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
`
`16/055,049
`
`08/04/2018
`
`YUTAKA TANAKA
`
`PANDP0306US
`
`8348
`
`MARK D. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 15
`
`THAPA~ SAILESH
`
`ART UNIT
`2859
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`02/ 14/2020
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`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`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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`

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`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/055,049
`Examiner
`SAILESH THAPA
`
`Applicant(s)
`TANAKA, YUTAKA
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2859
`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
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 11/11/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a). 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)
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`flis/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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`
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`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(ss) 1_—8 is/are rejected.
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`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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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
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`10)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 08/04/2018 is/are: a). accepted or b)(j objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
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`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). All
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`b)C] 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.
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`SD Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a 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)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200205
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
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`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
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Priority
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`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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`The certified copy has been filed on 09/27/2018.
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`Response to Arguments
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`This is in response to an application/remarks made filed on 07/24/2019.
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`Claim 1 has been amended and Claim 8 is newly added claims.
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`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
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`this Office action.
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`Applicant argues that Nishio fails to anticipate newly added limitations such as,
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`“charging is carried out by using power entered from an external device”, that “the
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`power is used exclusively for the charging,” and that “the external device supplies the
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`power to the charger after converting a voltage from a commercial power source into a
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`DC voltage.” In view of Applicant Argument/Remarks Made to an amended independent
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`claims have been fully considered and they are persuasive. However, upon further
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`consideration with a prior art search, a new ground(s) of rejection is made.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 3
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
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`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness 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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et
`
`al. (US 2012/0249085 A1) in View of UAN-ZO-LI (US 2016/0261132 A1 ).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Lin et al. teaches a charging device (10. fig.1) comprising: a
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`charger (charging device 10, fig.1) configured to charge a secondary battery
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`(charging a rechargeable battery of the electronic device, para [0018], also refer
`
`fig.1) with a charging current (l.sub.BAT, para [0017-0018]) at a current value being
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`presently set (the charging current l.sub.BAT is made to have a specific value
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`(step S300), fig.2B, para [0020]), the charging is carried out by using power entered
`
`from an external device (The charging device 10 is adapted to receive an input
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`voltage V.sub.lN from an external power source, para [0017]); and a charging
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`controller (current control loop 12, fig.1) configured to set the current value (refer
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 4
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`para [0018, 0021-0022] that discloses the current control logic 12 controls to set
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`the value of the charging current l.sub.BAT), wherein the power is used exclusively
`
`for the charging (refer fig.1 and para [0017-0018] that discloses the input voltage
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`V.sub.lN from an external power source to the charging device 10 is for charging
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`a rechargeable battery of the electronic device), and wherein the charging controller
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`(current control loop 12, fig.1): sets, at beginning of charging of the secondary
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`battery, the current value to a set value among a plurality of set values predetermined
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`(the charging current l.sub.BAT is made to have a specific value (step S300),
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`herein, the specific value for example is the charging current target value
`
`obtained by performing the process in FIG. 2A or a current value greater than the
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`current limit value, para [0020], fig.2), and sets, during charging of the secondary
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`battery, when an input voltage from the external device lowers below a predetermined
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`value (The input voltage V.sub.lN then is judged whether less than the reference
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`voltage V.sub.REF (step S320), para [0020] and fig.2B), the current value to another
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`set value among the plurality of set values (If the judging result is YES, which
`
`indicates the charging current l.sub.BAT is greater than the current limit value,
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`the charging current l.sub.BAT correspondingly is controlled to decrease by step
`
`(step 5340), para [0020]).
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`Lin et al. fails to disclose, wherein the external device supplies the power to the
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`charger after converting a voltage from a commercial power source into a DC voltage;
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`Uan-Zo-Li teaches, wherein the external device (AC adapter 52, fig.1) supplies
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`the power to the charger (refer fig.1 that shows adapter 52 supplying power to a
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`battery charger 53) after converting a voltage from a commercial power source into a
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 5
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`DC voltage (refer fig.1 that shows AC adapter converting AC power source 10 into
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`a DC voltage).
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine the
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`AC adapter that converts AC power source into a DC voltage as taught by Uan-Zo-Li
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`within the charging device of Lin et al. such that for improving charging efficiency of a
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`rechargeable storage battery of an electronic device.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
`
`according to claim 1. Lin further teaches, wherein the charging controller sets (refer
`
`para [0018, 0021-0022] that discloses the current control logic 12 controls to set
`
`the value of the charging current l.sub.BAT), when the input voltage from the
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`external device lowers below the predetermined value (The input voltage V.sub.lN
`
`then is judged whether less than the reference voltage V.sub.REF (step S320),
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`para [0020] and fig.ZB), the current value to an other set value among the plurality of
`
`set values (If the judging result is YES, which indicates the charging current
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`l.sub.BAT is greater than the current limit value, the charging current l.sub.BAT
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`correspondingly is controlled to decrease by step (step 5340), para [0020]), the
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`other set value being lower than the set value being presently set (as disclosed in
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`fig.ZB $340 that the charging current is decreased thus the present current set
`
`value is lower than the previous current set value).
