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 01/17/2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
Drawings the drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, “a water tray and the water tray being located below the outdoor heat exchanger; and the gas bypass being arranged at the water tray” recited in claim 1 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Claim Interpretation Under 35 USC §112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. - An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “a throttling device” in claim 1.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
Claim limitation “a throttling device” has/have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C.112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because it uses/they use a generic placeholder “device” coupled with functional language “a throttling” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function.
Since the claim limitation(s) invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claim(s) 1 has/have been interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation:
A throttling device treated as meaning an electronic expansion valve or a capillary tube. See par. 54.
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not intend to have the claim limitation(s) treated under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112 , sixth paragraph, applicant may amend the claim(s) so that it/they will clearly not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, or present a sufficient showing that the claim recites/recite sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function to preclude application of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
For more information, see MPEP § 2173 et seq. and Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
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 10-12 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 10 calls for the limitation of “an air conditioner” which is confusing as it is unclear how it relates to the previous recitation of an air conditioner in claim 1 above. For examination purposes, it is considered as same and is being considered as -- the air conditioner --.
Claim 11 calls for the limitation of “an air conditioner” which is confusing as it is unclear how it relates to the previous recitation of an air conditioner in claim 1 above. For examination purposes, it is considered as same and is being considered as -- the air conditioner --.
Claim 12 calls for the limitation of “an air conditioner” which is confusing as it is unclear how it relates to the previous recitation of an air conditioner in claim 1 above. For examination purposes, it is considered as same and is being considered as -- the air conditioner --.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC §103
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 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 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 of this title, 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 1, 4-5 and 8-9 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
unpatentable over DU et al. (CN 108317772 A, see attached translation) in view of
NAGATA (JP2009210174A, see attached translation).
In regards to claim 1, DU discloses an ice melting method for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises a compressor (a compressor 1), an outdoor heat exchanger (6), an indoor heat exchanger (3), an enthalpy increasing system, a gas bypass (equivalent to the first evaporator 4); the enthalpy increasing system comprises a flash evaporator (corresponding to flash sub-cooler 5), a one-way electromagnetic valve (first check valve 9) and a throttling device (7/8); a first refrigerant flow path is arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger (6) and the indoor heat exchanger (3), and the flash evaporator (5) and the throttling device (7/8) are arranged in the first refrigerant flow path; a second refrigerant flow path (path of gas pipe 13) is arranged between the flash evaporator (5) and an enthalpy increasing port (inlet of compressor at after one-way valve 9) of the compressor (1), and the one-way electromagnetic valve (9) is arranged on the second refrigerant flow path (13);
the gas bypass (4) is arranged in the first refrigerant flow path and located between the enthalpy increasing system and the indoor heat exchanger (3).
DU fails to explicitly teach a water tray and is located below the outdoor heat exchanger; and the gas bypass is arranged at the water tray; wherein the ice melting method comprises: detecting an icing condition in the water tray; and in response to the icing condition indicating ice existing in the water tray, adjusting an operating state of the air conditioner to improve heat supply of the gas bypass.
NAGATA teaches an air conditioner wherein the water tray (drain pan 11) is located below the outdoor heat exchanger (outdoor heat exchanger 4); and the gas bypass (corresponding to anti-freeze pipe 7) is arranged at the water tray (11); wherein the ice melting method comprises: detecting an icing condition (detecting frosting condition) in the water tray (11); and in response to the icing condition indicating ice existing in the water tray, adjusting an operating state (defrosting operation) of the air conditioner to improve heat supply of the gas bypass (refer to pars. 3 and 25).
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 method of DU such that a water tray is located below the outdoor heat exchanger; and the gas bypass is arranged at the water tray; wherein the ice melting method comprises: detecting an icing condition in the water tray; and in response to the icing condition indicating ice existing in the water tray, adjusting an operating state of the air conditioner to improve heat supply of the gas bypass as taught by NAGATA in order to prevent the freezing of drain water, a drainage path for drain water is always ensured, resulting in a highly reliable air conditioner that can operate continuously (refer to par. 25 of NAGATA).
