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
`
`15/757,353
`
`03/03/2018
`
`Kiyosi GOTOU
`
`HOKUP0380WOUS
`
`9416
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`DHILLON JAGDEEP S
`
`ART UNIT
`2836
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`01/23/2020
`
`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
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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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`

`

`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/757,353
`Examiner
`JAGDEEP s DHILLON
`
`Applicant(s)
`GOTOU et al.
`Art Unit
`2836
`
`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)I Responsive to communication(s) filed on 11/05/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)I This action is FINAL.
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`2b) D 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 Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s) fl 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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`[:1 Claim(ss) _ is/are allowed.
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`Claim(ss) 1 —2 ,4—6 and 8—20 is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(ss) 3—and 7 is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`http://www.jjgptgng/patents/init_event§/pph/index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)I The drawing(s) filed on 03/03/2018 is/are: a)I accepted or b)D 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)I 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)[j None of the:
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`1.I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2E] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3C] 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-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200107
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant's arguments filed 11/05/2019 have been fully considered but they are not
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`persuasive.
`
`The Applicant alleges that
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`Vilhauer et al. Fails to Teach a Stopper Halting Generation of Control Electric Power.
`
`The Examiner contends that
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`The above statement is not true. Vilhauer et al. disclose a processor control circuit [Fig 1,
`
`(250)] which carries out an action of imposing restriction which may include ceasing to
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`provide power by the power source to one or more components. When the power is
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`ceased or stopped the processor circuit works like a stopper. See {1] (0032)}. Hence the
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`rejection stands.
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`The Applicant alleges that
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`Vilhauer et al. Fails to Teach a Stopper Halting Generation of Control Electric Power
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`When Detected Voltage of the Control Electric Power ls Higher Than or Equal
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`to
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`Prescribed Threshold.
`
`The Examiner contends that
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`Vilhauer et al. disclose voltage level
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`thresholds one falling below or rising above
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`thresholds and a processor control circuit [Fig 1, (250)] which carries out an action of
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`imposing restriction which may include ceasing to provide power by the power source to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 3
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`one or more components. When the power is ceased or stopped the processor circuit
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`works like a stopper. See {1] (0032)}. Hence the rejection stands.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
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`rejections set forth in this Office action:
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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, 2, 4-6 & 8-20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Chen Pub No. US 2016/0095187 in view of Vilhauer et al. US 2014/0189387.
`
`Regarding Independent Claim 1
`
`Chen discloses a lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)}, comprising:
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`a pair of input terminals [+ve /-ve of AC power (6)] {1] (0055)} electrically connected
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`between an illumination load [5] {1] (0055)} and an AC power supply [6];
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`a bidirectional switch [41] {1] (0055)} configured to switch between conduction and non-
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`conduction of a bidirectional current between the pair of input terminals [+ve /-ve ofAC
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`pOWer (6)];
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`a phase detector [42/43]
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`{1] (0055-0056)} configured to detect a phase [zero-point
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`crossing phase] of an AC voltage of the AC power supply [6];
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`an inputter [Fig 8, (program codes)] {1] (0060)} configured to receive a dimming level
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`[intensity level] {1] (0060)} specifying a magnitude of a light output of the illumination load
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`[5] {1i (0055)};
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 4
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`a power supply [6] electrically connected between the pair of input terminals [+ve /-ve of
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`ACpower(6)] and configured to be supplied with electric power from the AC power supply
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`[6] to generate control electric power [via composite of41, 42 & 43];
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`a voltage detector [45] {1] (0055)} configured to detect a voltage of the control electric
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`power [via composite of 41 , 42 & 43];
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`a controller [44/42] {1] (0055-0056)} configured to be supplied with the control electric
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`power [via composite of41, 42 & 43] from the power supply [6] to operate and to control
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`the bidirectional switch [41] {1] (0055)} based on a detection signal [trigger signal] {1]
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`(0008)} from the phase detector [42/43 or 12/13] {1] (0055-0056)} so as to switch the
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`bidirectional switch [41 /11] {1] (0008, 0055)} from an ON state [Fig 7, (conductive state -
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`Ton)] {1] (0057)} to an OFF state [non-conductive state] at a switching time point when a
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`variable time [from T-tpo to t-T] {1] (0057)} corresponding to the dimming level {1] (0019)}
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`elapses from a starting point [at T-tDo] of a half period [T] of the AC voltage [VAC] {1] (0055-
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`0060».
