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 . The instant application with Application Number 18/097,131 filed on 01/13/2023 is presented for examination. As per the remarks of 11/12/2025, claim 12 is rewritten into independent form by incorporating the subject matter of independent claim 1 and claim 7.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant further argues, in the restriction traversal, that claim 1 (charger) and claim 7 (data cable) are directed to complementary portions of one cooperative system, together form a single general inventive concept that enables Power Delivery (PD) charging through a Type- A port which does not support the PD protocol charging when is on a conventional data cable. As per the claim 12 amendments and arguments stated above, the argument is found persuasive, and the restriction of the last office action dated 09/17/2025 has been withdrawn.
Claims 1-13 are pending.
Information Disclosure Statment
The Information Disclosure Statements dated 01/13/2026 is acknowledged and the cited references have been considered in this examination.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
DOUBLE PATENTING
The non-statutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A non-statutory obviousness-type double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a non-statutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claim 1 provisionally rejected on the ground of non-statutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of co-pending application number 18/096,443.
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim similar a charger, comprising a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin.
The instant application claims A charger, comprising: a first Type-A port; a charging module; and a first Power Delivery (PD) transceiving module, wherein the first Type-A port comprises a data pin… wherein in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, when the data cable is a first data cable and the first PD transceiving module is in a working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging. The co-pending application anticipates the instant application claimed.
Claim 1 of instant application: 18/097,131
Claim 1 of co-pending application 18/096,443
A charger, comprising: a first Type-A port; a charging module; and a first Power Delivery (PD) transceiving module, wherein the first Type-A port comprises a data pin, a first end of the charging module is connected to the data pin, a second end of the charging module is connected to a first end of the first PD transceiving module, and a second end of the first PD transceiving module is connected to the data pin, wherein in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, when the data cable is a first data cable and the first PD transceiving module is in a working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging on a to-be-charged device based on a differential mode signal transmitted through the data pin, or the charging module performs PD charging on a to-be-charged device based on a common mode signal processed by the first PD transceiving module and transmitted through the data pin, wherein in a case that the charger is connected to the data cable, when the data cable is a second data cable, the first PD transceiving module is in a non-working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging on a to-be-charged device based on a differential mode signal transmitted through the data pin, wherein when the first PD transceiving module receives a first signal transmitted through the data pin, the data cable is the first data cable, and when the first PD transceiving module does not receive the first signal transmitted through the data pin, the data cable is the second data cable, and wherein the first data cable generates the first signal when connected to the to- be-charged device.
A charger, comprising a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin, and the first switching unit is connected to the first communication pin, the second communication pin, the data cable matching unit, the PD charging processing unit, and the non-PD charging processing unit; and in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, if the data cable is a first data cable, the first switching unit connects the first communication pin to the PD charging processing unit, connects the second communication pin to the data cable matching unit, and disconnects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin from the non-PD charging processing unit; or in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, if the data cable is a second data cable, the first switching unit connects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin to the non-PD charging processing unit, and disconnects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin from the PD charging processing unit and the data cable matching unit; wherein in a case that the data cable matching unit determines, based on a communication signal transmitted through the second communication pin, that the data cable matches the charger, the data cable is the first data cable; or in a case that the data cable matching unit determines, based on the communication signal transmitted through the second communication pin, that the data cable does not match the charger, the data cable is the second data cable.
Claim 7 provisionally rejected on the ground of non-statutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 6 of the co-pending application number 18/096,443.
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim similar a charger, comprising a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin.
The instant application claims a charger, comprising: a first Type-A port; a charging module; and a first Power Delivery (PD) transceiving module, wherein the first Type-A port comprises a data pin, wherein in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, when the data cable is a first data cable and the first PD transceiving module is in a working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging. The co-pending application anticipates the instant application claimed.
Claim 7 of instant application: 18/097,131
Claim 6 of co-pending application 18/096,443
A data cable, comprising: a second Type-A port; and a Type-C port, wherein the second Type-A port and the Type-C port are connected by a cable, the second Type-A port and the Type-C port each comprise a Configuration Channel (CC) pin and a data pin, and CC pins and data pins in the second Type-A port and the Type-C port are connected in a one-to-one correspondence, wherein the data cable is provided with a second Power Delivery (PD) transceiving module, wherein a first end of the second PD transceiving module is connected to the CC pin, and a second end of the second PD transceiving module is connected to the data pin, wherein in a case that the data cable is connected to a charger, when the charger is a first charger and the second PD transceiving module is in a working state, the second PD transceiving module is configured to perform mutual conversion on a common mode signal transmitted through the data pin and a PD charging signal transmitted through the CC pin, so as to perform PD charging on a to-be-charged device, or the data cable and the first charger perform non-PD charging on the to-be-charged device based on a differential signal transmitted through the data pin, wherein in a case that the data cable is connected to a charger, when the charger isa second charger and the second PD transceiving module is in a non-working state, the data cable and the second charger perform non-PD charging on a to-be-charged device based on a differential signal transmitted through the data pin, and wherein when the second PD transceiving module receives a second signal transmitted through the data pin, the charger is the first charger; and when the second PD transceiving module does not receive the second signal transmitted through the data pin, the charger is the second charger, and the data cable generates a first signal when connected to the to-be-charged device, and the first charger generates the second signal in response to the first signal.
