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 .
Objection to Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show details as described in the specification. Applicant’s closest Fig.5 shows a PWM control switch device 1133 connected to a ground line GND only. In general, for PWM control there is a switching circuit that connects both a positive and negative (ground) connection to motor windings (not shown) for ON and OFF operation (see spec, pages 8, 11, 31-32). Applicant’s also fail to show the structural details of AI model/SVM model including learning algorithm, neural network layers (see claim 9, related to figs.18-21, and spec., pages 54 thru 56) and machine-readable storage medium details computer program product, memory, (see spec, page 66).
Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
2.
Objection to Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 1-20 are not clear, wherein claims 1 and 20, the phrase, “detect connection of the brush device to the cleaner body, based on at least one of a voltage value input to an input port of the at least one processor through a signal line or the load of the brush device” is not clear as to the detect connection of the brush device to the cleaner body?. The voltage value [AD input] is to the processor 1131 of a PCB 1130 (fig.2) and spec, page 21. Not clear as cleaner body 1000 (fig.1) is a body structure and processor 1131 detects the connection (voltage value via AD input port, fig.5) to what part (is it PCB 1130, fig.2) of the cleaner body 1000?
As to claim 1, the phrase, “determine a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device; and control an operation of the switch device, based on the frequency” is not clear as to how the PWM control of the switch device works as applicant’s closest Fig.5 shows a PWM control switch device 1133 connected to a ground line GND only. In general, for PWM control there is a switching circuit that connects both a positive and negative (ground) connection to motor windings (not shown) for ON and OFF operation (see spec, pages 8, 11, 31-32).
As to claim 20, the phrase, “determining a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device; and controlling an operation of a switch device used to supply power from a battery of the cleaner body to the brush device connected to the cleaner body” is not clear as to how the PWM control of the switch device 1133 works as applicant’s closest Fig.5 shows a PWM control switch device 1133 connected to a ground line GND only. In general, for PWM control there is a switching circuit that connects both a positive and negative (ground) connection to motor windings (not shown) for ON and OFF operation (see spec, pages 8, 11, 31-32).
Applicant’s fail to show the structural details and corresponding explanation of AI model/SVM model including learning algorithm, neural network layers (see claim 9, related to figs.18-21, and spec., pages 54 thru 56) and machine-readable storage medium structural details computer program product, memory, (see spec, page 66). Appropriate corrections are 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 1-20 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 1-20 are not clear, wherein claims 1 and 20, the phrase, “detect connection of the brush device to the cleaner body, based on at least one of a voltage value input to an input port of the at least one processor through a signal line or the load of the brush device” is not clear as to the detect connection of the brush device to the cleaner body?. The voltage value [AD input] is to the processor 1131 of a PCB 1130 (see fig.2, spec, page 21). Not clear as cleaner body 1000 (fig.1) is a body structure and processor 1131 detects the connection (voltage value via AD input port, fig.5) of a PCB 1130 (fig.2) of the cleaner body 1000?
As to claim 1, the phrase, “determine a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device; and control an operation of the switch device, based on the frequency” is not clear as to how the PWM control of the switch device works as applicant’s closest Fig.5 shows a PWM control switch device 1133 connected to a ground line GND only. In general, for PWM control there is a switching circuit that connects both a positive and negative (ground) connection to motor windings (not shown) for ON and OFF operation (see spec, pages 8, 11, 31-32).
As to claim 20, the phrase, “determining a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device; and controlling an operation of a switch device used to supply power from a battery of the cleaner body to the brush device connected to the cleaner body” is not clear as to how the PWM control of the switch device 1133 works as applicant’s closest Fig.5 shows a PWM control switch device 1133 connected to a ground line GND only. In general, for PWM control there is a switching circuit that connects both a positive and negative (ground) connection to motor windings (not shown) for ON and OFF operation (see spec, pages 8, 11, 31-32).
