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 .
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/23/2026 has been entered.
Claim 1-30 are pending for examination.
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.
Claim 30 is 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. The claim recite “…wherein the input part is configured to be electrically connected only to the first electric power source at a first time, and electrically connected only to the second electric power source at a second time…”, however, it is unclear/vague if “first time” and “second time” refer to a same time (i.e., instant time) or if the aforementioned limitations refer to a time different from each other? Thus resulting in unclear scope of the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 and 20-29 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
As to Claim 1: In view of the limitations the closest prior art as shown in including the prior works of the assignee/inventor does not explicitly describe or reasonably suggest or render obvious in combination with all the given limitations an electric device of a human-powered vehicle, comprising: an input part configured to be electrically connected to an electric power source; an electric actuator configured to move a movable member; an actuator driver electrically connected to the electric actuator to control the electric actuator; a converter circuit configured to convert a first voltage to a second voltage different from the first voltage, the converter circuit being electrically connected in series with the input part and the actuator driver; a wireless communicator configured to wirelessly receive a control signal to control the electric actuator to move the movable member; an electronic controller electrically connected to the actuator driver to control the electric actuator via the actuator driver; an additional converter circuit configured to convert a third voltage to a fourth voltage, wherein the fourth voltage is lower than the second voltage as persuasively amended and argued by the RCE filed on 06/02/2026. In the examiner’s opinion, the claims are now deemed to be directed to a non-obvious improvement over electric device of human-powered vehicle.
As to Claim 27: In view of the limitations the closest prior art as shown in including the prior works of the assignee/inventor does not explicitly describe or reasonably suggest or render obvious in combination with all the given limitations a derailleur of a human-powered vehicle, comprising: an input part configured to be electrically connected to a first electric power source and a second electric power source; a base member mountable to the human-powered vehicle; a movable member movable relative to the base member; a link member movably coupling the base member and the movable member; an electric actuator configured to move the movable member; an actuator driver electrically connected to the electric actuator to control the electric actuator; and a converter circuit configured to convert a first voltage to a second voltage different from the first voltage, the converter circuit being electrically connected in series with the input part and the actuator driver, wherein the second electric power source is at least partially provided to at least one of the link member or the movable member as persuasively amended and argued by the RCE filed on 06/02/2026. In the examiner’s opinion, the claims are now deemed to be directed to a non-obvious improvement over electric device of human-powered vehicle.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GABRIEL T AGARED whose telephone number is (571)270-1981. The examiner can normally be reached 8-5 (Mon- Thur).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eduardo Colon-Santana can be reached at (571) 272-2060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GABRIEL AGARED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
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