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 § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Van Lancker et al (US12262743).
RE 1, Van Lancker discloses an extension unit (201) for an aerosol generation device (110), the extension unit comprising: a first connection interface (226), at a first end of the extension unit, that is connectable to the aerosol generation device (col 10 ln 4-14); and means for enabling at least one additional functionality of the aerosol generation device, further to aerosol generation, when connected to the aerosol generation device (col 4 ln 53-57), wherein the first connection interface (226) comprises one or more power terminals and at least one of a magnitude of power supply and a direction of power supply by the first connection interface is controlled by the aerosol generation device, when connected to the aerosol generation device (col 5 ln 30-52).
Re 2, further comprising: a second connection interface (220), at a second end of the extension unit opposite to the first end, that is connectable to a second extension unit (202) (col 4 ln 13-33, col 9 ln 51-col 10 ln 14).
RE 3, wherein: the first connection interface (226) is further connectable to a third extension unit; and the second connection interface (220) is further connectable to the aerosol generation device (col 4 ln 13-33).
RE 4, wherein the first connection interface (226) and/or the second connection interface (220) comprises at least one of a magnetic connector, an interference fit connector, a plug connector, or a socket connector connectable to the aerosol generation device or the second extension unit (col 4 ln 34-52, col 10 ln 25-34).
RE 5, wherein: at least one of the first connection interface (226) and the second connection interface (220) comprises one or more data terminals, wherein preferably the first and second connection interfaces include inter-integrated circuit, I2C, interfaces (col 4 ln 34-52).
Re 6, wherein :the extension unit (201) is configured to receive power supplied from the aerosol generation device, when connected to the aerosol generation device (col 5 ln 30-52).
RE 7,wherein: the at least one additional functionality comprises a flashlight functionality; and the means for enabling the at least one additional functionality comprises at least one LED (col 5 ln 5-29).
RE 8, wherein: the at least one LED is configured to emit light and/or to blink or dim the emitted light in response to control signaling received from the aerosol generation device (col 5 ln 5-29).
RE 9, wherein: the at least one additional functionality comprises a haptic feedback functionality for indicating a status of the aerosol generation device; and the means for enabling the at least one additional functionality comprises at least one of an eccentric rotating mass, ERM, vibration motor and or a linear resonant actuator, LRA, vibration motor to generate haptic feedback in the form of vibrations in response to control signaling received from the aerosol generation device (col 5 ln 5-29).
RE 10, wherein: the at least one additional functionality comprises a power supply functionality of supplying power to a connected device; and the means for enabling the at least one additional functionality comprises at least one power supply (col 5 ln 5-29).
RE 11, the means for enabling at least one additional functionality further comprises a control section (190) configured to control at least one of a magnitude and a direction of the supply of power (col 5 ln 30-52, col 8 ln 59-col 9 ln 16).
RE 12, wherein: the at least one additional functionality comprises a display functionality; and the means for enabling the at least one additional functionality comprises at least one display unit configured to display information to a user of the aerosol generation device in response to control signaling received from the aerosol generation device (col 5 ln 30-52, col 8 ln 59-col 9 ln 16).
Re 13, An aerosol generation device (110) comprising a power supply unit (190), wherein the power supply unit comprises: a power supply; a control section; and a connection interface (120) that is connectable to an extension unit (201), wherein the connection interface comprises one or more power terminals and the control section is configured to control at least one of a magnitude of power supply via the connection interface and a direction of power supply by the connection interface (col 5 ln 30-52, col 8 ln 59-col 9 ln 16).
RE 14, wherein: the connection interface comprises at least one of a magnetic connector, an interference fit connector, a plug connector, or a socket connector connectable to the extension unit; and/or the connection interface comprises one or more data terminals and the connection interface is configured to control transfer of data via the connection interface, wherein preferably the connection interface includes an inter- integrated circuit, I2C, interface (col 4 ln 34-52, col 10 ln 25-34).
RE 15, a system (100) comprising: an aerosol generation device (110); and a first extension unit (201), comprising: a first connection interface (226), at a first end of the extension unit (201), that is connectable to the aerosol generation device (11); and means for enabling at least one additional functionality of the aerosol generation device, further to aerosol generation, when connected to the aerosol generation device, wherein the first connection interface comprises one or more power terminals and at least one of a magnitude of power supply and a direction of power supply by the first connection interface is controlled by the aerosol generation device, when connected to the aerosol generation device, and wherein the first extension unit is connected to the connection interface of the power supply unit (col 4 ln 13-52, col 5 ln 30-52, col 8 ln 59-col 9 ln 16).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Lui et al (CN 207490532) discloses a modular expansion system comprising a mobile power supply module and a function expansion module. One or more function expansion modules magnetically attach to the mobile power supply module and the user can the system with different functions in different application scenes.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christle I. Marshall whose telephone number is (571) 270-3086. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday – Friday 7:30AM - 4:00PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steven Paik can be reached on (571) 272-2404. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Christle I Marshall/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
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