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 .
Detailed Action
Claims 1-18 are currently pending. Claims 1-18 remain rejected despite Applicant’s arguments filed 12/02/2025. Amendment necessitated new grounds of rejection presented within this Office action. Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome the 112(b) rejections previously set forth. Response to Applicant arguments can be found at the end of this Office action. This Office action is final.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fauri et al. (DE 102018116163 A1).
Regarding claim 1: Fauri discloses an urban air mobility (UAM) power supply system comprising: a UAM power supply mobility device (10; Fig.1) configured to be electrically connected to a UAM device for recharging or disconnected from the UAM device (Fig.1); and a charging station (Fig.1) including a power cable (14; Fig.1) for supplying power to the UAM device (11; Fig.1), wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is equipped with the power cable to supply the power from the charging station to the UAM device through the power cable for the recharging, and wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to fly with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device while the UAM device landed on the charging station is separated from the charging station and flies to reach an overhead position in a preset space from the charging station (see attached EPO translation; Para.[0014]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1-3 and 13-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lacaze et al. (US 20200406773 A1) in view of Fauri.
Regarding claim 1: Lacaze teaches an urban air mobility (UAM) power supply system (Fig.2) comprising: a UAM power supply mobility device (202; Fig.2) configured to be electrically connected to a UAM device for recharging or disconnected from the UAM device (200; Fig.2); and a charging station (204; Fig.2) including a power cable (203; Fig.2) for supplying power to the UAM device, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is equipped with the power cable to supply the power from the charging station to the UAM device through the power cable for the recharging (Fig.2 and Para.[0022]), and wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to fly with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device (Para.[0032]). Lacaze does not teach the UAM mobility device being configured to fly with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device while the UAM device landed on the charging station is separated from the charging station and flies to reach an overhead position in a preset space from the charging station.
However, Fauri teaches wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to fly with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device while the UAM device landed on the charging station is separated from the charging station and flies to reach an overhead position in a preset space from the charging station (see attached EPO translation; Para.[0014]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the system of Lacaze with the ability to provide power during takeoff as taught by Fauri for efficient takeoff operations and power management with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 2: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 1, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is separated from the UAM device and is configured to descend to be mounted on the charging station when the UAM device flies out of the preset space (Para.[0021]).
Regarding claim 3: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 2, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device (202; Fig.2) comprises: a body; a supply terminal disposed on an upper surface of the body; a propulsion unit disposed on a circumferential surface of the body and configured to allow the UAM power supply mobility device to fly (apparent from 202; Fig.2); and a processor configured to control the propulsion unit such that the UAM power supply mobility device is mounted on the UAM device or the charging station or is separated from the UAM device or the charging station (Para.[0034]-[0036]).
Regarding claim 13: Lacaze teaches a method for supplying power to an urban air mobility (UAM) device while the UAM device is separated from a charging station (Fig.2) and takes off, the method comprising: electrically connecting a UAM power supply mobility device to the UAM device while the UAM device lands on the charging station (Para.[0033]); causing the UAM power supply mobility device to fly with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device (Para.[0023]); and supplying the power to the UAM device using a power cable mounted on the UAM power supply mobility device (Para.[0032]). Lacaze does not teach the UAM mobility device flying with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device while the UAM device landed on the charging station flies away from the charging station or the UAM power supply mobility device ascending along with the UAM device until the UAM device reaches an overhead position in a preset space.
However, Fauri teaches the UAM mobility device flying with an electrical connection to the UAM device maintained along with the UAM device while the UAM device landed on the charging station flies away from the charging station or the UAM power supply mobility device ascending along with the UAM device until the UAM device reaches an overhead position in a preset space (Para.[0014]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the system of Lacaze with the ability to provide power during takeoff as taught by Fauri for efficient takeoff operations and power management with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 14: Lacaze further teaches a method of claim 13, further comprising: separating the UAM power supply mobility device from the UAM device when the UAM device flies out of the preset space; and controlling the separated UAM power supply mobility device to descend to be mounted on the charging station (Fig.2; Para.[0021], lines 4-6).
Regarding claim 15: Lacaze further teaches a method of claim 14, wherein the controlling of the UAM power supply mobility device to descend comprises: transmitting flight information and position information of the UAM power supply mobility device to the charging station; and receiving position information of the charging station from the charging station (Para.[0036], lines 1-4; Para.[0041]).
Regarding claim 16: Lacaze further teaches a method of claim 14, wherein the controlling of the UAM power supply mobility device to descend comprises: receiving flight information and position information of the UAM device from the UAM device when the UAM device enters the preset space to arrive at the charging station (Para.[0036], lines 1-8); and controlling flight of the UAM power supply mobility device such that the UAM power supply mobility device docks with the UAM device on the basis of the received flight information and position information (Para.[0035]; Para.[0036], lines 1-8).
