DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 26 and 27 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 04/07/26.
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 12 – 25 in the reply filed on 04/07/026 is acknowledged.
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 17, 18, 24, and 25 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.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the motor unit" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the driving source" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the steering system" in lines 2 – 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the vehicle" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the steering speed" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the steering wheel" in lines 4 – 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18, line 2 positively recites “a motor unit including a plurality of power supply systems”, however, claim 12, line 2 firstly recites “a power supply target including a plurality of power supply systems” and is further recited in the body of the claim. Therefore, it is unclear whether the “motor unit” and the “power supply target” are the same element or different. Additionally, it is unclear whether the “plurality of power supply systems” are the same or completely different limitations.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the motor unit" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the driving source" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the steering system" in lines 2 – 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the vehicle" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the steering speed" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation "the steering wheel" in lines 4 – 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 25, line 2 positively recites “a motor unit including a plurality of power supply systems”, however, claim 19, line 2 firstly recites “a power supply target including a plurality of power supply systems” and is further recited in the body of the claim. Therefore, it is unclear whether the “motor unit” and the “power supply target” are the same element or different. Additionally, it is unclear whether the “plurality of power supply systems” are the same or completely different limitations.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12 – 16 and 19 – 23 are allowed.
Claims 17, 18, 24, and 25 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art fails to disclose the power supply line group includes a plurality of individual power supply lines connected to the plurality of power supply systems, each of upstream ends of the plurality of individual power supply lines is connected to the power supply path at a position downstream of the auxiliary power supply, a step-up circuit located downstream of the auxiliary power supply when in the boost state.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
CN103963830 – comprising an electric power steering device comprising a main power source; an auxiliary power supply device; a booster circuit; and a steering component; and
US-20090140673 – comprising an electric power steering system comprising a low-voltage battery; a high-voltage battery; an auxiliary power supply circuit including a step-down circuit; and a step-up circuit which steps up the low-voltage battery.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jacob D. Knutson whose telephone number is (571)270-5576. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
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/JACOB D KNUTSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3611
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