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 .
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s amendments to the claims filed on 03/02/2026 are acknowledged and entered. According to the Amendments to the claims, claims 1 and 3 has /have been amended, claim 4 has /have been cancelled, claim 21 has /have been added. Accordingly, claims 1-3, 5-8, 10-14 and 21 are pending in the application with claims 9 and 15-20 previously withdrawn. An action on the merits for claims 1-3, 5-8, 10-14 and 21 are as follow.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the "right to exclude" granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Langi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937,214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619
(CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR l.32l(c) or l.32l(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR l.32l(b).
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Claims 1-2 and 5-14 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2 and 5-14 of U.S. Patent No. 12,016,104. While the language in the current application is not identical to the ‘104 patent, claim 1 of the current application is still anticipated by the ‘104 patent. In particular, claim 1 of the current application recites the same connections and functions of the ‘104 patent. Therefore, claim 1 of the current application should have been rejected on the grounds of non-statutory double patenting as being anticipated by claim 1 of the ‘104 patent.
U.S. Patent No. 12,016,104
Present application
Claim 1: An induction heat cooking apparatus comprising:
a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage supplied from a power source into a direct current (DC) voltage;
a battery configured to store power;
a switch configured to connect to at least one of the rectifier or the battery;
an inverter connected to the switch and configured to receive a first voltage from at least one of the rectifier or the battery and convert the first voltage to a second voltage;
a heating coil configured to receive the second voltage from the inverter and generate magnetic fields, the heating coil being configured to heat a cooking device based on the generated magnetic fields; and
an operation mode setting unit configured to receive a selection of one of a wired mode or a wireless mode,
wherein a power from the power source is supplied to the inverter and the battery based on the selection of the wired mode, and
wherein the power stored in the battery is supplied to the inverter based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 1: An induction heat cooking apparatus comprising:
a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage supplied from a power source into a direct current (DC) voltage;
a battery configured to store power;
a switch configured to connect to at least one of the rectifier or the battery;
an inverter connected to the switch and configured to receive a first voltage from at least
one of the rectifier or the battery and convert the first voltage to a second voltage;
a heating coil configured to receive the second voltage from the inverter and generate magnetic fields, the heating coil being configured to heat a cooking device based on the generated magnetic fields; and
an operation mode setting unit configured to receive a selection of one of a wired mode or a wireless mode,
wherein the switch is configured to:
based on the selection of the wired mode, (i) connect the rectifier to the inverter and (ii) provide power from the power source to the inverter and the battery, and
based on the selection of the wireless mode, (i) disconnect the rectifier from the inverter, (ii) connect the battery to the inverter, and (iii) provide the power stored in the battery to the inverter.
Claim 2: further comprising a driving unit configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the selection of the wired mode, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 2: further comprising a driving
unit configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the selection of the wired mode, control the switch to connect to the battery based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 5: further comprising a power adjustment unit configured to receive a command for setting a power level,
wherein the driving unit is further configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the set power level exceeding a reference level, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the set power level being below the reference level.
Claim 5: further comprising a power adjustment unit configured to receive a command for setting a power level,
wherein the driving unit is further configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the set power level exceeding a reference level, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the set power level being below the reference level.
Claim 6: wherein the inverter includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching device configured to supply current to the heating coil.
Claim 6: wherein the inverter includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching device configured to supply current to the heating coil.
Claim 7: wherein the reference level is determined by output power corresponding
to a maximum switching frequency of the IGBT
switching device.
Claim 7: wherein the reference level is
determined by output power corresponding to a maximum switching frequency of the IGBT
switching device.
Claim 8: wherein the battery is further configured to supply a voltage to the inverter to thereby provide power that is less than a minimum output power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 8: wherein the battery is further configured to supply a voltage to the inverter to thereby provide power that is less than a
minimum output power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 9: further comprising a diode configured to prevent the power source and the battery from being short-circuited with each other.
Claim 9: further comprising a diode configured to prevent the power source and the battery from being short-circuited with each other.
Claim 10: wherein the switch comprises a three-terminal relay switch that includes a common (COM) terminal connected to the inverter, a normal open (NO) terminal connected to the
battery, and a normal close (NC) terminal connected to the rectifier.
Claim 10: wherein the switch comprises a three- terminal relay switch that includes a common (COM) terminal connected to the inverter, a normal open (NO) terminal connected to the battery, and a normal close (NC) terminal connected to the rectifier.
Claim 11: further comprising a switching mode power supply (SMPS) connected to at least one of the power source or the battery and configured to provide power to the inverter.
Claim 11: further comprising a switching mode power supply (SMPS) connected to at least one of the power source or the battery and configured to provide power to the inverter.
Claim 12: further comprising a DC/DC converter connected to the battery and configured to supply power to the SMPS.
Claim 12: further comprising a DC/DC converter connected to the battery and configured to supply power to the SMPS
Claim 13: wherein the driving unit is further configured to determine whether the set power level exceeds the reference level.
Claim 13: wherein the driving unit is further configured to determine whether the set power level exceeds the reference level.
Claim 14: further comprising a resonance capacitor connected to the heating coil and configured to, together with the heating coil,
determine a resonance frequency that defines a maximum power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 14: further comprising a resonance capacitor connected to the heating coil and configured to, together with the heating coil, determine a resonance frequency that defines a maximum power of the cooking apparatus.
Claims 1-2 and 5-14 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2 and 5-14 of U.S. Patent No. 10,917,947. While the language in the current application is not identical to the ‘947 patent, claim 1 of the current application is still anticipated by the ‘947 patent. In particular, claim 1 of the current application recites the same connections and functions of the ‘947 patent. Therefore, claim 1 of the current application should have been rejected on the grounds of non-statutory double patenting as being anticipated by claim 1 of the ‘947 patent.
