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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/577,342
`
`09/20/2019
`
`Takashi KAMBARA
`
`HOKUP0395US
`
`2495
`
`MARKD. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`ISTH FLOOR
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`LE, TUNG X
`
`2844
`
`11/06/2019
`
`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):
`
`ipdocket @rennerotto.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/577,342
`KAMBARAetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`TUNG X LE
`2844
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1)[¥] Responsive to communication(s)filed on 09/20/2019.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)(] This action is FINAL. 2b))This action is non-final.
`3)() An election was made bythe applicant in responseto 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 meritsis
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparfe Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`6 7
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-12 is/are pending in the application.
`5)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s)__ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C] Claim(s} _is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-5 and 9-12 is/are rejected.
`Claim(s) 6-8 is/are objectedto.
`8
`(4 Claim(s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`9)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)() The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)Z The drawing(s) filed on __is/are: a)() accepted or b)() 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)[¥|) Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`—_c)LJ None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)¥) All
`1.¥i Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 9/20/2019.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(7) Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20191101
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`The present application, filed on or afier March 16, 2013, is being examined underthefirst
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`This Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on September
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`20, 2019. In virtue of this communication, claims 1-12 are currently presented in the instant
`
`application.
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`Priority
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`1.
`
`2.
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`Receipt is acknowledged ofcertified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/20/2019 is in compliance
`
`with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statementis being
`
`considered by the examiner.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`3.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
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`basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or
`otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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`4.
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`Claims 1-5, 9 and 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by
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`Ichikawa (US 2016/0081171).
`
`With respect to claim 1, Ichikawadiscloses in figure 3 a lighting apparatus, comprising: a
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`step-up converter (20, e.g., a boost converter as a step up converter where V2>V1) configured to
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`step up a voltage (V1) of a direct-current power supply (4, e.g., a power source) to obtain an
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`output voltage (V2) having a first voltage value (having an output voltage value of the boost
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 3
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`converter 20) and output the output voltage (see figure 3); at least one step-down converter (30,
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`e.g., a buck converter as a step down converter where V3<V2) configured to step down the
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`output voltage of the step-up converter to have a second voltage value (V2) to output a current
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`(ILD or Iload) having a current value according to the second voltage valueto a light source (2,
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`e.g., alight source); and a controller (22, 34, e.g., controllers) configured to acquire information
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`abouta specification (Is, e.g., a current sensing signal) of the light source, control the at least one
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`step-down converter such that the current value becomesa current value (a load
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`current) according to the specification (see figure 3), and control the step-up converter such that
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`the first voltage value varies in accordance with the specification (figure 3 showsthat the
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`controllers 22 and 34 for controlling output voltages or currents of each controllers according to
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`load sensing signals thereof).
`
`FIG. 3
`
`
`INF :
`
`MeOt
`INP |
`;
`- aae oA
`sit
`oh ITgm> i ;
`|
`Pave
`
`
`to pst |
`eet oe
`i
`C2ti
`|
`
`
`
`Controller
`FB
`
`
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`With respect to claim 2, Ichikawa discloses that wherein the specification includes a
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`value of an input current(Is orIss) to the light source (see figure 3).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 4
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`With respect to claim 3, Ichikawa discloses that wherein the controller sets a target
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`voltage (Vout or V2, e.g., as a target voltage value) value based on a value of a maximum output
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`voltage output to the light source, a value of maximum output poweroutputto the light source,
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`and the value of the input current (paragraph 0067,e.g., “the drive circuit 20 executes feedback
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`control for the power/voltage/current supplied to the light source 2”), and controls the step-up
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`converter such that the first voltage value becomes the target voltage value (see figure 3 and
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`paragraph 0067).
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`With respect to claim 4, Ichikawa discloses that wherein the controller sets the target
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`voltage value to a smaller of the value of the maximum output voltage or a voltage value
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`obtained by dividing the value of the maximum output powerbythe value of the input current
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`(paragraph 0067, e.g., “the controller 22 detects a lamp current ILD supplied to the light source
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`2, generates a gate pulse whose duty ratio is adjusted so as to approacha target current Irefthat is
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`given according to a target luminanceofthe light source 2” such that adding or dividing voltage
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`values that depends on sensed signals from the light source 2).
