the electronic
`
`device from one of the first battery and the second battery that can supply
`
`power based on a detection result of the battery remaining amount
`
`detector [col. 12 lines 25-42: (based on which cover is opened and
`
`which battery is being used, power supply system may switch to the
`
`other battery pack); and Takizawa col. 6 lines 34-67: (battery packs
`
`are selected using FETs based on voltage levels and will switch to
`
`back-up battery 18 when voltage levels of battery packs are
`
`insufficient)].
`
`Takizawa does not explicitly teach a second switch that switches on and off the
`
`built-in battery; and a power controller controls the second switch. Although Takizawa
`
`teaches automatically outputting power from the back-up/built-in battery through diodes
`
`as a result of switching off FETs by a controller, Takizawa does not explicitly teach a
`
`second switch to switch on or off the built-in battery and control of this second switch by
`
`a controller.
`
`Harada teaches an electronic device with multiple external batteries and an
`
`internal battery to supply power to an electronic device. Harada is thus similar to
`
`Takizawa in that they have an electronic device with multiple batteries and switching
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 8
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`between batteries. Harada further teaches a second switch that switches on and off the
`
`built-in battery [FIG. 2 and col. 9 lines 10-28: FET 60a (FET 60a switches on built-in
`
`battery power)]; and a power controller controls the second switch [FIG. 2 and col. 9
`
`lines 28-39: (control circuit 65 controls FET 60a to discharge built-in battery)].
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Harada’s teachings of
`
`controlling a FET switch to use a built-in battery in Takizawa, such as Takizawa’s back-
`
`up battery. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to provide Harada’s
`
`dedicated FET switch for Takizawa’s back-up battery to allow for better control by the
`
`controller of which battery source to use and to better prevent leakage of the built-in
`
`battery through the diodes and therefore extend the battery life of the built-in battery.
`
`11.
`
`As per claim 3, Takizawa teaches the electronic device according to claim 2,
`
`wherein the power controller: determine that the first battery is capable of supplying
`
`power to the electronic device when the battery remaining amount detector detects that
`
`a ratio of a remaining amount of the first battery to a capacity of the first battery is larger
`
`than a predetermined value [Takizawa col. 7 lines 38-43: (based on whether voltage
`
`level is greater than a threshold Vref10, the first battery pack 101 is selected to provide
`
`power) and FIG. 7: (translates the voltage level to a percentage charging level
`
`representing the remaining charge of the battery relative to the battery’s full capacity;
`
`thus comparing battery voltage to a voltage threshold is equivalent to comparing a
`
`capacity of the battery to a predetermined threshold)]; and determine that the second
`
`battery is capable of supplying power to the electronic device when the battery
`
`remaining amount detector detects that a ratio of a remaining amount of the second
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 9
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`battery to a capacity of the second battery is larger than a predetermined value
`
`[Takizawa col. 7 lines 44-51: (based on whether voltage level is greater than a threshold
`
`Vref20, the second battery pack 102 is selected) and FIG. 7: (translates the voltage
`
`level to a percentage charging level representing the remaining charge of the battery
`
`relative to the battery’s full capacity; thus comparing battery voltage to a voltage
`
`threshold is equivalent to comparing a capacity of the battery to a predetermined
`
`threshold)].
`
`12.
`
`As per claim 4, Takizawa and Harada teach the electronic device according to
`
`claim 1, wherein when the latch opening/closing detector detects the first latch being
`
`opened with a detection result of the battery remaining amount detector showing that
`
`the second battery is capable of supplying power to the electronic device, the power
`
`controller controls the first switch so that the second battery can supply power to the
`
`electronic device [Takizawa col. 12 lines 37-59: (when battery cover is opened and
`
`system is currently using battery 101 that has battery cover opened, it is determined if
`
`the other battery pack 102 is sufficient for supplying power and power supply is
`
`switched to other battery pack 102)].
`
`13.
`
`As per claim 5, Takizawa and Harada teach the electronic device according to
`
`claim 4, wherein the power controller determines that the second battery is capable of
`
`supplying power to the electronic device, when the battery remaining amount detector
`
`detects that a ratio of a remaining amount of the second battery to a capacity of the
`
`second battery is larger than a predetermined value [Takizawa col. 7 lines 44-51:
`
`(based on whether voltage level is greater than a threshold Vref20, the second battery
`
`pack 102 is selected) and FIG. 7: (translates the voltage level to a percentage charging
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 10
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`level representing the remaining charge of the battery relative to the battery’s full
`
`capacity; thus comparing battery voltage to a voltage threshold is equivalent to
`
`comparing a capacity of the battery to a predetermined threshold)].
`
`14.
