DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
This is the fourth and final action on the merits.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 have been amended. Thus, claims 1, 4-6, 8, and 11-15 are currently pending and have been examined in this application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 7 of Applicant’s reply, filed 10/21/2025, with respect to the objection of claim 15 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The objection of claim 15 has been withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendments.
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-11 of Applicant’s reply, with respect to the rejection of claims 1, 4-6, 8, and 11-15 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, these rejections have been withdrawn in view of Applicant’s amendments. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection (see Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 below) is made in view of Nagata (US 2022/0188710 A1).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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:
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa (US 2021/0013564 A1) in view of Ogaki (US 2019/0326652 A1) and Nagata (US 2022/0188710 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Takizawa discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
A method for conditioning a vehicle battery interworking with scheduled air conditioning, the method comprising: (Takizawa - method for conditioning vehicle battery interworking with scheduled air conditioning -> Fig. 2-3, Par. 40-52)
using a controller: (Takizawa - Fig. 1 (control device 100))
determining whether a scheduled departure time setting and a scheduled air conditioning execution setting are received after parking a vehicle; (Takizawa - determining scheduled start time and scheduled air conditioning (car is charging and not moving i.e. parked) -> Par. 40-46)
determining whether a conditioning execution setting of a battery in the vehicle is received after the scheduled departure time setting (Takizawa - temperature adjuster setting occurs after scheduled departure time setting -> Par. 37-46; received interpreted as user input and operating condition established -> Par. 37-39)
determining, using the controller, that a charging connector for receiving a charging power from outside is connected to charge the battery; (Takizawa - operating conditions are not established until car is parked and charging -> Fig.3, Par. 38-39; charging connector -> Fig. 1 (charging cable 220 connected to charging and discharging device 200); signal connector indicating connection -> Par. 31)
in response to determining that the charging connector is connected to the battery, executing air conditioning and battery conditioning of the vehicle before a preset reference time of the scheduled departure time when the battery conditioning execution is received, and (Takizawa - execute air conditioning and battery conditioning for a preset time/before a preset reference time of the schedule start time/scheduled departure time -> Par. 37-46)
while executing the scheduled air conditioning and battery conditioning, charging the battery with the charging power from outside through the charging connector (Takizawa - operating conditions are not established until car is parked and charging -> Fig.3, Par. 38-39; charging connector -> Fig. 1 (charging cable 220 connected to charging and discharging device 200); signal connector indicating connection -> Par. 31)
Ogaki teaches a power supply device for vehicle, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
determining whether a conditioning execution setting of a battery in the vehicle is received after the scheduled departure time setting and the scheduled air conditioning setting are received; and (Ogaki - multiple embodiments determining whether conditioning execution setting of battery is received after the scheduled departure time setting and the scheduled air conditioning setting are received -> Par. 6-20; scheduled departure time and scheduled air conditioning setting received before battery conditioning execution setting -> Par. 34-35)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takizawa to include determining whether a battery conditioning setting is received after receiving a scheduled departure time setting and a scheduled air conditioning setting as taught by Ogaki.
One would be motivated to make this modification to enable a vehicle to maximize its operating distance (Ogaki - Par. 42-43). Furthermore, this modification would account for the effect the air conditioning setting would have on the charge and temperature of the battery prior to the scheduled departure time. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in combining the teachings of Takizawa and Ogaki.
Additionally, the claimed invention is merely a combination of known elements of scheduled vehicle battery/air conditioning and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
The motivation to combine Takizawa and Ogaki from the 103 rejection of this claim is similarly applied to the rest of the 103 rejections below.
Nagata teaches an operation planning system and operation planning method, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
(Nagata - charge battery when SOC falls below preset reference level -> Par. 34, Par. 48-49, Par. 68)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takizawa to include charging the vehicle battery when the state of charge falls below a preset reference level as taught by Nagata.
One would be motivated to make this modification to properly allocate enough charge for an upcoming scheduled trip (Nagata - Par. 3-10, Par. 48-49, Par. 68). A person having ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in combining the teachings of Takizawa and Nagata.
Additionally, the claimed invention is merely a combination of known elements of battery charge scheduling and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
The motivation to combine Takizawa and Nagata from the 103 rejection of this claim is similarly applied to the rest of the 103 rejections below.