As to claim 2, the phrase,” The cordless vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the frequency for the PWM control is determined to increase as a maximum motor output value corresponding to the identified type of the brush device increases, and to decrease as the maximum motor output value corresponding to the identified type of the brush device decreases” is not clear.
Is it the maximum motor output value increases and decreases?
As to claim 9, the phrase, “identify a current usage environment state of the brush device, by applying a pressure value in a flow path measured by a pressure sensor of the cleaner body and a load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor to an artificial intelligence (AI) model trained to infer a possible usage environment state of the brush device” is not clear as applicant’s fail to show the structural details and corresponding explanation of AI model/SVM model including learning algorithm, neural network layers (see claim 9, related to figs.18-21, see spec., pages 54 thru 56). Appropriate corrections are required.
Allowable Subject-Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As to claims 1 and 20, prior art of records (closest prior art, Yoshioka Tomokazu, Document ID.No.: JP 2011050505 A) teaches (figs.1-24, abstract, pages 1-47, Description of Embodiments, pages 2-3) A vacuum cleaner 11 (fig.3) comprising: a switch device 65 (figs. 21, 23, pages 15-16) used to supply power from the power supply 61 to a brush device 57 (via floor brush 25, see figs.3, 21, 23 and corresponding description, pages 2, 15) connected to a cleaner body 12 (via pipe 13, hose body 22, see fig.3);
a load detection sensor [current detection means 42] (figs.1, 21, 23) configured to detect a load (air resistance/volume correspond to current, see page 3 of description fig.1) of the brush device 57 (floor brush 25, figs.3, 21, 23) connected to the cleaner body 12;
and
at least one processor 62 (figs.14-24) configured to: detect connection of the brush device 57 (floor brush 25) to the cleaner body 12 (via pipe 13, hose body 22, see fig.3), based on at least one of a voltage value input to an input port (via identification/detection resistor 51, power line 53 input to control unit 45, figs.14-23, pages 12-14) of the at least one processor 62 through a signal line 53 or the load [motor 54] of the brush device 57;
identify (via identification resistor 51, see figs.14-16, 17-20, pages 12-14) a type of the brush device 57 (floor brush 25, see figs.1-24, pages 3-4, 12-114) connected to the cleaner body (via pipe 13, hose body 22, see fig.3);
Yoshioka Tomokazu further for claim 20, teaches operating method for vacuum cleaner 11 using figs. 1-24. Yoshioka Tomokazu teaches precision in determining the kind of suction body is improved (see abstract).
However, as to claims 1 and 20, Yoshioka Tomokazu fails to teach a cordless vacuum cleaner comprising: a battery; a switch device used to supply power from the battery to a brush device connected to a cleaner body; determine a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device; and control an operation of the switch device, based on the frequency.
As to claims 1 and 20, Kushida et al., (Pub.No.: US 2002/0175646 A1) teaches (figs.1-30) a cordless vacuum cleaner 1 (para. [0142], fig.1) comprising: a battery 10a (fig.3, para. [0066]); a switch device 19a/12a (fig.3, para. [0060], [0073], [0131]) used to supply power from the battery 10a to a brush device (3, 6) (para. [0111]) connected (via pipe 4, fig.1) to a cleaner body 5, 2 (fig.1); and teaches setting via control means 15 (figs.3-4) the frequency and the duty of an on/off pulse signal (see para. [0071)) and control an operation of the switch device 19a based on the frequency (see para’s [0071]-[0073]). Kushida et al. reduces power consumption and power loss [para’s [0009] & [0018]).
However as to claims 1 and 20, Yoshioka Tomokazu and Kushida et al., fails to teach determine a frequency for pulse width modulation (PWM) control corresponding to the identified type of the brush device.
However, formal requirements outstanding (Objection to drawings, Objection to specification and 35 USC 112 rejection of claims 1-20) needs to be corrected and clarified.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTONY M PAUL whose telephone number is (571)270-1608. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am to 4 pm.
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/ANTONY M PAUL/ 03/17/2026
Primary Examiner of Art Unit 2846