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 Office Action is in response to the application filed on 08/29/2025. Claims 1-12 are presently pending and are presented for examination. Claims 1, 4, 8, and 9 were amended.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/29/2025 has been entered.
Reply to Remarks
Applicant’s amendment to claim 4 has been accepted by the Examiner and the objection to the claim has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see Page 5 of the Applicant's Remarks, filed 08/29/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 8-12 under § 112(a) have been fully considered and are not persuasive. Applicant has argued that support for the, “second sensor” for “detecting the termination of the charging session” is found in paragraphs 36, 57, and 67. Examiner respectfully disagrees. While there is support in the Applicant’s Specification for multiple sensors, such as in paragraph 36, there is no support, as in paragraph 67, that a sensor determines that the charging session has been terminated. Rather a signal receiver ceases to receive charging requests and based on the cessation of requests, that the vehicle has disconnected and the Examiner reasons that the system can further determine that a charging session has ended.
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 9-10 of the Applicant's Remarks, filed 08/29/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 8-12 under § 101 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejections have been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 9-20 of the Applicant's Remarks, filed 08/29/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-12 under § 103 have been fully considered and are not persuasive. Nevertheless, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Barnes, and Ricci for claim 1, and Ricci, and Choi for claim 8 have been presented.
Once again, the Applicant argues that the claims deserve to posses the earliest priority date of 02/28/2022 from the provisional application 63268674. Examiner respectfully disagrees. Upon examining the provisional application and the present application’s claims and disclosure, Examiner believes that the provisional application 63268674 does not possess the limitations or ideas presented in the current application, therefore, the current application’s earliest priority date is 02/27/2023.
Applicant argues that Choi does not teach the limitations that Choi was cited to teach. Examiner respectfully disagrees. Choi does teach the concept of a second sensor that detects the end of the charge session because the Applicant’s own specification explains that the computer system determines that once the request for charging ends, that the charge session has ended. The system does not even determine that the charge session has terminated, see paragraph 67 of the Applicant’s Specification. This interpretation is not read into the claims, as the broadest reasonable interpretation, or BRI, of the claims in larger, and only requires an electronic device that detects an end to a charging session. The reference does not need to be a wireless charging system for the purposes of combination, since only the concept of detecting an end to a charging session is required.
Further, none of the cited references such, as Austin, and Yuki, were used to teach charging a moving vehicle as the claims that those respective references were cited within did not contain such limitations, as those references were teaching the claimed concepts regarding electric vehicle charging or automated vehicular control and proving that those concepts existed prior to the earliest priority date. The reason or motivation to modify the reference may often suggest what the inventor has done, but for a different purpose or to solve a different problem. It is not necessary that the prior art suggest the combination to achieve the same advantage or result discovered by applicant, see MPEP 2144 IV for details.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. There is no support for the limitations of claim 4 that depends upon the configuration selected by the Applicant in claim 1, as Figure 5 and Paragraphs 35-36 disclose an extendable arm that connects to the vehicle for charging, this rail is not located above the roadway, and in Figure 7 and Paragraphs 40-41, the charge rail extends from the vehicle, and not the infrastructure. Consequently, there is no support for the charging rail mounted to the side of the road adjacent to and above the roadway with the rail attached to a mechanism to project or extend the rail in the direction of the electric vehicle in the Applicant’s disclosure.
Claims 8-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. No paragraphs disclose a “second sensor” and no paragraphs disclose a sensor that determines a cessation or termination of a so-called charging session.
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 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.
Claims 1, 2, 3, and 6 are rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Barnes, US-20210031642-A1, in view of Ricci, US-20170136882-A1, hereinafter referred to as Barnes, and Ricci.
As per claim 1
Barnes discloses [a]n electric vehicle charging system for wirelessly charging a moving electric vehicle, the charging system comprising (a plurality of charge transmitters that are each embedded into a roadway…charge transceiver is in wireless communication with each of the charge transmitters when the electric vehicle is driven on the roadway – Barnes ¶4):
a power supply (Each of the charge transmitters 12 broadcasts a charging signal and each of the charge transmitters 12 is in electrical communication with a power source 16. – Barnes ¶13);
a communication system (extrinsic communication network 32 – Barnes ¶16);
a charging subsystem, the charging subsystem comprising an elongated charge rail, the elongated charge rail capable of delivering a charge to [a vehicle], while the electric vehicle is in motion (electric vehicle 36…charge transceiver 34 can harness electrical energy in the charge signal for charging the batteries 38 in the electric vehicle 36 during driving – Barnes ¶17).
