DETAILED ACTION
Amendments filed on 3/27/2026 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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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, 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.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 6-8, 10, 12-14, 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (KR 20190058106 A), in view of Jewell (US 2019/0226689 A1).
Claim 1: Kim discloses a method for controlling a dehumidifier including a dehumidifying module having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a fan module (paragraphs [2] [3]), the method comprising:
determining by an occupancy sensor (215) whether an occupant is present in an indoor space (paragraph [262]: air conditioner can detect occupant through a human body detection sensor that equipped with camera 210 and sensor unit 215) in which the dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: air conditioner 1 is a dehumidifier) is located;
when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space; when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (based on broadest reasonable interpretation, “when the occupancy sensor determines an occupant is present”, “when the occupancy sensor determines that there are no occupants”, such that neither condition can occur at the same time); and
stopping operation of the compressor (paragraph [2] [3]: control unit processing user signal through input unit, dehumidifier including compressor) when an indoor humidity reaches a target humidity (functional language; paragraph [204] [160]: humidity sensor to sense humidity data of the indoor to collect data on humidity at preset time intervals, controller controls operation of air conditioner based on data detected by the sensor; to clarify, control unit or predetermined server collect data from sensor operate the system based on target values from user via input unit).
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 1, but fails to disclose operating the compressor at a low speed so that low-temperature dry air is discharged; operating the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high-temperature dry air is discharged;
However, Jewell teaches operating the compressor at a low speed so that low-temperature dry air is discharged; operating the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high-temperature dry air is discharged (paragraph [47]: increasing speed of compressor 34; paragraph [57]: decreasing speed of compressor 34)(based on broadest reasonable interpretation, operating compressor at low or high speed are not required to be performed if occupant determination and no-occupant determinations do not occur, further low/high-temperatures dry air discharged are the result of compressor operation, it is function language) for the purpose of controlling the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room (paragraph [26]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to modify the invention of Kim to include operating the compressor at a low speed; operating the compressor at a constant or high speed as taught by in order to control the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room.
Claim 2: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) is operated at 20 to 30 Hz (Jewell teaches compressor speed between 1500 and 4800 RPM, except for 20 to 30 Hz. 20It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 20 to 30 Hz in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only skill in the art - Optimum Range: MPEP 2144.05 II-A).
Claim 4: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) is operated at 60Hz or higher (It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 60Hz or higher in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable involves only routine skill in the art - Optimum value: MPEP 2144.05 II-B).
Claim 6: Kim discloses a method for controlling a dehumidifier, the dehumidifier including a dehumidifying module having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a fan module; a controller that controls the dehumidifying module; an occupancy sensor that determines whether an occupant is present in an indoor space in which the dehumidifier is located; and a humidity sensor that senses an indoor humidity of the indoor space (paragraphs [3] [152]), the method comprising:
determining by the occupancy sensor (215) whether an occupant is present in the indoor space in which the dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: air conditioner 1 is a dehumidifier) is located;
operating via the controller (control unit 240) the compressor (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including compressor) when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed);
operating via the controller (240) the compressor (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including compressor) when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed); and
stopping via the controller (240) operation of the compressor (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including compressor) when the indoor humidity sensed by the humidity sensor reaches a target humidity (functional language; paragraph [204] [160]: humidity sensor to sense humidity data of the indoor to collect data on humidity at preset time intervals, controller controls operation of air conditioner based on data detected by the sensor; to clarify, control unit or predetermined server collect data from sensor operate the system based on target values from user via input unit).
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 6, but fails to disclose the compressor at a low speed so that low-temperature dry air is discharged; the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high-temperature dry air is discharged;
However, Jewell teaches the compressor at a low speed; the compressor at a constant or high speed (paragraph [47]: increasing speed of compressor 34; paragraph [57]: decreasing speed of compressor 34; based on broadest reasonable interpretation, operating compressor at low or high speed are not required to be performed if occupant determination and no-occupant determinations do not occur, further low/high-temperatures dry air discharged are the result of compressor operation, it is function language) for the purpose of controlling the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room (paragraph [26]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to modify the invention of Kim to include the compressor at a low speed; the compressor at a constant or high speed as taught by in order to control the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room.
