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 Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on November 22, 2024 and preliminary amendment filed on February 27, 2025. In virtue of this preliminary amendment:
Claims 1-20 are cancelled;
Claims 21-40 are newly added; and thus,
Claims 21-40 are now pending in the instant application.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 3/12/2025, 7/16/2025 and 2/11/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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.
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Claims 21-40 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 12,193,124.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the above indicated claims of the instant application are either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the above identified claims of the above patent, including:
As claim 21: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and a rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 1 of the above patent).
As claim 22, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 22 of the instant application.
As claim 23, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 23 of the instant application.
As claim 24, all limitations of claim 4 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 24 of the instant application.
As claim 25, all limitations of claim 5 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 25 of the instant application.
As claim 26, all limitations of claim 6 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 26 of the instant application.
As claim 27, all limitations of claim 7 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 27 of the instant application.
As claim 28, all limitations of claim 8 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 28 of the instant application.
As claim 29: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a voltage divider configured to receive a rectified voltage, the voltage divider being configured to generate a converted voltage proportional to the rectified voltage; a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 9 of the above patent).
As claim 30, all limitations of claim 10 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 30 of the instant application.
As claim 31, all limitations of claim 11 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 31 of the instant application.
As claim 32, all limitations of claim 12 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 32 of the instant application.
As claim 33, all limitations of claim 13 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 33 of the instant application.
As claim 34, all limitations of claim 14 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 34 of the instant application.
As claim 35: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder controller configured to receive a rectified voltage associated with a dimmer and a sensing signal associated with a diode current flowing through the one or more light emitting diodes, the bleeder controller being configured to generate a first bleeder control
signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating
whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein the bleeder controller is configured to: determine a phase range within which the dimmer is in a conduction state based on at least information associated with the rectified voltage; and generate a detection signal by comparing a predetermined conduction phase threshold and the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state; wherein the bleeder controller is further configured to: if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is larger than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal; and if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is determined to be smaller than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage (see claim 35 of the above patent).
As claim 36, all limitations of claim 16 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 36 of the instant application.
As claim 37, all limitations of claim 17 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 37 of the instant application.
As claim 38: A system for controlling on or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a current regulator configured to generate a sensing signal representing a diode
current and output the sensing signal; a bleeder controller configured to receive the sensing signal and generate a first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be
generated; and a bleeder configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and a rectified
voltage; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate a second bleeder control signal based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the second bleeder control signal and generate the bleeder current; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is
not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a predetermined duration of time (see claims 1 and 7 of the above patent).
As claim 39, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 39 of the instant application.
As claim 40, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 40 of the instant application.
Claims 21-40 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 11,792,901.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the above indicated claims of the instant application are either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the above identified claims of the above patent, including:
As claim 21: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and a rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 1 of the above patent).
As claim 22, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 22 of the instant application.
As claim 23, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 23 of the instant application.
As claim 24, all limitations of claim 4 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 24 of the instant application.
As claim 25, all limitations of claim 5 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 25 of the instant application.
As claim 26, all limitations of claim 6 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 26 of the instant application.
As claim 27, all limitations of claim 7 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 27 of the instant application.
As claim 28, all limitations of claim 8 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 28 of the instant application.
As claim 29: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a voltage divider configured to receive a rectified voltage, the voltage divider being configured to generate a converted voltage proportional to the rectified voltage; a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 9 of the above patent).
As claim 30, all limitations of claim 10 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 30 of the instant application.
As claim 31, all limitations of claim 11 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 31 of the instant application.
As claim 32, all limitations of claim 12 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 32 of the instant application.
As claim 33, all limitations of claim 13 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 33 of the instant application.
As claim 34, all limitations of claim 14 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 34 of the instant application.
As claim 35: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder controller configured to receive a rectified voltage associated with a dimmer and a sensing signal associated with a diode current flowing through the one or more light emitting diodes, the bleeder controller being configured to generate a first bleeder control
signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating
whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein the bleeder controller is configured to: determine a phase range within which the dimmer is in a conduction state based on at least information associated with the rectified voltage; and generate a detection signal by comparing a predetermined conduction phase threshold and the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state; wherein the bleeder controller is further configured to: if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is larger than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal; and if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is determined to be smaller than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage (see claim 35 of the above patent).
