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
`
`16/139,010
`
`09/22/2018
`
`Hirofumi KONISHI
`
`HOKUP03 85US
`
`5101
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`KING MONICA C
`
`ART UNIT
`2844
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/20/2019
`
`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.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdoeket@rennerotto.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/139,010
`Examiner
`MONICA 0 KING
`
`Applicant(s)
`KONISHI et al.
`Art Unit
`2844
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 5/3/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`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—30 is/are pending in the application.
`
`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.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s)
`9
`* 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.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.'sp 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). accepted or b)Ej objected to by the Examiner.
`
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)CI None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2C] 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-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190615
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 2
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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 first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`In the event the determination ofthe status of the application as subject to A|A35 U.S.C.102
`
`and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S. C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
`
`basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection ifthe prior art relied upon, and
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`the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S. C. 102 that form the basis
`
`for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(a )(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in pu blic use, on sale
`or otherwise a vailable to the public before the effective filing date ofthe claimed invention.
`
`Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kido et al. (US
`
`2017/0188420 A1, hereafter ”Kido").
`
`Regarding claim 1, Kido discloses a power supply system configured to output a DC pulsating
`
`voltage to a pair ofelectric wires through which load power is supplied to a light source, the power
`
`supply system comprising:
`
`a power supply circuit configured to generate the pulsating voltage ([0037]);
`
`an output unit to be connected to the pair of electric wires to apply the pulsating voltage to the
`
`pair of electric wires ([0337], [0415]); and
`
`an input unit configured to receive an AC input voltage as an input voltage ([0228], [0229]: the
`
`negative input terminal of amplifier 69, gain control resistor 71 connected between the output terminal
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 3
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`and the negative input terminal of amplifier 69, and phase compensation ca pacitor 70. In constant-
`
`current feedback circuit 67, amplifier 69 compares which is higher a voltage drop across sense resistor
`
`66 or a voltage of reference voltage source 72),
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage such that the pulsating voltage has a
`
`full-wave rectified waveform obtained by full-wave rectifying an alternating voltage as a wave
`
`alternating between a positive voltage and a negative voltage ([0337], [0382]: In power supply circuit
`
`52a, rectifier bridge 62 full-wave rectifies commercial power (for example, 100-V AC), and after
`
`ca pacitor 63 smoot hes the rectified power, DC-to-DC converter64 converts the smoothed power into a
`
`desired direct voltage. Smoothing capacitor 65 is connected between the output terminals of DC-to-DC
`
`converter 64. A series circuit of load circuit 53, multi-operation control circuit 1b, and transistor 2 is
`
`connected parallel to smoothing capacitor 65),
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage based on the input voltage ([0228],
`
`[0347], [0264]), and
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage such that a peak value of the pulsating
`
`voltage becomes smaller than a peak value of the input voltage (at least [0265], [0011]: during a period
`
`when switch SW is on, the output voltage decreases since the LED current flows, and also this voltage is
`
`applied to load circuit 53 which is a light source and current limiting circuit 73.... Along with a decrease
`
`in the current set value, the peak value ofthe LED current decreases, yet a square waveform without
`
`overshoot is maintained. The waveform of the applied voltage is drastically raised as the current set
`
`value decreases... The longerthe off time, the greaterthe output voltage across smoothing capacitor 65
`
`increases. A great overshoot is caused in the LED current at a moment the intermittent signal
`
`(modulating signal) has changed to high. In other words, since the output voltage is high at a moment
`
`the intermittent signal (modulating signal) has changed to high, a peak value of the LED current
`
`increases. Consequently, the output voltage decreases and the LED current decreases).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page4
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power supply
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`circuit includes an insulating circuit configured to electricallyinsulate the input unit and the output unit
`
`from each other ([0006]).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power supply
`
`circuit includes: a voltage step-down circuit configured to generate anAC voltage by stepping down the
`
`input voltage; and a rectifier circuit configured to full-wave rectify the AC voltage ([0228]).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power supply
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`circuit includes a signal generator configured to transmit a signal through the pair of electric wires by
`
`adjusting a waveform of a voltage between the pair of electric wires ([0415]).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 6, wherein the power supply
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`circuit further includes a power converter circuit configured to generate a first pulsating voltage having
`
`the full-wave rectified waveform, the signal generatorincludes: a series circuit of a first switching
`
`element and a second switching element ([0337]); and a capacitor provided for a path parallel with the
`
`first switching element and electrically connected between a pair of output terminals, the first pulsating
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`voltage being applied between two terminals of the series circuit of the first switching element and the
`
`second switching element, the signal generator performs a charge operation of c ha rging the capacitor
`
`with the first pulsating voltage by turning the first switching element OFF and turning the second
`
`switching element ON, and also performs a discharge operation of discharging the capacitor by turning
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`the first switching element ON and turning the second switching element OFF to generate a second
`
`pulsating voltage as the pulsating voltage in the capacitor ([0336]-[0337]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 5
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`Regarding claim 8, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 7, wherein the path parallel
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`with the first switching element is provided with a series circuit of the capacitorand an impedance
`
`element ([0336]).
`
`Regarding claim 9, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 7, wherein the signal
`
`generator generatesthe second pulsating voltage by making duration ofthe discharge operation shorter
`
`than one cycle of the first pulsating voltage and by turning a voltage waveform of the capacitor into a
`
`waveform in which the waveform of the first pulsating voltage is locally depressed ([0340]).