Claim 7: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants (functional language) in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the controller (240) controls the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) to operate at 20 to 30 Hz (Jewell teaches compressor speed between 1500 and 4800 RPM, except for 20 to 30 Hz. 20It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 20 to 30 Hz in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only skill in the art - Optimum Range: MPEP 2144.05 II-A).
Claim 8: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
determining a location of the occupant (paragraph [202]) using the occupancy sensor (215), when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space (paragraph [202]: sensor 215 includes human body detection sensor that senses the presence and location of a person in the room); and
rotating a discharge cover (paragraph [77]: rotation projection 46C of cover 140 that is any one pair of discharge units 2/3 are rotatably held on cover 140, rotation protrusion 46C which constitutes the rotational center axis of discharge units, guide 46B) of the dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: a dehumidifier) away from the occupant.
Claim 10: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the controller controls the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) to operate at 60Hz or higher (It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 60Hz or higher in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable involves only routine skill in the art - Optimum value: MPEP 2144.05 II-B).
Claim 12: Kim discloses a method for controlling a dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: air conditioner 1 is a dehumidifier), the dehumidifier including a dehumidifying module (‘D’; see FIG.2) having a compressor (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including compressor), a condenser (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including condenser), an expansion valve (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including expansion valve), an evaporator (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including evaporator), and a fan module (paragraphs [57]: fan and fan motor 26); a controller (control unit 240) that controls the dehumidifying module (‘D’; see FIG.2);
an occupancy sensor (215) that determines whether an occupant is present in an indoor space in which the dehumidifier is located; and
a humidity sensor (paragraph [202]: sensor unit equipped with humidity sensor) that senses an indoor humidity of the indoor space, the method comprising:
determining by the occupancy sensor (215) whether an occupant is present in the indoor space in which the dehumidifier is located;
operating via the controller (240) the compressor (paragraphs [2] [3]: dehumidifier including compressor) when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space; and operating via the controller (240) the compressor when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (based on broadest reasonable interpretation, concerning limitations “when the occupancy sensor determines an occupant is present when the occupancy sensor determines that there are no occupants”; if these conditions are not met and do not occur, operating the compressor is not required by the claim).
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 12, but fails to disclose operating the compressor at a low speed so that low-temperature dry air is discharged; operating the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high-temperature dry air is discharged;
However, Jewell teaches the compressor at a low speed so that low-temperature dry air is discharged; the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high-temperature dry air is discharged (paragraph [47]: increasing speed of compressor 34; paragraph [57]: decreasing speed of compressor 34) (further, based on broadest reasonable interpretation, operating compressor at low or high speed are not required to be performed if occupant determination and no-occupant determinations do not occur, further low/high-temperatures dry air discharged are the result of compressor operation, it is function language) for the purpose of controlling the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room (paragraph [26]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to modify the invention of Kim to include the compressor at a low speed; the compressor at a constant or high speed as taught by in order to control the speed of the compressor to ensure a comfortable environment within the room.
Claim 13: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants (functional language) in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the controller (240) controls the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) to operate at 20 to 30 Hz (Jewell teaches compressor speed between 1500 and 4800 RPM, except for 20 to 30 Hz. 20It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 20 to 30 Hz in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only skill in the art - Optimum Range: MPEP 2144.05 II-A).
Claim 14: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:
determining a location of the occupant (paragraph [202]) using the occupancy sensor (215), when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space (paragraph [202]: sensor 215 includes human body detection sensor that senses the presence and location of a person in the room); and
rotating a discharge cover (paragraph [77]: rotation projection 46C of cover 140 that is any one pair of discharge units 2/3 are rotatably held on cover 140, rotation protrusion 46C which constitutes the rotational center axis of discharge units, guide 46B) of the dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: a dehumidifier) away from the occupant.
