DETAILED ACTION
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 final rejection. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/24/26 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Claims 1 and 4-12 are pending in the application. Claims 2 and 3 are cancelled.
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
-Applicant’s argument “that CN '808 fails to teach or even suggest a power transmission device as claimed, including an optional shift provided on an input shaft and configured to selectively connect or disconnect a first optional gear with respect to the input shaft. The CN '808 element 5 cited in the Action as an optional shift (as part of the optional input gear) is a friction clutch (see, e.g., the second full paragraph of CN '808 page 5).”, has been acknowledged. However, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., structure of optional shift) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). The originally filed specification doesn’t seem to detail the structure of the “optional shift” as recited (although there is mention of a dog clutch in paragraph [0009] not really pertaining to the present invention), so it maybe considered “new matter” for applicant to attempt to incorporate how the “optional shift” is structured or even how the “optional shift” isn’t structured (i.e., not as friction clutches as argued, see MPEP 2173.05(i) pertaining to negative limitations). Therefore, 5 in CN ‘808 can still be considered “an optional shift” that selectively connects or disconnects the first optional gear to the input shaft as recited in claims 1 and 5.
-Applicant’s argument “that a person of ordinary skill in the art would not have had any reason to modify the CN '808 device to arrive at the claimed invention, has been acknowledged. However, based on the structure pertaining to the “optional shift” not being recited in claims 1 and 5 as argued by applicant, no reason to modify is needed pertaining to the CN ‘808 prior art.
Note: examiner suggest applicant (going forward in prosecution) focus on the driving modes described in originally filed disclosure pertaining to Figures 2-8 versus what is disclosed pertaining to driving modes described in the prior art used in the rejections. Examiner isn’t suggesting any possible “allowability” pertaining to the driving modes, but offering potential options for overcoming the current rejections (if there are any).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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 4-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 210821808 (IDS cited with machine translation). As to claim 1, CN discloses a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle (Figures 4 and 5) comprising:
an engine (3) configured to generate power; an input (via 31) connected with the engine and configured to provide one-speed power; a first motor generator (1) driven when power is applied; a first transmission (11, 41, 43) connected with the first motor generator, positioned parallel to the input, and configured to transmit power to the input; an output (via 451, 452) engaged with the input; a second motor generator (2) driven when power is applied; a second transmission (21, 42) connected with the second motor generator, positioned parallel to the output, and configured to transmit power to the output; and a differential (454) engaged with the output and configured to provide power to wheels, wherein the input comprises an input shaft directly connected with the engine (Figures 4 and 5 show input shaft directly connected to 3) and wherein the input shaft is free from any clutch connecting engine power to the input shaft, wherein the input further comprises: a constant input gear (43) constantly connected with the input shaft and engaged with the first transmission; and an optional input gear (44) optionally connected with the input shaft and engaged with the output, wherein the optional input gear is disposed closer to the engine than is the constant input gear (Figure 5 shows 44 closer to 3 than 43), wherein the optional input gear is disposed closer to the engine than is first transmission (Figure 5 shows 44 closer to 3 than 43), wherein the optional input gear comprises: a first optional gear (44) concentrically positioned with the input shaft and engaged with the output (via 451); and an optional shift (5) provided on the input shaft and configured to selectively connect or disconnect the first optional gear with respect to the input shaft, and wherein the optional shift is disposed closer to the engine than is the first optional gear (Figure 5 shows 5 closer to 3 than 44), and wherein the output comprises: an output shaft (between 451 and 452) positioned between the input and the second transmission; and an output differential gear (452) provided on the output shaft and connected with the differential.
As to claim 4, wherein the first transmission comprises: a first transmission shaft (11) connected with the first motor generator and positioned parallel to the input shaft; and a first transmission gear (41) provided on the first transmission shaft and engaged with the constant input gear (43).
As to claim 5, CN discloses a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle (Figures 4 and 5) comprising: an engine (3) configured to generate power; an input (via 31) connected with the engine and configured to provide one-speed power; a first motor generator (1) driven when power is applied; a first transmission (11, 41, 43) connected with the first motor generator, positioned parallel to the input, and configured to transmit power to the input; an output (via 451, 452) engaged with the input; a second motor generator (2) driven when power is applied; a second transmission (21, 42) connected with the second motor generator, positioned parallel to the output, and configured to transmit power to the output; and a differential (454) engaged with the output and configured to provide power to wheels, wherein the input comprises an input shaft directly connected with the engine (Figures 4 and 5 show input shaft directly connected to 3) and wherein the input shaft is free from any clutch connecting engine power to the input shaft, wherein the input further comprises: a constant input gear (43) constantly connected with the input shaft and engaged with the first transmission; and an optional input gear (44) optionally connected with the input shaft and engaged with the output,
wherein the optional input gear is disposed closer to the engine than is the constant input gear (Figure 5 shows 44 closer to 3 than 43), wherein the optional input gear is disposed closer to the engine than is first transmission (Figure 5 shows 44 closer to 3 than 43), wherein the optional input gear comprises: a first optional gear (44) concentrically positioned with the input shaft and engaged with the output (via 451); and an optional shift (5) provided on the input shaft and configured to selectively connect or disconnect the first optional gear with respect to the input shaft, wherein the optional shift is disposed closer to the engine than is the first optional gear (Figure 5 shows 5 closer to 3 than 44), and wherein the output comprises: an output shaft (between 451 and 452) positioned between the input and the second transmission; an output transmission gear (451) provided on the output shaft and connected with the optional input gear (44) and the second transmission (21, 42); and an output differential gear (452) provided on the output shaft and connected with the differential.
As to claim 6, wherein the second transmission comprises: a second transmission shaft (21) connected with the second motor generator (2) and positioned parallel to the input shaft; and a second transmission gear (42) provided on the second transmission shaft and engaged with the output transmission gear.
As to claim 7, wherein the differential comprises: a differential gear (453) configured to provide power to the wheels; and a differential (454) connection provided on the differential gear (452) and engaged with the output differential gear.
As to claim 8, wherein the optional shift (5) is constantly connected with the input shaft.
As to claim 9, wherein the first transmission comprises: a first transmission shaft (11) connected with the first motor generator and positioned parallel to the input shaft; and a first transmission gear (41) provided on the first transmission shaft and engaged with the constant input gear (43).
As to claim 10, wherein the optional shift (5) is constantly connected with the input shaft.
As to claim 11, wherein the second transmission comprises: a second transmission shaft (21) connected with the second motor generator (2) and positioned parallel to the input shaft; and a second transmission gear (42) provided on the second transmission shaft and engaged with the output transmission gear.
As to claim 12, wherein the differential comprises: a differential gear (453) configured to provide power to the wheels; and a differential (454) connection provided on the differential gear (452) and engaged with the output differential gear.
Conclusion
There is no additional prior art made of record and relied upon as the examiner considers the prior art used in the rejections above (and in previous rejections and prior art cited) the most pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TISHA D LEWIS whose telephone number is (571)272-7093. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 8:30am to 5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anna M Momper can be reached at 571-270-5788. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Tdl
/TISHA D LEWIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619 July 11, 2026
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