A data cable, comprising a second Type-A port, a Type-C port, and a cable connecting the second Type-A port and the Type-C port, wherein the data cable is provided with a charger matching unit and a second switching unit; the second Type-A port and the Type-C port each comprise a third communication pin and a fourth communication pin, and the Type-C port further comprises a first CC pin; the second switching unit is connected to the third communication pin and the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port, the third communication pin and the fourth communication pin of the Type-C port, and the charger matching unit; and in a case that the data cable connects a charger to a to-be-charged device, if the charger is a first charger, the second switching unit connects the third communication pin of the second Type-A port to the first CC pin, connects the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port to the charger matching unit, and disconnects the third communication pins and the fourth communication pins of the second Type-A port and the Type-C port; or in a case that the data cable connects a charger to a to-be-charged device, if the charger is a second charger, the second switching unit connects the third communication pins and the fourth communication pins of the second Type-A port and the Type-C port in one-to-one correspondence, disconnects the third communication pin of the second Type-A port from the first CC pin, and disconnects the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port from the charger matching unit; wherein in a case that the charger matching unit determines, based on a match signal transmitted through the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port, that the charger matches the data cable, the charger is the first charger; or in a case that the charger matching unit determines, based on the match signal transmitted through the fourth communication pin…
Claim 12 also provisionally rejected on the ground of non-statutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 12 of the co-pending application number 18/096,443.
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim similar a charging device, comprising a charger and a data cable, wherein the charger comprises a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin, and the first switching unit is connected to the first communication pin, the second communication pin, the data cable matching unit, the PD charging processing unit, and the non-PD charging processing unit.
The instant application claim a charging device, comprising a charger and a data cable, wherein the charger comprises a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin, and the first switching unit is connected to the first communication pin, the second communication pin, the data cable matching unit, the PD charging processing unit, and the non-PD charging processing unit. The co-pending application anticipates the instant application claimed.
Claim 12 of instant application: 18/097,131
Claim 12 of co-pending app. 18/096,443
A charging device, comprising: a charger, comprising: a first Type-A port; a charging module; and a first Power Delivery (PD) transceiving module, wherein the first Type-A port comprises a data pin, a first end of the charging module is connected to the data pin, a second end of the charging module is connected to a first end of the first PD transceiving module, and a second end of the first PD transceiving module is connected to the data pin; a data cable, comprising: a second Type-A port; and a Type-C port, wherein the second Type-A port and the Type-C port are connected by a cable, the second Type-A port and the Type-C port each comprise a Configuration Channel (CC) pin and a data pin, and CC pins and data pins in the second Type-A port and the Type-C port are connected in a one- to-one correspondence, wherein the data cable is provided with a second PD transceiving module, wherein a first end of the second PD transceiving module is connected to the CC pin, and a second end of the second PD transceiving module is connected to the data pin; a data pin in a first Type-A port is correspondingly connected to a data pin in a second Type-A port, wherein in a case that the charger is connected to the data cable, when the data cable is a first data cable and the first PD transceiving module is in a working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging on a to-be- charged device based on a differential mode signal transmitted through the data pin, or the charging module performs PD charging on a to-be-charged device based on a common mode signal processed by the first PD transceiving module and transmitted through the data pin, wherein in a case that the charger is connected to the data cable, when the data cable is a second data cable, the first PD transceiving module is in a non-working state, the charging module performs non-PD charging on the to- be-charged device based on a differential mode signal transmitted through the data pin, wherein when the first PD transceiving module receives a first signal transmitted through the data pin, the data cable is the first data cable, and when the first PD transceiving module does not receive the first signal transmitted through the data pin, the data cable is the second data cable, and wherein the first data cable generates the first signal when connected to the to-be-charged device, wherein in a case that the data cable is connected to the charger, when the charger is a first charger and the second PD transceiving module is in a working state, the second PD transceiving module is configured to perform mutual conversion on a common mode signal transmitted through the data pin and a PD charging signal transmitted through the CC pin, so as to perform PD charging on the to-be-charged device, or the data cable and the first charger perform non-PD charging on the to-be-charged device based on a differential signal transmitted through the data pin, wherein in a case that the data cable is connected to the charger, when the charger is a second charger and the second PD transceiving module is in the non-working state, the data cable and the second charger perform non-PD charging on the to-be-charged device based on a differential signal transmitted through the data pin, and wherein when the second PD transceiving module receives a second signal transmitted through the data pin, the charger is the first charger; and when the second PD transceiving module does not receive the second signal transmitted through the data pin, the charger is the second charger, and the data cable generates the first signal when connected to the to-be-charged device, and the first charger generates the second signal in response to the first signal.
