DETAILED ACTION
INFORMATION CONCERNING RESPONSES
Response to Amendment
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s communication filed on April 27, 2026, in response to PTO Office Action mailed on February 18, 2026. The Applicant’s remarks and amendments to the claims and/or the specification were considered with the results that follow.
In response to the last Office Action, claims 1, 4, 12, and 14 have been amended. As a result, claims 1-21 are now pending in this application.
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on April 27, 2026, has been entered.
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
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on April 27, 2026, in response to PTO Office Action mailed on February 18, 2026, have been fully considered and are persuasive. Hence, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further review a new ground of rejection has been made in view of Johnson (Publication Number US 2011/0221604 A1).
REJECTIONS BASED ON PRIOR ART
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 3-9, 11-12, 14-19, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Lee (Publication Number US 2012/0246350 A1) in view of Zhu et al. (Publication Number US 2020/0235563 A1) and Johnson (Publication Number US 2011/0221604 A1).
As per claim 1, Lee discloses “A host device, coupled to an electronic device, comprising: an input/output (I/O) port comprising a first I/O pin and a second I/O pin, wherein the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin are coupled to the electronic device (accessory 60 that is connected to mobile terminal 70 through pin 13 and pin 14; FIG. 5).” Lee discloses “a controller coupled to the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin and configured to drive the electronic device using a configuration parameter set (where the controller 71 compares a voltage input to recognize an identification; Paragraph 0072).” While Lee discloses the use of a analog to digital converter connected to a pin [see pin 13 connected to ADC 78; FIG. 5], Lee does not disclose multiple pins connected to ADC as disclosed in the limitation “and an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin and configured to sample a first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain a first voltage value and further to sample a second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain a second voltage value, wherein the controller receives the first voltage value and the second voltage value and changes the configuration parameter set according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value.”
Zhu et al. discloses multiple pins connected to ADC as disclosed in the limitation “and an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin and configured to sample a first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain a first voltage value and further to sample a second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain a second voltage value (in prior art systems pin CC1 and pin CC2 are both connected to ADC [FIG. 4], with the voltages compared to reference voltages to determine connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007).”
Lee and Zhu et al. are analogous art in that they in the field of device connections using the USB protocol.
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee and Zhu et al. in order to enhance protection for USB connectors particular as it pertains to power [Paragraph 0007].
While Zhu et al. discloses [the configuration parameter is the connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007], Lee and Zhu et al. do not disclose “wherein the controller receives the first voltage value and the second voltage value and changes the configuration parameter set according to both of a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value, wherein the controller determines whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of ideal predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets to change the configuration parameter set.”
Johnson discloses “wherein the controller receives the first voltage value and the second voltage value and changes the configuration parameter set according to both of a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value (the controller has an analog to digital converter (ADC) which digitizes the signals on the one or more data lines (the ADC is in this case switched between the data lines D1, D2 by a switch S1). An EPS identification decoder is provided that evaluates the digitized values or codes on the data lines, to make the determination as to the type of EPS that is coupled to the PD; Paragraph 0030; FIG. 2), wherein the controller determines whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of ideal predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets to change the configuration parameter set (when the code received from the PD indicates that the current I is low (or the battery charger input voltage is within a nominal, specified range for the communications interface), then the variable scale circuit is signaled into a default setting; thereafter, when a subsequent code is received from the PD indicating that the current I is now high (or the battery charger input voltage dropped below its nominal range), then the variable scale circuit is signaled into a "plus" setting, i.e. a different scale factor is applied to the power lines sense point, to change the feedback input signal so as to emulate a condition where the power converter output is lower than it actually is; Paragraph 0049).”
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee and Zhu with elements of Johnson as a means of compensating for various signal conditions (in the example of Johnson the signal conditions pertain to voltage drops through an interface) [Paragraph 0049].
As per claim 3, Zhu et al. discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 1 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), the controller provides a plurality of predetermined parameter sets which correspond to a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges respectively, and wherein the controller changes the configuration parameter set according to a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges, the first voltage value and the second voltage value (in the context of determining the voltages for multiple pins (in this example pins CC1 and CC2); Paragraph 0007).”
As per claim 4, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 1 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein: the controller provides a plurality of predetermined parameter sets which correspond to a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges respectively, in response to that the controller uses one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set to drive the electronic device (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97; FIG. 7), the controller obtains the difference voltage value according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value and determines whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets to generate a determination result (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97; FIG. 7), and in response to the determination result indicating that the difference voltage value is not within the first predetermined voltage range, the controller uses one of the others of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set for driving the electronic device (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97 [FIG. 7]. See also process where differing voltage causes the system to recognize the connected device as a data cable (step 53) or an adapter (step 57); FIG. 4).”