Barnes does not specifically disclose a data processor;
[for wirelessly charging] a side of an electric vehicle.
However, Ricci teaches a data processor (a controller or microprocessor associated with the charging source (e.g. associated with the vehicle charging source 2710 - Ricci ¶190);
[for wirelessly charging] a side of an electric vehicle (static charging area 520B may allow a charge to be transferred even while the electrical vehicle 100 is moving…the receiving unit may be a part of the charging panel associated with the electrical vehicle 100, wireless charging system 1608, to FIG. 36, a plurality of integrated charging panels 3608 are depicted: one each on the vehicle hood, the vehicle roof and the driver's side door - Ricci ¶81 & ¶130 & ¶232).
Barnes discloses a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving. Ricci teaches a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Barnes, a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving, with a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, as taught by Ricci, with a reasonable expectation of success to selectively interchange systems and/or subsystems in the vehicle 100 allow the vehicle 100 to adapt to the ever-changing technological demands of society and advances in safety and for improving performance, achieving ease, and/or reducing cost of implementation, see Ricci ¶109 & ¶282 for details.
As per claim 2
Barnes further discloses where the elongated charge rail is located adjacent to a roadway, and extends along the roadway (charge transmitters are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other and are distributed along an entire distance of the roadway., a plurality of charge transmitters 12 that is each embedded into a roadway 14. The roadway 14 may be a state highway, an interstate highway, a city street or any other public roadway on which motor vehicles are driven – Barnes Fig 1 (26, 24, 28) + ¶4 & ¶13).
As per claim 3
Barnes does not specifically disclose further comprising: a plurality of sensors along the elongated charge rail.
However, Ricci teaches further comprising: a plurality of sensors along the elongated charge rail (a separation distance sensor disposed on charging plate 520, charging plate 520 may comprise at least one positioning sensor 924, to enable automated positioning control of the charging plate 520 with respect to the charging panel 608 (further described with regard to FIG. 21). Receiving vehicle 925 comprises components as described in FIG. 7, a pair of positional sensors may be positioned at…charging plate 520 - Ricci ¶89 & ¶165 & ¶166).
Barnes discloses a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving. Ricci teaches a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Barnes, a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving, with a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, as taught by Ricci, with a reasonable expectation of success to selectively interchange systems and/or subsystems in the vehicle 100 allow the vehicle 100 to adapt to the ever-changing technological demands of society and advances in safety and for improving performance, achieving ease, and/or reducing cost of implementation, see Ricci ¶109 & ¶282 for details.
As per claim 6
Barnes further discloses where the elongated charge rail is located above the surface of a roadway, and extends along the roadway (charge transmitters are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other and are distributed along an entire distance of the roadway., a plurality of charge transmitters 12 that is each embedded into a roadway 14. The roadway 14 may be a state highway, an interstate highway, a city street or any other public roadway on which motor vehicles are driven – Barnes Fig 1 (26, 24, 28) + ¶4 & ¶13).
Claim 4 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Barnes, in view of Ricci, as per claim 2, and further in view of Wang, CN-111137179-A, hereinafter referred to as Wang.
As per claim 4
Barnes does not specifically disclose further comprising: a retractable arm, on which the elongated charge rail is mounted a motor capable of extending and retracting the retractable arm.
However, Wang teaches further comprising: a retractable arm, on which the elongated charge rail is mounted a motor capable of extending and retracting the retractable arm (power supply rail (30), optionally, when the vehicle (10) is traveling, when the projection area of the vehicle (10) in the direction of the conductor (31) overlaps with the conductor (31), the conductor (31) turns to extend, conductor extends or retracts into the protective container, FIG. 5 shows a rear view of a power supply rail (30) located on the side of a vehicle (10), where a is a full view and b is a partially enlarged view. The current collector (11) protrudes from the side of the vehicle (10), contacts the conductor (31), and the conductor (31) protrudes to the side to protect the container (21). - Wang Fig 2 (31), Fig 5 (31) + Page 3 Lines 38-40 & Page 3 Line 44 & Page 6 Lines 30-33).
