CTNF 19/038,889 CTNF 81385 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Election/Restrictions 08-25-02 Applicant’s election of Species I, claims 1-7 and 20-23 , in the reply filed on 18 May 2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)). Drawings 06-37 AIA The drawings were received on 18 May 2026 . These drawings are acceptable . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 Claims 1-7 and 20-23 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 1, in lines 4-5, states: “a charging member configured to charge a surface of the image bearing member which is rotationally driven by the motor ”. It is unclear from the phrasing which item is being driven by the motor – the charging member or the image bearing member. As such, it is unclear what is meant by the claim language. 07-34-01 Claims 5-7 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 5 recites the limitation "a surface portion of surface portions" in lines 11-12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Specifically, multiple “surface portions” have not been previously introduced. Additionally, claims 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being incomplete for omitting essential elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the elements. See MPEP § 2172.01. The omitted elements are: it is unclear how multiple surface portions of the image bearing member can exist or how a concept of multiple surface portions is determined. Allowable Subject Matter 07-43-01 AIA Claim s 1-7 and 20-23 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. 13-03-01 AIA The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Prior art does not disclose or suggest the claimed “a transfer member … a first power supply configured to generate a voltage of the first polarity, supply the voltage of the first polarity to the charging … and supply the voltage of the first polarity to the transfer member; a second power supply configured to generate a voltage of a second polarity opposite … to the transfer member; a detection circuit configured to detect a charging current flowing between the charging member and image bearing member; and a controller configured to control the first power supply and the second power supply to determine a surface potential of the image bearing member …is further configured to operate the first power supply and the second power supply in a current detection period in which the detection circuit detects the charging current, thereby applying a superimposed voltage generated by superimposing the voltage of the first polarity and the voltage of the second polarity to the transfer member, and to determine the surface potential of the image bearing member based on the charging current detected in the current detection period” in combination with the remaining claim elements as set forth in claims 1-7 and 20-23 . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kosuge et al. (US Pub.2021/0041800) teach detecting the surface potential by detecting the current between a photosensitive drum and charger and discloses that bias applied to a transfer member can disturb the relationship. Kimura et al. (US Pub.2013/0011147) also discusses the influence of transfer bias on the current detection between the charger and a drum. Kitajima (US 7,684,719) discusses the calculations for dark potential and bright potential in an image forming apparatus. Toda et al. (US Pub.2020/0341404) disclose performing a current detection with a polarity of bias applied to the transfer member being the same as the polarity of bias applied to the charger in one measurement. Mizukoshi et al. (US Pub.2019/0227453) disclose an image forming apparatus with a first power supply applying a bias to the charger and a second power supply applying a variety of biases to the transfer member; however, no two opposing polarity biases are applied to the transfer member. Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA K ROTH whose telephone number is (571)272-2154. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-3:30 PM. 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, Stephanie Bloss can be reached at 571-272-3555. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /LKR/ 6/12/2026 /STEPHANIE E BLOSS/ Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/038,889 Page 2 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/038,889 Page 3 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/038,889 Page 4 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/038,889 Page 5 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/038,889 Page 6 Art Unit: 2852
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