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`With respect to claim 5, Ichikawa discloses that wherein the controller sets the target
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`voltage value to a value obtained by adding a prescribed voltage value to a smaller of the value
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`of the maximum output voltage or a voltage value obtained by dividing the value of the
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`maximum output powerby the value of the input current (paragraph 0067, e.g., “the controller
`
`22 detects a lamp current ILD supplied to the light source 2, generates a gate pulse whose duty
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`ratio is adjusted so as to approachatarget currentIref that is given according to a target
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`luminanceofthe light source 2” such that adding or dividing voltage values that depends on
`
`sensed signals from the light source 2).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 5
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`With respect to claim 9, Ichikawadiscloses that a lamp (figure 18 shows a lamp 500of a
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`vehicle which including the apparatus in figure 3), comprising the lighting apparatus; and the
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`light source (see figures 18 and 3).
`
`With respect to claim 11, Ichikawa discloses that a vehicle (paragraph 0163, e.g., the
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`vehicle lamp 1 will be described in figure 18) comprising the lamp (500) and a vehicle body (not
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`shown) on which the lamp is mounted (figure 18 shows a headlampto a vehicle where the lamp
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`mounted thereon such any vehicles having a bodyitself).
`
`With respect to claim 12, Ichikawa discloses in figure 3 a non-transitory computer-
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`readable medium storing a computer program designed to cause at least one processor to execute
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`a step-up conversion process of controlling a step-up converter (20, e.g., a boost converter) to
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`step up a voltage (V1) of a direct-current power supply (4) to obtain an output voltage (V2)
`
`having a first voltage value (having an output voltage value of the boost converter 20); a step-
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`down conversion process of controlling a step-down converter (30, e.g., a buck converter) to step
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`downthe output voltage of the step-up conversion process to have a second voltage value (V2) to
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`output a current (ILD) having a current value (having an output current value to drive the light
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`source 2) according to the second voltage valueto the light source (see figure 3); and a control
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`process of acquiring information (processing by a controller 22, 34) about a specification (Is) of
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`the light source, controlling the step-down converter such that the current value becomes a
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`current value (Iload) according to the specification, and controlling the step-up converter such
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`that the first voltage value changes in accordance with the specification (see figure 3).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 6
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`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis not
`identically disclosed asset 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 obviousbefore 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 mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`6.
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`Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ichikawa (US
`
`2016/0081171) in view of Feil et al. (US 2019/0063706).
`
`With respect to claim 10, Ichikawa discloses that further comprising an optical unit (502,
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`e.g., a transparent cover as an optical unit) configured to radiate light output from the light
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`source frontward (see figure 18), and a housing (508, e.g., housing) accommodatingthe lighting
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`apparatus, the light source, the optical unit (see figure 18).
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`Ichikawa does not explicitly disclose that the lamp comprising a heat dissipation unit
`
`configured to dissipate heat generated from the light source.
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`Feil discloses in figure 1 a headlamp comprising a light source (2) and a heat sink (20).
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`It would have been obviousto one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
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`was made to modify the headlampof Ichikawawith a heat sink as taught by Feil for the purpose
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`of reducing heat or temperature from the headlampsince this configuration for the stated purpose
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`would have been deemed obvious to a person skilled in the art.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`7.
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`Claims 6-8 are objected to as being dependent upona rejected base claim, but would be
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`allowable if rewritten in independent form includingall of the limitations of the base claim and
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`any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`8.
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`The prior art made of record and notrelied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure.
`
`Prior art Esaki et al. — US 2012/0212143 (see figures 1-2)
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/577,342
`Art Unit: 2844
`
`Page 7
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`9.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to TUNG X LE whosetelephone numberis (571)272-6010. The
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`examiner can normally be reached on Mondayto Friday from 10am to 6pm.
`
`Examinerinterviewsare available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
`
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`
`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examinerby telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Alexander H. Taningco can be reached on 571-272-8048. The fax phone numberfor
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`the organization wherethis application or proceeding is assigned 1s 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
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`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
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`information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/TUNG X LE/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844
`November 1, 2019
`
`