`
`Regarding claim 10, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 7, wherein the signal
`
`generator changes an operation mode from the charge operation into the discharge operation, or vice
`
`versa, in accordance with an externallyinput instruction signal ([1023]).
`
`Regarding claim 11, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 7, wherein the signal
`
`generator refrains from performing the discharge operation when an instantaneous value of the first
`
`pulsating voltage is equal to or less than a threshold value ([0306], [0309], [0957]).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 7, wherein the signal
`
`defines a communication frame as a component unit, and the signal generatortransmitsan integral
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`number of communication frames within one cycle ofthe first pulsating voltage ([0306], [0229], [0383]).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 6, wherein the signal
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`generatortransmitsthe signal through the pair of electric wires by adjusting an output conduction angle
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 6
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`representing a period during which the pulsating voltage is applied to the pair of electric wires ([0416]-
`
`[0418]).
`
`Regarding claim 14, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 2, wherein the power
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`supply circuit includes a signal generator configured to transmit the signal through the pair of electric
`
`wires by adjusting an output conduction angle representing a period during which the pulsating voltage
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`is applied to the pair of electric wires ([0337]).
`
`Regarding claim 15, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 14, further comprising an
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`input bleeder circuit, wherein the input unit includes a pair of input terminals, the input voltage
`
`obtained by adjusting, to a predetermined value ([0371]), an input conduction angle, representing a
`
`period during which a voltage is conductive through the pair of input terminals, being applied to the pair
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`of input terminals, the power supply circuit generatesthe pulsating voltage at which the output
`
`conduction angle becomes equal to the predetermined value, the input bleeder circuit is electrically
`
`connected between the pair of input terminals, an impedance of the input bleeder circuit between the
`
`pair of input terminals being adjusted in accordance with an instantaneous value of the input voltage,
`
`and the impedance ofthe input bleeder circuit when the instantaneous value of the input voltage is less
`
`than the threshold value is lower than the impedance ofthe input bleeder circuit when the
`
`instantaneous value ofthe input voltage is equal to or greater than the threshold value ([0006]-[0007]).
`
`Regarding claim 16, Kido discloses the power supply system of claim 15, wherein the input
`
`bleeder circuit has its impedance adjusted to allow no input bleeder current to flow between the pair of
`
`input terminalswhen the instantaneous value ofthe input voltage is equal to or greaterthanthe
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 7
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`threshold value and to allow the input bleeder current to flow between the pair of input terminals when
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`the instantaneous value of the input voltage is less than the threshold value ([0009]).
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 17-30 are 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 claim and any
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`intervening claims.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's arguments filed on 5/3/2019 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
`
`The Applicant arguesthe amended claim 1 is not fully disclosed by prior art of record:
`
`Regarding claim 1, Kido discloses a power supply system configured to output a DC pulsating
`
`voltage to a pair ofelectric wires through which load power is supplied to a light source, the power
`
`supply system comprising:
`
`a power supply circuit configured to generate the pulsating voltage ([0037]);
`
`an output unit to be connected to the pair of electric wires to apply the pulsating voltage to the
`
`pair of electric wires ([0337], [0415]); and
`
`an input unit configured to receive an AC input voltage as an input voltage ([0228], [0229]: the
`
`negative input terminal of amplifier 69, gain control resistor 71 connected between the output terminal
`
`and the negative input terminal of amplifier 69, and phase compensation ca pacitor 70. In constant-
`
`current feedback circuit 67, amplifier 69 compares which is higher a voltage drop across sense resistor
`
`66 or a voltage of reference voltage source 72),
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage such that the pulsating voltage has a
`
`full-wave rectified waveform obtained by full-wave rectifying an alternating voltage as a wave
`
`alternating between a positive voltage and a negative voltage ([0337], [0382]: In power supply circuit
`
`52a, rectifier bridge 62 full-wave rectifies commercial power (for example, 100-V AC), and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 8
`
`after ca pacitor 63 smoothes the rectified power, DC-to-DC converter 64 converts the smoothed
`
`power into a desired direct voltage. Smoothing capacitor 65 is connected between the output terminals
`
`of DC-to-DC converter 64. A series circuit of load circuit 53, multi-operation control circuit 1b, and
`
`transistor 2 is connected parallel to smoothing ca pacitor 65),
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage based on the input voltage ([0228],
`
`[0347], [0264]), and
`
`the power supply circuit generating the pulsating voltage such that a peak value of the pulsating
`
`voltage becomes smaller than a peak value of the input voltage (at least [0265], [0011]: during a period
`
`when switch SW is on, the output voltage decreases since the LED current flows, and also this voltage is
`
`applied to load circuit 53 which is a light source and current limiting circuit 73.... Along with a decrease
`
`in the current set value, the peak value ofthe LED current decreases, yet a square waveform without
`
`overshoot is maintained. The waveform of the applied voltage is drastically raised as the current set
`
`value decreases... The longerthe off time, the greaterthe output voltage across smoothing ca pacitor 65
`
`increases. A great overshoot is caused in the LED current at a moment the intermittent signal
`
`(modulating signal) has changed to high. In other words, since the output voltage is high at a moment
`
`the intermittent signal (modulating signal) has changed to high, a peak value of the LED current
`
`increases. Consequently, the output voltage decreases and the LED current decreases).
`
`For at least foregoing reasons, all rejections are maintained.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to MONICA C KING whose telephone number is (571)270-3429. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached on Mon-Fri.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/139,010
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 9
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`
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`
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`
`/MON|CAC KING/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844
`
`2/3/2019
`
`