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 .
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 05/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments on page 7, applicants argue “Johnson does not disclose, inter alia, "ceiling sensor being positioned within the location at a threshold distance to a ceiling fan," as recited in independent claims 1, 11, and 19. The Office Action maps this claim recitation to Johnson's high-elevation sensor 140; however, Johnson merely identifies broad, optional sensor location”. Examiner respectfully disagree because applicants further recite that Johnson merely identifies broad, optional sensor location. It’s not merely it does teaches sensor and location (FIG. 3 elements 140, see further 040-0055) and an ordinary skill in the art could change the location if need. USPGPUB 2016/0018119 paragraph 0069-0086, FIG. 3-10 teaches independent claims too.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-20 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Johnson et al. USPGPUB 2017/0370366 (hereinafter “Johnson”).
As to claim 1, Johnson teaches a method comprising: receiving, by a device (FIG. 3 element 160), ceiling sensor data from a ceiling sensor (FIG. 3 element 140) at a location, the ceiling sensor being positioned within the location at a threshold distance to a ceiling fan (paragraph 0051-0052 “high-elevation sensor(s) (140) may be located on fan (110), ceiling, or elsewhere in a room. Low-elevation sensor(s) (130) may be located at or near the level in which the room will be occupied”), the ceiling sensor data indicating a current ceiling temperature in relation to a ceiling of the location (paragraph 0042-0043 “sensors (such as for example, at least one low-elevation sensor (130), at least one high-elevation sensor (140), and/or one or more thermostats (1110) adapted to sense temperature; see FIG. 8), at least one occupancy sensor (150), at least one controller (160), at least one HVAC system (200) or unit, and optionally at least one external sensor (180) as shown in FIG. 3”); identifying, by the device, a setpoint temperature for the location (paragraph 0047 and 0053 “determined by controller (160) in exemplary thermal comfort control system (100) described above, other configurations of a thermal comfort control system (100) may allow for an occupant to choose between multiple comfort control settings. The comfort control settings may include, among other settings: “Occupied Heating” mode, “Unoccupied Heating” mode, “Occupied Cooling” mode, and “Unoccupied Cooling” mode. Each setting may have a programmable temperature set range associated with it, as well as the option to operate fan (110) as a part of a sequence of operations of HVAC system (200), both in response to the temperature being outside the relevant set range”); identifying, by the device, an operation mode, the operation mode corresponding to a cooling operation to be performed by the ceiling fan (paragraph 0046-0048 “determined by controller (160) in exemplary thermal comfort control system (100) described above, other configurations of a thermal comfort control system (100) may allow for an occupant to choose between multiple comfort control settings” and paragraph 0056-0058); determining, by the device, climate conditions in the location (paragraph 0053 “determine when the temperature is outside the relevant set range and also to identify temperature differentials that may exist throughout a room or space. The processor may also include control logic for executing certain control procedures in order to effectuate an appropriate control response based upon the information (temperature, air speed, relative humidity, etc.) communicated from sensors (130, 140, 150, 180, 190) and the setting automatically chosen by controller (160) or manually chosen by the occupant”); determining, by the device, based on the climate conditions, operational characteristics of the operation mode, the operational characteristics corresponding to a spin rate of the ceiling fan during execution of the operation mode (paragraph 0052-0054 “determine when the temperature is outside the relevant set range and also to identify temperature differentials that may exist throughout a room or space. The processor may also include control logic for executing certain control procedures”); and executing, by the device, the operation mode according to the operational characteristics thereby causing the ceiling fan to perform the cooling operation at the spin rate (paragraph 0053-0054 “determine when the temperature is outside the relevant set range and also to identify temperature differentials that may exist throughout a room or space. The processor may also include control logic for executing certain control procedures in order to effectuate an appropriate control response based upon the information (temperature, air speed, relative humidity, etc.) communicated from sensors (130, 140, 150, 180, 190) and the setting automatically chosen by controller (160) or manually chosen by the occupant. An appropriate control response may be carried out through commands communicated from controller (160) to fan(s) (110) and/or HVAC system (200) (or thermostat (1110)) based on the control procedures. In some settings, varying fan speed as a function of sensed temperature and humidity may assist in avoiding condensation on objects within the same room as fan(s) (110); and/or may provide other effects”).
As to claim 2, Johnson teaches further comprising: determining a heat transfer variables for a user at the location; determining an air flow velocity for the cooling operation; executing a control algorithm based on the heat transfer variables and the air flow velocity; and determining the spin rate based on execution of the control algorithm (paragraph 0054-0055).
As to claim 3, Johnson teaches wherein the spin rate corresponds to an amount of power provided to the ceiling fan, the amount of power determined via execution of the control algorithm (paragraph 0052-0054).
As to claim 4, Johnson teaches wherein the climate conditions in the location correspond a humidity measurement currently at the location (paragraph 0054).
As to claim 5, Johnson teaches further comprising: collecting, via at least one sensor at the location, occupancy data; analyzing the occupancy data; and determining, based on the analysis, whether the location currently has an occupant (paragraph 0066-0068).
As to claim 6, Johnson teaches further comprising: bypassing operation of the ceiling fan when the location is determined to be absent an occupant (paragraph 0067-0068).
As to claim 7, Johnson teaches wherein the execution of the ceiling fan according to the operation mode and operational characteristics is performed when the location is determined to include an occupant (paragraph 0067-0069).
As to claim 8, Johnson teaches further comprising: determining the operation mode based on the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature, wherein the cooling operation corresponds to a temperature differential between the current ceiling temperature and the setpoint temperature (paragraph 0046-0048).
As to claim 9, Johnson teaches wherein the setpoint temperature corresponding to a temperature provided by a thermostat at the location (paragraph 0079-0080).
As to claim 10, Johnson teaches wherein the location comprises a definable physical area for which the ceiling fan is positioned (FIG. 3 and paragraph 0043-0052).
As to claims 11-18 , are related to claim 1-8 with similar limitations also rejected by same rational.
As to claim 19, is related to claim 1 with similar limitations also rejected by same rational.
As to claim 20, is related to claim 2 with similar limitations also rejected by same rational.
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Steiner USPGPUB 20200041634 A1 teaches a control device for a ceiling fan may have a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan, an occupancy sensing circuit, and a control circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to a detected occupancy or vacancy condition. The control circuit may process the signals generated by the occupancy sensing circuit to eliminate the effects of vibrations and/or wobbling of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may control the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to an accelerometer to minimize the magnitude of the wobble of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may be configured to learn a preferred rotational speed for the motor. The control circuit may also be configured to control the rotational speed of the motor to affect a thermal comfort level of an occupant (paragraph 0020-0071 and FIG. 1 teaches all the limiations).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZIAUL KARIM whose telephone number is (571)270-3279. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on 571 272 4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZIAUL KARIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
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