U.S. Patent No. 10,917,947
Present application
Claim 1: An induction heat cooking apparatus comprising:
a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage supplied from a power source into a direct current (DC) voltage; a battery configured to store power; a switch configured to connect to at least one of the rectifier or the battery;
an inverter connected to the switch and configured to receive a first voltage from at least one of the rectifier or the battery and convert the first voltage to a second voltage; and
a heating coil configured to receive the second voltage from the inverter and generate magnetic fields, the heating coil being configured to heat a cooking device based on the generated magnetic fields. and
an operation mode setting unit configured to receive a selection of one of a wired mode or a wireless mode,
wherein a power from the power source is supplied to the inverter and the battery based on the selection of the wired mode, and wherein the power stored in the battery is supplied to the inverter based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 1: An induction heat cooking apparatus comprising:
a rectifier configured to convert an alternating current (AC) voltage supplied from a power source into a direct current (DC) voltage; a battery configured to store power; a switch configured to connect to at least one of the rectifier or the battery;
an inverter connected to the switch and configured to receive a first voltage from at least
one of the rectifier or the battery and convert the first voltage to a second voltage;
a heating coil configured to receive the second voltage from the inverter and generate magnetic fields, the heating coil being configured to heat a cooking device based on the generated magnetic fields; and
an operation mode setting unit configured to receive a selection of one of a wired mode or a wireless mode,
wherein the switch is configured to:
based on the selection of the wired mode, (i) connect the rectifier to the inverter and (ii) provide power from the power source to the inverter and the battery, and
based on the selection of the wireless mode, (i) disconnect the rectifier from the inverter, (ii) connect the battery to the inverter, and (iii) provide the power stored in the battery to the inverter.
Claim 2: further comprising a driving unit configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the selection of the wired mode, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 2: further comprising a driving
unit configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the selection of the wired mode, control the switch to connect to the battery based on the selection of the wireless mode.
Claim 5: further comprising a power adjustment unit configured to receive a command for setting a power level,
wherein the driving unit is further configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the set power level exceeding a reference level, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the set power level being below the reference level.
Claim 5: further comprising a power adjustment unit configured to receive a command for setting a power level,
wherein the driving unit is further configured to:
control the switch to connect to the rectifier based on the set power level exceeding a reference level, and
control the switch to connect to the battery based on the set power level being below the reference level.
Claim 6: wherein the inverter includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching device configured to supply current to the heating coil.
Claim 6: wherein the inverter includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching device configured to supply current to the heating coil.
Claim 7: wherein the reference level is determined by output power corresponding
to a maximum switching frequency of the IGBT
switching device.
Claim 7: wherein the reference level is
determined by output power corresponding to a maximum switching frequency of the IGBT
switching device.
Claim 8: wherein the battery is further configured to supply a voltage to the inverter to thereby provide power that is less than a minimum output power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 8: wherein the battery is further configured to supply a voltage to the inverter to thereby provide power that is less than a minimum output power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 9: further comprising a diode configured to prevent the power source and the battery from being short-circuited with each other.
Claim 9: further comprising a diode configured to prevent the power source and the battery from being short-circuited with each other.
Claim 10: wherein the switch comprises a three-terminal relay switch that includes a common (COM) terminal connected to the inverter, a normal open (NO) terminal connected to the
battery, and a normal close (NC) terminal connected to the rectifier.
Claim 10: wherein the switch comprises a three- terminal relay switch that includes a common (COM) terminal connected to the inverter, a normal open (NO) terminal connected to the battery, and a normal close (NC) terminal connected to the rectifier.
Claim 11: further comprising a switching mode power supply (SMPS) connected to at least one of the power source or the battery and configured to provide power to the inverter.
Claim 11: further comprising a switching mode power supply (SMPS) connected to at least one of the power source or the battery and configured to provide power to the inverter.
Claim 12: further comprising a DC/DC converter connected to the battery and configured to supply power to the SMPS.
Claim 12: further comprising a DC/DC converter connected to the battery and configured to supply power to the SMPS
Claim 13: wherein the driving unit is further configured to determine whether the set power level exceeds the reference level.
Claim 13: wherein the driving unit is further configured to determine whether the set power level exceeds the reference level.
Claim 14: further comprising a resonance capacitor connected to the heating coil and configured to, together with the heating coil,
determine a resonance frequency that defines a maximum power of the cooking apparatus.
Claim 14: further comprising a resonance capacitor connected to the heating coil and configured to, together with the heating coil, determine a resonance frequency that defines a maximum power of the cooking apparatus.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claims 1-3, 5-8, 10-14 and 21 are allowable when applicant files terminal disclaimers to overcome double patenting rejection.
Independent Claim 1 including the limitations cannot be reasonably rejected with prior arts of record HASHIMOTO et al. (JP 2014 099253 A) in view of Yoshino et al. (JP 2016 004669 A) and Walley et al. (US 2011/0127951 A1). With respect to Claims 2-3, 5-8, 10-14 and 21; their dependency on Claim 1 makes them allowable.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Applicant is advised to refer to the Notice of References Cited for pertinent prior art. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KUANGYUE CHEN whose telephone number is 571/272-8224. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9:00-5:00 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, supervisor Ibrahime Abraham can be reached on 571/270-5569, supervisor Steven Crabb can be reached on 571/270-5095, or supervisor Edward Landrum can be reached on 571/272-5567. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571/273-8300.
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/KUANGYUE CHEN/
Examiner, Art Unit 3761
/ELIZABETH M KERR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
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