As claim 36, all limitations of claim 16 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 36 of the instant application.
As claim 37, all limitations of claim 17 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 37 of the instant application.
As claim 38: A system for controlling on or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a current regulator configured to generate a sensing signal representing a diode
current and output the sensing signal; a bleeder controller configured to receive the sensing signal and generate a first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be
generated; and a bleeder configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and a rectified
voltage; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate a second bleeder control signal based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the second bleeder control signal and generate the bleeder current; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is
not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a predetermined duration of time (see claims 1 and 7 of the above patent).
As claim 39, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 39 of the instant application.
As claim 40, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 40 of the instant application.
Claims 21-40 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 11,297,704.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the above indicated claims of the instant application are either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the above identified claims of the above patent, including:
As claim 21: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and a rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 1 of the above patent).
As claim 22, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 22 of the instant application.
As claim 23, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 23 of the instant application.
As claim 24, all limitations of claim 4 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 24 of the instant application.
As claim 25, all limitations of claim 5 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 25 of the instant application.
As claim 26, all limitations of claim 6 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 26 of the instant application.
As claim 27, all limitations of claim 7 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 27 of the instant application.
As claim 28, all limitations of claim 8 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 28 of the instant application.
As claim 29: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a voltage divider configured to receive a rectified voltage, the voltage divider being configured to generate a converted voltage proportional to the rectified voltage; a bleeder configured to receive a first bleeder control signal and the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate an input voltage based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the input voltage and generate the bleeder current based at least in part on the input voltage; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a duration of time (see claim 9 of the above patent).
As claim 30, all limitations of claim 10 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 30 of the instant application.
As claim 31, all limitations of claim 11 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 31 of the instant application.
As claim 32, all limitations of claim 12 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 32 of the instant application.
As claim 33, all limitations of claim 13 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 33 of the instant application.
As claim 34, all limitations of claim 14 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 34 of the instant application.
As claim 35: A system for controlling one or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a bleeder controller configured to receive a rectified voltage associated with a dimmer and a sensing signal associated with a diode current flowing through the one or more light emitting diodes, the bleeder controller being configured to generate a first bleeder control
signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage, the first bleeder control signal indicating
whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be generated; wherein the bleeder controller is configured to: determine a phase range within which the dimmer is in a conduction state based on at least information associated with the rectified voltage; and generate a detection signal by comparing a predetermined conduction phase threshold and the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state; wherein the bleeder controller is further configured to: if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is larger than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal; and if the detection signal indicates that the phase range within which the dimmer is in the conduction state is determined to be smaller than the predetermined conduction phase threshold, generate the first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the rectified voltage (see claim 35 of the above patent).
As claim 36, all limitations of claim 16 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 36 of the instant application.
As claim 37, all limitations of claim 17 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 37 of the instant application.
As claim 38: A system for controlling on or more light emitting diodes, the system comprising: a current regulator configured to generate a sensing signal representing a diode
current and output the sensing signal; a bleeder controller configured to receive the sensing signal and generate a first bleeder control signal based at least in part on the sensing signal, the first bleeder control signal indicating whether a bleeder current is allowed or not allowed to be
generated; and a bleeder configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and a rectified
voltage; wherein: the bleeder includes a current controller and a current generator; the current controller is configured to receive the first bleeder control signal and generate a second bleeder control signal based at least in part on the first bleeder control signal; and the current generator is configured to receive the rectified voltage and the second bleeder control signal and generate the bleeder current; wherein, if the first bleeder control signal indicates that the bleeder current is
not allowed to be generated, the current generator is configured to gradually reduce the bleeder current from a first current magnitude at a first time to a second current magnitude at a second
time; wherein the second time follows the first time by a predetermined duration of time (see claims 1 and 7 of the above patent).
As claim 39, all limitations of claim 2 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 39 of the instant application.
As claim 40, all limitations of claim 3 of the above patent include all limitations of claim 40 of the instant application.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Prior art Chen et al. – US 10,887,957
Prior art Angeles et al. – US 9,648,676
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/TUNG X LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2844 February 22, 2026