Regarding claim 14, Takizawa, Ogaki, and Nagata teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 1, and Takizawa further discloses:
The method according to claim 1,
wherein the executing comprises:
calculating a start time of the air conditioning and a start time of the battery conditioning of the vehicle by inverse calculation based on the scheduled departure time; and (Takizawa - calculating start time by inverse calculation -> Par. 48)
executing, respectively, the air conditioning and the battery conditioning of the vehicle at the calculated start time of the air conditioning and the calculated start time of the battery conditioning of the vehicle; (Takizawa - executing at calculated start times -> Par. 48)
wherein the start time of the air conditioning and the start time of the battery conditioning are respectively calculated based on different criteria. (Takizawa - scheduled start times for temperature adjuster and air conditioner may be based on different operating conditions/criteria (e.g. temperature adjuster operating condition may be battery temperature is lower than threshold value, battery charging has started, or fixed time before scheduled departure is reached vs. air conditioner operating condition may be on the basis of the schedule information 108A) -> Par. 28-29, Par. 37-39)
Claims 4 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa in view of Ogaki, Nagata, and Hirabayashi (US 2022/0281290 A1).
Regarding claim 4, Takizawa, Ogaki, and Nagata teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 1, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
The method according to claim 1, wherein the executing further comprises:
executing indoor air conditioning of the vehicle (Takizawa - execute air conditioning and battery conditioning for a preset time/before a preset reference time of the schedule start time/scheduled departure time -> Par. 37-46)
increasing a temperature of the battery to a preset reference temperature. (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
Hirabayashi teaches a vehicle air-conditioning controller, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
executing indoor air conditioning of the vehicle to a temperature set in the setting of the (Hirabayashi - executing indoor air conditioning to target temperature -> Par. 32-34, Par. 39-43)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takizawa to include executing air conditioning to a set temperature as taught by Hirabayashi.
One would be motivated to make this modification to achieve a comfortable vehicle interior and maximize travel distance via the remote capabilities (Hirabayashi – Par. 4-8). Furthermore, this modification would ensure a definitive target temperature that reflects a user’s preference. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in combining the teachings of Takizawa and Hirabayashi.
Additionally, the claimed invention is merely a combination of known elements of vehicle air conditioning control and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
The motivation to combine Takizawa and Hirabayashi from the 103 rejection of this claim is similarly applied to the rest of the 103 rejections below.
Regarding claim 6, Takizawa, Ogaki, and Nagata teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 1, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
The method according to claim 1, wherein the executing further comprises transmitting and displaying statuses of the scheduled air conditioning execution and battery conditioning execution (Takizawa - transmit and display statuses of execution -> Par. 18, Par. 34)
Hirabayashi teaches a vehicle air-conditioning controller, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
(Hirabayashi - remote communication terminal -> Par. 17, Par. 29, Par. 37)
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa in view of Ogaki, Nagata, Hirabayashi, and Wu (US 2020/0238788 A1).
Regarding claim 5, Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, and Hirabayashi teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 4, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
comparing the preset reference temperature with a measured temperature of the battery, forming a second comparison; and (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
turning on or off power of a battery heater provided in the battery according to the second comparison to control the temperature of the battery (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
Hirabayashi teaches a vehicle air-conditioning controller, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
comparing the temperature set in the setting of the scheduled air conditioning execution with a measured indoor temperature of the vehicle, forming a first comparison; (Hirabayashi - comparing interior temperature to target to determine turning on or off indoor ventilation by air conditioning unit in order to maintain target temperature -> Par. 30-34)
turning on or off indoor ventilation, according to the comparison, to control an indoor temperature of the vehicle to be maintained to the temperature set in the setting of the scheduled air conditioning execution; (Hirabayashi - comparing interior temperature to target to determine turning on or off indoor ventilation by air conditioning unit in order to maintain target temperature -> Par. 30-34)
Wu teaches a temperature regulating system of in-vehicle battery, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
turning on or off power of a battery heater provided in the battery according to the second comparison to control the temperature of the battery to be maintained to the preset reference temperature. (Wu - turning on or off battery heater to maintain battery to reference temperature -> Par. 272)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takizawa to include maintaining the battery temperature at a reference temperature as taught by Wu.
