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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 2/10/2026 was considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 3 is objected to because of the following informalities. Claim 3 recites the control unit 33 has a first and third controller but does not depict or label these limitations. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim 1-16 and 19-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over WEGMAN et al. (US 6,473,571 B1; WEGMAN) in view of SCHULTE et. al. (cited by applicant; US 6,834,258 B2; SCHUTLE).
WEGMAN teaches regarding claim 1, a detection circuit 518, configured at a process cartridge 4110, wherein the process cartridge 4110 is detachably installed on an image-forming apparatus (shown in figure 4), comprising: a detection unit 518, configured to output a first parameter related to the process cartridge; an information feedback unit 514, configured to be electrically connected to the detection unit and provide the image-forming apparatus with feedback information (figure 4, col 15, lines 28-36).
Regarding claim 22, the process cartridge 10 further includes an information processing apparatus 60, the information processing apparatus includes a base (container on which the seal 50 sits), the detection circuit is configured on the base (signal and transmitter module; col 14, line 35 – col 15, line 9).
WEGMAN does not specifically teach that the information feedback unit is configured to be electrically connected to the detection unit and provide the image-forming apparatus with feedback information according to a connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit; a control unit, configured to control the connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch between the first state and the second state according to switching information outputted by the image-forming apparatus, wherein: in the first state, the feedback information is related to the first parameter, and the image-forming apparatus is capable of obtaining the first parameter based on the feedback information; and in the second state, the feedback information is not related to the first parameter.
SCHUTLE teaches regarding claim 1, a detection circuit, [configured at a process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge is detachably installed on an image-forming apparatus], comprising: a detection unit (sensors 12, 16, or 18), configured to output a first parameter (process variable) [related to the process cartridge]; an information feedback unit 20, 28, configured to be electrically connected to the detection unit (sensors 12, 16, or 18) and provide [the image-forming apparatus with] feedback information according to a connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit 20, 28, wherein the connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit includes a first state and a second state (normal mode and diagnostic mode; see abstract); and a control unit 20, configured to control the connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch between the first state and the second state (microprocessor 20 controls switch control 26 to select normal or diagnostic mode, col 3, lines 10-14 and lines 20-39) according to switching information (diagnostic mode may be selected by a stored schedule, or by a command received over the communication medium, see col 3 lines 20-25, col 7 lines 53-62 or col 14 lines 14-19) [outputted by the image-forming apparatus], wherein: in the first state, the feedback information is related to the first parameter, and the image-forming apparatus is capable of obtaining the first parameter based on the feedback information (in normal mode, interface 28 transmits measurement values representing the sensed variable, see abstract); and in the second state, the feedback information is not related to the first parameter (see abstract: the surrogate sensor signal is independent of the process variable; figures 1, col 3, lines 10-39).
Regarding claim 2, wherein: in the first state, the detection unit (sensors 12, 14, 16, or 18) is electrically connected to the information feedback unit; and in the second state, the detection unit is electrically disconnected from the information feedback unit (column 2, lines 11-34); or the detection unit is short-circuited; or a port corresponding to one end of the detection unit electrically connected to the information feedback unit is configured to be in a high impedance state (column 2, lines 11-34).
Regarding claim 3, wherein: when the detection unit 12, 14, 16, 18 is electrically disconnected from the information feedback unit 20, 28 in the second state, the detection circuit 12, 14, 16, 18 further includes a first matching circuit, wherein one end of the first matching circuit is configured to be electrically connected to the information feedback unit 20, 28, and the other end of the first matching circuit is configured to be grounded; and the control unit includes a first switch SW1, wherein the first switch is connected between the information feedback unit and the first matching circuit and between the information feedback unit and the detection unit, and is configured to electrically connect the information feedback unit to the first matching circuit or the detection unit through a switching operation; and further includes a first controller, configured to control the first switch SW1 to perform a corresponding switching operation according to the switching information outputted by the image-forming apparatus; or when the detection unit is short-circuited in the second state, the control unit further includes: a second switch SW2, wherein the second switch is connected in parallel with the detection unit; and is configured to short-circuit the detection unit when being turned on for conduction and electrically connect the detection unit to the information feedback unit when being turned off for disconnection; and a second controller, configured to control the second switch to be turned on or off according to the switching information outputted by the image-forming apparatus; or when in the second state, the port corresponding to one end of the detection unit electrically connected to the information feedback unit is configured to be in the high impedance state, the detection circuit 12, 14, 16, 18 further includes a second matching circuit, wherein one end of the second matching circuit is configured to be electrically connected to the information feedback unit 20, 28, and the other end of the second matching circuit is configured to be grounded; and the control unit includes a third controller, wherein the third controller is configured to be electrically connected to the information feedback unit 20, 28, the second matching circuit and the detection unit, respectively; and the third controller is configured to set an electrical connection end electrically connected with the detection unit to be in the high impedance state according to the switching information outputted by the image-forming apparatus (col 2, lines 10-45, col 3 lines 20-25, (col 7 lines 53-62 or col 14 lines 14-19)).
Regarding claim 4, wherein: the information feedback unit includes a first voltage dividing module, wherein the first voltage dividing module is configured to be electrically connected to the detection unit and further configured for the image-forming apparatus to perform potential detection to obtain the feedback information (well known in the art).