Regarding claim 17: Lacaze further teaches a method of claim 16, further comprising supplying the power to the UAM device using the power cable upon docking of the UAM power supply mobility device with the UAM device (Para.[0022]).
Regarding claim 18: Lacaze further teaches a method of claim 14, wherein the controlling of the UAM power supply mobility device to descend comprises unwinding or winding the power cable by the charging station on the basis of received position information of the UAM power supply mobility device (Para.[0036], lines 1-8; Para.[0033], lines 5-8).
Claims 4-7 and 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lacaze in view of Fauri and Burgess et al. (US 9580173 B1).
Regarding claim 4: Lacaze teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 3, wherein the UAM device comprises: a connection terminal disposed in a central region of a lower surface of the UAM device (bottom of 200; Fig.2) and electrically connected to or separated from the supply terminal (Fig.2); and a marker provided (Para.[0035]) in an area. Lacaze does not teach guide pin insertion portions or the specific layout of components disposed on the UAM device body.
However, Burgess teaches the use of guide pin insertion portions (Col.9, line 64-Col.10, line 2) to align mating surfaces of aerial components for electrical contact. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the system of Lacaze with guide pin insertion portions to ensure appropriate alignment of mating surfaces with a reasonable expectation of success.
Lacaze in view of Fauri and Burgess teaches the claimed invention except for the locations of guide pin insertion portions and markers disposed on the lower surface of the UAM device. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to place the guide pin insertion portions and markers in an area other than the central region, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 181 F.2d 1019, 86 USPQ 70 (CCPA 1950). See MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C).
Regarding claim 5: Lacaze teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 4, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device further comprises: the UAM power supply mobility device mounted on the UAM device (Para.[0031], lines 1-4); and a camera and configured to capture an image of the marker while the UAM power supply mobility device is mounted on the UAM device under the control of the processor (Para.[0035]). Lacaze does not teach the use of guide pins disposed on the upper surface of the body and the use of guide pin insertion portions or a camera specifically disposed on the upper surface of the body.
However, Burgess teaches the use of guide pin insertion portions and guide pins (Col.9, line 64-Col.10, line 2) to align mating surfaces of aerial components for electrical contact. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the system of Lacaze with guide pin insertion portions and guide pins to ensure appropriate alignment of mating surfaces with a reasonable expectation of success.
Lacaze in view of Fauri and Burgess teaches the claimed invention except for the locations of guide pins and camera disposed on the upper surface of the body. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to place the guide pins and camera on the upper surface of the body, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 181 F.2d 1019, 86 USPQ 70 (CCPA 1950). See MPEP § 2144.04(VI)(C).
Regarding claim 6: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 5, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device includes a communication module configured to communicate with the UAM device or the charging station, wherein the communication module is configured to transmit flight information and position information of the UAM power supply mobility device to the UAM device or the charging station and receive flight information and position information of the UAM device from the UAM device or receive position information of the charging station from the charging station under the control of the processor (Para.[0036], lines 1-6; Para.[0038]).
Regarding claim 7: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 6, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device further includes a sensing unit disposed in the body to sense a position state of the UAM power supply mobility device (Para.[0036], lines 1-6).
Regarding claim 9: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 7, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to fly down while controlling the propulsion unit such that the power cable does not deviate from the preset space on the basis of the position state of the UAM power supply mobility device provided by the sensing unit (Fig.2; Para.[0021], lines 4-6 and Para.[0041], lines 5-8).
Regarding claim 10: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 7, wherein, when the UAM device enters the preset space to arrive at the charging station after an operation, the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to receive the flight information and position information of the UAM device from the UAM device and fly to dock with the UAM device on the basis of the flight information and position information (Fig.2; Para.[0035]; Para.[0041], lines 5-8).
Regarding claim 11: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 10, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device is configured to control supplying the power to the UAM device upon docking with the UAM device (Para.[0010]).
Claims 8 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lacaze in view of Fauri and Burgess and Martinez (EP 3418201 A1).
Regarding claim 8: Lacaze teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 7, wherein the UAM power supply mobility device includes supply terminals and the UAM power supply mobility device is separated from the UAM device (Fig.2). Lacaze does not teach the use of a terminal protector to protect the supply terminal from the outside.
However, Martínez teaches the use of a terminal protector to protect the supply terminal from the outside when separated (6; Fig.1). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the system of Lacaze with the terminal protector of Martínez to provide terminal protection from elements when disconnected with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 12: Lacaze further teaches an UAM power supply system of claim 8, wherein the charging station unwinds or winds the power cable on the basis of the received position information of the UAM power supply mobility device (Para.[0038] and Para.[0041], lines 5-8).
Response to Arguments
In response to Applicant’s argument that Lacaze fails to disclose that charging also occurs during a vertical takeoff as amended, see updated anticipation and obviousness rejections above.
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.
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/HEAVEN R BUFFINGTON/Examiner, Art Unit 3615
/S. Joseph Morano/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3615