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 . The instant application with Application Number 18/778,528 filed on 07/19/2024 is presented for examination. As per the preliminary amendment of 06/16/2025, claims 1-10 are cancelled. claims 11-57 are added.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Double Patenting
The non-statutory 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 non-statutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue 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 Longi, 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); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a non-statutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,342,777 since the claims, if allowed, would improperly extend the “right to exclude” already granted in the patent.
The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully disclosed in the patent and is covered by the patent since the patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, as follows: system for inductive charging of an electronic device comprising an inductive charging receiver and a battery electrically coupled to the inductive charging receiver, the base system comprising: an inductive charging coil; a coil drive circuit electrically coupled to the inductive charging coil, wherein the coil drive circuit provides power to the inductive charging coil by switching a voltage input to the inductive charging coil at an operating frequency. The patented application anticipates the instant application claimed.
Furthermore, there is no apparent reason why applicant was prevented from presenting claims corresponding to those of the instant application during prosecution of the application which matured into a patent. See In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). See also MPEP § 804.
Claim 11 of instant application: 18/778,528
Claim 1 of paten’d app. US 11,342,777
A multi-protocol inductive charger for performing inductive power transfer at two different power levels and operating frequencies using two different charging protocols for charging a battery in the same electronic device that includes an inductive charging receiver having a substantially planar receiver coil, a plurality of receiver resonant capacitors, and one or more receiver capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the receiver resonant capacitors to the receiver coil, the inductive charger comprising: a substantially planar inductive charging coil substantially parallel to a power transfer surface; a plurality of charger resonant capacitors; a coil drive circuit that is operated by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating charging current at an operating frequency to the inductive charging coil to generate an alternating magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the power transfer surface to induce a current in the receiver coil that is used for the inductive power transfer for charging the battery in the electronic device and for communication with the inductive charging receiver; one or more charger capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the charger resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit; and a microcontroller configured for receiving messages from the inductive charging receiver by detecting a modulation of the charging current in the charging coil that are encoded by modulation of an amplitude of the induced current in the receiver coil in the inductive charging receiver…receive a first communication of encoded messages from the inductive charging receiver when the receiver capacitor switches are configured to electrically couple a first selection of the receiver resonant capacitors to the receiver coil in the electronic device to form a first receiver resonant circuit having a first receiver resonant frequency, wherein the first communication of encoded messages indicates: a first operating frequency based on the first selection of the receiver resonant capacitors … operate the coil drive circuit to transfer power to the inductive charging receiver; receive a second communication of encoded messages from the inductive charging receiver different from the first communication … messages indicates: a second operating frequency based on the second selection of the receiver resonant capacitors different from the first operating frequency.
A base system for inductive charging of an electronic device comprising an inductive charging receiver and a battery electrically coupled to the inductive charging receiver, the base system comprising: an inductive charging coil; a coil drive circuit electrically coupled to the inductive charging coil, wherein the coil drive circuit provides power to the inductive charging coil by switching a voltage input to the inductive charging coil at an operating frequency; a current detection circuit electrically coupled to the inductive charging coil; and a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured for: operating in a first mode of operation using a first protocol, wherein the first protocol is an inductive charging communication-and-control protocol that comprises uni-directional messaging, wherein the first mode of operation comprises: receiving, using the current detection circuit, a first communication from the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device, wherein the first communication is based on the first protocol; and regulating power delivered to the battery of the electronic device in response to the received first communication; and operating in a second mode of operation using a second protocol, wherein the second protocol is an inductive charging communication-and-control protocol that defines bi-directional messaging, wherein the second mode of operation comprises: receiving, using the current detection circuit, a second communication from the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device, wherein the second communication is based on the second protocol; transmitting, by modulating the operating frequency with the coil drive circuit, a frequency-modulated third communication to the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device, wherein the frequency-modulated third communication is based on the second protocol; and regulating power delivered to the battery of the electronic device in response to the received second communication; wherein the first mode of operation is associated with a first power level and the second mode of operation is associated with a second power level, and wherein and the first power level and the second power level are different.
Claims 12-21 of the instant application are dependent on rejected instant claim 11 above; hence rejected, at least, for their dependency on rejected claim 11.
Claim 22 is rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting over claim 11 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,398,747 since the claims, if allowed, would improperly extend the “right to exclude” already granted in the patent.
The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully disclosed in the patent and is covered by the patent since the patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, as discussed above.
Furthermore, there is no apparent reason why applicant was prevented from presenting claims corresponding to those of the instant application during prosecution of the application which matured into a patent. See In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). See also MPEP § 804.
