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 .
2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/820,362 filed on August 30th, 2024 in which claims 1-19 are pending and ready for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS have been considered.
Drawings
4. The examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 08/30/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Claims 1-2 and 4-7 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Saiba et al. (JP 2005-211873).
8. Regarding independent claim 1: Saiba et al. disclosed a head unit ([0010], line 2) comprising:
an ejection unit that includes a piezoelectric element driven by a drive signal and is configured to eject a liquid in accordance with drive of the piezoelectric element ([0053], lines 1-7);
a waveform shaping circuit to which a first residual vibration signal corresponding to a residual vibration caused by the drive signal is input, and which is configured to output a second residual vibration signal obtained by shaping a waveform of the first residual vibration signal ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4); and
a determination circuit configured to determine a state of the ejection unit ([0082], lines 1-2), wherein
the waveform shaping circuit includes an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal ([0081], lines 1-3; the non-inverting input, the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 (not shown)),
the amplifier circuit is configured to
output an offset voltage signal from the output terminal in a first state in which a first constant voltage signal is input to the first input terminal and a second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal (The normal output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 when a constant voltage difference is applied between the non-inverting input and the inverting input), and
output the second residual vibration signal from the output terminal in a second state in which the first residual vibration signal is input to the first input terminal, and the second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4; the amplification circuit outputs an amplified residual vibration signal when the original residual vibration signal is input into the amplification circuit. The second output can be grounded or set to a reference potential), and
the determination circuit is configured to determine the state of the ejection unit based on the second residual vibration signal and an offset value which is a voltage of the offset voltage signal ([0081], lines 6-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
9. Regarding claim 2: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination circuit is configured to calculate waveform information of the second residual vibration signal based on the offset value in the second state, and determine the state of the ejection unit based on the waveform information calculated ([0081], lines 6-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
10. Regarding claim 4: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 1 further comprising: a storage circuit configured to store the offset value ([0085], lines 1-4), wherein the offset value stored in the storage circuit is updated every predetermined period ([0138], lines 1-8; the stored information is updated after each recovery flushing).
11. Regarding claim 5: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 4, wherein the storage circuit includes a nonvolatile memory device configured to store the offset value ([0058], lines 1-5).
12. Regarding claim 6: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 5 further comprising: a communication interface circuit configured to communicate with an external device (not shown), wherein the offset value stored in the storage circuit is updated via the communication interface circuit ([0059], lines 1-8; [0011], lines 1-4 and [0138], lines 1-8. A print job can be requested from an external information processing apparatus; flushing is performed before and after each printing operation and the stored information is updated after each recovery flushing).
13. Regarding claim 7: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 1, wherein the amplifier circuit includes a first power supply input terminal configured to define a lower limit of a voltage value of a signal output from the output terminal (The negative rail of the DC supply voltage of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit) and a second power supply input terminal configured to define an upper limit of the voltage value of the signal output from the output terminal (The positive rail of the DC supply voltage of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit), a ground potential is input to the first power supply input terminal, and a positive potential higher than the ground potential is input to the second power supply input terminal (The case of a single supply for the DC supply voltage).
14. Regarding claim 9: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 1, wherein the determination circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the second residual vibration signal into a digital signal ([0081], lines 3-4), and is configured to determine the state of the ejection unit based on the second residual vibration signal converted into the digital signal and the offset value ([0081], lines 4-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
15. Claims 10-11, 13-16 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Saiba et al. (JP 2005-211873).
16. Regarding independent claim 10: Saiba et al. disclosed a liquid ejection apparatus ([0002], line 1; also see Fig. 1) comprising:
a head unit configured to eject a liquid onto a medium ([0053], lines 1-7); and
a control unit configured to control an operation of the head unit ([0057], lines 1-4), wherein
the head unit includes
an ejection unit that includes a piezoelectric element configured to be driven by a drive signal, and that is configured to eject the liquid in accordance with drive of the piezoelectric element ([0053], lines 1-7),
a waveform shaping circuit to which a first residual vibration signal corresponding to a residual vibration caused by the drive signal is input, and which is configured to output a second residual vibration signal obtained by shaping a waveform of the first residual vibration signal ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4), and
a determination circuit configured to determine a state of the ejection unit ([0082], lines 1-2), the waveform shaping circuit includes an amplifier circuit including a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal ([0081], lines 1-3; the non-inverting input, the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 (not shown)),
the amplifier circuit is configured to
output an offset voltage signal from the output terminal in a first state in which a first constant voltage signal is input to the first input terminal and a second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal (The normal output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 when a constant voltage difference is applied between the non-inverting input and the inverting input), and
output the second residual vibration signal from the output terminal in a second state in which the first residual vibration signal is input to the first input terminal and the second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4; the amplification circuit outputs an amplified residual vibration signal when the original residual vibration signal is input into the amplification circuit. The second output can be grounded or set to a reference potential), and
the determination circuit determines the state of the ejection unit based on the second residual vibration signal and an offset value ([0081], lines 6-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
17. Regarding claim 11: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the determination circuit is configured to calculate waveform information of the second residual vibration signal based on the offset value in the second state, and determine the state of the ejection unit based on the waveform information calculated ([0081], lines 6-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
18. Regarding claim 13: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a storage circuit configured to store the offset value ([0085], lines 1-4), wherein the offset value stored in the storage circuit is updated every predetermined period ([0138], lines 1-8; the stored information is updated after each recovery flushing).
