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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory 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 nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,081,945. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they are claiming a method for operating and an apparatus of a switched capacitor DC-DC converter comprising an input part configured for receiving charge from a power source at an input voltage of an input voltage range, an output part comprising multiple output ports, the output part being configured for supplying charge to the multiple output ports for providing at least three predefined output voltages or multiple predefined output voltages, at least three flying capacitors or a plurality of flying capacitors configured for redistributing charge from the power source to the multiple output ports or in between the multiple output ports, and a switching circuitry or switching arrangements configured for implementing a capacitor switching scheme so as to provide the multiple predefined output voltages based on the input voltage, wherein the capacitor switching scheme comprises a switching configuration comprising at least three switching sub-configurations or multiple switching sub-configurations, each switching sub-configuration being applied during an associated phase.
The limitations in claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,081,945 cover the limitations in claims 1-20 of the present invention.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Siegumfeldt (US 9,467,765) teaches a hearing instrument including a first microphone, a control and processing circuit comprising a power supply configured to provide a first microphone supply voltage for the first microphone, a first controllable switch comprising a first switch control terminal, the first controllable switch configured to selectively connect the first microphone supply voltage to and disconnect the first microphone supply voltage from the first microphone in accordance with a first switch control signal.
Junmin et al. (US 2017/0264192) teaches a system comprising a switched capacitor circuit comprising a plurality of voltage divider circuit stages including a first voltage divider circuit stage coupled to a second voltage divider circuit stage, and a controller configured to supply a clock signal to the first voltage divider circuit stage to provide a first voltage on an output node of the first voltage divider circuit stage during a first half cycle of the clock signal and a second voltage on the output node during a second half cycle of the clock signal.
Fan et al. (US 2026/0025070) teaches a charge pump circuit comprising a first switch, a second switch and a flying capacitor, wherein the first switch receives driving voltage when the clock is at the first level, while the second switch receives driving voltage at the second level, and wherein the flying capacitor charges via the first switch and discharges via the second switch to generate the output voltage.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HUYEN D LE whose telephone number is (571) 272-7502. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 am-6:00 pm.
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, Fan Tsang can be reached at (571) 272-7547. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/HUYEN D LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2694 HL
March 4, 2026