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 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 1-7, 9, 10, 12-14, and 16-19 are 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.
Claims 1 and 12 recite “at least one first AD converter connected to the first terminal”, “at least one second AD converter connected to the second terminal”, “the detection of the voltage of the first terminal by the at least one first AD converter” and “the detection of the voltage of the second terminal by the at least one second AD converter” which appears to be inconsistent with the original specification. In the original specification the first AD converter 81 is not connected to the first terminal 51 (see Fig. 1), the second AD converter 82 is not connected to the second terminal 52 (see Fig. 1). Instead, the original specification discloses executing the detection of the voltage of the second terminal 52 by the first AD converter 81 (see page 19, lines 13-20 and Fig. 1) and the detection of the voltage of the first terminal 51 by the second AD converter 82 (see page 19, lines 13-20 and Fig. 1).
Claims 2-7, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 16-19 are rejected due to their dependencies upon claims 1 and 12.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The applicant argues that “The amendments to the claims are believed to obviate the rejections. As shown in FIG. 1 and paragraph [0079] of the specification as published, the voltage detector includes at least one first AD converter connected to the first terminal through a multiplexer, and at least one second AD converter connected to the second terminal through the multiplexer”. The examiner respectfully disagrees. The original specification discloses executing the detection of the voltage of the second terminal 52 by the first AD converter 81 (see page 19, lines 13-20 and Fig. 1) and the detection of the voltage of the first terminal 51 by the second AD converter 82 (see page 19, lines 13-20 and Fig. 1). However, if this explanation does not further clarify the issue, the examiner encourages an interview discussion in the interest of compact prosecution.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MILTON GONZALEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7914. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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, WALTER LINDSAY can be reached at (571) 272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/WALTER L LINDSAY JR/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2852
/M.G/Examiner, Art Unit 2852
3/15/2026
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