Regarding claim 5, wherein: the first voltage dividing module is a resistor (well known in the art).
Regarding claim 6, wherein: the detection unit includes a working element configured to detect or obtain the first parameter related to [the process cartridge (shown clearly in Schulte)]; or the detection unit is configured to be electrically connected to a working element 14, wherein the working element is configured to detect or obtain the first parameter related to the process cartridge and enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter through the detection unit (col 2, lines 12-34).
Regarding claim 7, wherein: the working element is a working environment sensor 14 configured to detect the first parameter of the process cartridge and enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter; or the working element is a fixed resistor and configured to enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter; or the working element is an adjustable resistor and configured to enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter (column 2, lines 12-34).
Regarding claim 8, wherein: when the working element is the working environment sensor, the working environment sensor includes a temperature sensor 14.
Regarding claim 9, wherein: the working environment sensor is a thermistor or a thermocouple 14.
Regarding claim 10, installed at a process cartridge (SCHULTE, discussed above), wherein the process cartridge is configured to be detachably installed on an image-forming apparatus, comprising: a base; and the detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit is configured on the base (SCHULTE, discussed above, shown in figure 4).
Regarding claim 11, SCHUTLE teaches a process cartridge, detachably installed on an image-forming apparatus, comprising: a main body; and the detection circuit (SCHULTE, discussed above, shown in figure 4).
Regarding claim 12, wherein: the process cartridge further includes the working element; the working element is configured on the main body; the detection unit is electrically connected to the working element; and the working element is configured to detect or obtain the first parameter related to the process cartridge and enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter through the detection unit (SCHULTE, discussed above, shown for one example, in figure 4, col 15, lines 28-36).
Regarding claim 13, wherein: the working element is a working environment sensor 14 configured to detect the first parameter of the process cartridge and enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter; or the working element is a fixed resistor and configured to enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter; or the working element is an adjustable resistor and configured to enable the image-forming apparatus to obtain the first parameter (col 2, lines 12-34).
Regarding claim 14, wherein: when the working element is the adjustable resistor, the adjustable resistor includes a switching element SW1-SW4 and at least two branch circuits; and the switching element SW1-SW4 is configured to receive a command signal and switch to turn on or off different branch circuits to form the adjustable resistor with different resistance values, wherein the adjustable resistor is configured to be electrically connected to the image-forming apparatus (figure 1, col. 3, line 56 – col 4, line 2).
Regarding claim 15, wherein: the at least two branch circuits are arranged in parallel; resistance values of different branch circuits are different; the switching element includes at least two controlled switches SW1, SW2; a controlled switch is configured on a branch circuit; and based on different command signals corresponding to different temperatures, different controlled switches are turned on to make one branch circuit to be in conduction and other branch circuits to be in disconnection; or the at least two branch circuits are arranged in parallel; the switching element includes at least two controlled switches Sw3, SW4; a controlled switch is configured on a branch circuit; and based on different command signals corresponding to different temperatures, different numbers of controlled switches are turned on, and branch circuits with different resistance values are formed (figure 1; col 2, lines 12-34; col 2, line 46 – col 3, line 9).
Regarding claim 16, wherein: when the working element is the working environment sensor 14, the working environment sensor includes a temperature sensor 14.
Regarding claim 19, a detection method, applied to an image-forming apparatus, comprising: controlling a connection state between a detection unit 14, 16, 18 and an information feedback unit 20, 28 to be in a first state, obtaining first feedback information based on the first state, and obtaining a first parameter of a process cartridge based on the first feedback information; controlling the connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch from the first state to a second state, and obtaining second feedback information based on the second state, the second feedback information being not related to the first parameter; and based on the first feedback information corresponding to the first state and the second feedback information corresponding to the second state, determining whether a resistance value of the information feedback unit is within a preset resistance value range (col 14, lines 28-38 and col 3, lines 20-39).
Regarding claim 20, controlling the connection state between the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch from the first state to the second state includes: controlling the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch from electrical connection to electrical disconnection; or controlling the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch from an electrical connection to the detection unit being short-circuited (col 3, lines 20-39); or controlling the detection unit and the information feedback unit to switch from electrical connection to a port, corresponding to one end of the detection unit electrically connected to the information feedback unit, being configured as a high impedance state (col 14, lines 28-38 and col 3, lines 20-39).
Regarding claim 21, the detection unit and/or the control unit and/or the information feedback unit are at least partially configured on the main body (figure 1; main body of board).
SCHULTE and WEGMAN are concerned with detection systems for use with electromechanical devices such as copier/printers.
The rationale for combining the teachings of Schulte with the teachings of WEGMAN relates to the rationale of the use of known technique to improve similar devices (methods, or products) in the same way.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains to use the teaching of SCHUTLE with the teaching of WEGMAN to obtain an improved detection method for an electromechanical or image forming device.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/20/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot – new grounds of rejection.
The claims remain rejected as discussed above.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to QUANA GRAINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-2135. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday, 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Walter Lindsay can be reached on 571-272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/QUANA GRAINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
QG
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