`
`As per claim 6, Takizawa and Harada teach the electronic device according to
`
`claim 1, further comprising: a battery connection detector that detects whether or not
`
`each of the first battery and the second battery is mounted to the first mounting unit and
`
`the second mounting unit [Takizawa claim 1: (charge detector that individually detect
`
`the charge levels of each of the first and second power sources, and therefore
`
`determines whether each of the batteries are mounted) and col. 4 line 10-11: A/D
`
`converter 8 employed as a voltage detector; and Harada FIG. 2 voltage sensors 67a-c],
`
`wherein, in a state where the second switch is controlled so that the built-in battery can
`
`supply power to the electronic device [Harada col. 11 lines 39-44: (internal battery is
`
`used as a bridge battery such that replacement of an expansion battery may be
`
`performed while operation of the electronic equipment is continued); and col. 9 lines 7-
`
`9: (plurality of batteries complement internal battery, so they are connected in parallel);
`
`and Takizawa col. 6 lines 63-67 (back-up battery 18 connected to system with battery
`
`packs, and back-up battery supplies power if battery pack voltage is too low)], the power
`
`controller controls the first switch so that the first battery can supply power to the
`
`electronic device, when a detection result of the battery connection detector shows that
`
`the first battery is mounted to the first battery mounting unit [col. 6 lines 49-67: (based
`
`on detected voltages (and thus detected connection), power is provided from the first
`
`battery pack 101 through FET switches while battery 18 is connected in parallel and
`
`capable of supplying power to the electronic device)], and the power controller controls
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 11
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`the first switch so that the second battery can supply power to the electronic device,
`
`when a detection result of the battery connection detector shows that the second battery
`
`is mounted to the second battery mounting unit [col. 6 lines 49-67: (based on detected
`
`voltages (and thus detected connection), power is provided from the second battery
`
`pack 102 through FET switches while battery 18 is connected in parallel and capable of
`
`supplying power to the electronic device)].
`
`15.
`
`Claim 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Takizawa et al. (hereinafter as Takizawa) USPAT 5,739,596 in view of Harada et al.
`
`
`(hereinafter as Harada) USPAT 6,031,356, and further in view of Kitano et al.
`
`
`(hereinafter as Kitano) PGPUB 2014/0082394.
`
`16.
`
`As per claim 8, Takizawa and Harada teach the electronic device according to
`
`claim 1, further comprising: a central processing unit configured to control an operation
`
`of the electronic device [Takizawa FIG. 1 main CPU 9a]; and a display that displays
`
`information [Takizawa FIG. 1 display 10].
`
`Takizawa and Harada do not teach wherein the power controller is configured to
`
`control the central processing unit and the display so that power consumption of at least
`
`one of the central processing unit and the display is reduced, when power is supplied
`
`from the built-in battery.
`
`Kitano teaches a device with a built-in battery that provides back-up power when
`
`a main battery is being replaced [0030: secondary battery 12 is fixed inside the personal
`
`computer], and having a plurality of main batteries [0049]. Thus Kitano is similar to
`
`Takizawa and Harada since they all have an emergency battery to provide power.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 12
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`Kitano further teaches wherein the power controller is configured to control the central
`
`processing unit and the display so that power consumption of at least one of the central
`
`processing unit and the display is reduced, when power is supplied from the built-in
`
`battery [0054: power source changed from main battery 11 to secondary battery 12; and
`
`0055: (reduce power consumption by the personal computer by changing brightness of
`
`display to lowest level)].
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Kitano’s teachings of
`
`performing power saving actions when using the lower capacity built-in battery in
`
`Takizawa and Harada. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to perform
`
`power saving measures when operating on emergency battery power in order to extend
`
`operational time of the computing device and prevent loss of information, as well as
`
`provide the user with a longer period of time to respond to the loss of main power.
`
`17.
`
`Claim 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Takizawa et al. (hereinafter as Takizawa) USPAT 5,739,596 in view of Harada et al.
`
`
`(hereinafter as Harada) USPAT 6,031,356, and further in view of Nanno et al.
`
`
`
`(hereinafter as Nanno) USPAT 5,553,294 and Nakano USPAT 7,543,167.
`
`18.
`
`As per claim 7, Takizawa and Harada teach the electronic device according to
`
`claim 1, further comprising: a central processing unit configured to control an operation
`
`of the electronic device [Takizawa FIG. 1 main CPU 9a].
`
`Takizawa and Harada do not teach wherein power capable of being supplied
`
`from the second battery is smaller than power capable of being supplied from the first
`
`battery, and when power is supplied from the second battery, the power controller is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
`
`Page 13
`
`further configured to control the central processing unit so that power consumption of
`
`the central processing unit is reduced.
`
`Nanno teaches a portable computing devices having a plurality of detachable
`
`batteries [FIG.
`
`1 31 L and 31 R] and a built-in battery [FIG.
`
`1 318], and thus Nanno is
`
`similar to Takizawa and Harada. Nanno further teaches wherein power capable of being
`
`supplied from the second battery is smaller than power capable of being supplied from
`
`the first battery [col. 4 lines 1-3 and lines 13-15: (one detachable battery is 1700mA and
`
`the other is 2200mA; thus one battery has a smaller capacity than the other)].
