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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in KR on 10/12/2023. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the KR10-2023-0135714 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/30/2025 and 1/28/2026 was filed after the mailing date of the application on 9/4/2024. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 1-20 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 claim 1, claim 1 recites “an outlet temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger” which renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the temperature of the water or refrigerant is being detected at the outlet of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger. Clarity is advised.
Regarding claim 1, claim 1 recites “a discharge pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor; a suction pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of a refrigerant that enters the compressor” which renders the claim indefinite 1) because both recitations of “pressure’ lacks antecedent basis and it is unclear if the refrigerant is the same refrigerant or a different refrigerant. For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted to recite -- a discharge pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor; a suction pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the refrigerant that enters the compressor--.
Regarding claim 6, the phrase "such that as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted to recite -- when --.
Regarding claim 8, the phrase "such that as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted to recite -- when --.
Regarding claim 13, claim 13 recites “a first target discharge temperature of a compressor based on outlet temperature of a water-refrigerant heat exchanger” which renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the temperature of the water or refrigerant is being detected at the outlet of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger. Clarity is advised.
Regarding claim 13, claim 13 recites “obtaining a second target discharge temperature of the compressor based on pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and pressure of a refrigerant that enters the compressor” which renders the claim indefinite 1) because both recitations of “pressure’ lacks antecedent basis and it is unclear if the refrigerant is the same refrigerant or a different refrigerant. For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted to recite -- obtaining a second target discharge temperature of the compressor based on a pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and a pressure of the refrigerant that enters the compressor --.
Regarding claim 16, claim 16 recites “an outlet temperature of water heat-exchanged with a refrigerant in a water-refrigerant heat exchanger…obtaining a first target discharge temperature based on the outlet temperature and the outside temperature” which renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear if the outlet temperature is the outlet of water or the outlet of refrigerant since the water-refrigerant heat exchanger includes two outlets. Clarity is advised.
Regarding claim 16, claim 16 recites “an outlet temperature of water heat-exchanged with a refrigerant in a water-refrigerant heat exchanger…detecting a temperature of a refrigerant heat-exchanged in an outdoor heat exchanger” which renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear if the refrigerant is the same refrigerant or a different refrigerant. For examination purposes, the limitation will be interpreted to recite -- detecting a temperature of the refrigerant heat-exchanged in an outdoor heat exchanger --.
Claims 2-5, 7, 9-12, 14-16 and 17-20 are rejected based on dependency from a rejected claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claims 1, 13, the subject matter which is considered to distinguish from the closest prior art of record, Matsuda et al (US 20200191447).
Matsuda teaches a heat pump system (100) comprising: a compressor (2) ; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger (5) connected to the compressor; an expansion valve (10) connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger (3) connected to the expansion valve; an outlet temperature sensor (74) configured to detect an outlet temperature of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; an outside temperature sensor (75) configured to detect an outside temperature (paragraph 0038); a discharge pressure sensor (71) configured to detect a pressure of a refrigerant discharged from the compressor (paragraph 0037); a suction pressure (pressure sensor, paragraph 0103) sensor configured to detect a pressure of the refrigerant that enters the compressor (paragraph 0103); and at least one processor (60) configured to obtain, during a heating operation (paragraph 0049-0059) in contrast to the claimed features of at least one processor configured to obtain, during a heating operation, a first target discharge temperature of the compressor based on an output value from the outlet temperature sensor and an output value from the outside temperature sensor, obtain a second target discharge temperature of the compressor based on an output value from the discharge pressure sensor and an output value from the suction pressure sensor, to set any one of the first target discharge temperature or the second target discharge temperature to a final target discharge temperature, and to control the expansion valve based on the final target discharge temperature as recited in claim 1, setting any one of the first target discharge temperature or the second target discharge temperature to a final target discharge temperature; and controlling an expansion valve based on the final target discharge temperature as recited in claim 13, or setting any one of the first target discharge temperature or the second target discharge temperature to a final target discharge temperature; and controlling an expansion valve connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger based on the final target discharge temperature as recited in claim 16
Therefore, it would not be obvious to modify the technique of the prior art structures to have the apparatus as claimed without improper hindsight and independent claims 1, 13 and 16 with dependent claims therefrom are considered allowable.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH J MARTIN whose telephone number is (571)270-3840. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30-3:00 CT pm M-F.
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, Jerry-Daryl Fletcher can be reached at (571) 270-5054. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ELIZABETH J MARTIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
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