Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/593,916

POOL ASSOCIATED PLATFORMS AND POOL CLEANING ROBOTS AND ACTIVE RECEIVER FOR ENHANCED DETECTION IN WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 03, 2024
Examiner
LEE, SEUNG H
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Maytronics Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
1064 granted / 1215 resolved
+27.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1226
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.0%
-37.0% vs TC avg
§103
34.9%
-5.1% vs TC avg
§102
34.9%
-5.1% vs TC avg
§112
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1215 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Objections Claims 1, 8, 9 are objected to because of the following informalities: Re claim 1, line 1: The applicant discloses a phase “a poll associated platform”, however, the examiner will consider as –a pool associated platform. Appropriate correction is required. The examiner also advises the applicant to review claims and a specification to correct such typographic errors. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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) 1-3, 6-10, 13, and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ben Dov (WO 2023/223187, cited by the applicant). Re claim 1: Ben Dov teaches a wireless power transfer system for wirelessly charging a poll associated platform (paragraph 0111) comprising a wireless charging station comprising a power transmitting unit (TX) configured to transmit wireless power by oscillating a TX coil current and detecting a power receiving unit (RX) by analyzing decay characteristics of the TX coil current (paragraphs 0107-0108, fig. 25), wherein the poll associated platform having a water sealed compartment comprising a battery electrically connected to a power receiving unit (RX) comprising an RX coil (paragraph 0129), wherein the power receiving unit (RX) further comprises a decay frequency circuit operatively coupled to the RX coil, said decay frequency circuit is configured to (a) detect when the power transmitting unit (TX) transmits wireless power in proximity to the power receiving unit (RX), (b) actively oscillate the RX coil at a frequency matching the TX coil frequency, in response to said detection, thereby influencing the decay characteristics of the TX coil current to enable more reliable detection by the power transmitting unit (TX) that the RX unit is present on or near the wireless charging station (paragraph 0107) (see figs. 23-26; paragraphs 0100-0133). Re claim 2: The wireless power transfer system further comprising a proximity detector circuit to detect when the power transmitting unit (TX) transmits wireless power in proximity by detecting a marker signal transmitted by the TX (i.e., transferring the power after receiving a predefined signal serving as a marker signal, paragraph 0122). Re claim 3: The wireless power transfer system further comprising a proximity detector to detect when the power transmitting unit (TX) transmits wireless power in proximity by detecting an increase in voltage, current, or power induced in the RX coil (paragraph 0106). re claim 6: Wherein influencing the decay characteristics of the TX coil current enables detection by amplitude drop thresholds over time (paragraph 0106). Re claim 7: Wherein influencing the decay characteristics of the TX coil current enables more consistent decay signature profiles analyzed by the power transmitting unit to detect the presence of the RX coil in proximity (paragraphs 0106-0107). Re claim 8: Ben Dov teaches a method for wireless power transfer to a poll associated platform comprising within a power transmitting unit (TX) of the poll associated platform charging station (a) transmitting wireless power by oscillating a current in a TX coil (158), (b) detecting presence of a power receiving unit (RX) by analyzing decay characteristics of the TX coil current when oscillation is paused, within a power receiving unit (RX) containing an RX coil in a water sealed compartment of the poll associated platform coil (paragraph 0129): (c) detecting when wireless power signals are transmitted in proximity of the RX unit, (d) actively oscillating the RX coil at a decay frequency in response to detection of the proximate wireless power signals (paragraphs 0107-0108, fig. 25), whereby actively oscillating the RX coil influences the decay characteristics of the TX coil current, enabling more reliable detection by the TX unit that the RX unit is present near a wireless charging station based on the altered decay characteristics such as reduction of the oscillation (paragraph 0107) (see figs. 23-26; paragraphs 0100-0133). Re claim 9: Ben Dov teaches a method for enabling enhanced detection in a wireless power receiving unit (RX) containing an RX coil (168), the method comprising (a) at a wireless charging station, detecting, by a proximity detector circuit, when wireless power transmission signals from a power transmitting unit (TX) of the wireless charging station are present in proximity of the RX coil, (b) in a water sealed compartment of a poll associated platform, in response to said detection of proximate TX signals, activating an oscillation circuit operatively coupled to the RX coil in the water sealed compartment, (c) actively oscillating the RX coil utilizing the activated oscillation circuit, at a frequency matched to a frequency of a TX coil in the transmitting unit, wherein actively oscillating the RX coil is timed to influence decay characteristics of a current in the TX coil, thereby enabling more reliable detection by the TX that the RX is present near the wireless charging station due to distinct patterns caused in the TX coil current decay shape (paragraph 0107) (see figs. 23-26; paragraphs 0100-0133). Re claim 10: Wherein the RX coil is located within a distance of less than 10 millimeter from the TX coil (paragraph 0121). Re claim 13: Wherein influencing decay characteristics of the TX coil current enables detection by amplitude drop thresholds over time in the TX circuit (paragraph 0106). Re claim 15: Ben Dov teaches a wireless power receiving apparatus comprising an RX coil configured to receive wireless power signals (paragraph 0055), a proximity detector circuit operatively connected to the RX coil configured to detect when wireless power transmission signals from a power transmitting unit (TX) are present in proximity of the RX coil (paragraph 0107), a frequency decay circuit operatively connected to RX coil, said frequency decay circuit configured to: (a) activate in response to detection of proximate TX signals by the proximity detector circuit, (b) actively oscillate the RX coil at a frequency matched to a TX coil frequency in the TX, wherein activation and active oscillation of the frequency decay circuit is configured to influence decay characteristics of a TX coil current in the TX, thereby enabling more reliable detection by the TX that the wireless power receiving apparatus is present near a wireless charging station due to distinct patterns caused in the TX coil current decay shape (paragraphs 0107-0108)(see (see figs. 23-26; paragraphs 0100-0133). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4, 5, 11, 12, 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of prior art teaches the decay frequency matching between the TX coil and RX coil is achieved by making active decay to the RX coil, wherein the frequency matching between the TX coil and RX coil is achieved by tuning the variable oscillator frequency in the active oscillation circuitry to match the sensed TX coil decay frequency, and wherein influencing decay characteristics of the TX coil current induces repeatable perturbation patterns that are analyzed in the TX to reliably detect presence of the RX as set forth in the claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ben Don et al. (US 9758980) and Witelson et al. (US 11505960) teach a pool cleaning system and a pool cleaning robot Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEUNG H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2401. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4:00PM. 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, Steven Paik can be reached at 571-272-2404. 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. /SEUNG H LEE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 03, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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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
88%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+10.8%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1215 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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