Barnes discloses a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving. Wang teaches a movable road power supply track, which is used for eliminating the influence of dirty environments such as rain, snow, ice, foreign matters, stains and the like on the operation of the power supply track for a moving electric vehicle.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Barnes, a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving, with a movable road power supply track, which is used for eliminating the influence of dirty environments such as rain, snow, ice, foreign matters, stains and the like on the operation of the power supply track for a moving electric vehicle, as taught by Wang, with a reasonable expectation of success so that the power supply track on the open road can be free from rain, snow, or icy weather and other dirty conditions, enabling all-weather operation, the arrangement of the power supply track does not affect the driving of various vehicles on its road surface, the track will not cause obstacles and inconvenience for vehicles entering and exiting the lane where they are located, and the operation mode of the vehicle current collector power supply is more direct and simplified, see Wang Page 2 Lines 26-30 for details.
Claim 5 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Barnes, in view of Ricci, as per claim 1, and further in view of Kito et al., US-20240051418-A1, hereinafter referred to as Kito.
As per claim 5
Barnes does not specifically disclose further comprising: a second communication means for communicating directly with a self-driving feature of the electric vehicles.
However, Kito teaches further comprising: a second communication means for communicating directly with a self-driving feature of the electric vehicles (autonomous mobile robot (AMR) 50, Control section 42 performs charging control of AMR 50 in each charging area 41 , instructs AMR 50 during charging…Communication section 46 can communicate with…AMR 50, control section 42 instructs AMR 50 to end the charging of AMR 50 and to exit charging area 41 (S180), and ends the AMR charging control – Kito ¶20 & ¶24 & ¶32).
Barnes discloses a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving. Kito teaches a charging system and a charging control method.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Barnes, a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving, with a charging system and a charging control method, as taught by Kito, with a reasonable expectation of success to control power supply of the automatic conveyance vehicle when charging the battery based on the temperature acquired by the temperature acquisition section, see Kito ¶7 for details.
Claim 7 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Barnes, in view of Ricci, as per claim 1, and further in view of Creamer et al., US-20040110487-A1, hereinafter referred to as Creamer.
As per claim 7
Barnes does not specifically disclose further comprising: a remote database containing user access information, the remote database in communication with the data processor.
However, Creamer teaches further comprising: a remote database containing user access information, the remote database in communication with the data processor (wireless network 155 can be the network connecting the mobile computing device 120 to the access server 105 through a wireless access point 130, authentication server 110...contain records concerning user accounts. Notably, multiple application servers can access user information contained within the authentication server 110 – Creamer Fig 1 (120, 110, 105) + ¶22 & ¶23).
Barnes discloses a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving. Creamer teaches networking devices and granting wireless network services to mobile computing devices.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Barnes, a new charging device for wirelessly charging batteries in an electric vehicle while driving, with networking devices and granting wireless network services to mobile computing devices, as taught by Creamer, with a reasonable expectation of success to provide better system security and policy maintenance when utilizing the authentication server 110 than with systems that store access information within individual application servers, see Creamer ¶23 for details.
Claim 8 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Ricci, in view of Choi et al., US-20230415599-A1, hereinafter referred to as Choi.
