DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
Claim(s) 13 are objected to because there is no claim 12 and two claims are labeled as claim 13. Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Per claim 1, “the pre-charge resistor connected to . . . the first positive conductor . . . , the third positive conductor, the fourth positive conductor, the first negative conductor, the second negative conductor, the third negative conductor, and the fourth negative conductor.”
The figures show only one embodiment and not the other claimed embodiments.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - and 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over JPH08162221 (“Tabata”).
Regarding claim 1 Tabata discloses a connector comprising (see figure 1):
a first member (labeled M1 below, including elements 5a and associated conductive lines labeled A1-D1 in annotated figure 1 below) electrically connected to a voltage source 1,
the first member includes a first positive conductor (labeled P1 below), and
a second positive conductor (labeled P2) and
a first negative conductor (labeled N1);
a second negative conductor (labeled N2);
a second member (labeled M2, including 5b and associated lines) electrically connected to a load 2 that requires pre-charging,
the second member includes a third positive conductor (labeled P3) and
a fourth positive conductor (labeled P4) connected in parallel and
a third negative conductor (labeled N3) and
a fourth negative conductor (labeled N4) connected in parallel; and
a pre-charge resistor 4 disposed within one of the first member and the second member, the pre-charge resistor connected to one of the first positive conductor, the second positive conductor, the third positive conductor, the fourth positive conductor, the first negative conductor, the second negative conductor, the third negative conductor, and the fourth negative conductor,
wherein the first member is configured to connect to the second member and to provide electrical power from the high-voltage source to the load.
Regarding the limitation that the connector and voltage source are “high voltage,” it would have been obvious to select the various components such that the components would be suitable for “high voltage” as a matter of engineering design choice. Note that the voltage source and components as taught in Tabata can be considered to be implicitly or inherently “high” voltage components.
PNG
media_image1.png
702
1008
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 8, Tabata discloses an electric vehicle (¶ 0001) comprising:
a high-voltage battery (¶ 0001, 0002);
a load 2 that requires pre-charging; and
a high-voltage connector (see discussion regarding claim 1 for identification of components) comprising:
a first member (labeled M1 above, including elements 5a and associated conductive lines labeled A1-D1 in annotated figure 1 above) electrically connected to the high-voltage battery, the first member includes
a first positive conductor (labeled P1 above) and
a second positive conductor (labeled P2) and
a first negative conductor (labeled N1) and
a second negative conductor (labeled N2);
a second member (labeled M2, including 5b and associated lines) electrically connected to the load 2, the second member includes
a third positive conductor (labeled P3) and
a fourth positive conductor (labeled P4) connected in parallel and
a third negative conductor (labeled N3) and
a fourth negative conductor (labeled N4) connected in parallel; and
a pre-charge resistor 4 disposed within one of the first member and the second member, the pre-charge resistor connected to one of the first positive conductor, the second positive conductor, the third positive conductor, the fourth positive conductor, the first negative conductor, the second negative conductor, the third negative conductor, and the fourth negative conductor,
wherein the high-voltage connector is configured provide electrical power from the high-voltage battery to the load.
Regarding the limitation that the connector and battery are “high voltage,” it would have been obvious to select the various components such that the components would be suitable for “high voltage” as a matter of engineering design choice. Note that the voltage source and components as taught in Tabata can be considered to be implicitly or inherently “high” voltage components.
Regarding claim 15, Tabata discloses electrical connector comprising (see discussions regarding claims 1 and 8 for identification of elements):
a first member (labeled M1 above) electrically connected to a high-voltage source 1, the first member includes a first positive conductor (P1 above) and a second positive conductor (p2) and a first negative conductor (N1);
a second member (labeled M2 above) electrically connected to a load 2 that requires pre-charging, the second member includes a third positive conductor (P3) and a fourth positive conductor (p4) and a third negative conductor (n3); and
a pre-charge resistor 4 disposed within one of the first member and the second member, the pre-charge resistor connected in series between the second positive conductor and the high-voltage source,
wherein the first member is configured to connect to the second member and to provide electrical power from the high-voltage source to the load.
Regarding the limitation that the components are “high voltage,” it would have been obvious to select the various components such that the components would be suitable for “high voltage” as a matter of engineering design choice. Note that the voltage source and components as taught in Tabata can be considered to be implicitly or inherently “high” voltage components.
Claims 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tabata in view of Lin et al. US 6310410.
Regarding claim 2, Tabata discloses that the B and C lines connect before the A and D lines (see figure 2) but not necessarily that the first positive conductor extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor extends from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein the pre-charge resistor is connected to the second positive conductor. Lin discloses a connector where first positive conductor 74 extends from the first member 12 by a first distance (see figure 3) and the second positive conductor 72 extends from the first member 12 by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) and wherein the pre-charge resistor 76 is connected to the second positive conductor 72. It would have been obvious to likewise configure the Tabata first positive conductor to extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor to extend from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) as taught in Lin. Such a modification would have been a matter of engineering design choice given that the result is the same in that the line with the resistor must be closed prior to the line without the resistor being closed in order for the device to function as intended.