As per claims 5 and 15, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 4 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein in response to the determination result indicating that the difference voltage value is within the first predetermined voltage range, the controller uses the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set for driving the electronic device (step 56 to step 60 that also includes steps 57 and 59; FIG. 4).”
As per claims 6 and 16, Zhu et al. discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 4 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein: the controller defines a plurality of predetermined voltage values corresponding to the plurality of predetermined voltage ranges respectively, the controller defines a voltage interval to define the plurality of predetermined voltage values in a predetermined sequence, and in response to the determination result indicating that the difference voltage value is not within the first predetermined voltage range, according to the difference voltage value, the predetermined voltage value corresponding to the first predetermined voltage range, and the voltage interval, the controller uses one of the others of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set for driving the electronic device (steps 1001 to 1005 it pertains to comparing a received voltage signal to a reference voltage; FIG. 10).”
As per claims 7 and 17, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 6 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein the controller defines the plurality of predetermined voltage values from the minimum to the maximum in the predetermined sequence, and a voltage interval is defined between any two adjacent predetermined voltage value (range of rated power; Paragraphs 0056-0057).”
As per claim 8, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 1 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein in response to that the controller operates in a handshake stage to communicate with the electronic device, the controller samples the first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain the first voltage value (at the start when voltage is applied through VBUS line at step 51 to steps 52 to 57 with signal determination at step 52 and voltage determination at step 56; FIG. 4).”
Zhu et al. discloses sampling signals from another pin concurrently as disclosed in the limitation “and further to samples the second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain the second voltage value (in prior art systems pin CC1 and pin CC2 are both connected to ADC [FIG. 4], with the voltages compared to reference voltages to determine connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007).”
As per claim 9, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 8 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein: the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin are coupled to an I/O port of electronic device, in response to that the controller operates in the handshake stage and a terminal resistor is connected to the I/O port of the electronic device, the sample the first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain the first voltage value (see resistor connected to the 3.3V terminal for pin 13; FIG. 5; Paragraphs 0066-0068).”
Zhu et al. discloses sampling signals from another pin concurrently as disclosed in the limitation “and further to sample the second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain the second voltage value (in prior art systems pin CC1 and pin CC2 are both connected to ADC [FIG. 4], with the voltages compared to reference voltages to determine connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007).”
As per claims 11 and 21, Lee discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 1 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein the first data signal and the second data signal are a differential pair of signals (Paragraphs 0056 and 0062).”
As per claim 12, Lee discloses “A driving method for an electronic device, comprising inserting an electronic device to a host device, wherein an input/output (I/O) port of the host device comprises a first I/O pin and a second I/O pin which are coupled to the electronic device (accessory 60 that is connected to mobile terminal 70 through pin 13 and pin 14; FIG. 5).” Lee discloses “driving the electronic device using a configuration parameter set (where the controller 71 compares a voltage input to recognize an identification; Paragraph 0072).”
While Lee discloses the use of a analog to digital converter connected to a pin [see pin 13 connected to ADC 78; FIG. 5], Lee does not disclose multiple pins connected to ADC as disclosed in the limitation “sampling a first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain a first voltage value and a second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain a second voltage value” and “and changing the configuration parameter set according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value.”
Zhu et al. discloses multiple pins connected to ADC as disclosed in the limitation “sampling a first data signal on the first I/O pin to obtain a first voltage value and a second data signal on the second I/O pin to obtain a second voltage value (in prior art systems pin CC1 and pin CC2 are both connected to ADC [FIG. 4], with the voltages compared to reference voltages to determine connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007).”
Lee and Zhu et al. are analogous art in that they in the field of device connections using the USB protocol.
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee and Zhu et al. in order to enhance protection for USB connectors particular as it pertains to power [Paragraph 0007].
While Zhu et al. discloses [the configuration parameter is the connector power-on status; Paragraph 0007], Lee and Zhu et al. do not disclose “and changing the configuration parameter set according to both of a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value at the same time, wherein changing the configuration parameter set comprises determining whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of ideal predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets..”