In regards to claim 4, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the adjusting the operating state of the air conditioner comprises: maintaining the one-way electromagnetic valve open and maintaining the opening degree of the throttling device; and increasing the operating frequency of the compressor, decreasing a rotation speed of an indoor fan, and maintaining a rotation speed of an outdoor fan.
NAGATA teaches an air conditioner wherein the adjusting the operating state of the air conditioner (performs operational control; par. 37) comprises: maintaining the one-way electromagnetic valve open and maintaining the opening degree of the throttling device (refer to pars. 29 and 37); and increasing the operating frequency of the compressor (increasing the rotational speed of the compressor 2; par. 37), decreasing a rotation speed of an indoor fan (stopping the fan of the indoor heat exchanger 6, this includes decreasing before stopping; par. 37), and maintaining a rotation speed of an outdoor fan (refer to par. 37).
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 method of DU such that the adjusting the operating state of the air conditioner comprises: maintaining the one-way electromagnetic valve open and maintaining the opening degree of the throttling device; and increasing the operating frequency of the compressor, decreasing a rotation speed of an indoor fan, and maintaining a rotation speed of an outdoor fan as taught by NAGATA in order to prevent the freezing of drain water, a drainage path for drain water is always ensured, resulting in a highly reliable air conditioner that can operate continuously (refer to par. 25 of NAGATA).
In regards to claim 5, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 4. Further, NAGATA teaches wherein the decreasing the rotation speed of the indoor fan (stopping the fan of the indoor heat exchanger 6, this includes decreasing before stopping; par. 37) comprises: decreasing the rotation speed of the indoor fan (stopping the fan of the indoor heat exchanger 6; par. 37) to keep a temperature of the indoor heat exchanger (6) higher than a first preset temperature (refer to par. 37).
In regards to claim 8, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, DU teaches wherein the throttling device (7/8) comprises a first throttling device (first throttling device 7), arranged in the first refrigerant flow path and located between the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the flash evaporator (5).
In regards to claim 9, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1. Further, DU teaches wherein the throttling device comprises a second throttling device (second throttling device 8), arranged in the first refrigerant flow path and located between the flash evaporator (5) and the gas bypass (4).
Claims 2-3 and 6-7 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
unpatentable over DU et al. (CN 108317772 A, see attached translation) in view of
NAGATA (JP2009210174A, see attached translation), further in view of CHOI (KR
101636700 B1, see attached translation).
In regards to claim 2, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the air conditioner further comprises an ice detection sensor, and the detecting the icing condition in the water tray comprises: detecting resistance in the water tray through the ice detection sensor; and in response to the resistance being higher than a preset resistance threshold, determining ice existing in the water tray.
CHOI teaches an air conditioner (Fig. 1) wherein the air conditioner further comprises an ice detection sensor (sensor 201), and the detecting the icing condition in the water tray comprises: detecting resistance in the water tray through the ice detection sensor (refer to par. 31); and in response to the resistance being higher than (greater than the freezing setting value) a preset resistance threshold, determining ice existing in the water tray (resistance value is greater than or equal to the freezing setting value is determined to be in a freezing state; pars. 33 and 31).
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 method of DU such that an ice detection sensor, and the detecting the icing condition in the water tray comprises: detecting resistance in the water tray through the ice detection sensor; and in response to the resistance being higher than a preset resistance threshold, determining ice existing in the water tray as taught by CHOI in order to enabling the rapid removal of ice formed on the surface (refer to par. 38 of CHOI).
In regards to claim 3, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 2, but fails to explicitly teach wherein the detecting the icing condition in the water tray further comprises: in response to the resistance being lower than or equal to the preset resistance threshold, determining ice not existing in the water tray.
