DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is a response to Applicant's Amendment filed on 5/1/26. By virtue of this amendment, claims 1-19 are currently presented in the instant application.
Terminal Disclaimer filed on 5/1/26 improper as follow below.
1. Prior patent 12/200,834 is cited incorrectly. It should read 12,200,834.
2. The terminal disclaimer identifies a party who is not the applicant (only for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012; See FP 14.26.10):
For cases filed on/after 9/16/2012, 37 CFR 1.321 specifies that the applicant can disclaim, and the terminal disclaimer must specify the extent of the applicant's ownership.
To remedy this:
A request under 37 CFR 1.46(c) to change the applicant needs to be filed, which is (1) a request, signed by a 1.33(b) party, (2) a corrected ADS (37 CFR 1.76(c)) that identifies the "new" applicant in the applicant information, and is underlined since it is new, and (3) a 3.73(c) statement showing chain of title to the new applicant. Along with the § 1.46(c) request we need a POA that gives power to the attorney who is signing the TD, along with another copy of the TD, unless they file a TD that is signed by the applicant. Note: The applicant cited on the TD must be cited exactly as it is cited on the ADS and or filing receipt and also in its entirety. If more space for applicant section is required, please use smaller fonts or submit an attachment page to the TD.
Please make corrections as suggested above and also resubmit the TD. (No new fee required).
Therefore, claims 1-19 remain rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 12200834.
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.
Instant application:18/984,667.
1. A circuit unit for a lamp, comprising: a first power stage configured to receive a first power signal from an Alternating Current (AC) power supply, perform an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) conversion on the first power signal to generate a second power signal, and performs a dimming signal conversion on the first power signal to generate a first dimming signal; and a second power stage configured to be connected with the first power stage to
receive the second power signal output from the first power stage, wherein the second
power signal output being a PWM signal or a varied voltage signal, wherein, the second power stage adjusts the second power signal based on at least the first dimming signal to generate a third power signal being a constant current or a
constant voltage signal and the second power stage provides a light-emitting unit of the
lamp with the third power signal to drive the light-emitting unit.
2. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first power stage being connectable
to a signal receiving device and the second power signal is further configured to drive the
signal receiving device in the lamp to operate at a same time and wherein the signal
receiving device is further configured to generate a third dimming signal, the second power
stage receives the third dimming signal from the signal receiving device and receives the
first dimming signal from the first power stage, SO that the second power stage is able to
adjust the second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of
the first dimming signal and the third dimming signal; wherein upon operation, the signal receiving device is configured to (i) receive an
audio signal from an external source and (ii) generate an acoustical signal based on the
received audio signal, thereby causing the lamp to make sounds.
3. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal receiving device comprises
one of a speaker, a sensor, Bluetooth or IR device.
4. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC power supply is a phase cut
dimmer providing an AC signal of a non-standard AC voltage, and the first power stage is
further configured to maintain the first power signal output by the phase cut dimmer stable.
5. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first power stage comprises: an AC-DC converter connected between the phase cut dimmer and the second power stage and configured to perform the AC-DC conversion on the first power signal; and a phase cut dimmer compatible circuit connected to the phase cut dimmer and configured to ensure stable operating of the phase cut dimmer to maintain the first power signal output from the phase cut dimmer stable.
6. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first power stage comprises a first
dimming signal generating circuit, and the first dimming signal generating circuit receives
the first power signal from the AC power supply and performs the dimming signal conversion on the first power signal to generate the first dimming signal.
7. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second power stage receives the first dimming signal and adjusts the second power signal with the first dimming signal.
8. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the circuit unit further comprises at
least one second dimming signal generating circuit configured to receive the first dimming
signal from the first dimming signal generating circuit, generate at least one second dimming signal based on the first dimming signal, and input the at least one second dimming signal to the second power stage, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with the at least one second dimming signal.
9. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the circuit unit further comprises at least one second dimming signal generating circuit, the at least one second dimming signal generating circuit inputs the at least one second dimming signal to the second power stage, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of the at least one second dimming signal and the first dimming signal.
10. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second power stage receives the at
least one second dimming signal from an external apparatus, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with the combined signal obtained through the combination of the at least one second dimming signal and the first dimming signal.
11. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one second dimming signal
comprises two or more second dimming signals, and the second power stage adjusts the
second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of the two or
more second dimming signals.
12. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the combination comprises a multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination thereof.
13. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second dimming signal generating
circuit comprises an acoustic-electro conversion unit, a motion sensor, an optical sensor
and a presence detector.
14. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a smoothing part connected
between the first power stage and the second power stage to make the second power signal
smooth.
15. A lamp, comprising the circuit unit as claimed in claim 1.
16. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the combination comprises a
multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination
thereof.
17. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the combination comprises a
multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination
thereof.
18. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combination comprises a
multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination
thereof.
19. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second dimming signal generating
circuit comprises an acoustic-electro conversion unit, a motion sensor, an optical sensor
and a presence detector.
Patent No: 122008314.
1. A circuit unit for a lamp, comprising: a first power stage configured to receive a first power signal from an Alternating Current (AC) power supply, perform an Alternating Current-Direct Current (AC-DC) conversion on the first power signal to generate a second power signal, and performs a dimming signal conversion on the first power signal from the Alternating Current (AC) power supply to generate a first dimming signal; and a second power stage configured to be connected with the first power stage to simultaneously receive the second power signal and the first dimming signal both output from the first power stage, wherein, the second power stage adjusts the second power signal based on at least the first dimming signal to generate a third power signal, and the second power stage provides a light-emitting unit of the lamp with the third power signal to drive the light-emitting unit, and wherein the first power stage being connectable to a loudspeaker apparatus and the second power signal being a constant voltage output from the first power stage is further configured to drive the loudspeaker apparatus in the lamp to operate at a same time and wherein the loudspeaker apparatus is further configured to generate a third dimming signal, the second power stage receives the third dimming signal from the loudspeaker apparatus and receives the first dimming signal from the first power stage, so that the second power stage is able to adjust the second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of the first dimming signal and the third dimming signal; wherein upon operation, the loudspeaker apparatus is configured to (i) receive an audio signal from an external source and (ii) generate an acoustical signal based on the received audio signal, thereby causing the lamp to make sounds.
2. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the AC power supply is a phase cut dimmer providing an AC signal of a non-standard AC voltage, and the first power stage is further configured to maintain the first power signal output by the phase cut dimmer stable.
3. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first power stage comprises: an AC-DC converter connected between the phase cut dimmer and the second power stage and configured to perform the AC-DC conversion on the first power signal; and a phase cut dimmer compatible circuit connected to the phase cut dimmer and configured to ensure stable operating of the phase cut dimmer to maintain the first power signal output from the phase cut dimmer stable.
4. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first power stage comprises a first dimming signal generating circuit, and the first dimming signal generating circuit receives the first power signal from the AC power supply and performs the dimming signal conversion on the first power signal to generate the first dimming signal.
5. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second power stage receives the first dimming signal and adjusts the second power signal with the first dimming signal.
6. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the circuit unit further comprises at least one second dimming signal generating circuit, the at least one second dimming signal generating circuit inputs the at least one second dimming signal to the second power stage, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of the at least one second dimming signal and the first dimming signal.
7. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the combination comprises a multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination thereof.
8. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second dimming signal generating circuit comprises an acoustic-electro conversion unit, a motion sensor, an optical sensor and a presence detector.
9. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second power stage receives the at least one second dimming signal from an external apparatus, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with the combined signal obtained through the combination of the at least one second dimming signal and the first dimming signal.
10. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the combination comprises a multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination thereof.
11. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the circuit unit further comprises at least one second dimming signal generating circuit configured to receive the first dimming signal from the first dimming signal generating circuit, generate at least one second dimming signal based on the first dimming signal, and input the at least one second dimming signal to the second power stage, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with the at least one second dimming signal.
12. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one second dimming signal comprises two or more second dimming signals, and the second power stage adjusts the second power signal with a combined signal obtained through a combination of the two or more second dimming signals.
13. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the combination comprises a multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination thereof.
14. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second dimming signal generating circuit comprises an acoustic-electro conversion unit, a motion sensor, an optical sensor and a presence detector.
15. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a smoothing part connected between the first power stage and the second power stage to make the second power signal smooth.
16. A lamp, comprising the circuit unit as claimed in claim 1.
17. The circuit unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combination comprises a multiplication operation, an addition operation, a subtraction operation or any combination thereof.
Claims 1-19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 12200834. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the below reasons:
All limitations of claim 1 of instant application are similar all limitations of claim 1 of Patent application above. The limitations of claim 1 of the instant application are very broader to compare with the limitation of claim 1 of the Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 2 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 1 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 4 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 2 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 5 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 1,2 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 6 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 4 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 7 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 5 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 8 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 4,11 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 9 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 6 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 10 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 9 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 11 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 11 and 12 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 12 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 7 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 13 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 4,11 and 8 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 14 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 15 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 15 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 16 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 16 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 7 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 17 of the instant application are similar limitations of claims 10, 11-12 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 18 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 17 of Patent application above.
Limitations of claim 19 of the instant application are similar limitations of claim 8 of Patent application above.
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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over by CN107770923 in view of Sadwick (US Pub. No: 2013/0175931).
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With respect to claim 1, CN107770923 discloses a circuit unit (30) for a lamp (figure 4 above),
comprising: first power stage (see figure 2 above) configured to receive a first power signal from an Alternating Current (AC) power supply(AC), perform an Alternating Current—Direct Current (AC-DC) conversion on the first power signal to generate a second power signal(figure 2 above and also figure 3 above for AC convert to DC from both rectifiers), and performs a dimming signal conversion on the first power signal(a light modulator(40) which includes a controllable silicon dimmer, page 5) from the Alternating Current (AC) power supply to generate a first dimming signal; and a second power stage(figure 1 above) configured to be connected with the first power stage(figure 2 above) to receive the second power signal output from the first power stage, wherein the second signal output being PWM signal or varied voltage signal, and the first dimming signal both output from the first power stage(figure 2 above), wherein, the second power stage(the lighting modulator(40) which includes the controllable silicon dimmer, page 5) adjusts the second power signal based on at least the first dimming signal to generate a third power signal (figure 2 above), and the second power stage(figure 2 above) provides a light-emitting unit of the lamp(10) with the third power signal to drive the light-emitting unit(10).
CN107770923 does not disclose a dimming signal conversion on the first power signal by converting a phase cut angle of the first power signal into dimming depth information to generate a first dimming signal.
Sadwick disclose a dimming signal conversion on the first power signal by converting a phase cut angle of the first power signal into dimming depth information to generate a first dimming signal. Paragraph [37] for a dimmer 16 or other type of forward or reverse AC dimmer is fed to a control unit 20 which processes and supplies an appropriate output signal or dimming control signal 14 based on the dimming information/phase angle/etc. provided in a triac dimming signal 18 by the triac dimmer 16 or other types of forward or reverse dimmer.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the features of Sadwick into the lamp circuit of CN107770923 to provide a phase cut angle of the first power signal into dimming depth information to generate a first dimming signal.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Citation of pertinent prior art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicants' disclosure. See prior arts/references listed on the PTO-892 form attached.
Inquiry
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MINH TRAN whose telephone number is (571)272-1817. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Taningco Alexander H can be reached on 571-272-8048. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Minh Tran/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2845
Prosecution Insights