As per claim 8
Ricci discloses [a] method for wireless charging electric vehicles, the method comprising the steps of (static charging area 520B may allow a charge to be transferred even while the electrical vehicle 100 is moving – Ricci ¶81):
a receiver receiving a request for charging from a vehicle (vehicle can request a charge from the charging system, system 3300 receives one or more charging requests or queries for a charging service from one or more vehicles 925 – Ricci ¶159 & ¶224);
a data processor determining the availability of a charging subsystem (At step 4412 , a query is made to determine if a charging site is available…Such a charging site may be a roadway charging site, such as an embedded railroad-like charging “site” wherein rails on or within the roadway may provide or transmit electrical power by way of the contact portion 4220 to the vehicle 100…If the result of the query of step 4412 is Yes, the method 4400 continues to step 4416 – Ricci ¶267);
the data processor responding to the request for charging (a query is made as to whether pre-initialization is available for a particular user of a vehicle 925 seeking a charging service…aligning means for charging such as by induction, or ensuring compatible electrical parameters such as amperage…pre-initialized charging station is activated to enable the vehicle 925 to receive a charge – Ricci ¶228);
a first sensor of a plurality of sensors detecting the approach of an oncoming vehicle (separation distance between the charging panel 608 and the charging plate 520…a separation distance sensor 924…a pair of positional sensors may be positioned at…charging plate 520 – Ricci ¶166);
the data processor instructing a charge subsystem to begin a charge when the vehicle is in range of the charge subsystem (static charging area 520B may allow a charge to be transferred even while the electrical vehicle 100 is moving…static charging area 520 B may include a charging transmitter (e.g., conductor, etc.) that provides a transfer of energy when in a suitable range of a receiving unit…the receiving unit may be a part of the charging panel associated with the electrical vehicle 100 – Ricci ¶81);
the charge subsystem continuing the charge session while the vehicle remains in motion and in range of the charge subsystem (static charging area 520B may allow a charge to be transferred even while the electrical vehicle 100 is moving…static charging area 520 B may include a charging transmitter (e.g., conductor, etc.) that provides a transfer of energy when in a suitable range of a receiving unit…the receiving unit may be a part of the charging panel associated with the electrical vehicle 100 – Ricci ¶81 – Examiner reasons that the charge transmission begins once the range/amperage requirements are met after the charge request is received).
Ricci does not specifically disclose a second sensor detecting the termination of the charging session; the data processor instructing the charge subsystem to revert to an inert status.
However, Choi teaches a second sensor of a plurality of sensors detecting the termination of the charging session; the data processor instructing the charge subsystem to revert to an inert status (charging a vehicle by a mobile vehicle charger…performing a transmitting or charging operation according to the operating mode, switching a charging state of the mobile vehicle charger to a standby state when the transmitting or charging operation is ended, charges the battery of the vehicle using the mobile vehicle charger 300, controller 320 determines whether the charging is ended (S530), and when the charging is ended, the charging state of the mobile vehicle charger 300 is switched to a standby state (S550), and the operation ends, a controller 620 , a battery management unit 630, controller 620 confirms whether charging of the vehicle is ended – Choi ¶21 & ¶63 & ¶79 & ¶86 & ¶105 – Examiner reasons that the controller 620 acts like a sensor and is different from a camera or lidar, which acts as the so called first sensor).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Choi teaches a system for charging a mobile vehicle and a method for charging.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, with a system for charging a mobile vehicle and a method for charging, as taught by Choi, with a reasonable expectation of success to improve battery deficit and charging convenience for users of electric vehicles, see Choi ¶6 for details.
Claim 9 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Ricci, in view of Choi, as per claim 8, and further in view of Koravadi et al., US-20160036917-A1, and Bove et al., US-20240190289-A1, hereinafter referred to as Koravadi, and Bove.
As per claim 9
Ricci further discloses [vehicle travels] along the charging subsystem (static charging area 520B may allow a charge to be transferred even while the electrical vehicle 100 is moving…the receiving unit may be a part of the charging panel associated with the electrical vehicle 100, wireless charging system 1608, to FIG. 36, a plurality of integrated charging panels 3608 are depicted: one each on the vehicle hood, the vehicle roof and the driver's side door - Ricci ¶81 & ¶130 & ¶232).
Ricci does not specifically disclose initiating communication with the vehicle’s self-driving system; providing control signals to the vehicle’s self-driving system as the vehicle travels, thereby controlling the vehicle; releasing the vehicle from control at the end of the charging session.