CHOI teaches an air conditioner (Fig. 1) wherein the detecting the icing condition in the water tray further comprises: in response to the resistance being lower than (below the setting value) or equal to the preset resistance threshold, determining ice not existing in the water tray (resistance value has dropped below the freezing setting value, and if it is determined that it has dropped below the setting value, the defrosting heater is stopped to terminate the defrosting operation par. 33).
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 method of DU such that the detecting the icing condition in the water tray further comprises: in response to the resistance being lower than or equal to the preset resistance threshold, determining ice not existing in the water tray as taught by CHOI in order to enabling the rapid removal of ice formed on the surface (refer to par. 38 of CHOI).
In regards to claim 6, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach further comprising: re-detecting the resistance in the water tray at every preset time; and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected resistance.
CHOI teaches an air conditioner (Fig. 1) wherein further comprising: re-detecting the resistance (defrosting time is regulated) in the water tray at every preset time (freezing detection sensor 201 continuously transmits ions; par. 33); and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected resistance (depending on whether this value is above or below, the freezing operation can be performed or terminated; par. 33).
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 method of DU such that further comprising: re-detecting the resistance in the water tray at every preset time; and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected resistance as taught by CHOI in order to enabling the rapid removal of ice formed on the surface (refer to par. 38 of CHOI).
In regards to claim 7, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach further comprising: re-detecting a temperature in the water tray at every preset time; and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected temperature.
CHOI teaches an air conditioner (Fig. 1) wherein further comprising: re-detecting a temperature in the water tray at every preset time (freezing detection sensor 201 continuously transmits ions par. 33); and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected temperature (depending on whether this value is above or below, the freezing operation can be performed or terminated; par. 33).
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 method of DU such further comprising: re-detecting a temperature in the water tray at every preset time; and determining whether to continue ice melting according to the detected temperature as taught by CHOI in order to enabling the rapid removal of ice formed on the surface (refer to par. 38 of CHOI).
Claims 10-12 are rejected under pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
over DU et al. (CN 108317772 A, see attached translation) in view of NAGATA
(JP2009210174A, see attached translation), further in view of TONG et al. (CN
109631257A, see attached translation).
In regards to claim 10, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach a controller comprising: a memory; and at least one processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor, and wherein when executing the computer program, the at least one processor performs the ice melting method for an air conditioner of claim 1.
TONG teaches an air conditioner wherein a controller (an air conditioning control device 900) comprising: a memory (a memory 9002); and at least one processor (a processor 9001), wherein a computer program (control program; par. 28) is stored in the memory (9002) and executable by the at least one processor (9001), and wherein when executing the computer program, the at least one processor (9001) performs the ice melting method for an air conditioner (refer to par. 28) of claim 1.
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 method of DU such that a controller comprising: a memory; and at least one processor, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor, and wherein when executing the computer program, the at least one processor performs the ice melting method as taught by TONG in order to determine the operating time based on the defrosting operation time and the adjustment range (refer to par. 27 of TONG).
In regards to claim 11, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 10. Further, TONG teaches an air conditioner comprising the controller of claim 10 (an air conditioning control device 900; pars. 2 and 56).
In regards to claim 12, DU as modified meets the claim limitations as disclosed above in the rejection of claim 1, but fails to explicitly teach a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to execute the ice melting method for an air conditioner of claim 1.
TONG teaches an air conditioner wherein a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical dis; par. 56) storing computer-executable instructions (refer to pars. 96) configured to execute the ice melting method for an air conditioner (refer to pars. 28) of claim 1.
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 method of DU such that a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to execute the ice melting method for an air conditioner as taught by TONG in order to determine the operating time based on the defrosting operation time and the adjustment range (refer to par. 27 of TONG).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARTHA TADESSE whose telephone number is (571)272-0590. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:30am-5:00pm EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Frantz Jules can be reached on 571-272-6681. 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 a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/M.T/
Examiner, Art Unit 3763
/FRANTZ F JULES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Prosecution Insights