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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 05/21/24 are acceptable.
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.
Claims 1-18 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Leong et al. (US 2018/0309372 A1).
Leong et al. disclose a system and method for switched mode converter in Figures 1a-18. Figure 1b below shows the claimed power converter.
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In regard to claim 1. A power converter (figure 1b: 100) configured to convert an input voltage (Vin) into an output voltage (Vout), the power converter comprising: a switching bridge circuit (129); a transformer (116) including: i) primary winding (118), ii) first secondary winding (121) connected between a first transformer terminal and a second transformer terminal, and iii) second secondary winding (122) connected between the second transformer terminal and a third transformer terminal; a resonant tank circuit (105) comprising the primary winding of the transformer; and a buck power converter circuit (figure 1b, 122, see label “Buck converter” in the above figure 1b) coupled between the first secondary winding (121) and a first output node of the power converter, the buck converter operative to generate and output the output voltage from the first output node (Vout) of the power converter..
In regard to claim 2. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the buck power converter circuit (122) comprises a first buck switch (170) and a second buck switch , the first buck switch coupled between an input of the buck power converter circuit and a switching node, the input of the buck power converter circuit directly connected to the first transformer terminal, the second buck switch (172) coupled between the switching node and the second transformer terminal, and an inductive element (157) directly connected between the switching node and the first output node of the power converter.
In regard to claim 3. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the power converter (100) is configured to adjust a duty-cycle of the buck power converter circuit based on the output voltage of the power converter (see paragraphs 58 and 74).
In regard to claim 4. The power converter according to claim 1 further comprising a first rectifier switch (138) coupled between the first transformer terminal and an input of the buck power converter circuit (122).
In regard to claim 5. The power converter according to claim 4, wherein the buck power converter circuit includes first buck switch (170) and second buck switch (172) and wherein a controller (145) of the power converter is configured to control (145) switching of the first buck switch (170) and the first rectifier switch (138) in synchronism.
In regard to claim 6. The power converter according to claim 5, wherein the power converter is configured to control the first buck switch (170) and the second buck switch (172) such that; the first buck switch is turned off when the second buck switch is turned on, and the second buck switch is turned off when the first buck switch is turned on (see paragraphs 61-70).
In regard to claim 7. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the switching bridge circuit comprises a half-bridge circuit (129) or a full-bridge circuit.
In regard to claim 8. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the switching bridge circuit (130) comprises a high side switch (130) coupled between a first input of the power converter and an input of the resonant tank circuit (129), and a low side switch (134) coupled between the input of the resonant tank circuit and a second input of the power converter.
In regard to claim 9. The power converter according to claim 8, wherein a controller (145) of the power converter(100) is configured to control an on-time of the low side switch (134) to be shorter than or equal to an on-time of the high side switch (130) (see paragraphs 61-70).
In regard to claim 10. The power converter according to claim 8, wherein a controller (145) of the power converter (100) is configured to control (145) the high side switch (130) and the low side switch (134) such that an on-time of the low side switch is off during an on-time of the high side switch (see paragraphs 61-70).
In regard to claim 11. The power converter according to claim 8, wherein a controller (145) of the power converter (100) is configured to control the high side switch (130) and the low side switch (134) such that the high side switch is turned off when the low side switch is turned on, and the low side switch is turned off when the high side switch is turned on (see paragraphs 61-70).
In regard to claim 12. The power converter according to claim 4, further comprising a second rectifier switch (140) coupled between the first transformer terminal and a second output node of the power converter.
In regard to claim 13. The power converter (figure 2a) according to claim 12 further comprising a third rectifier switch (240) coupled between the third transformer terminal and the second output node of the power converter.
In regard to claim 14. The power converter according to claim 1 further comprising a fourth rectifier switch (244) coupled between the third transformer terminal and an input of the buck power converter circuit.
In regard to claim 15. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the resonant tank circuit (105) comprises a resonance capacitor (128) coupled between the switching bridge circuit (129) and the primary winding of the transformer (118).
In regard to claim 16. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the buck power converter circuit (122) includes high side switch circuitry (170 and 174) and an inductor (157) connected between the first transformer terminal and the first output node (Vout) of the power converter.
In regard to claim 17. The power converter according to claim 16, wherein the buck power converter (122) includes low side switch circuitry (172); wherein the high side switch circuitry (170) and the low side switch circuitry (172) are disposed in series between the first transformer terminal and the second transformer terminal, the power converter further comprising: a switch node (connection between the two switch) directly connecting the high side switch circuitry, the low side switch circuitry, and a first terminal of the inductor (157) to each other.
In regard to claim 18. The power converter according to claim 17, wherein a second terminal of the inductor (157) is directly connected to the first output node (Vout) of the power converter, the second terminal of the inductor (157) operative to generate the output voltage.
In regard to claim 22. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the buck power converter (122) includes high side switch circuitry (170) and low side switch circuitry (172) disposed in a series circuit path between the first transformer terminal and the second transformer terminal, the power converter further comprising: a switch node directly connecting the high side switch circuitry, the low side switch circuitry, and a first terminal of an inductor (157) to each other, a second terminal of the inductor operative to output the output voltage to the first output node of the power converter.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 19-21 and 23-25 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:
Claim 19 is allowed because the prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a power converter including the limitation “rectifier switch circuitry including a first rectifier switch and a second rectifier switch; wherein the first rectifier switch is connected directly between the first transformer terminal and a second output node of the power converter; and wherein the second rectifier switch is connected directly between the third transformer terminal and the second output node of the power converter“ in addition to other limitations recited therein.
Dependent claims 20-21 are allowable by virtue of their dependency.
Claim 23 is allowed because the prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a power converter including the limitation “a second output node, the second output node connected to a reference voltage node; rectifier switch circuitry including a first rectifier switch and a second rectifier switch; wherein the first rectifier switch is connected directly between the first transformer terminal and the second output node of the power converter; and wherein the second rectifier switch is connected directly between the third transformer terminal and the second output node of the power converter“ in addition to other limitations recited therein.
Dependent claims 24-25 are allowable by virtue of their dependency.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/26/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that what is identified as buck converter 122 is a secondary winding. Applicant attention is directed to the Figure 1b shown above. The figure has been labelled “Buck converter” which is labelled as 122 on the figure 1b. The secondary winding is labelled as 121 and 122. See paragraph 59 which identifies the DC-DC converter 122 as a buck converter.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Examiner has cited particular columns, line numbers and/or paragraphs in thereferences applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Althoughthe specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied tospecific limitations within the individual claim(s), other passages and figures may applyas well.
Additionally, in the event that other prior art is provided and made of record by theExaminer, as being relevant or pertinent to applicant's disclosure but not relied upon.The references are provided for the convenience of the applicant. The Examinerrequest that the references be considered in any subsequent amendments, as they arealso representative of the art and may apply to the specific limitations ofany newly amended claim(s).
It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing amendments or responses, to fully consider the references in their entirety as potentially teaching all or part of theclaimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art and/ordisclosed by the Examiner.
In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied upon inorder to ensure proper interpretation of the newly added limitations and toverify/ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ADOLF D BERHANE whose telephone number is (571)272-2077. The examiner can normally be reached 7 AM - 10 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Crystal Hammond can be reached at 571-270-1682. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ADOLF D BERHANE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
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