A charging device, comprising a charger and a data cable, wherein the charger comprises a first Type-A port, a PD charging processing unit, a non-PD charging processing unit, a data cable matching unit, and a first switching unit; wherein the first Type-A port comprises a first communication pin and a second communication pin, and the first switching unit is connected to the first communication pin, the second communication pin, the data cable matching unit, the PD charging processing unit, and the non-PD charging processing unit; and in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, if the data cable is a first data cable, the first switching unit connects the first communication pin to the PD charging processing unit, connects the second communication pin to the data cable matching unit, and disconnects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin from the non-PD charging processing unit; or in a case that the charger is connected to a data cable, if the data cable is a second data cable, the first switching unit connects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin to the non-PD charging processing unit, and disconnects both the first communication pin and the second communication pin from the PD charging processing unit and the data cable matching unit; wherein in a case that the data cable matching unit determines, based on a communication signal transmitted through the second communication pin, that the data cable matches the charger, the data cable is the first data cable; or in a case that the data cable matching unit determines, based on the communication signal transmitted through the second communication pin, that the data cable does not match the charger, the data cable is the second data cable, wherein the data cable comprises a second Type-A port, a Type-C port, and a cable connecting the second Type-A port and the Type-C port, wherein the data cable is provided with a charger matching unit and a second switching unit; the second Type-A port and the Type-C port each comprise a third communication pin and a fourth communication pin, and the Type-C port further comprises a first CC pin; the second switching unit is connected to the third communication pin and the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port, the third communication pin and the fourth communication pin of the Type-C port, and the charger matching unit; and in a case that the data cable connects a charger to a to-be-charged device, if the charger is a first charger, the second switching unit connects the third communication pin of the second Type-A port to the first CC pin, connects the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port to the charger matching unit, and disconnects the third communication pins and the fourth communication pins of the second Type-A port and the Type-C port; or in a case that the data cable connects a charger to a to-be-charged device, if the charger is a second charger, the second switching unit connects the third communication pins and the fourth communication pins of the second Type-A port and the Type-C port in one-to-one correspondence, disconnects the third communication pin of the second Type-A port from the first CC pin, and disconnects the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port from the charger matching unit; wherein in a case that the charger matching unit determines, based on a match signal transmitted through the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port, that the charger matches the data cable, the charger is the first charger; or in a case that the charger matching unit determines, based on the match signal transmitted through the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port, that the charger does not match the data cable, the charger is the second charger, in a case that the charger is connected to the data cable, the first communication pin is connected to the third communication pin, and the second communication pin is connected to the fourth communication pin; and the data cable matching unit is configured to: upon determining that the data cable matches the charger successfully, control the first switching unit to connect the first communication pin to the PD charging processing unit, connect the second communication pin to the data cable matching unit, and disconnect both the first communication pin and the second communication pin from the non-PD charging processing unit; and control the second switching unit to connect the third communication pin of the second Type-A port to the first CC pin, connect the fourth communication pin of the second Type-A port to the charger matching unit, and disconnect the third communication pins and the fourth communication pins of the second Type-A port and the Type-C port.
Furthermore, applicant is required to review the following similar related applications of the applicant to consider filing terminal disclaimers.
18/096,443: Charger, Data cable and charging device
18/992,962: Charger, Data cable and charging device
18/071,045: Charger, Data cable and charging device
18/070,601: Data line and charging device
18/070,609: Data line and charging device
18/096,523: Data line and charging device
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 6 and 8 are objected to as being dependent upon rejected base claims, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims, including overcoming the non-statutory double patenting rejections stated above. Claims 3-5 and 9-11 are depend on the above objected claims of 2 and 8 respectively.
Claim 12 would also be allowable if it overcome the non-statutory double patenting rejection stated above. Claims 13 is dependent on the above objected claim 12.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YALKEW FANTU whose telephone number is (571)272-8928. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00AM-4:00PM.
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/YALKEW FANTU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859