Per claim 3, Tabata discloses that the third positive conductor extends from the second member by a third distance and the fourth positive conductor extends from the second member by a fourth distance, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 9, Tabata discloses that the B and C lines connect before the A and D lines (see figure 2) but not necessarily that the first positive conductor extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor extends from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein the pre-charge resistor is connected to the second positive conductor. Lin discloses a connector where first positive conductor 74 extends from the first member 12 by a first distance (see figure 3) and the second positive conductor 72 extends from the first member 12 by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) and wherein the pre-charge resistor 76 is connected to the second positive conductor 72. It would have been obvious to likewise configure the Tabata first positive conductor to extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor to extend from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) as taught in Lin. Such a modification would have been a matter of engineering design choice given that the result is the same in that the line with the resistor must be closed prior to the line without the resistor being closed in order for the device to function as intended.
Per claim 10, Tabata discloses that the third positive conductor extends from the second member by a third distance and the fourth positive conductor extends from the second member by a fourth distance, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 16, Tabata discloses that the B and C lines connect before the A and D lines (see figure 2) but not necessarily that the first positive conductor extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor extends from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein the pre-charge resistor is connected to the second positive conductor. Lin discloses a connector where first positive conductor 74 extends from the first member 12 by a first distance (see figure 3) and the second positive conductor 72 extends from the first member 12 by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) and wherein the pre-charge resistor 76 is connected to the second positive conductor 72. It would have been obvious to likewise configure the Tabata first positive conductor to extends from the first member by a first distance and the second positive conductor to extend from the first member by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance (see gap 75) as taught in Lin. Such a modification would have been a matter of engineering design choice given that the result is the same in that the line with the resistor must be closed prior to the line without the resistor being closed in order for the device to function as intended.
Per claim 17, Tabata discloses that the third positive conductor extends from the second member by a third distance and the fourth positive conductor extends from the second member by a fourth distance, wherein the fourth distance is greater than the third distance (see figure 2).
Claims 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tabata in view of DE 20 2015 106121 (“Tridonic”). Regarding claim 4, Tabata does not disclose a switch. Tridonic discloses a first mechanically actuated switch (6, 9, 14, figures 1 and 2) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member. It would have been obvious to include such switches in the Tabata connectors. As disclosed in Tridonic, it would have been obvious locate switches on the first member between the voltage source (battery) 1 and the junction/node where lines a and b branch from the positive line and between the battery and the junction/node where lines c and d branch from the negative line. The reason for doing so would have been to eliminate live terminals from being exposed until the connectors are fully mated such that the terminals are not exposed, as was known in the art.
Regarding claim 5, as set out in claim 4, it would have been obvious to have the first mechanically actuated switch is connected in series with the pre-charge resistor.
Per claim 6, Tridonic discloses a second mechanically actuated switch (6 or 9) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member.
Regarding claim 11, Tabata does not disclose a switch. Tridonic discloses a first mechanically actuated switch (6, 9, 14, figures 1 and 2) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member. It would have been obvious to include such switches in the Tabata connectors. As disclosed in Tridonic, it would have been obvious locate switches on the first member between the voltage source (battery) 1 and the junction/node where lines a and b branch from the positive line and between the battery and the junction/node where lines c and d branch from the negative line. The reason for doing so would have been to eliminate live terminals from being exposed until the connectors are fully mated such that the terminals are not exposed, as was known in the art.
Regarding claim 12, as set out in claim 11, it would have been obvious to have the first mechanically actuated switch is connected in series with the pre-charge resistor.
Per claim 13, Tridonic discloses a second mechanically actuated switch (6 or 9) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member.
Regarding claim 18, Tabata does not disclose a switch. Tridonic discloses a first mechanically actuated switch (6, 9, 14, figures 1 and 2) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member. It would have been obvious to include such switches in the Tabata connectors. As disclosed in Tridonic, it would have been obvious locate switches on the first member between the voltage source (battery) 1 and the junction/node where lines a and b branch from the positive line and between the battery and the junction/node where lines c and d branch from the negative line. The reason for doing so would have been to eliminate live terminals from being exposed until the connectors are fully mated such that the terminals are not exposed, as was known in the art.
Regarding claim 19, as set out in claim 11, it would have been obvious to have the first mechanically actuated switch is connected in series with the pre-charge resistor.
Per claim 20, Tridonic discloses a second mechanically actuated switch (6 or 9) configured to be open when the first member is separated from the second member and to be closed by the first member connecting to the second member.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 and 14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROSS GUSHI whose telephone number is (571)272-2005. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday, 8:30 - 5:00.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached on 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ROSS N GUSHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834