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 .
DETAILED ACTION
The action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on 05/13/2024.
Claims 1-18 are pending, where claims 1 and 10 are independent.
Applicants did not submit any IDS.
Specification Objection
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
a) The same reference character 16 has been used for both the element “logic circuit 16” and “wi-fi 16” in the specification paragraph [0024] and onwards. Appropriate correction is required.
b) The element “the prior art” in para [024] is not clear to the examiner. Because applicants did not submit any IDS for any information. Appropriate correction or explanation is required.
c) The statement “FIGS. 2 and 5, a schematic and flow diagram” in para [025] would be only “schematic diagram”. Because they are not “a flow diagram”. Appropriate correction or explanation is required.
d) The reference characters "16" and "112" have both been used to designate the element “logic circuit” in paragraph [0033] and onwards. Appropriate correction is required.
e) The same reference character 16 has been used for both the element “logic circuit 16” and “logic sensor 16” in the specification paragraph [0033] and onwards. Appropriate correction is required.
f) The same reference character 18 has been used for both the element “bridge wi-fi 18” in Fig. 6 and “bridge wi-fi circuit 18” in the specification paragraph [0033] are not matching. Appropriate correction is required.
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 of this title, 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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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 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.
Claims 1-18 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lafian, et al. USPGPub No. 20200320860 A1in view of Redmond, et al. (USPGPub No. 20120215366 A1).
As to claim 1, Lafian discloses A wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system comprising: a plurality of sprinkler valve stations (Lafian [abstract] “irrigation sprinkler body cover with an integrated battery-powered decoder - wirelessly communicate with one or more apparatus - controller provides message data to a gateway regarding the control of irrigation valves - provides a power signal via wire to one or more proximally-located DC latching solenoid valves to control the irrigation valves according to the user input” see Fig. 1-18) wherein each station comprises:
a solar panel attached to a top surface of a lid to said station and [connected to a battery to charge said battery;] at least one power supply in communication with a logic circuit and powering said logic circuit, a bridge wi-fi, at least one ground and a solenoid valve connected to and operating a sprinkler (Lafian [0001-22] “irrigation sprinkler body cover with an integrated battery-powered decoder - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal - provides message data to a gateway - provides a power signal via wire to one or more proximally-located DC latching solenoid valves to control the irrigation valves according to the user input” [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, solar panel, battery, controller with multiple programs with gateway communication operate plurality of solenoid valves to control plurality of irrigation sprinklers obviously provides solar panel connected to a battery to charge said battery; at least one power supply in communication with a logic circuit and powering said logic circuit, a bridge wi-fi, at least one ground and a solenoid valve connected to and operating a sprinkler)
wherein said logic circuit produces a wi-fi signal in communication with said bridge wi-fi and said logic circuit stores time and date information and operational parameters to turn said solenoid valve to an on position and an off position; and
wherein the wi-fi signal produced by each station communicates with adjacent and non-adjacent stations to provide a wi-fi mesh network (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering - multiple programs to allow different watering frequencies for different types of plants, rain delay settings, input terminals for sensors - rain/freeze/soil moisture sensors, weather data, and remote operation - gateways distinct from routers or switches communicate using more than one protocol - gateway located centrally on a site communicates to remote, battery-powered decoders via LoRaWAN - communicates to the Internet via Cellular, Ethernet, or WiFi technology - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] “solar panel 10 affixed to the top surface of the plastic cap 11 - encloses a PCBA and lithium-ion polymer battery - latching solenoid(s) - wireless (LoRaWAN) gateway 17 - irrigation controller 18 - controller 24 connected to one or more 24 VAC solenoid valves 25, 26, 27 -wireless communication technology (e.g., LoRaWAN) - gateway 28 directly communicates with the mobile device 22 via BLUETOOTH or other wireless communication technology - connected to one or more battery-powered decoders 29, 30, 31 via LoRaWAN - turn control 9 VDC solenoid valves 32, 33, 34 - one or more 24 VAC relay switches to a gateway 28 - connected to one or more battery-powered decoders 29, 30, 31 via LoRaWAN - turn control 9 VDC solenoid valves 32, 33, 34” [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, LoRaWAN wireless, Wi-Fi technology, gateway to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides logic circuit produces a wi-fi signal in communication with said bridge wi-fi and said logic circuit stores time and date information and operational parameters to turn said solenoid valve to an on position and an off position; and wherein the wi-fi signal produced by each station communicates with adjacent and non-adjacent stations to provide a wi-fi mesh network).
