DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in response to the application filed on 12/31/2024.
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/30/2025 and 09/30/2025 has been considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in claims 3, 6. Therefore, the “the logic OR gate unit outputs the fixed on frequency pulse width signal when the fixed on frequency pulse width signal is at a high level, and the logic OR gate unit outputs the COT pulse width signal when the fixed on frequency pulse width signal is at a low level”, “ the reference voltage is generated by collecting information of the loop in real time”, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
Claim Objections
Claims 2, 6-7, 11 and 12 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 2 last lines recites “a target pulse signal” should be “the target pulse width signal”. Claim 6 line 3 recites “a ripple voltage” should be “the ripple voltage”. Claim 7 lines 3 and 11 “a same comparator” and “the comparator” these should be changed to “the first comparator”. Claim 11 lines 6, 8 and 11 recite “a pulse width signal output”, “the pulse width signal output” and “a ripple voltage” these should be change to “the target pulse width signal output”, “the target pulse width signal output” and “the ripple voltage”. Claim 12 line 5 “an output feedback voltage” should be “the output feedback voltage”. Appropriate correction is required.
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 2-12 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.
Claim 2 lined 7-10 recite “the time expansion unit is configured to output a first control signal to the second control unit based on the fixed on frequency pulse width signal when the fixed on frequency pulse width signal is within a first preset time period, and output a second control signal to the second control unit based on the received-fixed on frequency pulse width signal when the fixed on frequency pulse width signal is within a second preset time period”. However, claim 1 recites “generate a control signal based on the fixed on frequency pulse width signal, generate a COT pulse width signal based on the control signal and the COT trigger signal when the COT trigger signal is received”. It is not clear if the control signal of claim 1 comprises/includes the first and second control signals or is different from said first and second control signals. For purposes of examination the limitations are going to be interpreted as the control signal includes the first and second control signals.
Claim 6 recites “the error amplifier receives a direct current output feedback voltage”. Claim 1 recites “superpose a feedback voltage on an output voltage feedback node”. It is not clear if the feedback voltage of claim 6 is the same or different from the feedback voltage of claim 1. For purposes of examination the limitations are going to be interpreted as the same.
Claims 3-5 and 7-12 are also rejected to under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), for being dependent on a rejected claim under 35 U.S.C. 112(b).
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 13 recite the same limitations as claim 1 since claim 1 already cites a variable frequency switching converter. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 and 13 are allowed.
Claims 2-12 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 Indicating Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for indicating Allowable Subject Matter:
Claim 1; prior art of record fails to disclose either by itself or in combination: “…the control module is configured to generate a fixed on frequency pulse width signal based on the duty ratio modulation signal and a clock signal when the COT trigger signal is not received, generate a control signal based on the fixed on frequency pulse width signal, generate a COT pulse width signal based on the control signal and the COT trigger signal when the COT trigger signal is received, and generate a target pulse width signal based on the fixed on frequency pulse width signal and the COT pulse width signal”.
These features taken alone or in combination are neither disclosed nor suggested by the prior art of record.
Related Prior Art
The following related prior arts made of record are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure to further show the general state of the art. The references are: Sun CN 114665711, Hong CN 108306348, Zhang US 2020/0014293, Ueno US 20130241516 and Li US 20160261198. Sun teaches the duty ratio modulation signal generation module and the control module however; Sun does not teach the COT trigger signal generation module. The references Li , Ueno and Zhang teach a similar Cot trigger module but does not function or operate as mentioned in the claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GUSTAVO A ROSARIO-BENITEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7888. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9AM-5PM.
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, MONICA LEWIS can be reached at 5712721838. 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.
/GUSTAVO A ROSARIO-BENITEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
Prosecution Insights