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 .
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner's amendment was given via a phone conversation with attorney Michael Doerr (52,825) on 1/28/2026.
The application has been amended as follows:
12. A refrigeration cycle device comprising:
a first evaporation unit and a second evaporation unit configured to evaporate a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit, the first evaporation unit and the second evaporation unit being connected in parallel to a flow of the refrigerant;
an accumulator configured to separate the refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporation unit into gas and liquid to store a surplus refrigerant;
a compressor configured to draw and compress a gas refrigerant separated in the accumulator; and
a bypass passage through which the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporation unit flows to a suction port of the compressor while bypassing the accumulator; a heat medium circuit circulating a heat medium that conveys heat of a first object to be cooled and heat of a second object to be cooled; and
a heat medium circuit switching unit configured to switch the heat medium circuit in which heat is exchanged between the heat medium having heat-absorbed from at least one of the first object to be cooled and the second object to be cooled, and the refrigerant flowing through the first evaporation unit.
CLAIM INTERPRETATION
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Claim limitations:
Segments of claims 1, 10, 12; the claim limitations “firs evaporation unit” and “second evaporation unit” have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses/they use a generic placeholders “unit” coupled with functional language “to evaporate” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Segment of claims 12, 13; the claim limitation “heat medium circuit switching unit” has been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses/they use a generic placeholders “unit” coupled with functional language “to switch” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Segment of claim 14; the claim limitation “bypass side decompression unit” has been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses/they use a generic placeholders “unit” coupled with functional language “decompress” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Since the claim limitation(s) invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claims 1, 10, 12-14 including depending claims 2-9 have been interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation:
“firs evaporation unit” and “second evaporation unit” have been interpreted to be “firs evaporator” and “second evaporator” (paragraph [104]).
“bypass side decompression unit” has been interpreted to be “bypass side decompression valve (paragraph [300]).
“heat medium circuit switching unit” has been interpreted to be three way valve (paragraph [85]).
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 12 including depending claim 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 12 in line 14 recites “a heat medium circuit”. It is unclear if the bolded limitation refers to the previously claimed limitation in the claim. Not only does the phrase in claim 12 lacks a definite article (e.g. the or said) but the limitation is inconsistently recited.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 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. Claims 4, 5, 7 are only objected because they are depending from allowable claims 3, 6. Claim 13 cannot be allowable at this time, because it is depending from claim 12 which is rejected under 112(b) rejections.
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 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, 10, 12, 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Saunders (US 2018/0195794 A1).
Claim 1: Saunders discloses a refrigeration cycle device (FIG.1) comprising:
a first evaporation unit (50) and a second evaporation unit (58) configured to evaporate a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit (see FIG.1);
an accumulator (68) configured to separate the refrigerant flowing out of at least one of the first evaporation unit (50) and the second evaporation unit into gas and liquid, and to store a surplus refrigerant (intended use); and
a compressor (18) configured to draw and compress a gas refrigerant separated in the accumulator, wherein
the first evaporation unit (50) and the second evaporation unit (58) are connected in parallel to a flow of the refrigerant (shown in figure 1),
when a path of an energy flow in which heat of a first object (intended use) to be cooled moves to a suction refrigerant drawn into the compressor (18) via at least one of the first evaporation unit (50) is defined as a first path (50, 66, 68, 18, 72), and
a path of an energy flow in which heat of a second object (intended use) to be cooled moves to the suction refrigerant via at least one of the second evaporation unit (58) is defined as a second path (58,70,20),
the accumulator (68) is disposed in at least one of the first path (path includes 50, 66, 68, 18, 72), and wherein
when the accumulator is disposed in the first path (50, 66, 68, 18, 72),
the refrigeration circuit includes
a first bypass path (annotated FIG.1) through which heat of the first object (intended use) to be cooled moves while bypassing the accumulator (68), and
a first switching unit (66) capable of switching between a first circulation mode in which heat of the first object to be cooled is moved via the accumulator (68), and a first bypass circulation mode in which heat of the first object to be cooled is moved via the first bypass path (annotated FIG.1), wherein the bypass valve (66) bypasses the accumulator (68), and wherein when the accumulator is disposed in the second path, the refrigeration circuit includes a second bypass path through which heat of the second object to be cooled moves while bypassing the accumulator, and a second switching unit capable of switching between a second circulation mode in which heat of the second object to be cooled is moved via the accumulator, and a second bypass circulation mode in which heat of the second object to be cooled is moved via the second bypass path.
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Claim 10: Saunders discloses a refrigeration cycle device (FIG.1) comprising:
a first evaporation unit (50) and a second evaporation unit (58) configured to evaporate a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit (see FIG.1);
an accumulator (68) configured to separate the refrigerant flowing out of at least one of the first evaporation unit (50) and the second evaporation unit into gas and liquid, and to store a surplus refrigerant (intended use); and
a compressor (18) configured to draw and compress a gas refrigerant separated in the accumulator, wherein
the first evaporation unit (50) and the second evaporation unit (58) are connected in parallel to a flow of the refrigerant (shown in figure 1), and
the refrigeration circuit (see FIG.1) includes
a bypass passage (annotated FIG.1) configured to guide at least one of the refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporation unit (50) and the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporation unit (58) to a suction port of the compressor (18) while bypassing the accumulator (18), and
a refrigerant circuit switching unit (66) configured to switch a refrigerant cycle in which at least one of the refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporation unit (50) and the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporation unit flows into the accumulator (18).
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Claim 12: Saunders discloses a refrigeration cycle device (FIG.1) comprising:
a first evaporation unit (50) and a second evaporation unit (58) configured to evaporate a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit (functional language),
a first evaporation unit (50) and a second evaporation unit (58) being connected in parallel to a flow of the refrigerant;
an accumulator (68) configured to separate the refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporation unit (50) into gas and liquid to store a surplus refrigerant (intended use);
a compressor (20) configured to draw and compress a gas refrigerant separated in the accumulator (68; to clarify, flow from accumulator 68 into compressor 20 via check valve 72); and
a bypass passage (annotated FIG.1; to clarify, bypass passage includes - valve 60/valve 62/58/20 - while bypassing circuit includes - valve 52/valve 54/50/accumulator 68) through which the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporation unit (58) flows to a suction port of the compressor (20) while bypassing the accumulator (68);
a heat medium circuit (circuit connecting 66/70/20) circulating a heat medium that conveys heat of a first object to be cooled and heat of a second object to be cooled (functional language); and
a heat medium circuit switching unit (66) configured
to switch a heat medium circuit (circuit includes 66/70/20) in which heat is exchanged between the heat medium having heat-absorbed from at least one of the first object (intended use) to be cooled and the second object to be cooled, and
the refrigerant flowing through the first evaporation unit (50).
[AltContent: textbox (circuit flowing into 68)][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector][AltContent: textbox (bypass path)][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector]
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Claim 14: Saunders discloses the apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a bypass side decompression unit (solenoid valve 52 used as decompression unit; to clarify decompression valve used for pressure control can be a solenoid valve; flow from solenoid valve 52 into the bypass passage via 50) configured to decompress the refrigerant flowing through the bypass passage (annotated FIG.1).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure which is relevant to refrigeration apparatus:
Hata (US 2015/0052925 A1).
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.
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/KAMRAN TAVAKOLDAVANI/Examiner, Art Unit 3763 /PAUL ALVARE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763