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 14 November 2024 has been considered by the examiner.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-10 and 12-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Murate (US 2015/0367633.)
Regarding claim 1,
Murate discloses a method of determining a state of a print head including
a first pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with a drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a second pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a nozzle [20 in figs. 4-6B and 19] which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber [as seen in fig. 19] , and which ejects a liquid [paragraphs 0064-0067],
a first piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075], and
a second piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075], the method comprising:
a residual vibration generation step of changing the volumes of the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber to thereby generate the first residual vibration and the second residual vibration [paragraphs 0074-0076];
a signal conversion step of converting a composite signal obtained by combining a signal waveform of the first residual vibration signal and a signal waveform of the second residual vibration signal with each other into a digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0105-0106 and 0116-0118]; and
a determination step of determining the state of the print head [220 in figs. 3-5] based on the digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0150-0162; seen in fig. 17.]
Regarding claim 2,
Murate further discloses wherein in the residual vibration generation step,
the volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal, and
the volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal [paragraphs 0072-0076.]
Regarding claim 3,
Murate further discloses wherein the signal conversion step includes an extraction step of extracting a signal of an AC component contained in the composite signal [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 4,
Murate further discloses wherein the signal conversion step includes an amplification step of amplifying the signal of the AC component [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 5,
Murate further discloses wherein the determination step calculates at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the composite signal based on the digital composite wave signal, and determines the state of the print head based on the calculation result [paragraphs 0115-0118.]
Regarding claim 6,
Murate discloses a head unit [200 in figs. 2 and 13] comprising:
a drive circuit [37 in fig. 14] configured to output a drive signal [paragraph 0104];
a first pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with a drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a second pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a nozzle [20 in figs. 4-6B and 19] which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber [as seen in fig. 19] , and which ejects a liquid [paragraphs 0064-0067],
a first piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075], and
a second piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075],
an AD conversion circuit [242 in fig. 13] configured to convert a composite signal obtained by combining a signal waveform of the first residual vibration signal and a signal waveform of the second residual vibration signal with each other into a digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0105-0106 and 0116-0118]; and
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of a liquid from the nozzle based on the digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0150-0162; as seen in fig. 17.]
Regarding claim 7,
Murate further discloses wherein
the volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal, and
the volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal [paragraphs 0072-0076.]
Regarding claim 8,
Murate further discloses the head unit further comprising:
a filter circuit [251 in fig. 13] configured to extract a signal of an AC component contained in the composite signal [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 9,
Murate further discloses the head unit further comprising:
an amplifier circuit [252 in fig. 13] configured to amplify the signal of the AC component [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 10,
Murate further discloses wherein the processor calculates at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the composite signal based on the digital composite wave signal, and determines the ejection state of the liquid from the nozzle based on the calculation result [paragraphs 0115-0118.]
Regarding claim 12,
Murate discloses a liquid ejection apparatus [100 in fig. 1] comprising:
a drive circuit [37 in fig. 14] configured to output a drive signal [paragraph 0104];
a first pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with a drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a second pressure chamber [27 in figs. 6A-6B and 19] a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal [as seen in figs. 6A-6B; paragraphs 0072-0075],
a nozzle [20 in figs. 4-6B and 19] which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber [as seen in fig. 19] , and which ejects a liquid [paragraphs 0064-0067],
a first piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075], and
a second piezoelectric element [35 in figs. 5 and 13-14] configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber [paragraphs 0069 and 0075],
an AD conversion circuit [242 in fig. 13] configured to convert a composite signal obtained by combining a signal waveform of the first residual vibration signal and a signal waveform of the second residual vibration signal with each other into a digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0105-0106 and 0116-0118];
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of a liquid from the nozzle based on the digital composite wave signal [paragraphs 0150-0162; as seen in fig. 17]; and
a conveyance mechanism [“recording medium conveying device” in paragraphs 0049-0050] configured to convey a medium [113 in fig. 1] on which the liquid ejected from the nozzle lands [as seen in fig. 1; paragraphs 0046-0050.]
Regarding claim 13,
Murate further discloses wherein
the volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal, and
the volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal [paragraphs 0072-0076.]
Regarding claim 14,
Murate further discloses the liquid ejection apparatus further comprising:
a filter circuit [251 in fig. 13] configured to extract a signal of an AC component contained in the composite signal [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 15,
Murate further discloses the liquid ejection apparatus further comprising:
an amplifier circuit [252 in fig. 13] configured to amplify the signal of the AC component [paragraph 0114.]
Regarding claim 16,
Murate further discloses wherein the processor calculates at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the composite signal based on the digital composite wave signal, and determines the ejection state of the liquid from the nozzle based on the calculation result [paragraphs 0115-0118.]
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.
Claims 11 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Murate in view of Murayama (US 2021/0331467.)
Regarding claims 11 and 17,
Murate discloses the claimed limitations as set forth above but fails to expressly disclose the head unit / liquid ejection apparatus further comprising:
a supply port and a discharge port, wherein
the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and
at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port.