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`Chen fails to disclose a stopper configured to halt generation of the control electric power
`
`by the power supply when the voltage detected by the voltage detector is higher than or
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`equal to a prescribed threshold during an OFF time period from the switching time point
`
`to an end time point of the half period.
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`However, Vilhauer et al. disclose a stopper [Fig 1, (250)] {1] (0032)} configured to halt
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`generation [via 203] {1] (0032)} of the control electric power by the power supply [105] {1]
`
`(0032)} when the voltage detected by the voltage detector [202] {1] (0032)} is higher than
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`or equal to a prescribed threshold [thresholds set by 150] {1] (0032)} during an OFF time
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`period from the switching time point to an end time point of the half period {1] (0032)}.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
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`Page 5
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`Note: switching time [on/off] may be the thresholds set by the processor [150].
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the filing time
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`of invention to have combined the teachings of Chen and Vilhauer et al. to set up voltage
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`thresholds to minimize overall reduction of voltage levels while dimming a lighting device.
`
`Regarding Claim 2
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 1 {1]
`
`(0055-0060)}.
`
`Chen fails to disclose the power supply includes a capacitive element, and the voltage
`
`detector is configured to detect a voltage of the capacitive element.
`
`However, Vilhauer et al. disclose a power supply [Fig 1, (105)] {1] (0033)} includes a
`
`capacitive element [super-capacitor] {1] (0033)}, and the voltage detector [202] {1] (0032)}
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`is configured to detect a voltage of the capacitive element [super-capacitOI] {1] (0033)}.
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the filing time
`
`of invention to have combined the teachings of Chen and Vilhauer et al. to set up voltage
`
`thresholds to minimize overall reduction of voltage levels while dimming a lighting device.
`
`Regarding Claim 4
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to any one of
`
`claim 1, wherein the phase detector [42/43] {1] (0055-0056)} is configured to output the
`
`detection signal when the phase detector detects a zero crossing point [via 13/43] {1]
`
`(0008)} of the AC voltage {1] (0011)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 5
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 4,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to switch the bidirectional switch [41]
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 6
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`{1] (0055)} from the OFF state to the ON state when the controller [42] receives the
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`detection signal [trigger signal] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 6
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 4,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 8
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 2,
`
`wherein the phase detector [42/43] {1] (0055-0056)} is configured to output the detection
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`signal [trigger signal] when the phase detector detects a zero crossing point [via 13/43]
`
`{1] (0008)} of the AC voltage [from 6] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 9
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 3,
`
`wherein the phase detector [42/43] {1] (0055-0056)} is configured to output the detection
`
`signal [trigger signal] when the phase detector [42/43] detects a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage [from 6] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 10
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 7,
`
`wherein the phase detector [42/43] {1] (0055-0056)} is configured to output the detection
`
`signal [trigger signal] when the phase detector [42/43] detects a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage [from 6] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 11
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 7
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 8,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to switch the bidirectional switch [41]
`
`{(0055)} from the OFF state to the ON state when the controller [42] receives the detection
`
`signal [trigger signal] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 12
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 9,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to switch the bidirectional switch [41]
`
`{(0055)} from the OFF state to the ON state when the controller [42] receives the detection
`
`signal [trigger signal] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 13
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 10,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to switch the bidirectional switch [41]
`
`{(0055)} from the OFF state to the ON state when the controller [42] receives the detection
`
`signal [trigger signal] {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 14
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 5,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 15
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 8,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 8
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`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 16
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 9,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 17
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 10,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 18
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 11,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 19
`
`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 12,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Regarding Claim 20
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 9
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`Chen discloses the lighting control device [Fig 5, (4)] {1] (0055)} according to claim 13,
`
`wherein the controller [42] {1] (0055)} is configured to estimate a zero crossing point [via
`
`13/43] {1] (0008)} of the AC voltage of at least the half period [at t=T] {1] (0011)} ahead in
`
`future based on the detection signal [trigger signal] for one time {1] (0055-0056)}.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 3 & 7 stand objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would
`
`be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base
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`claim and any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as
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`set forth in 37 CFR1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`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 shortened
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`statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension
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`fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory
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`action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to JAGDEEP S DHILLON whose telephone number is (571 )270-7694.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on 8-5 M-F.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/757,353
`Art Unit: 2836
`
`Page 10
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`Examiner
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`
`/JA GDEEP S DHILLON/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2836
`
`/REXFORD N BARNIE/
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2836
`
`