Johnson discloses “and changing the configuration parameter set according to both of a difference between the first voltage value and the second voltage value at the same time (the controller has an analog to digital converter (ADC) which digitizes the signals on the one or more data lines (the ADC is in this case switched between the data lines D1, D2 by a switch S1). An EPS identification decoder is provided that evaluates the digitized values or codes on the data lines, to make the determination as to the type of EPS that is coupled to the PD; Paragraph 0030; FIG. 2), wherein changing the configuration parameter set comprises determining whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of ideal predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets (when the code received from the PD indicates that the current I is low (or the battery charger input voltage is within a nominal, specified range for the communications interface), then the variable scale circuit is signaled into a default setting; thereafter, when a subsequent code is received from the PD indicating that the current I is now high (or the battery charger input voltage dropped below its nominal range), then the variable scale circuit is signaled into a "plus" setting, i.e. a different scale factor is applied to the power lines sense point, to change the feedback input signal so as to emulate a condition where the power converter output is lower than it actually is; Paragraph 0049).”
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee and Zhu with elements of Johnson as a means of compensating for various signal conditions (in the example of Johnson the signal conditions pertain to voltage drops through an interface) [Paragraph 0049].
As per claim 14, Lee discloses “The driving method as claimed in claim 12 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein: a plurality of predetermined parameter sets which correspond to a plurality of predetermined voltage ranges respectively are provided, driving the electronic device using a configuration parameter set comprises: driving the electronic device using one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97; FIG. 7).” Lee discloses “determining whether the difference voltage value is within a first predetermined voltage range in the plurality of predetermined voltage ranges which corresponds to the one of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97; FIG. 7), and in response to that the difference voltage value is not within the first predetermined voltage range, using one of the others of the plurality of predetermined parameter sets as the configuration parameter set for driving the electronic device (steps 91, 92, 94, 96, and 97 [FIG. 7]. See also process where differing voltage causes the system to recognize the connected device as a data cable (step 53) or an adapter (step 57); FIG. 4).”
Zhu et al. discloses “changing the configuration parameter set according to the voltage value and the second voltage value comprises: obtaining the difference voltage value according to the first voltage value and the second voltage value (in the context of determining the voltages for multiple pins (in this example pins CC1 and CC2); Paragraph 0007).”
As per claim 18, Zhu et al. discloses “The driving method as claimed in claim 12 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), further comprising: performing a handshake stage to communicate with the electronic device, wherein in the handshake stage, the first data signal on the first I/O pin is sampled, and the second data signal on the second I/O pin is sampled (in the context of determining the voltages for multiple pins (in this example pins CC1 and CC2); Paragraph 0007).”
As per claim 19, Lee discloses “The driving method as claimed in claim 18 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above), wherein: the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin are coupled to an I/O port of electronic device, in the handshake stage, a terminal resistor is connected to the I/O port of the electronic device, and in the handshake stage, the first data signal on the first I/O pin is sampled and the second data signal on the second I/O pin is sampled (see resistor connected to the 3.3V terminal for pin 13; FIG. 5; Paragraphs 0066-0068).”
Claims 2, 10, 13, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Lee (Publication Number US 2012/0246350 A1), Zhu et al. (Publication Number US 2020/0235563 A1), and Johnson (Publication Number US 2011/0221604 A1) in view of Lin et al. (Publication Number US 2008/0222341 A1).
As per claims 2 and 13, Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson disclose “The host device as claimed in claim 1 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above).” However, Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson do not specifically disclose “wherein the electronic device is a USB OTG (On-The-Go) device.”
Lin et al. discloses “wherein the electronic device is a USB OTG (On-The-Go) device (Paragraph 0016).”
Lee, Zhu et al., and Lin et al. are analogous art in that they disclose the use of USB.
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson with elements of Lin et al. to provide a way for USB devices to break off from the USB host [Paragraph 0004].
As per claims 10 and 20, Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson disclose “The host device as claimed in claim 8 (as disclosed by Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson above).” However, Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson do not disclose “The host device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the handshake stage is a high-speed handshake process.”
Lin et al. discloses “The host device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the handshake stage is a high-speed handshake process (Paragraph 0026).”
Lee, Zhu et al., and Lin et al. are analogous art in that they disclose the use of USB.
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the elements of Lee, Zhu et al., and Johnson with elements of Lin et al. to provide a way for USB devices to break off from the USB host [Paragraph 0004].
RELEVENT ART CITED BY THE EXAMINER
The following prior art made of record and relied upon is citied to establish the level of skill in the applicant’s art and those arts considered reasonably pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. See MPEP 707.05(c).
The following references teach data transfer as they pertain to signal changes according to a range:
U.S. PATENT NUMBERS:
2018/0024899 A1 – [Paragraph 0117]
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Conclusion
The examiner requests, in response to this Office action, support be shown for language added to any original claims on amendment and any new claims. That is, indicate support for newly added claim language by specifically pointing to page(s) and line no(s) in the specification and/or drawing figure(s). This will assist the examiner in prosecuting the application.
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/H.W.Y/Examiner, Art Unit 2181 June 26, 2026
/IDRISS N ALROBAYE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2181
Prosecution Insights