One would be motivated to make this modification in order to maximize performance of the battery (Wu – Par. 3-4). Furthermore, this modification would promote protection of battery health. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in combining the teachings of Takizawa and Wu.
Additionally, the claimed invention is merely a combination of known elements of vehicle battery temperature control and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
The motivation to combine Takizawa and Wu from the 103 rejection of this claim is similarly applied to the rest of the 103 rejections below.
Claims 8, 13, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa in view of Ogaki, Nagata, and Kim (US 2015/0258909 A1).
Regarding claim 8, Takizawa discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
A system for conditioning a vehicle battery interworking with scheduled air conditioning comprising: (Takizawa - system for conditioning vehicle battery interworking with scheduled air conditioning -> Fig. 1, Par. 40-52)
a scheduled departure time setting, a scheduled air conditioning execution setting after parking a vehicle, and a conditioning execution setting of the vehicle battery after the scheduled departure time setting (Takizawa - user may set scheduled departure time, air conditioning setting, battery conditioning setting -> Par. 29, Par. 37, Par. 48, claims 4-5; determining scheduled start time and scheduled air conditioning (car is charging and not moving i.e. parked) -> Par. 40-46; temperature adjuster setting occurs after scheduled departure time setting -> Par. 37-46; received interpreted as user input and operating condition established -> Par. 37-39)
a controller configured to: (Takizawa - Fig. 1 (control device 100))
determine whether the scheduled departure time setting, the scheduled air conditioning execution setting, and the conditioning execution setting of the battery in the vehicle are received, (Takizawa - determine if scheduled start time setting, scheduled air conditioning setting, and battery conditioning setting are received -> Par. 37-46)
determine whether, based on a resulting determination, to execute or not execute indoor air conditioning and battery conditioning of the vehicle before the scheduled departure time; (Takizawa - determine whether to execute air conditioning and battery conditioning for a preset time/before a preset reference time of the schedule start time/scheduled departure time based on whether operating conditions are established -> Par. 38-46)
determine that a charging connector for receiving a charging power from outside is connected to charge the battery; (Takizawa - operating conditions are not established until car is parked and charging -> Fig.3, Par. 38-39; charging connector -> Fig. 1 (charging cable 220 connected to charging and discharging device 200); signal connector indicating connection -> Par. 31)
in response to determining that the charging connector is connected to the battery, execute the battery conditioning when the conditioning execution setting is received; and (Takizawa - execute air conditioning and battery conditioning for a preset time/before a preset reference time of the schedule start time/scheduled departure time -> Par. 37-46)
while executing the scheduled air conditioning and battery conditioning, charge the battery with the charging power from outside through the charging connector (Takizawa - operating conditions are not established until car is parked and charging -> Fig.3, Par. 38-39; charging connector -> Fig. 1 (charging cable 220 connected to charging and discharging device 200); signal connector indicating connection -> Par. 31)
Kim teaches a system and control method for reserved charge of battery for vehicle, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
an Audio Video Navigation (AVN) including a transceiver and one or more of a button or a touch screen, wherein the AVN is configured to receive: (Kim - AVN to receive settings by user -> Par. 33-39)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Takizawa to include an interface unit as taught by Kim.
One would be motivated to make this modification so that a driver has an interface to input settings (including a preset reference level of the status of charge) to reflect a desired outcome (Kim - Par. 21-22), and an appropriate state of charge can be achieved before the departure time (Kim – Par. 42-45). Furthermore, this modification would promote convenience and ease of use for a user. A person having ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success in combining the teachings of Takizawa and Kim.
Additionally, the claimed invention is merely a combination of known elements of vehicle control input and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the results of the combination would have been predictable.
The motivation to combine Takizawa and Kim from the 103 rejection of this claim is similarly applied to the rest of the 103 rejections below.
