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 .
This action is responsive to the preliminary amendment filed on 03/26/2025. Claims 1-6 are pending in this application. Claim 5 has been amended.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
the limitation “an indoor unit that performs heat exchange” in claim 1 includes a generic/nonce term “unit” coupled with function “heat exchange” without reciting sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. A return to the specification provides the limitation “an indoor unit” can be implemented in various ways, such as “an indoor heat exchanger” see figure 1. Therefore, the limitation is interpreted as the same or equivalents thereof;
the limitation “a heat storage unit” in claim 1 includes a generic/nonce term “unit” coupled with function “heat storage” without reciting sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. A return to the specification provides the limitation “a heat storage unit” can be implemented in various ways, such as “a heat storage chamber” (35) see figure 1. Therefore, the limitation is interpreted as the same or equivalents thereof;
the limitation “an outdoor unit that perform heat exchange” in claim 1 includes a generic/nonce term “unit” coupled with function “heat exchange” without reciting sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. A return to the specification provides the limitation “an outdoor unit” can be implemented in various ways, such as “an outdoor heat exchanger” see figure 1. Therefore, the limitation is interpreted as the same or equivalents thereof;
the limitation “a control unit” in claim 1 includes a generic/nonce term “unit” coupled with function “control” without reciting sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. A return to the specification provides the limitation “a control unit” can be implemented in various ways, such as “a controller”, “a CPU” or “a processor” see figure 2. Therefore, the limitation is interpreted as the same or equivalents thereof; and
the limitation “a detection unit” in claim 3 includes a generic/nonce term “unit” coupled with function “detection” without reciting sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. A return to the specification provides the limitation “a detection unit” can be implemented in various ways, such as “a heat storage unit sensor” see figure 2. Therefore, the limitation is interpreted as the same or equivalents thereof.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1 and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Guo et al. (CN104633836A).
Regarding claim 1, Guo discloses an air conditioner comprising:
a compressor (01) that compresses a refrigerant (see figure 5);
an indoor unit (10) that performs heat exchange between air inside a room and the refrigerant (see figure 5);
an outdoor unit (20) that performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant (see figure 5);
a heat storage unit (60) that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant (see figure 5);
a room temperature sensor (an indoor environment temperature detection device 12) that detects an indoor temperature that is a temperature inside the room (see figure 5); and
a control unit (see figures 1-2) that drives the compressor (raise frequency of the compressor 01) based on a difference (the difference of the indoor environment temperature and the user set temperature) between the indoor temperature (the indoor environment temperature) and a set temperature (the user set temperature; paragraph [0044]-[0045]), and that also allows the heat storage unit (60) to perform heat exchange (the real-time detects the temperature of the heat storage device is less than the first set temperature value) when the difference falls below a predetermined value (the first set temperature difference value BI; paragraph [0044]; see figures 1-2 and 5).
Regarding claim 6, Liu discloses the control unit (see figures 1-2) operates the compressor at a minimum rotational speed (the compressor reduces frequency to the first set frequency value; paragraph [0052]), and also allows the heat storage unit (60) to perform heat exchange when the difference (the difference of the indoor environment temperature and the user set temperature) falls below (less than) the predetermined value (the first set temperature difference value BI; paragraph [0044]; see figures 1-2 and 5).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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, 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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kato et al. (JP2000002474A) in view of Guo.
Regarding claim 1, Kato discloses an air conditioner comprising:
a compressor (11) that compresses a refrigerant (see figure 1);
an indoor unit (g or h) that performs heat exchange between air inside a room and the refrigerant (the heat exchanger 22a or 22b performs the claimed heat exchange; see figure 1);
an outdoor unit (f) that performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant (the heat exchanger 13 performs the claimed heat exchange; see figure 1);
a heat storage unit (20) that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant (see figure 1);
and a control unit (41; see figure 12).
However, Kato fails to disclose a room temperature sensor that detects an indoor temperature that is a temperature inside the room; and a control unit that drives the compressor based on a difference between the indoor temperature and a set temperature, and that also allows the heat storage unit to perform heat exchange when the difference falls below a predetermined value.
Guo teaches an air conditioner comprising a room temperature sensor (an indoor environment temperature detection device 12) that detects an indoor temperature that is a temperature inside the room (see figure 5); and a control unit (see figures 1-2) that drives the compressor (raise frequency of the compressor 01) based on a difference (the difference of the indoor environment temperature and the user set temperature) between the indoor temperature (the indoor environment temperature) and a set temperature (the user set temperature; paragraph [0044]-[0045]), and that also allows the heat storage unit (60) to perform heat exchange (the real-time detects the temperature of the heat storage device is less than the first set temperature value) when the difference falls below a predetermined value (the first set temperature difference value BI; paragraph [0044]; see figures 1-2 and 5).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the claim invention to modify the air conditioner of Kato to incorporate the claimed room temperature sensor and the claimed control feature of the compressor and the heat storage unit based on temperature different as taught by Guo in order to improve the operations of the air condition by providing better control for the compressor and the heat storage unit based on more control parameters.
Regarding claim 2, Kato discloses the air conditioner further comprising: a first refrigerant circuit (the first circuit which associated with the compressor 11) that allows a first refrigerant to circulate (see figure 1);
a second refrigerant circuit (the second circuit which associated with the pump 21 and the heat storage unit 20) that allows a second refrigerant to circulate (see figure 1); and
a heat exchanger (16 and 19) that performs heat exchange between the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant (see figure 1), wherein the compressor (11) and the outdoor unit (f) are included in the first refrigerant circuit (see figure 1), and the indoor unit (g or h) and the heat storage unit (20) are included in the second refrigerant circuit (see figure 1).
Regarding claim 6, Kato as modified discloses the control unit (see figures 1-2) operates the compressor at a minimum rotational speed (the compressor reduces frequency to the first set frequency value; paragraph [0052], Guo), and also allows the heat storage unit (20, Kato) to perform heat exchange when the difference (the difference of the indoor environment temperature and the user set temperature) falls below (less than) the predetermined value (the first set temperature difference value BI; paragraph [0044]; see figures 1-2 and 5 of Guo).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-5 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The primary reference Guo or Kato taken alone or in combination fails to disclose the claimed control relationship between the compressor and the heat storage unit of the air conditioner as required in claims 3-5. Also, the prior art of record fails to provide further teachings or motivations to modify the air conditioner of Guo or Kato in order to arrive the claim invention. Therefore, claims 3-5 are allowable.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KUN KAI MA whose telephone number is (571)-270-3530. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.
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/KUN KAI MA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763