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Nanno’s teachings in
`
`Takizawa and Harada to use main batteries having different capacities. One of ordinary
`
`skill in the art would be motivated to use different main batteries having different battery
`
`capacities in Takizawa and Harada’s portable computer because it would be more
`
`flexible and would be easier for a user to replace a main battery if the main batteries
`
`can be different types of batteries.
`
`Takizawa, Harada, and Nanno do not teach when power is supplied from the
`
`second battery, the power controller is further configured to control the central
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`processing unit so that power consumption of the central processing unit is reduced.
`
`Although Takizawa, Harada, and Nanno teach switching to power supplied from another
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`main battery with a lower capacity, Takizawa, Harada, and Nanno do not mention
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`controlling power consumption of a CPU when switching between main battery packs.
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`Nakano teaches a portable computing device with a detachable battery. Nakano
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`is thus similar to Takizawa, Harada, and Nanno in that they all teach a portable
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`computing device having a battery for backup power. Nakano further teaches when
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`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
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`Page 14
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`power is supplied from the second battery, the power controller is further configured to
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`control the central processing unit so that power consumption of the central processing
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`unit is reduced [claim 6 and FIG. 4: (when power is to be supplied from the battery
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`having a low capacity rating, the CPU operation speed is decreased)]. Thus Nakano
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`teaches using a slower CPU frequency when a battery having a smaller capacity is
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`used.
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`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Nakano’s teachings of
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`reducing CPU frequency when using a battery with a lower capacity rating in Takizawa,
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`Harada, and Nanno. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to reduce the
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`power consumption of the CPU when using a lower capacity battery to extend the
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`battery driving time and prevent sudden loss of power and data [Nakano col. 1
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`line 39-
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`46].
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`19.
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`Claim 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Takizawa et al. (hereinafter as Takizawa) USPAT 5,739,596 in view of Harada et al.
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`
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`(hereinafter as Harada) USPAT 6,031,356, Nanno et al. (hereinafter as Nanno) USPAT
`
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`5,553,294, and Nakano USPAT 7,543,167, and further in view of Kitano et al.
`
`
`(hereinafter as Kitano) PGPUB 2014/0082394.
`
`20.
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`As per claim 9, Takizawa, Harada, Nanno, and Nakano teach the electronic
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`device according to claim 7, further comprising a display that displays information
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`[Takizawa FIG. 1 display 10], wherein the power controller is further configured to
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`control the central processing unit and the display so that power consumption of at
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`least one of (alternative language) the central processing unit and the display is
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`Page 15
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`reduced [Nakano claim 6: (CPU frequency is reduced to save power) and FIG. 4 step
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`s15: (LCD luminance set to |ow)].
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`Takizawa, Harada, Nanno, and Nakano do not explicitly teach reducing power of
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`the display or the CPU when power is supplied from the built-in battery. The
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`combination of Takizawa, Harada, Nanno, and Nakano shows that when power is to be
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`supplied from a lower capacity detachable battery, power to CPU and/or display can be
`
`reduced. Although obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the teachings of power
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`reduction can also be applied when switching to a built-in battery with even lower
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`capacity (for the purposes of extending the built-in battery’s operational time), Takizawa,
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`Harada, Nanno, and Nakano nonetheless do not explicitly teach reducing power of the
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`display or the CPU when power is supplied from the built-in battery.
`
`Kitano teaches a device with a built-in battery that provides back-up power when
`
`a main battery is being replaced [0030: secondary battery 12 is fixed inside the personal
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`computer], and having a plurality of main batteries [0049]. Thus Kitano is similar to
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`Takizawa, Harada, Nanno, and Nakano since they have an emergency battery to
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`provide power. Kitano further teaches wherein the power controller controls the central
`
`processing unit and the display so that power consumption of at least one of the central
`
`processing unit and the display is reduced, when power is supplied from the built-in
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`battery [0054: power source changed from main battery 11 to secondary battery 12; and
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`0055: (reduce power consumption by the personal computer by changing brightness of
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`display to lowest level)].
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`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use Kitano’s teachings of
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`performing power saving actions when using the lower capacity built-in battery in
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`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
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`Takizawa, Harada, Nanno, and Nakano. One of ordinary skill in the art would be
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`motivated to perform power saving measures when operating on emergency built-in
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`battery power in order to extend operational time of the computing device and prevent
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`loss of information, as well as provide the user with a longer period of time to respond to
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`the loss of main power.
`
`Conclusion
`
`21.
`
`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
`
`policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the event a first reply is filed within
`
`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
`
`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
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`the advisory action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
`
`22.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to DANNY CHAN whose telephone number is (571 )270-
`
`5134. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 10-7 EST.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/649,057
`Art Unit: 2186
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`Page 17
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`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, Kim Huynh can be reached on 5712724147. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`
`/DANNY CHAN/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2186
`
`