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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 1-22 are objected to because they include reference characters which are not enclosed within parentheses.
Reference characters corresponding to elements recited in the detailed description of the drawings and used in conjunction with the recitation of the same element or group of elements in the claims should be enclosed within parentheses so as to avoid confusion with other numbers or characters which may appear in the claims. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
Claim 5 recites “the input switch output switch SIO” in line 2. It appears this is a typo and should be written as/replaced with “ output switch SIO”, appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 5 and 11-13 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 5 recites “--wherein the second ground switch SXG, and the third ground switch SBG are switched.” in lines 4-5. It is unclear the status of the switches SXG and SBG whether the switch is OPEN/OFF or CLOSED/OPEN state. For examination purpose it is considered the switches are OFF/OPEN. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 recites “--the input switch S1 and first ground switch SIG are switched.” in line 2. It is unclear whether the switches, S1 and S1G, are in OPEN/OFF or CLOSED/ON state. For examination purpose it is considered the switches are ON/CLOSED. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 12 recites “--and first ground switch SIG and the input switch Si are switched” in lines 2-3. ” It is unclear whether the switches, SIG and Si, are in OPEN/OFF or CLOSED/ON state. For examination purpose it is considered the switches are ON/CLOSED . Appropriate correction is required.
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 Zaho et al. (US 10,594,152), hereinafter Zaho
As to claim 1, Zaho discloses in figure 1 (see below)
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A battery-charging voltage regulator [see element 110; power system],
comprising an inductor Lx [inductor 112] ;
a battery VB [battery 109] in series with the inductor Lx [the battery (109) is connected with the inductor (112) in serios; see Col. 8, lines 17-18] ; an output terminal Vo [the output terminal to the load] selectively electrically connectable to the battery VB [noted that when battery voltage is provided to the load 116; see Col. 8, lines 17-18]; and
an input terminal Vin [input 107; electrically connected to the inductor (112)] selectively electrically connectable to an input of the inductor Lx [the AC power (107) provides charging current the battery through the inductor (112)].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-10 and 14-22 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the objection set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
For claim 2: primarily, the prior art of record does not disclose or suggest in the claimed combination: wherein the inductor is between a first node VSW1 and a second node Vswx and the battery is between the second node Vswx and a third node VSWB an output terminal Vo selectively electrically connectable to the first node VSW1 via a first output switch SIO, to the second node Vswx via a second output switch Sxo and to the third node VSWB via a third output switch Sno; and an input terminal VIN selectively electrically connectable to the first node VSW1 via an input switch Si between the first node VSW1 and the input terminal VIN.
Claims 5 and 11-13 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMUEL BERHANU whose telephone number is (571)272-8430. The examiner can normally be reached M_F.
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/SAMUEL BERHANU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859