However, Redmond discloses a solar panel - connected to a battery to charge said battery (Redmond [0003-10] “interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller - switching device coupled with the controller” [0097-170] “battery, solar cell, wind powered generated and/or other such power source - one or more factors, such as battery charge level or expected battery life, weather and/or atmospheric conditions - adjusted internally by the controller 312 - operates from a high capacity lithium-ion battery - battery monitoring process 510 - usage of power sources such as solar or wind power energy allows longer battery life - power source (battery and/or solar cell) and wireless transmitters” [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, power source, solar power, battery charge level, lithium-ion battery obviously provides solar panel connected to charge battery).
Lafian and Redmond are analogous arts from the same field of endeavor and contain overlapping structural and functional similarities and both contain irrigation sprikler.
Therefore, at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above functionalities solar panel connected to battery to charge battery, as taught by Lafian, and incorporating controller determine battery charge level to charge lithium-ion battery using solar power source, as taught by Redmond.
As to the independent claim 10, the claim recites similar limitations as the independent claim 1 and rejected using same rational as stated above.
As to claims 2 and 11, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 1 wherein: said at least one ground comprises a ground and an N-ground MOSFet in communication with said logic circuit and in communication with a relay; wherein said relay is in communication with a switch and wherein said switch activates said solenoid valve to open or close said valve when a signal is sent from said logic circuit to said at least one ground (Lafian [0001-22] “wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] “solar panel 10 affixed to the top surface of the plastic cap 11 - encloses a PCBA and lithium-ion polymer battery - latching solenoid(s) - wireless (LoRaWAN) gateway 17 - irrigation controller 18 - controller 24 connected to one or more 24 VAC solenoid valves 25, 26, 27 -wireless communication technology (e.g., LoRaWAN) - gateway 28 directly communicates with the mobile device 22 via BLUETOOTH or other wireless communication technology - connected to one or more battery-powered decoders 29, 30, 31 via LoRaWAN - turn control 9 VDC solenoid valves 32, 33, 34 - one or more 24 VAC relay switches to a gateway 28 - connected to one or more battery-powered decoders 29, 30, 31 via LoRaWAN - turn control 9 VDC solenoid valves 32, 33, 34” [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides ground and an N-ground MOSFet in communication with said logic circuit and in communication with a relay; wherein said relay is in communication with a switch and wherein said switch activates said solenoid valve to open or close said valve when a signal is sent from said logic circuit to said at least one ground).
As to claims 3 and 12, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 2 further comprising a timing circuit in communication with said bridge wi-fi and said logic circuit, said timing circuit storing timing data thereon (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering - multiple programs to allow different watering frequencies for different types of plants, rain delay settings, input terminals for sensors - rain/freeze/soil moisture sensors, weather data, and remote operation - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides timing circuit in communication with said bridge wi-fi and said logic circuit, said timing circuit storing timing data thereon).
As to claims 4 and 13, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 3 comprising a charging circuit in communication with said logic circuit, said solar panel and said battery and operates a comparator circuit to charge said battery in response to a charge command from said logic circuit (Redmond [0003-10] “interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller - switching device coupled with the controller” [0097-170] “battery, solar cell, wind powered generated and/or other such power source - one or more factors, such as battery charge level or expected battery life, weather and/or atmospheric conditions - adjusted internally by the controller 312 - operates from a high capacity lithium-ion battery - battery monitoring process 510 - usage of power sources such as solar or wind power energy allows longer battery life - power source (battery and/or solar cell) and wireless transmitters” [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, power source, solar power, battery charge level, lithium-ion battery obviously provides solar panel and battery and operates a comparator circuit to charge said battery in response to a charge command from said logic circuit).