Claim 22 of instant application: 18/778,528
Claim 20 of paten’d app. US 11,398,747
A multi-protocol inductive charger for performing inductive power transfer at two different power levels and operating frequencies using two different charging protocols to different electronic devices, each electronic device including an inductive charging receiver and a battery to be charged by the inductive power transfer, the inductive charger comprising: a substantially planar inductive charging coil substantially parallel to a power transfer surface; a plurality of charger resonant capacitors; a coil drive circuit that is operated by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating charging current at an operating frequency to the inductive charging coil to generate an alternating magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the power transfer surface to induce a current in a substantially planar receiver coil in the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device receiving the inductive power transfer that is used for the inductive power transfer to the electronic device receiving the inductive power transfer for charging the battery in the electronic device receiving the inductive power transfer and for communication with the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device receiving the inductive power transfer; one or more charger capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the charger resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit… one or more second receiver capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the second receiver resonant capacitors to the second receiver coil in the second electronic device to form a second receiver resonant circuit having a second receiver resonant frequency different from the first receiver resonant frequency: configure the charger capacitor switches to electrically couple a second selection of the charger resonant capacitors different from the first selection of the charger resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit to form a second charger resonant circuit having a second charger resonant frequency different from the first charger resonant frequency; operate the coil drive circuit to transfer power to the second inductive charging receiver; receive a second communication of encoded messages from the inductive charging receiver different from the first communication that indicates: a second operating frequency based on the selection of the second receiver resonant capacitors different from the first operating frequency, and a second power level that represents a second maximum level of power provided from the second inductive charging receiver to the second electronic device for charging the battery in the second electronic device different from the first maximum level of power; and transfer power at the indicated second operating frequency to the second inductive charging receiver to provide power to the second electronic device at a power up to the second power level.
An inductive charger capable of operating at multiple different resonant frequencies for inductive power transfer to an inductive charging receiver comprising a receiver coil in an electronic device to provide power to the electronic device, the inductive charger comprising: a substantially planar inductive charging coil; a plurality of resonant capacitors; a coil drive circuit that provides power to the inductive charging coil by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating voltage at an operating frequency to the inductive charging coil to generate an alternating magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the inductive charging coil; one or more capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit; and a microcontroller for communicating with the inductive charging receiver through the inductive charging coil, wherein the microcontroller is configured for: in a first mode of operation: configuring the capacitor switches to couple a first selection of the resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit to form a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, operating the coil drive circuit with the operating frequency at a first operating frequency for providing inductive power at a first power level, and using a first protocol for communicating with the inductive charging receiver, the first protocol comprising: receiving a message of a first type based on the first protocol from the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device through modulation of current or voltage in the inductive charging coil; and determining a power level for providing inductive power to the electronic device and providing inductive power to the electronic device by regulating a voltage or current at an output of the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device in response to the received messages of the first type; and in a second mode of operation: configuring the capacitor switches to couple a second selection of the resonant capacitors different from the first selection to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit to form a resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency different from the first resonant frequency, operating the coil drive circuit with the operating frequency at a second operating frequency different from the first operating frequency for providing inductive power at a second power level different from the first power level, and using a second protocol different from the first protocol for communicating with the inductive charging receiver, the second protocol comprising: receiving a message of a second type different from the message of the first type based on the second protocol from the inductive charging receiver … by regulating a voltage or current at the output of the inductive charging receiver of the electronic device in response to the received messages of the second type from the inductive charging receiver based on the second protocol.
Claims 23-31 of the instant application are dependent on rejected instant claim 22 above; hence rejected, at least, for their dependency on rejected claim 22.
Claims 32 of the instant application is somewhat similar to claim 11 of the same instant application; therefore, rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting similarly. Instant claims 33-44 are dependent on rejected claim 32 above, hence rejected for same reason.
Claim 45 of the instant application is rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting over claims 29 and 30 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,398,747 since the claims, if allowed, would improperly extend the “right to exclude” already granted in the patent. The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully disclosed in the patent and is covered by the patent since the patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, as follows: an electronic device having a battery and configured for receiving inductive power transfer at two different power levels and operating frequencies using two different charging protocols from two different inductive chargers, each inductive charger comprising a charger coil, a charger resonant capacitor coupled to the charger coil and a coil drive circuit that is operated by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating current at an operating frequency to the charger coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, the electronic device comprising: a multi-protocol inductive charging receiver comprising: a substantially planar inductive receiver coil substantially parallel to a power transfer surface of the electronic device for receiving the inductive power transfer from the inductive charger through an induced current. The patented application anticipates the instant application claimed.
Furthermore, there is no apparent reason why applicant was prevented from presenting claims corresponding to those of the instant application during prosecution of the application which matured into a patent. See In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). See also MPEP § 804.