However, Murayama discloses a liquid ejection head unit [24 in fig. 2] comprising:
a drive circuit [45 in fig. 2] configured to output a drive signal [paragraph 0032];
a first pressure chamber [Ca in fig. 4] and a second pressure chamber [Cb in fig. 4], wherein a volume of each varies in accordance with the drive signal [paragraph 0047];
a nozzle [N in fig. 4] which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and which ejects a liquid [paragraph 0065];
a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element [41 in fig. 2], each configured to output a residual vibration signal according to a residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber [paragraph 0033];
a supply port [E1 in figs. 3-4] and a discharge port [E2 in figs. 3-4], wherein the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber [as seen in figs. 3-4], and at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port [paragraphs 0050-0052 and 0062]; and
a processor [55 in fig. ] configured to determine an ejection state of a liquid from the nozzle [paragraph 0095.]
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the head unit in the Murate invention to include a supply port and a discharge port as taught by Murayama for the purpose of circulating the liquid throughout the head unit, therefore providing bubble removal, temperature control, and a consistent flow of liquid.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 6-9, 11-15, and 17 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-4 and 9-12 of copending Application No. 18/949,121 (reference application – allowed but not yet issued). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following:
Instant application: 18/947,015
Reference application: 18/949,121
6. A head unit comprising:
a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal;
a first pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a second pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a nozzle which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and which ejects a liquid;
a first piezoelectric element configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber;
a second piezoelectric element configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber;
an AD conversion circuit configured to convert a composite signal obtained by combining a signal waveform of the first residual vibration signal and a signal waveform of the second residual vibration signal with each other into a digital composite wave signal; and
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of a liquid from the nozzle based on the digital composite wave signal.
7. The head unit according to claim 6, wherein
the volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal, and
the volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal.
8. The head unit according to claim 6, further comprising: a filter circuit configured to extract a signal of an AC component contained in the composite signal.
9. The head unit according to claim 8, further comprising: an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the signal of the AC component.
11. The head unit according to claim 6, further comprising:
a supply port and a discharge port, wherein
the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and
at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port.
12. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal;
a first pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a second pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a nozzle which is communicated with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and which ejects a liquid;
a first piezoelectric element configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber;
a second piezoelectric element configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber;
an AD conversion circuit configured to convert a composite signal obtained by combining a signal waveform of the first residual vibration signal and a signal waveform of the second residual vibration signal with each other into a digital composite wave signal; and
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of a liquid from the nozzle based on the digital composite wave signal; and
a conveyance mechanism configured to convey a medium on which the liquid ejected from the nozzle lands.
13. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
the volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal, and
the volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element in accordance with the drive signal.
14. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
a filter circuit configured to extract a signal of an AC component contained in the composite signal.
15. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:
an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the signal of the AC component.
17. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:
a supply port and a discharge port, wherein
the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and
at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port.
1. A head unit comprising:
a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal;
a first pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a second pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a first nozzle that communicates with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and that is configured to eject a liquid;
a first piezoelectric element configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber;
a second piezoelectric element configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber;
an inspection signal output circuit to which the first residual vibration signal and the second residual vibration signal are input, and which is configured to output an inspection signal;
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of the liquid from the first nozzle based on the inspection signal; and
[…]
2. The head unit according to claim 1, wherein
the first piezoelectric element is driven in accordance with the drive signal, and a volume of the first pressure chamber may be changed by driving the first piezoelectric element, and
the second piezoelectric element is driven in accordance with the drive signal, and a volume of the second pressure chamber may be changed by driving the second piezoelectric element.
4. The head unit according to claim 1, wherein the inspection signal output circuit includes a filter circuit and an amplifier circuit.
3. The head unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
a supply port and a discharge port, wherein
the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and
at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port.
9. A liquid ejection apparatus comprising:
a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal;
a first pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a second pressure chamber a volume of which varies in accordance with the drive signal;
a first nozzle that communicates with the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and that is configured to eject a liquid;
a first piezoelectric element configured to output a first residual vibration signal according to a first residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the first pressure chamber;
a second piezoelectric element configured to output a second residual vibration signal according to a second residual vibration generated in accordance with a volume change of the second pressure chamber;
an inspection signal output circuit to which the first residual vibration signal and the second residual vibration signal are input, and which is configured to output an inspection signal;
a processor configured to determine an ejection state of the liquid from the first nozzle based on the inspection signal;
[…]
a conveyance mechanism configured to convey a medium on which the liquid ejected from the first nozzle lands, […]
10. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
the first piezoelectric element is driven in accordance with the drive signal, and a volume of the first pressure chamber is changed by driving the first piezoelectric element, and
the second piezoelectric element is driven in accordance with the drive signal, and a volume of the second pressure chamber is changed by driving the second piezoelectric element.
12. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
the inspection signal output circuit includes a filter circuit and an amplifier circuit.
11. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
a supply port and a discharge port, wherein
the liquid supplied from the supply port is discharged from the discharge port via the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber, and
at least a part of the liquid discharged from the discharge port is returned to the supply port.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented.
Communication with the USPTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JANNELLE M LEBRON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2729. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm.
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, Douglas X Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 431-0716. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JANNELLE M LEBRON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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