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`Regarding claim 3, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
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`according to claim 1. Lin further teaches, wherein the charging controller sets (refer
`
`para [0018, 0021-0022] that discloses the current control logic 12 controls to set
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 6
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`the value of the charging current l.sub.BAT), at the beginning of charging of the
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`secondary battery, the current value to a highest set value among the plurality of set
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`values (refer fig.2A that shows determining of initial charging current by method
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`increasing the charging current 3120 until the input voltage is less than a
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`reference voltage s140, and thus is the highest set value).
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`Regarding claim 4, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
`
`according to claim 1. Lin further teaches, wherein the charging controller (refer para
`
`[0018, 0021-0022] that discloses the current control logic 12 controls to set the
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`value of the charging current l.sub.BAT) controls three types of set values as the
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`plurality of set values (refer fig.2A-B that shows determining plurality of set values,
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`thus it would have been obvious design of choice to select three types of set
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`values among the determined plurality of set values such that for charging
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`efficiency).
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`Regarding claim 5, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
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`according to claim 1. Lin further teaches, wherein the charger allows the power to enter
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`from the external device via communication in compliance with a universal serial bus
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`(USB) standard (The charging device 10 is adapted to receive an input voltage
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`V.sub.lN from an external power source for example a USB power source with
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`current limit to thereby output the charging current l.sub.BAT for charging an
`
`electronic device for example, mobile phone or camera).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 7
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`Regarding claim 6, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
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`according to claim 5. Lin further teaches, wherein the predetermined value is set to a
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`value lower than a lower limit value in an output voltage range specified in the USB
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`standard (refer para [0002] that discloses if the charging current is higher than the
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`USB power source ability, the input voltage is crashed down thus in order to
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`avoid abnormal situation that affects the charging operation it would have been
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`obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to have a predetermined value
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`lower to that of USB standard output voltage range).
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`Regarding claim 7, Lin et al. in view of Uan-Zo-Li teaches the charging device
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`according to claim 1. Lin further teaches, a rechargeable secondary battery (charging a
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`rechargeable battery of the electronic device, para [0018], also refer fig.1); the
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`charging device (10, fig.1) being configured to charge the rechargeable secondary
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`battery (refer fig.1 that shows charging device 10 charging the rechargeable
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`battery of an electronic device).
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`Regarding claim 8, Lin et al. teaches a charging method for supply power from
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`an external device to a charger for charging a secondary battery (fig.1-2), the method
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`comprising: supplying power from the external device to the charger (The charging
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`device 10 is adapted to receive an input voltage V.sub.lN from an external power
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`source, para [0017]); and charging the secondary battery with a set charging current
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`using the power exclusively for charging (refer fig.1-2 and para [0017-0018] that
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`discloses the input voltage V.sub.lN from an external power source to the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
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`Page 8
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`charging device 10 is for charging a rechargeable battery of the electronic
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`device), wherein: at a beginning of charging of the secondary battery, setting the
`
`current value to a set value among a plurality of set values predetermined (the
`
`charging current l.sub.BAT is made to have a specific value (step S300), herein,
`
`the specific value for example is the charging current target value obtained by
`
`performing the process in FIG. 2A or a current value greater than the current limit
`
`value, para [0020], fig.2a-b), and during charging of the secondary battery, when an
`
`input voltage from the external device lowers below a predetermined value (The input
`
`voltage V.sub.lN then is judged whether less than the reference voltage
`
`V.sub.REF (step S320), para [0020] and fig.23), setting the current value to another
`
`set value among the plurality of set values (If the judging result is YES, which
`
`indicates the charging current l.sub.BAT is greater than the current limit value,
`
`the charging current l.sub.BAT correspondingly is controlled to decrease by step
`
`(step 5340), para [0020]).
`
`Lin et al. fails to disclose, converting a voltage from a commercial power source
`
`into a DC voltage in the external device;
`
`Uan-Zo-Li teaches, converting a voltage from a commercial power source into a
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`DC voltage in the external device refer fig.1 that shows AC adapter converting AC
`
`power source 10 into a DC voltage).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to combine the
`
`AC adapter that converts AC power source into a DC voltage as taught by Uan-Zo-Li
`
`within the charging device of Lin et al. such that for improving charging efficiency of a
`
`rechargeable storage battery of an electronic device.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 9
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`Conclusion
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`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
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`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
`
`§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as 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.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`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.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to SAILESH THAPA whose telephone number is 469-295-
`
`E. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8am to 5pm.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Drew Dunn can be reached on 571-272—2312. The fax phone number for the
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`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/055,049
`Art Unit: 2859
`
`Page 10
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published
`
`applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status
`
`information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For
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`
`/S. T./
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859
`
`/DREW A DUNN/
`
`