Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/502,090

ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CHARGING METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Nov 06, 2023
Priority
Jan 13, 2023 — TW 112101529
Examiner
PACHECO, ALEXIS BOATENG
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
781 granted / 999 resolved
+18.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
1049
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
79.8%
+39.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.0%
-30.0% vs TC avg
§112
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 999 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 . Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1 – 17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 – 10 of U.S. Patent No. 11329499. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims of the instant application are covered by the reference claims. Current Application: 18502090 US Patent: 11329499 Claim 1: An electron device, comprising: a connection interface; a boost-buck charger, coupled with the connection interface to provide a system voltage; a voltage converter, coupled with the boost-buck charger to generate a first charging voltage based on the system voltage; a boost-buck circuit, coupled with the connection interface and the boost-buck charger, wherein the boost-buck circuit includes a boost-buck converter; a power source control chip, coupled with the connection interface, the voltage converter and the boost-buck circuit, wherein when the connection interface is coupled with an external device, the power source control chip communicates with the external device through a power control protocol, and according to a charging requirement of the external device enables the boost-buck converter to generate a second charging voltage greater than the first charging voltage based on the system voltage; and a controller, coupled with the boost-buck charger, the boost-buck circuit and the power source control chip, and according to the charging requirement of the external device deciding to provide the first charging voltage or the second charging voltage to the external device. Claim 1: A power system, configured to connect to at least one external device, and the power system comprising: a battery; a first port, electrically connected to the battery through a first charging/discharging path; a first converter, disposed on the first charging/discharging path; a second port, electrically connected to the battery through a second charging/discharging path, and electrically connected to the first port through a third charging/discharging path; a second converter, disposed on the second charging/discharging path; a switch, disposed on the third charging/discharging path; a power controller, electrically connected to the first port and the second port for establishing a power transmission mode with the at least one external device; and a control unit, electrically connected to the switch and the power controller, and configured to control the first converter, the second converter, and the switch according to the power transmission mode, wherein the third charging/discharging path has one end connected to the first charging/discharging path between the first port and the first converter, and another end connected to the second charging/discharging path between the second port and the second converter. Claim 10: A charging method suitable for an electronic device including a connection interface and a boost-buck circuit, wherein the boost-buck circuit includes a boost-buck converter, the charging method includes following steps: generating a first charging voltage based on a system voltage; and when the connection interface being coupled with an external device, communicating with the external device through a power control protocol, and according to a charging requirement of the external device, enabling the boost-buck converter to generate a second charging voltage greater than the first charging voltage based on the system voltage, and deciding to provide the first charging voltage or the second charging voltage to the external device. Claim 1: A power system, configured to connect to at least one external device, and the power system comprising: a battery; a first port, electrically connected to the battery through a first charging/discharging path; a first converter, disposed on the first charging/discharging path; a second port, electrically connected to the battery through a second charging/discharging path, and electrically connected to the first port through a third charging/discharging path; a second converter, disposed on the second charging/discharging path; a switch, disposed on the third charging/discharging path; a power controller, electrically connected to the first port and the second port for establishing a power transmission mode with the at least one external device; and a control unit, electrically connected to the switch and the power controller, and configured to control the first converter, the second converter, and the switch according to the power transmission mode, wherein the third charging/discharging path has one end connected to the first charging/discharging path between the first port and the first converter, and another end connected to the second charging/discharging path between the second port and the second converter. Regarding claims 2 – 9, the claims are dependent upon claim 1, please see the rejection above. Regarding claims 11-16, the claims are dependent upon claim 10, please see the rejection above. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Us 20200036220 A1 Power Management Circuit Wu; Tsung-Han Et Al. Us 20150069958 A1 Battery Charger With Buck-Boost Operation Yang; Liyu Et Al. Us 9831672 B2 Power Delivery In A Multiple-Output System Luh; Louis Et Al. Us 9350185 B2 Power Output Distribution Longdon; Russell T. Et Al. Us 12341362 B1 Adaptive Laptop Charging Ng; Hubert Benjamin Ki Durn Et Al. Us 20160028252 A1 Multi-Standard Battery Charging Bajpai; Pradeep Kumar Et Al. Us 20230216352 A1 Wireless Charger Adapter Moschini; Roberto Us 20180013303 A1 Battery Fast-Charging System Wu; Xuelin Et Al. Us 12438381 B2 Power Sharing Multiport Chargers Wang; Zhiqiang Et Al. Us 20140266011 A1 Multiphase Charger Mehta; Narendra Singh Et Al. Us 20180233937 A1 Adaptive Buck Converter Yang; Ta-Yung Et Al. Us 12278508 B2 Multiple Output Charger Chen; Yen-Mo Et Al. Us 20200403426 A1 Adapter Power For Multiport Systems Chen; Yen-Mo Et Al. Us 20170201107 A1 Adaptive Buck Converter Yang; Ta-Yung Et Al. Us 10230244 B2 Multi-Bay Modular Battery Charging System Zhang; Yizhuo Et Al. Us 10199837 B2 Method For Charging Battery Jung; Ku Chul Et Al.. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXIS B PACHECO whose telephone number is (571)272-5979. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 - 5:30. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Julian Huffman can be reached at 571-272-2147. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. ALEXIS BOATENG PACHECO Primary Examiner Art Unit 2859 /ALEXIS B PACHECO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 06, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+12.6%)
2y 10m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 999 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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