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 .
Inventorship
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.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/13/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim Objections
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 9 has undefined formula parameters. 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 4-19 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 4 recites so many "and/or" limitations it renders the claim vague and confusing. The phrases confuse the exact meets and bounds as well as making it unclear exactly what the applicant is trying to claim..
Claim 5 recites so many "and/or" limitations it renders the claim vague and confusing. The phrases confuse the exact meets and bounds as well as making it unclear exactly what the applicant is trying to claim.
Claims 6-19 inherit the same from claim 4.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1/a2 as being anticipated by Mangudi et al. (US 10554124).
Claim 1; Mangudi et al. disclose a control system for a switching converter comprising a flying capacitor (VCF) and a first power switch (A, B, C or D), the control system comprising: a control circuit configured to generate a first pulse width control signal (D1 or D2) to control the first power switch, the first pulse width control signal determining a state of the first power switch (i.e. ON/OFF) and having a first rising edge and first falling edge; a sensing circuit (805, 810) configured to sense a voltage error of a flying capacitor voltage (CF) of the flying capacitor relative to a target voltage and generate a modulation signal (Ierr) based on the voltage error of the flying capacitor voltage; and a correction circuit (815) configured to receive the modulation signal and the first pulse width control signal and configured to modulate the first rising edge and/or the first falling edge based on the modulation signal to provide a corrected first pulse width control signal to the first power switch (col. 9 lines 39-67), thereby regulating the flying capacitor voltage of the flying capacitor.
Claim 2; any of the other switches (A, B, C, or D) and the other of (D2 or D1).
Claim 3; see figure 4.
Claims 4 and 5; as best as the claims are understood; Mangudi et al. disclose the edges are modulated.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mangudi et al. in view of Mercer et al. (US 9929653).
Mangudi et al. disclose the claimed subject matter in regards to claim 1 supra, except for a plurality of delay elements configured to independently modulate an edge.
Mercer et al. to regulate a flying capacitor voltage, a multi-level buck converter 600 includes a switch control circuit 615 that modifies the periods for the D1 and D2 switching states responsive to the error current Ierr while leaving the sum of D1 and D2 switching state periods unchanged. To effect this regulation, opposing edges of the D1_pulse and D2_pulse signals may be either delayed or advanced depending upon the sign of the error current Ierr.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to modify Mangudi et al. to include a plurality of delay elements configured to independently modulate an edge in order to help regulate the flying capacitor voltage as taught by Mercer et al.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7-19 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY L LAXTON whose telephone number is (571)272-2079. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Crystal Hammond can be reached at 571-270-1682. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GARY L LAXTON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838 6/16/2026
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