DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the request for continued examination filed on 7/10/2026.
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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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 allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). 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, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/10/2026 has been entered.
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.
Claims 6-8, 14-16 and 19-20 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Regarding claims 6, 14, and 19, it’s not clear as to how the controller controls the injection stage to reduce voltage across the leakage inductance by causing the injection windings to be driven high in response to the a power transfer winding being driven low, because the claims do not mention how the controller is determining that the power transfer winding is being driven low. A connection between the controller and the power transfer winding or communication of the power transfer winding being driven low being sent to the controller is not mentioned. Regarding claims 7 and 15, it’s not clear as to how the controller controls the injection stage to reduce voltage across the leakage inductance by causing the injection windings to be driven high in response to one of the power transfer windings being driven low while at least one other power transfer windings being driven high, because the claims do not mention how the controller is determining that the power transfer windings are being driven low or high. A connection between the controller and the power transfer windings or communication of the power transfer windings being driven low or high being sent to the controller is not mentioned. Regarding claims 8, 16, and 20, it’s not clear as to how the controller controls the injection stage to reduce voltage across the leakage inductance by causing the injection windings to be driven high in response to one of the power transfer windings being driven high, because the claims do not mention how the controller is determining that one of the power transfer windings is being driven high. A connection between the controller and the power transfer windings or communication of the power transfer windings being driven high being sent to the controller is not mentioned.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 9-13, and 17-18 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Regarding claim 1, the prior art fails to teach or disclose a switching power converter, comprising: a magnetic core, including: a first rail and a second rail separated from each other in a first direction, a plurality of power transfer rungs disposed between the first rail and the second rail in the first direction, each power transfer rung being separated from each other power transfer rung in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, each power transfer winding being wound around a respective one of the plurality of power transfer rungs, and a plurality of injection rungs disposed between the first rail and the second rail in the first direction, each injection rung being separated from each other injection rung in the second direction, each injection winding being wound around a respective one of the plurality of injection rungs; and a controller configured to: control duty cycle of the power stages to regulate at least one parameter of the switching power converter, and control the injection stage to reduce voltage across a respective leakage inductance of each power transfer winding, in combination with all the limitations set forth in claim 1. Regarding claim 9, the prior art fails to teach or disclose a switching power converter, comprising: a magnetic core, including: a first rail and a second rail separated from each other in a first direction, a plurality of power transfer rungs disposed between the first rail and the second rail in the first direction, each power transfer rung being separated from each other power transfer rung in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, each power transfer winding being wound around a respective one of the plurality of power transfer rungs, and an injection rung disposed between the first rail and the second rail in the first direction, the injection winding being wound around the injection rung; and a controller configured to: control duty cycle of the power stages to regulate at least one parameter of the switching power converter, and control the injection stage to reduce voltage across a respective leakage inductance of each power transfer winding, in combination with all the limitations set forth in claim 9. Regarding claim 18, the prior art fails to teach or disclose a switching power converter, comprising magnetic core, including: a first rail and a second rail separated from each other in a first direction, a plurality of power transfer rungs disposed between the first rail and the second rail in the first direction, each power transfer rung being separated from each other power transfer rung in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, each power transfer winding being wound around a respective one of the plurality of power transfer rungs, and the injection winding being wound around all of the plurality of power transfer rungs; and a controller configured to: control duty cycle of the power stages to regulate at least one parameter of the switching power converter, and control the injection stage to reduce voltage across a respective leakage inductance of each power transfer winding, in combination with all the limitations set forth in claim 18.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFREY A GBLENDE whose telephone number is (571)270-5472. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Monica Lewis can be reached at 571-272-1838. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEFFREY A GBLENDE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
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