However, Koravadi teaches initiating communication with the vehicle’s self-driving system; providing control signals to the vehicle’s self-driving system as the vehicle travels, thereby controlling the vehicle; releasing the vehicle from control at the end of the charging session (FIG. 1, vehicles 10 may include a DSRC radio 21 and wireless radio antenna 22 to communicate (via a reliable and secure wireless communication link 23) with a high speed wireless antenna 27 that is an integral part of the smart road 28… information may include…safety monitoring intervention commands or automated driving commands, responsive to a communication indicative of an electric vehicle traveling on the road, said charging device charges the battery of the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle travels on the road, to control the autonomous vehicle as it travels on the road - Koravadi ¶52, Claim 2 and Claim 3).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Koravadi teaches a moving electric vehicle road installed charging system that also issues autonomous driving control signals.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device with a moving electric vehicle road installed charging system that also issues autonomous driving control signals, as taught by Koravadi, with a reasonable expectation of success so that the devices disposed along the road may operate without a wired power supply connection to a power plant or the like and to take necessary safety intervention in case of system malfunction or driver error, see Koravadi ¶4 & ¶50 for details.
Ricci does not specifically disclose further comprising the steps of: identifying whether the vehicle has a self-driving system.
However, Bove teaches further comprising the steps of: identifying whether the vehicle has a self-driving system (a threshold level of driving autonomy of the vehicle is determined – Bove ¶21).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Bove teaches a system for determining an amount of time for charging a vehicle battery.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, with a system for determining an amount of time for charging a vehicle battery, as taught by Bove, with a reasonable expectation of success to determine a level of driving autonomy of a vehicle, see Bove ¶18 for details.
Claim 10 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Ricci, in view of Choi, as per claim 8, and further in view of Kim et al., US-20220305935-A1, hereinafter referred to as Kim.
As per claim 10
Ricci does not specifically disclose further comprising the steps of: accessing a remote database to verify an account for access to the charging subsystem.
However, Kim teaches further comprising the steps of: accessing a remote database to verify an account for access to the charging subsystem (receiving charging user information, performing a user authentication process on the basis of the charging user information and generating authentication information, receive the authentication information from the server… charging apparatuses may be integrally managed by the server, server, the certification authority,… may determine whether the driver of the electric car 100 is a driver subscribed to an electric car charging transection system - Kim ¶13 & ¶56 & ¶59).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Kim teaches an electric car charging apparatus using a pad-mounted transformer and an electric car charging method.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, with an electric car charging apparatus using a pad-mounted transformer and an electric car charging method, as taught by Kim, with a reasonable expectation of success to contribute to the spread of an electric car charging infrastructure, see Kim ¶15 for details.
Claim 11 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Ricci, in view of Choi, as per claim 8, and further in view of Austin, US-11258107-B2, hereinafter referred to as Austin.
As per claim 11
Ricci does not specifically disclose further comprising the steps of: sending a warning signal to the vehicle prior to the termination of the charging session.
However, Austin teaches further comprising the steps of: sending a warning signal to the vehicle prior to the termination of the charging session (before the charging of the battery is complete, at least one signal as the alert via the transmitter…one signal indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery – Austin Claim 1).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Austin teaches a vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, with a vehicle charger for charging a battery of a vehicle, as taught by Austin, with a reasonable expectation of success to improve efficient operation of the vehicle, see Austin Column 1 Line 41 for details.
Claim 12 is rejected under U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Ricci, in view of Choi, as per claim 8, and further in view of Yuki et al., US-20220097729-A1, hereinafter referred to as Yuki.
As per claim 12
Ricci does not specifically disclose further comprising the steps of: sending a warning signal to the vehicle prior to release of control of the vehicle.
However, Yuki teaches further comprising the steps of: sending a warning signal to the vehicle prior to release of control of the vehicle (prior to the end of the automatic cruise control at a point P1 during automatic cruise control…control may warn that the automatic cruise control will be ending - Yuki ¶182).
Ricci discloses a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device. Yuki teaches an autonomous travel system for a work vehicle.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Ricci, a system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electrical vehicle through a contact device, with an autonomous travel system for a work vehicle, as taught by Yuki, with a reasonable expectation of success so that the user's sense of security is improved when the work vehicle turns in the turning path and so that sudden stops can be avoided and comfort when riding can be improved, see Yuki ¶13 & ¶15 for details.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FARIS ASIM SHAIKH whose telephone number is (571)272-6426. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00-5:30 M-F EST.
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/F.A.S./Examiner, Art Unit 3668
/Fadey S. Jabr/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3668