Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 2-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding Claim 2
The new claim limitation “generated by selectively connecting an electrical element to the secondary coil at a characteristic frequency” is new matter as it was not previously disclosed. The new claim limitation attempts to combine the embodiments of Figure 6 and Figure 10A into a single embodiment which was not previously disclosed.
Figure 6 teaches said claimed “electrical element” however the means of which a signal is produced by said electrical element is not taught as “at a characteristic frequency” and as claimed. Instead, said electrical element performs as such:
[0129] The signal transmission circuit 2122 includes at least one electrical element 2126, selected such that when it is connected to the secondary coil 2320, the resonant frequency f.sub.R of the system increases. The transmission circuit 2122 is configured to selectively connect the electrical element 2126 to the secondary coil 2320. As noted above, any decrease in either the inductance L or the capacitance C increases the resonant frequency of the system. Optionally, the electrical element 2126 may be have a low resistance for example, with a resistance say under 50 ohms and Optionally about 1 ohm.
[0130] Typically, the signal receiving circuit 2124 includes a voltage peak detector 2128 configured to detect large increases in the transmission voltage. In systems where the voltage transmission frequency f.sub.t is higher than the resonant frequency f.sub.R of the system, such large increases in transmission voltage may be caused by an increase in the resonant frequency f.sub.R thereby indicating that the electrical element 2126 has been connected to the secondary coil 2320. Thus the transmission circuit 2122 may be used to send a signal pulse to the receiving circuit 2124 and a coded signal may be constructed from such pulses.
[0131] According to some embodiments, the transmission circuit 2122 may also include a modulator (not shown) for modulating a bit-rate signal with the input signal S.sub.in. The electrical element 2126 may then be connected to the secondary inductive coil 2320 according to the modulated signal. The receiving circuit 2124 may include a demodulator (not shown) for demodulating the modulated signal. For example the voltage peak detector 2128 may be connected to a correlator for cross-correlating the amplitude of the primary voltage with the bit-rate signal thereby producing the output signal S.sub.out.
[0132] In other embodiments, a plurality of electrical elements 2126 may be provided which may be selectively connected to induce a plurality of voltage peaks of varying, sizes in the amplitude of the primary voltage. The size of the voltage peak detected by the peak detector 2128 may be used to transfer multiple signals.
Notable missing is any mention of any use of “characteristic frequency” as claimed. Furthermore, the invention requires a plurality of electrical elements to accomplish any of voltage peaks in general whereas the claim only provides a single electrical element. Also noting that although the specification supports a plurality of electrical elements used to produce “a plurality of voltage peaks of varying sizes in the amplitude of the primary voltage” configured to be used by a peak detector “to transfer multiple signals”, it still lacks a teaching of any of a “characteristic frequency”.
The embodiment of Figure 10A teaches use of a characteristic frequency however teaches use of an ancillary load and not the electrical element of the embodiment of Figure 3.
[0021] Optionally, the inductive power receiver further comprises a signal transmission circuit operable to generate the at least one instruction signal. The transmission circuit may comprise at least one ancillary load selectively connectable to the secondary inductor by a switching unit, wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the ancillary load to the secondary inductor with a characteristic frequency thereby producing a pulse of detectable peaks in primary voltage or primary current having the characteristic frequency.
[0201] Such an identification signal (ID signal) may serve to switch the inductive power transmitter to transmission mode as described above in relation to FIG. 11A. For example, an induced voltage of about 8V and producing a current of about 3 milliamps and lasting about 5 milliseconds or so, may power a microcontroller associated with the regulator to activate the sending of an ID signal to the inductive power outlet. In one embodiment, a transmission circuit 1122 (FIG. 10) may be used to produce a modulated peak pulse having a characteristic frequency selected from 500 hertz, 1 kilohertz, 8 kilohertz or the like. Variously, the inductive power receiver may select an ID signal such that predetermined transmission parameters may be selected for operating the inductive power outlet.
Regarding Claim 10
Claim 10 suffers from the same 112 issue as claim 2 above albeit via said method steps.
Both claims 2 and 10 suffer from the broader lack of teaching of an “electrical element” selectively connected to the secondary coil at a characteristic frequency. The characteristic frequency is produced by an ancillary load connected to a switching unit (1122 FIG10A) connected to the secondary inductor. The ancillary load is not taught as “selectively connected to the secondary inductive coil” but rather if said ancillary load is used it is modulated onto the secondary inductor (see [0175]).
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 2-17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding Claim 2
The claim limitation “the signal receiving circuit is configured to receive at least one coded signal from the inductive power receiver generated by selectively connecting an electrical element to the secondary inductive coil at a characteristic frequency” is unintelligible and confusing as to whether said “electrical element” is positively recited or not. The ways and means by which a signal is created is not germane to patentability. Therefore, the structure of the “electrical element” should be positively recited to be given patentable weight or removed from the claim to eliminate confusion as to what its presence in the claim is intended to add to the apparatus claim.
The claims will be examined as best understood.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-17 would be allowed is re-written to overcome the 112 issues above as follows:
2. An inductive power outlet comprising a primary inductive coil, for wirelessly powering an inductive power receiver comprising a secondary inductive coil, the inductive power outlet comprising:
the primary inductive coil connectable to a power supply;
a driver configured to provide an oscillating voltage across the primary inductive coil; and
a transmission circuit comprising an ancillary load connected between the secondary coil and a switching unit, said ancillary load comprising one or more resistor, capacitor and inductor, said transmission circuit further comprising a signal generator configured to modulate the switching unit to produce a coded signal via said ancillary load, said coded signal having a characteristic frequency;
a signal receiving circuit connected to the primary inductive coil, wherein the signal receiving circuit is configured to receive [at] the [least one] coded signal from the inductive power receiver [generated by selectively connecting an electrical element to the secondary inductive coil at a characteristic frequency connecting an electrical clement to the secondary inductive coil], wherein the signal receiving circuit is further configured to identify an instruction of the at least one coded signal based on a pulse train of peak pulses in primary voltage or primary current, the pulse train of peak pulses being produced by the selective connection of the electrical element to the secondary inductive coil at the characteristic frequency, wherein the characteristic frequency is an identifiable characteristic frequency of the pulse train of peak pulses, wherein the instruction is identified based on an the identifiable characteristic frequency of the pulse train of peak pulses.
10. A method for use in an inductive power outlet comprising a primary inductive coil, for wirelessly powering an inductive power receiver comprising a secondary inductive coil, the method comprising:
providing, by a driver, an oscillating voltage across the primary inductive coil; and
receiving, by a signal receiving circuit connected to the primary inductive coil, at least one coded signal from the inductive power receiver generated by a transmission circuit comprising an ancillary load connected between the secondary coil and a switching unit, said ancillary load comprising one or more resistor, capacitor and inductor, said transmission circuit further comprising a signal generator modulating the switching unit at a characteristic frequency producing said coded signal having said characteristic frequency [selectively connecting an electrical element to the secondary inductive coil at a characteristic frequency connecting an electrical element to the secondary inductive coil]; and
identifying, by the signal receiving circuit, an instruction of the at least one coded signal based on a pulse train of peak pulses in primary voltage or primary current, the pulse train of peak pulses being produced by the selective connection of the electrical element to the secondary inductive coil at the characteristic frequency, wherein the characteristic frequency is an identifiable characteristic frequency of the pulse train of peak pulses, wherein the instruction is identified based on an the identifiable characteristic frequency of the pulse train of peak pulses.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL CAVALLARI whose telephone number is (571)272-8541. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 0900-18:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Rexford Barnie can be reached at (571)272-7492. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL CAVALLARI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
