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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed 11/22/2023 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(3)(i) because it does not include a concise explanation of the relevance, as it is presently understood by the individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) most knowledgeable about the content of the information, of each reference listed that is not in the English language. It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 2-21 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.
A broad range or limitation together with a narrow range or limitation that falls within the broad range or limitation (in the same claim) may be considered indefinite if the resulting claim does not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired. See MPEP § 2173.05(c). In the present instance, claims 2, 14 and 18 recites the broad recitation “one or more spatial locations”, and the claim also recites “a first spatial location” and “a second spatial location” which is the narrower statement of the range/limitation. The claim(s) are considered indefinite because there is a question or doubt as to whether the feature introduced by such narrower language is (a) merely exemplary of the remainder of the claim, and therefore not required, or (b) a required feature of the claims.
Claims 3-13, 15-17 and 19-21 are also rejected under 112(b) as they inherit the deficiencies of Claims 2, 14 and 18 as identified above.
Claim 2, Lines 5-6; Claim 14, Lines 5-6; and Claim 18, Lines 3-4 recite the limitation “power transmission signals to one or more spatial locations”.
For purpose of examination the limitation of Claim 2, Lines 5-6; Claim 14, Lines 5-6; and Claim 18, Lines 3-4 is interpreted as reciting: power transmission signals to spatial locations.
Claim 2, Lines 8-9; Claim 14, Line 9; and Claim 18, Lines 6-7 recite the limitation “corresponding to the one or more spatial locations”.
For purpose of examination the limitation of Claim 2, Lines 8-9; Claim 14, Line 9; and Claim 18, Lines 6-7 is interpreted as reciting: corresponding to the spatial locations.
Claim 2, Lines 10-11, 12-13, 15-16 and 18; Claim 14, Lines 10-11, 12-13, 15-16 and 18; and Claim 18, Lines 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 and 16 recite the limitation “location of the one or more spatial locations”.
For purpose of examination the limitation of Claim 2, Lines 10-11, 12-13, 15-16 and 18; Claim 14, Lines 10-11, 12-13, 15-16 and 18; and Claim 18, Lines 8-9, 10-11, 13-14 and 16 is interpreted as reciting: location of the spatial locations.
Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory 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 nonstatutory 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 2, 13-14 and 18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 11, 21 and 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,777,328 in view of Kludt et al. (US 2014/0133594).
Current application 18/241820
Conflicting patent 11,777,328
Claim 2: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a transmitter configured to generate power waves, cause the transmitter to:
obtain, at a wireless-power transmission device, one or more transmission characteristics used for transmitting radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals to one or more spatial locations within a transmission field;
determine, using stored specific absorption rate (SAR) value determination criteria and the one or more of the transmission characteristics, predicted SAR values corresponding to the one or more spatial locations;
in accordance with a determination that a first spatial location of the one or more spatial locations has a first predicted SAR value that is less than a predefined SAR value, transmit one or more first power transmission signals to the first spatial location of the one or more spatial locations, wherein the one or more first power transmission signals provide usable power to a wireless-power receiver at the first spatial location; and
in accordance with a determination that a second spatial location of the one or more spatial locations has a second predicted SAR value that is greater than or equal to the predefined SAR value, transmit one or more second power transmission signals to the second spatial location of the one or more spatial locations, wherein the one or more second power transmission signals do not provide usable power at the second spatial location.
Claim 11: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by a transmitter configured to monitor specific absorption rate (SAR) values to determine when to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver, cause the transmitter to:
receive, at a wireless-power transmission device, an indication from a receiver responsive to wirelessly delivered RF power,
the receiver being present at a location within a transmission field of the wireless-power transmission device;
determine transmission characteristics to use for transmitting radio frequency power transmission signals to the receiver;
determine, using stored SAR value determination criteria and one or more of the transmission characteristics, a predicted SAR value that would be present at the location after the radio frequency power transmission signals with the transmission characteristics would be transmitted to the location of the receiver;
and in accordance with a determination that the predicted SAR value would be less than a predefined SAR value, cause the wireless-power transmission device to transmit the radio frequency power transmission signals to the receiver.
Claim 11
Unpatentable over Claim 21
Claim 18
Unpatentable over Claim 1
Claims 2, 11 and 18: Claims 11, 21 and 1 of the conflicting patent recite all the elements claimed, except that it does not recite in accordance with a determination that a second spatial location of the one or more spatial locations has a second predicted SAR value that is greater than or equal to the predefined SAR value, transmit one or more second power transmission signals to the second spatial location of the one or more spatial locations, wherein the one or more second power transmission signals do not provide usable power at the second spatial location.
Kludt teaches a determination that a second spatial location of one or more spatial locations has a second predicted SAR value that is greater than or equal to a predefined SAR value, transmit one or more second power transmission signals to the second spatial location of the one or more spatial locations, wherein the one or more second power transmission signals do not provide usable power at the second spatial location (Par.7).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to have had had modified Claims 11, 21 and 1 of Patent No. 11,777,328 as described in Kludt to have had reduced a SAR level at a specific location by not providing usable power at the location thereby meeting SAR requirements (Par.6-7).