Ogaki teaches a power supply device for vehicle, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
a scheduled departure time setting, a scheduled air conditioning execution setting after parking a vehicle, and a conditioning execution setting of the vehicle battery after the scheduled departure time setting and the scheduled air conditioning execution setting; and (Ogaki - multiple embodiments determining whether conditioning execution setting of battery is received after the scheduled departure time setting and the scheduled air conditioning setting are received -> Par. 6-20; scheduled departure time and scheduled air conditioning setting received before battery conditioning execution setting -> Par. 34-35)
Nagata teaches an operation planning system and operation planning method, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
(Nagata - charge battery when SOC falls below preset reference level -> Par. 34, Par. 48-49, Par. 68)
Regarding claim 13, Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, and Kim teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 8, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
The system according to claim 8, (Takizawa - transmit and display statuses of execution -> Par. 18, Par. 34)
Kim teaches a system and control method for reserved charge of battery for vehicle, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
The system according to claim 8, further comprising a communication terminal configured to receive and display statuses (Kim - communication terminal either on vehicle or remote configured to receive and display -> Par. 9, Par. 33-39)
Regarding claim 15, Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, and Kim teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 8, and Takizawa further discloses:
The system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:
calculate a start time of the air conditioning and a start time of the battery conditioning by inverse calculation based on the scheduled departure time; and (Takizawa - calculating start time by inverse calculation -> Par. 48)
execute, respectively, the air conditioning and the battery conditioning of the vehicle at the calculated start time of the air conditioning and the calculated start time of the battery conditioning of the vehicle; (Takizawa - executing at calculated start times -> Par. 48)
wherein the start time of the air conditioning and the start time of the battery conditioning are respectively calculated based on different criteria. (Takizawa - scheduled start times for temperature adjuster and air conditioner may be based on different operating conditions/criteria (e.g. temperature adjuster operating condition may be battery temperature is lower than threshold value, battery charging has started, or fixed time before scheduled departure is reached vs. air conditioner operating condition may be on the basis of the schedule information 108A) -> Par. 28-29, Par. 37-39)
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, Kim, and Hirabayashi.
Regarding claim 11, Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, and Kim teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 8, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
The system according to claim 8, wherein, when the indoor air conditioning and battery conditioning of the vehicle are executed before the scheduled departure time, the controller is further configured to:
execute the indoor air conditioning of the vehicle (Takizawa - execute air conditioning and battery conditioning for a preset time/before a preset reference time of the schedule start time/scheduled departure time -> Par. 37-46)
increase a temperature of the battery to a preset reference temperature. (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
Hirabayashi teaches a vehicle air-conditioning controller, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
execute the indoor air conditioning of the vehicle to a temperature set in the (Hirabayashi - executing indoor air conditioning to target temperature -> Par. 32-34, Par. 39-43)
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, Kim, Hirabayashi, and Wu.
Regarding claim 12, Takizawa, Ogaki, Nagata, Kim, and Hirabayashi teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above with respect to claim 11, and Takizawa further discloses (Takizawa does not disclose the strikethrough portions):
The system according to claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:
compare the preset reference temperature with a measured temperature of the battery, forming a second comparison; and (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
turn on or off power of a battery heater provided in the battery, according to the second comparison, to control the temperature of the battery (Takizawa - comparing predetermined temperature to temperature of battery and turning on battery heater if lower than predetermined temperature -> Par. 28, Par. 39-46)
Hirabayashi teaches a vehicle air-conditioning controller, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
compare the temperature set in the scheduled air conditioning execution setting with a measured indoor temperature of the vehicle, forming a first comparison, (Hirabayashi - comparing interior temperature to target to determine turning on or off indoor ventilation by air conditioning unit in order to maintain target temperature -> Par. 30-34)
turn on or off indoor ventilation, according to the first comparison, to control the indoor temperature of the vehicle to be maintained to the temperature set in the scheduled air conditioning execution setting, (Hirabayashi - comparing interior temperature to target to determine turning on or off indoor ventilation by air conditioning unit in order to maintain target temperature -> Par. 30-34)
Wu teaches a temperature regulating system of in-vehicle battery, in the same field of endeavor, comprising:
turn on or off power of a battery heater provided in the battery, according to the second comparison, to control the temperature of the battery to be maintained to the preset reference temperature. (Wu - turning on or off battery heater to maintain battery to reference temperature -> Par. 272)
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in 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 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory 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 MICAH C CHENG whose telephone number is (571)272-8983. The examiner can normally be reached 10am-6pm ET.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Navid Mehdizadeh can be reached at (571) 272-7691. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICAH CHUEN-HIM CHENG/Examiner, Art Unit 3669
/NAVID Z. MEHDIZADEH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3669
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