19. Regarding claim 14: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the storage circuit includes a nonvolatile memory device configured to store the offset value ([0058], lines 1-5).
20. Regarding claim 15: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a communication interface circuit configured to communicate with an external device, wherein the offset value stored in the storage circuit is updated via the communication interface circuit ([0059], lines 1-8; [0011], lines 1-4 and [0138], lines 1-8. A print job can be requested from an external information processing apparatus; flushing is performed before and after each printing operation and the stored information is updated after each recovery flushing).
21. Regarding claim 16: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the amplifier circuit includes a first power supply input terminal configured to define a lower limit of a voltage value of a signal output from the output terminal (The negative rail of the DC supply voltage of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit) and a second power supply input terminal configured to define an upper limit of the voltage value of the signal output from the output terminal (The positive rail of the DC supply voltage of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit), a ground potential is input to the first power supply input terminal, and a positive potential higher than the ground potential is input to the second power supply input terminal (The case of a single supply for the DC supply voltage).
22. Regarding claim 18: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the determination circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the second residual vibration signal into a digital signal ([0081], lines 3-4), and is configured to determine the state of the ejection unit based on the second residual vibration signal converted into the digital signal and the offset value ([0081], lines 4-13 and [0082], lines 1-3).
23. Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Saiba et al. (JP 2005-211873).
24. Regarding independent claim 19: Saiba et al. disclosed a method of controlling a liquid ejection apparatus ([0025], lines 1-5) including
an ejection unit that includes a piezoelectric element configured to be driven by a drive signal, and that is configured to eject a liquid in accordance with drive of the piezoelectric element ([0053], lines 1-7),
a waveform shaping circuit which includes an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal ([0081], lines 1-3; the non-inverting input, the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 (not shown)), to which a first residual vibration signal corresponding to a residual vibration caused by the drive signal is input, and which is configured to output a second residual vibration signal obtained by shaping a waveform of the first residual vibration signal ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4),
a determination circuit configured to determine a state of the ejection unit ([0082], lines 1-2), and
a storage circuit configured to store an offset value of the second residual vibration signal ([0085], lines 1-4), the method comprising:
storing a voltage value of an offset voltage signal output ([0085], lines 1-4) from the output terminal in a first state in which a first constant voltage signal is input to the first input terminal and a second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal in the storage circuit as the offset value (The normal output of the operational amplifier of the amplification circuit 182 when a constant voltage difference is applied between the non-inverting input and the inverting input);
driving the piezoelectric element to generate the residual vibration ([0080], lines 6-9); and
determining the state of the ejection unit based on the second residual vibration signal output from the output terminal ([0081], lines 6-13 and [0082], lines 1-3) in a second state in which the first residual vibration signal is input to the first input terminal and the second constant voltage signal is input to the second input terminal, and the offset value ([0080], lines 6-9 and [0081], lines 1-4; the amplification circuit outputs an amplified residual vibration signal when the original residual vibration signal is input into the amplification circuit. The second output can be grounded or set to a reference potential).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
25. 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.
26. 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 of this title, 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.
27. Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Saiba et al. (JP 2005-211873), in view of Namiki (JP 2006-126368).
28. Regarding claim 8: Saiba et al. disclosed the head unit according to claim 1.
Saiba et al. are silent about wherein the determination circuit is configured to output an error information signal when a voltage value of the offset voltage signal input in the first state exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.
Namiki disclosed in a printing apparatus ([0002], line 1), a controller ([0039], line 5) configured to output an error information signal ([0049], lines 1-3) when a voltage value of the output voltage of an amplification circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage ([0068], lines 7-11).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Namiki with those of Saiba et al. by informing the operator of the occurrence of the error in order to prevent further damage to the apparatus as disclosed by Namiki in paragraph [0068].
29. Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Saiba et al. (JP 2005-211873), in view of Namiki (JP 2006-126368)
30. Regarding claim 17: Saiba et al. disclosed the liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10.
Saiba et al. are silent about wherein the determination circuit is configured to output an error information signal when a voltage value of the offset voltage signal input in the first state exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.
Namiki disclosed in a printing apparatus ([0002], line 1), a controller ([0039], line 5) configured to output an error information signal ([0049], lines 1-3) when a voltage value of the output voltage of an amplification circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage ([0068], lines 7-11).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Namiki with those of Saiba et al. by informing the operator of the occurrence of the error in order to prevent further damage to the apparatus as disclosed by Namiki in paragraph [0068].
Allowable Subject Matter
31. Claims 3 and 12 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.
32. Claims 3 and 12 contain allowable subject matter because the prior art or record failed to disclose the limitation “wherein the waveform shaping circuit includes a first resistance element having one end to which a third constant voltage signal is input and another end electrically coupled to the second input terminal, and a second resistance element having one end electrically coupled to the second input terminal and another end to which a ground potential is input, at least one of the first resistance element and the second resistance element includes a variable resistance element, and the determination circuit is configured to adjust a resistance value of the variable resistance element so that the offset value approximates to the assumed offset value in the first state, calculate waveform information of the second residual vibration signal based on the assumed offset value in the second state, and determine the state of the ejection unit based on the waveform information calculated”.
Conclusion
33. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAOVI M. AMEH whose telephone number is (571)272-4578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
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35. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, RICARDO MAGALLANES can be reached at (571)272-5960. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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