Claim 13: Claim 11 of the conflicting patent recite all the elements claimed, except that it does not recite the one or more first power transmission signals converge constructively at the first spatial location.
Kludt teaches one or more first power transmission signals converge constructively at a first spatial location (Par.7).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to have had had modified Claim 11 of Patent No. 11,777,328 as described in Kludt to have had provided increased power at a location meeting SAR requirements (Par.3 and 6).
Claims 3-5, 15-17 and 19-21 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 11, 21 and 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,777,328 in view of Reynolds et al. (US 2015/0229133)
Claims 3-4, 15-16 and 19-20: Claims 11, 21 and 1 of the conflicting patent recite all the elements claimed, except that it does not recite further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the transmitter, cause the transmitter to: in accordance with the determination that the first predicted SAR value of the first spatial location is less than the predefined SAR value: determine a distance and a size of a first area within the first spatial location that has a first calculated SAR value less than the predefined SAR value and determine, based on the distance and the size of the first area within the first spatial location, first transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals, wherein the one or more first power transmission signals are based on the first transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals; further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the transmitter, cause the transmitter to: in accordance with the determination that the second predicted SAR value of the second spatial location is greater than or equal to the predefined SAR value: determine a distance and a size of a second area within the second spatial location that has a second calculated SAR value greater than or equal to the predefined SAR value; and determine, based on the distance and the size of the second area within the second spatial location, second transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals, wherein the one or more second power transmission signals are based on the second transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals.
Reynolds teaches determining a distance and a size of an area within a spatial location that has a calculated SAR value and determine, based on the distance and the size of the first area within the spatial location, transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals, wherein the one or more first power transmission signals are based on the transmission characteristics for transmitting power transmission signals (Par.55-56)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to have had had modified Claims 11, 21 and 1 of Patent No. 11,777,328 as described in Reynolds to have had selectively directed power to a specific point (Par.55) to accurately transfer or block energy on a designated area (Par.70) to have had provided the required power signal to a specific device (Par.53).
Claims 5, 16 and 21: Claims 11, 21 and 1 of the conflicting patent recite all the elements claimed, except that it does not recite further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the transmitter, cause the transmitter to: adjust transmission of the one or more first power transmission signals to maximize the usable power received by the wireless-power receiver.
Reynolds teaches a transmitter adjusts transmission of one or more power transmission signals to maximize the usable power received by a wireless-power receiver (Par.55-56 and 60).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to have had had modified Claims 11, 21 and 1 of Patent No. 11,777,328 as described in Reynolds to have had provided a power receiver with a maximum amount of transferred energy (Par.56).
Claim 6 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 11 of U.S. Patent No. 11,777,328 in view of Liu et al. (US 2013/0050049).
Claim 6: Claim 11 of the conflicting patent recite all the elements claimed, except that it does not recite further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the transmitter, cause the transmitter to: adjust transmission of the one or more first power transmission signals to maintain uniform energy levels for the usable power that remain compliant with the predefined SAR value across the transmission field.
Liu teaches causing a transmitter to: adjust transmission of one or more first power transmission signals to maintain uniform energy levels for the usable power that remain compliant with the predefined SAR value across the transmission field (Par.20-21).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to have had had modified Claim 11 of Patent No. 11,777,328 as described in Reynolds to have had improved SAR performance which is directly related to the distribution uniformity of the field energy (Par.20).
Current application 18/241820
Conflicting patent 11,777,328
Claim 7
Unpatentable over claim 3
Claim 8
Unpatentable over claim 4
Claim 9
Unpatentable over claim 5
Claim 10
Unpatentable over claim 7
Claim 11
Unpatentable over claim 10
Claim 12
Unpatentable over claim 6
Claim 17
Unpatentable over claim 11
Claim 19
Unpatentable over claim 16
Claim 20
Unpatentable over claim 17
Conclusion
Yang et al. (US 2016/0380466) discloses obtain, at a wireless-power transmission device, one or more transmission characteristics used for transmitting radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals (Par.24) to spatial locations within a transmission field (charging area) (Par.44 and 46) (Fig.5(a), 506); determine predicted SAR values corresponding to the spatial locations (Par.47); in accordance with a determination that a first spatial location of the spatial locations has a first predicted SAR value that is less than a predefined SAR value, transmit one or more first power transmission signals to the first spatial location of the spatial locations, wherein the one or more first power transmission signals provide usable power to a wireless-power receiver (120/PRU) at the first spatial location (Par.20; If a SAR value does not exceed regulatory limits a charging current is increased.) (Par.47 and 65) (Fig.5(a), 508).
Morrell (US 2010/0013477) discloses creating a pattern of destructive interference of RF fields from each coil to achieve a reduction in SAR at a selected location (Par.80).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHALI ALEJANDRA TORRES RUIZ whose telephone number is (571)270-1262. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:00am-6:00pm.
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/JOHALI A TORRES RUIZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2859
/JULIAN D HUFFMAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859