As to claims 5 and 14, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 4 further comprising a moisture sensor in communication with said logic circuit, and said logic circuit retrieves moisture data from said moisture sensor at a predefined parameter (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering - multiple programs to allow different watering frequencies for different types of plants, rain delay settings, input terminals for sensors - rain/freeze/soil moisture sensors, weather data, and remote operation - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of sensors with moisture sensors plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides moisture sensor in communication with said logic circuit, and said logic circuit retrieves moisture data from said moisture sensor at a predefined parameter).
As to claims 6 and 15, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 5 further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with said logic circuit, and said logic circuit retrieves temperature data from said temperature sensor at a predefined parameter (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering - multiple programs to allow different watering frequencies for different types of plants, rain delay settings, input terminals for sensors - rain/freeze/soil moisture sensors, weather data, and remote operation - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of sensors includes temperature sensor, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides temperature sensor in communication with said logic circuit, and said logic circuit retrieves temperature data from said temperature sensor at a predefined parameter).
As to claims 7 and 16, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 6 further comprising a controller in communication with said wi-fi via an interface with said bridge wi-fi to create predefined parameters within said logic circuit for operation of said solenoid sensor, said timing circuit and said charging circuit (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - remote operation - gateways distinct from routers or switches communicate using more than one protocol -gateway located centrally on a site communicates to remote, battery-powered decoders via LoRaWAN - communicates to the Internet via Cellular, Ethernet, or WiFi technology - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, solar panel, battery, plurality of sensors, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, Internet via Cellular communication, Ethernet , LoRaWAN wireless, Wi-Fi technology, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides controller in communication with said wi-fi via an interface with said bridge wi-fi to create predefined parameters within said logic circuit for operation of said solenoid sensor, said timing circuit and said charging circuit).
As to claims 8 and 17, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 7 wherein said controller comprises a connect command and a disconnect command to connect and disconnect from said bridge wi-fi (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - remote operation - gateways distinct from routers or switches communicate using more than one protocol -gateway located centrally on a site communicates to remote, battery-powered decoders via LoRaWAN - communicates to the Internet via Cellular, Ethernet, or WiFi technology - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, Internet via Cellular communication, Ethernet , LoRaWAN wireless, Wi-Fi technology, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control (turn on or off) obviously provides controller comprises a connect command and a disconnect command to connect and disconnect from said bridge wi-fi).
As to claims 9 and 18, the combination of Lafian and Redmond disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The wi-fi operated and solar powered sprinkler system of claim 8 further comprising a wi-fi enabled third party device connected to said bridge wi-fi (Lafian [0001-22] “controller brain of an irrigation system tells the solenoid valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers - remote operation - gateways distinct from routers or switches communicate using more than one protocol -gateway located centrally on a site communicates to remote, battery-powered decoders via LoRaWAN - communicates to the Internet via Cellular, Ethernet, or WiFi technology - wirelessly communicate with one or more battery-powered decoders - irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal” [0047-64] [abstract] see Fig. 1-18, controller, multiple programs, plurality of apparatus to control plurality of solenoid valves via wireless communication, Internet via Cellular communication, Ethernet , LoRaWAN wireless, Wi-Fi technology, gateway, relay switches to plurality of apparatus control obviously provides wi-fi enabled third party device connected to said bridge wi-fi).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2141.02 VI. PRIOR ART MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ITS ENTIRETY, i.e., as a whole and 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art made of record:
Hobbs, USPGPub No. 2022/0322622 A1 discloses an irrigation solenoid valve switch assembly operable on a mesh network to control the timing and amount of water discharged in multiple agricultural zones.
Savelle, et al. USPGPub No. 2011/0087379 A1 discloses a system for controlling efficient solar powered irrigation controller.
Ensworth, et al. USPGPub No. 2009/0076759 A1 discloses an irrigation systems to a wireless irrigation control system including a wireless valve link.
Woyowitz, USPGPub No. 2021/0360884 A1 discloses an irrigation communicates wirelessly with irrigation control valves obtains signals from the irrigation controller to control valves open or close according to the signals.
Camgell, USPGPub No. 2022/0187474 A1 discloses a method for placing environmental sensor to sense a condition of the material and output sensor data representing the condition providing amplifier, switch and load network, in communication with a multi-turn coil.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Md Azad whose telephone @(571)272-0553 or email: md.azad@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on (571)272-4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Md Azad/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
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