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 § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cho et al. (US 20100237065 A1) in view of Fattorini et al. (US 20150208467 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Cho discloses
An electromagnetic noise suppression method for an electromagnetic heating device (heating device 1, fig.1), comprising:
in response to determining that any two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1) of the electromagnetic heating device (heating device 1) operate successively, obtaining a start operating frequency of a last-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b) [Par.0019 cited: “…operating the control panel 12, a corresponding adjusting signal K.sub.1 is transmitted to the controlling unit 14 …”];
adjusting an operating frequency of a first-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b) based on the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module [Par.0021 cited: “…After the adjusting signal K.sub.1 is received, the controlling unit 14 issues a control signal K.sub.2 to the power supply unit 13 by computation.…”] and the control signal (control signal, Par.0008), and controlling the last-started heating module based on the second control signal (second power signal, Par.0027) [Par.0027 cited: “…second power signal W.sub.2 is zero from t=t.sub.1 to t=t.sub.2 such that no power is inputted to the second induction coil 11b…”], such that the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b) to operate synchronously at a same operating frequency when the last-started heating module starts operating [Par.0021 cited: “…first frequency f.sub.1 of the first power signal W.sub.1 and the second frequency f.sub.2 of the second power signal W.sub.2 are determined …”].
However, Cho does not disclose obtaining a zero-crossing signal of an alternating current power source; generating a first control signal and a second control signal based on the zero-crossing signal and the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module.
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Fattorini discloses a method comprising: obtaining a zero-crossing signal (signal is detected from zero cross detector 20, fig.1) of an alternating current power source (AC power terminal, fig.1); generating a first control signal (first output signal l1, fig.4) and a second control signal (second output signal l2, fig.4) based on the zero-crossing signal (zero cross detector 20) and the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module (induction coil L, fig.1).
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Cho, by including the steps of obtaining a zero-crossing signal of an alternating current power source; generating a first control signal and a second control signal based on the zero-crossing signal and the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module, as taught by Fattorini, in order to provide an improved induction heating generator (Par.0004, Fattorini).
Regarding claim 2, Cho discloses
said adjusting the operating frequency of the first-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1) based on the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module comprises: in response to controlling the operating frequency of the first-started heating module to be reduced to the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module [Par.0021 cited: “…After the adjusting signal K.sub.1 is received, the controlling unit 14 issues a control signal K.sub.2 to the power supply unit 13 by computation.…”], controlling the last-started heating module to start operating synchronously at an operating frequency equivalent to that of the first-started heating module [Par.0021 cited: “…first frequency f.sub.1 of the first power signal W.sub.1 and the second frequency f.sub.2 of the second power signal W.sub.2 are determined …”].
Regarding claim 3, Cho discloses
said adjusting the operating frequency of the first-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1) based on the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module comprises: controlling the first-started heating module to stop operating (stopped by controlling unit 14, fig.1), and controlling, after a predetermined time period based on the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module [Par.0042 cited: “…the first time interval T.sub.a1, the second time interval T.sub.a2, the heat quantity P.sub.11, P.sub.21 and P.sub.22 are determined by the controlling unit 14…”], the first-started heating module and the last-started heating module to start operating synchronously [Par.0021 cited: “…first frequency f.sub.1 of the first power signal W.sub.1 and the second frequency f.sub.2 of the second power signal W.sub.2 are determined …”].
Regarding claim 4, Cho discloses
operating frequency change trends of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1) are kept consistent after the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b) operate synchronously at the same operating frequency [Par.0021 cited: “…first frequency f.sub.1 of the first power signal W.sub.1 and the second frequency f.sub.2 of the second power signal W.sub.2 are determined …”].
Regarding claim 5, Cho discloses
during a synchronous operation of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1), duty ratios of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals of the two adjacent heating modules (first induction coil 11a, second induction coil 11b, fig.1) are independently adjustable from 0% to 50% [Abstract cited: “…Electrical energy is transmitted to the first induction coil and the second induction coil and the frequency difference between the first power and the second power is greater than 15 kHz or smaller than 1 kHz during a first time interval under control of the controlling unit…”].
Regarding claim 6, Cho discloses
A computer-readable storage medium (control panel 12, fig.1), having an electromagnetic noise suppression program for an electromagnetic heating device (heating device 1, fig.1) stored thereon, wherein the electromagnetic noise suppression program for the electromagnetic heating device (heating device 1), when executed by a processor (digital signal processor (DSP), Par.0019), implements the electromagnetic noise suppression method for the electromagnetic heating device (heating device 1).
Response to Amendment/Argument
With respect to Specification Objections: since the tittle has been amended filed on 07/27/2026, that overcame the Specification Objections.
With respect to Claim Objections: since the claim has been amended filed on 07/27/2026, that overcame the Claim Objections.
With respect to Prior art Rejection: the applicant’s argument in Remark, filed on 07/27/2026, have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection. The newly cited Fattorini reference discloses a method comprising: obtaining a zero-crossing signal (signal is detected from zero cross detector 20, fig.1) of an alternating current power source (AC power terminal, fig.1); generating a first control signal (first output signal l1, fig.4) and a second control signal (second output signal l2, fig.4) based on the zero-crossing signal (zero cross detector 20) and the start operating frequency of the last-started heating module (induction coil L, fig.1).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Boys et al. (US 5450305) is a relevant prior art in field of an electromagnetic, as shown in fig.10, with resonant power supplies comprising an induction heater, but this prior art cannot perform the method steps of obtaining a start operating frequency of a last-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules; and adjusting an operating frequency of a first-started heating module of the two adjacent heating modules…
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHUONG T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1834. The examiner can normally be reached 9.00am-5.00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steven Crabb can be reached on 571-270-5095. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PHUONG T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
08/09/2026
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