Claim 45 of instant application: 18/778,528
Claims 29/30 of paten’d apps. US 11,398,747
An electronic device having a battery and configured for receiving inductive power transfer at two different power levels and operating frequencies using two different charging protocols from two different inductive chargers, each inductive charger comprising a charger coil, a charger resonant capacitor coupled to the charger coil and a coil drive circuit that is operated by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating current at an operating frequency to the charger coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, the electronic device comprising: a multi-protocol inductive charging receiver comprising: a substantially planar inductive receiver coil substantially parallel to a power transfer surface of the electronic device for receiving the inductive power transfer from the inductive charger through an induced current in the receiver coil by the alternating magnetic field for charging the battery in the electronic device; a plurality of receiver resonant capacitors and one or more receiver capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the receiver resonant capacitors to the inductive receiver coil; and a microcontroller configured for transmitting to the inductive charger messages that are encoded by modulation of an amplitude of the induced current in the inductive receiver coil in the inductive charging receiver, wherein the microcontroller is configured to: in a first charging protocol when receiving inductive power from a first inductive charger comprising a first charger resonant capacitor and a first inductive charger coil forming a first charger resonant circuit having a first charger resonant frequency: configure the receiver capacitor switches to electrically couple a first selection of the receiver resonant capacitors to the receiver coil and to form a first receiver resonant circuit having a first receiver resonant frequency; receive inductive power from the first inductive charger; transmit a first communication of encoded messages to the first inductive charger, wherein the first communication of encoded messages indicates: a first operating frequency based on the first receiver resonant frequency, and a first power level that represents a first maximum level of power provided from the inductive charging receiver to the electronic device for charging the battery in the electronic device; and receive power at the indicated first operating frequency to the inductive charging receiver to provide power to the electronic device at a power up to the first power level; and in a second charging protocol when receiving inductive power from a second inductive charger comprising a second charger resonant capacitor and a second inductive charger coil forming a second charger resonant circuit having a second charger resonant frequency different from the first charger resonant frequency: configure the receiver capacitor switches to electrically couple a second selection of the receiver resonant capacitors different from the first selection of the receiver resonant capacitors to the receiver coil to form a second receiver resonant circuit having a second receiver resonant frequency different from the first receiver resonant frequency; receive inductive power from the second inductive charger; transmit a second communication of encoded messages to the inductive charger different from the first communication, wherein the second communication of encoded messages indicates: a second operating frequency…
An electronic device comprising an inductive charging system capable of operating at multiple different resonant frequencies for inductive power transfer, the inductive charging system comprising: a substantially planar inductive charging coil; a plurality of resonant capacitors; a coil drive circuit that provides power to the inductive charging coil by switching a voltage input to apply an alternating voltage at an operating frequency to the inductive charging coil to generate an alternating magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the inductive charging coil; one or more capacitor switches configured to electrically couple a selection of the resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit; and a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured for: in a first mode of operation associated with inductive power transfer at a first power level, configuring the capacitor switches to couple a first selection of the resonant capacitors to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit to form a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency; in a second mode of operation associated with inductive power transfer at a second power level different from the first power level, configuring the capacitor switches to couple a second selection of the resonant capacitors different from the first selection to the inductive charging coil and the coil drive circuit to form a resonant circuit having a second resonant frequency different than the first resonant frequency; and switching between using the resonant circuit to receive power at the first or second power level from an inductive charger through inductive power transfer and to transmit power through inductive power transfer to an inductive charging receiver in a portable device to deliver power at the first or second power level.
30. The electronic device of 29, wherein the microcontroller is further configured for communicating with the inductive charging receiver through the inductive charging coil when transmitting power through inductive power transfer to the inductive charging receiver in the portable device to deliver power at the first or second power level, wherein the first mode of operation uses a first protocol for communication, the first protocol comprising: receiving a first type of message based on the first protocol from the inductive charging receiver of the portable device through a modulation of a current in the inductive charging coil; and determining a power level for providing inductive power to the electronic device and providing inductive power to the electronic device by regulating a voltage or current at an output of the inductive charging receiver of the portable device in response to received messages from the inductive charging receiver based on the first protocol; and wherein the second mode of operation uses a second protocol for communication, the second protocol comprising: receiving a second type of message based on the second protocol from the inductive charging receiver of the portable device through the modulation of a current in the inductive charging coil; and determining a power level for providing inductive power to the electronic device and providing inductive power to the electronic device by regulating a voltage or current at the output of the inductive charging receiver of the portable device in response to received messages from the inductive charging receiver based on the second protocol…
Claims 46-57 of the instant application are dependent on rejected instant claim 45 above; hence rejected, at least, for their dependency on rejected claim 45.
Applicant is also advised to consider related patented application numbers, US 12,046,414, US11,929,202, US10,141,770, US9,178,369 have somewhat similar non-statutory doble patenting issues with the current application number 18/778,528.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11, 22, 32 and 45 are objected to as being rejected based on non-statutory double patenting rejections as described above, but would be allowable if overcoming the objection or/and rejection sated above.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YALKEW FANTU whose telephone number is (571)272-8928. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00AM-4:00PM.
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/YALKEW FANTU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859
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