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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Invention I, directed to claims 1-11 in the reply filed on March 3, 2026, is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that no burden exists because the effects of the subject matter is substantially similar. This is not found persuasive because the devices of inventions I and II appear to be measuring potentials of different points leading to possible offset measurements and different measurements of potential.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. Claims 12-20 are withdrawn as non-elected claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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 1-11 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
In particular, claims 1-11 include the use of limitations such as “connector potential” but describes measurement at a single point. It is unclear what the voltage at the measurement point is being compared to for potential to be measured.
Further, claim 4 includes the limitation “the evaluation unit for determining the potential difference between the connector potential and the mating connector potential”. The limitation lacks antecedent basis. Clarification/correction is required.
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.
(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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Pub. 2017/0237205 (“Fuehrer”).
Claim 1
Fuehrer discloses the connector having an output unit for connecting to an evaluation unit for determining a temperature of a contact point, the connector comprising: a connector contact element for electrically contacting the connector with a mating connector contact element of a mating connector at the contact point (plug connector 4 and mating element 44), connector tap for tapping a connector potential at the connector contact element, mating connector contact probe for determining a mating connector potential of the mating connector contact element (sensor elements 431B-E), wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine the temperature of the contact point from a potential difference between the connector potential and the mating connector potential (paragraph [0054]).
Claim 2
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, wherein the mating connector contact probe comprises a head portion for releasable contacting the mating connector contact element, the head portion for tapping the mating connector potential (Figs. 4A-4D).
Claim 3
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 2, wherein the head portion comprises a spring member, a sliding member, a brush member, or a bracing member (paragraph [0046], bracing by plugged engagement).
Claim 4
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, further comprising the evaluation unit for determining the potential difference between the connector potential and the mating connector potential (paragraph [0053], difference in intensity based on difference in potential).
Claim 5
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 4, wherein the evaluation unit comprises an input for receiving at least one of a value of a current level through the connector contact element, a connector temperature at the connector contact element, and a mating connector temperature at the mating connector contact element (sensor elements 431B-E).
Claim 6
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for determining at least one of a connector temperature and a mating connector temperature (paragraph [0042]).
Claim 7
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit for outputting a signal, wherein the signal is based on at least the temperature of the contact point, the potential difference, the connector potential, the mating connector potential, a connector temperature at the connector contact element, and a mating connector temperature at the mating connector contact element (paragraph [0026, 0053], sensor potentials from sensors 431 converted to intensity signals for thermal camera image).
Claim 8
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector tap is disposed between a connector tip of the connector contact element and the contact point and wherein the mating connector contact probe is disposed between a mating connector tip of the mating connector contact element and the contact point (Figs. 4A-4D).
Claim 9
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector contact element comprises a pin and the connector tap is guided in the pin (paragraph [0046], contact pins).
Claim 10
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector contact element comprises a socket and the mating connector contact probe is passed through an opening in the socket (Figs. 4A-4D).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Pub. 2017/0237205 (“Fuehrer”) in view of U.S. Patent Pub. 2016/0291059 (“Ausserlechner”).
Claim 11
Fuehrer discloses the connector according to claim 1.
Fuehrer does not appear to explicitly disclose further comprising a potential separation for galvanically separating a high-voltage circuit for tapping the connector potential and for determining the mating connector potential from a low-voltage circuit, the low-voltage circuit for evaluating the potential difference, in particular wherein the potential separation comprises an isolation amplifier.
Ausserlechner discloses a current sensor including mating connector with high and low voltage (paragraphs [0071-0072]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have incorporated a potential separation for galvanically separating a high-voltage circuit for tapping the connector potential and for determining the mating connector potential from a low-voltage circuit, the low-voltage circuit for evaluating the potential difference, in particular wherein the potential separation comprises an isolation amplifier, as disclosed by Ausserlechner, into the invention of Fuehrer, for the purpose of ensuring isolated wiring (Ausserlechner, paragraphs [0071-0072]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERICA S Y LIN whose telephone number is (571)270-7911. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-4, TW M,W.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Douglas X Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 431-0716. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERICA S LIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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