Claim 16: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space (paragraph [203]: indoor environment in which air conditioner installed), the controller controls the compressor (Jewell, compressor 34) to operate at 60Hz or higher (It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the apparatus of Jewell to include 60Hz or higher in order to ensure a comfortable environment within the room, since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable involves only routine skill in the art - Optimum value: MPEP 2144.05 II-B).
Claims 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (KR 20190058106 A), in view of Jewell (US 2019/0226689 A1), and in view of Cho (US 2019/0041071 A1).
Claim 3: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:
determining a location of the occupant (paragraph [202]) using the occupancy sensor (215), when the occupancy sensor (215) determines an occupant is present in the indoor space (paragraph [202]: sensor 215 includes human body detection sensor that senses the presence and location of a person in the room); and
rotating a discharge cover (paragraph [77]: rotation projection 46C of cover 140 that is any one pair of discharge units 2/3 are rotatably held on cover 140, rotation protrusion 46C which constitutes the rotational center axis of discharge units, guide 46B) of the dehumidifier (paragraph [33]: a dehumidifier).
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 3, but fails to disclose a discharge cover a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant.
However, Cho teaches a discharge cover a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant (discharge port cover 12, paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; to clarify, predetermined angle is the angle of opening of the cover 12) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include a discharge cover a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Claim 5: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space.
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 5, but fails to disclose tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover.
However, Cho teaches tilting a discharge cover (discharge port cover 12) to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover (paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; see FIG.2) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Claim 9: Kim as modified further fails to disclose the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant.
However, Cho teaches the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant (discharge port cover 12, paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; to clarify, predetermined angle is the angle of opening of the cover 12) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Claim 11: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space.
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 11, but fails to disclose tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover.
However, Cho teaches tilting a discharge cover (discharge port cover 12) to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover (paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; see FIG.2) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Claim 15: Kim as modified further fails to disclose the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant.
However, Cho teaches the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant (discharge port cover 12, paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; to clarify, predetermined angle is the angle of opening of the cover 12) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include the discharge cover is rotated a predetermined angle laterally away from the occupant as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Claim 17: Kim as modified discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising when the occupancy sensor (215) determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space.
Kim discloses the claimed limitations in claim 17, but fails to disclose tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover.
However, Cho teaches tilting a discharge cover (discharge port cover 12) to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover (paragraph [49]: discharge cover 12 opens and closes by tilting up and down; see FIG.2) for the purpose of adjusting direction in which air is discharged (paragraph [49]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to further modify the invention of Kim to include tilting a discharge cover to maximize an opening angle of the discharge cover as taught by Cho in order to adjust direction in which air is discharged.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to all the claims under Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 have been fully considered, but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s arguments on page 10-11: “Jewell does not disclose decreasing the compressor speed to lower the discharge temperature upon occupancy detection. That is Jewell fails to disclose operating the compressor at a low speed so that low temperature dry air is discharged when the occupancy sensor determines that an occupant is present in the indoor space, and operating the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high temperature dry air is discharged when the occupancy sensor determines that there are no occupants in the indoor space. Cho fails to overcome the deficiencies of Kim and Jewell”.
Examiner respectfully disagrees, because as indicated in the office action above, based on broadest reasonable interpretation, when the occupancy sensor determines an occupant is present when the occupancy sensor determines that there are no occupants; such that neither condition can occur. If these conditions are not met and do not occur, operating compressor at low or high speed or constant speed are not required to be performed by the claim.
Therefore operating the compressor at a low speed so that low temperature dry air is discharged and operating the compressor at a constant or high speed so that high temperature dry air is discharged, are not required to be performed by the broadest reasonable interpretation of the claim, because neither the occupancy sensor determines an occupant is present, or neither when the occupancy sensor determines that there are no occupants, can occur at the same time.
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 extension fee 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 KAMRAN TAVAKOLDAVANI whose telephone number is (313)446-6612. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Len Tran can be reached on (571) 272-1184. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KAMRAN TAVAKOLDAVANI/Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/LEN TRAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Prosecution Insights