DETAILED ACTION
Status of the Application
This communication is a first Office Action Non-Final rejection on the merits.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
2. 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 claims at issue 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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3. Claims 1-10 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-14 of US Patent 12,255,011 since are similar.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system in a similar manner without patentable distinguishable features.
Regarding claim 1, claim 1 of US Patent 12,255,011 discloses a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system, the receiver unit comprising: a receiver drive unit comprising at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and a controller operatively coupled to the receiver drive unit and configured to control one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see Claim 1).
Regarding claims 2-10 these claims are unpatentable over claims 2-14 of US Patent 12,255,011 since are similar.
4. Claims 1-11 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-11 of US Patent 11,955,274 since are similar.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system in a similar manner without patentable distinguishable features.
Regarding claim 1, claim 1 of US Patent 11,955,274 discloses a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system, the receiver unit comprising: a receiver drive unit comprising at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and a controller operatively coupled to the receiver drive unit and configured to control one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see Claim 1).
Regarding claims 2-11 these claims are unpatentable over claims 2-11 of US Patent 11,955,274 since are similar.
5. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19,31-34 of US Patent 11,670,449 since are similar.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system in a similar manner without patentable distinguishable features.
Regarding claim 1, claim 1 of US Patent 11,670,449 discloses a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system, the receiver unit comprising: a receiver drive unit comprising at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and a controller operatively coupled to the receiver drive unit and configured to control one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see Claim 1).
Regarding claims 2-13 these claims are unpatentable over claims 2-19 of US Patent 11,670,449 since are similar.
Regarding claim 14, claim 31 of US Patent 11,670,449 discloses a method of a receiver unit, the method comprising: determining one or more circuit parameters of a receiver drive unit, the receiver drive unit including at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and controlling one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on the one or more circuit parameters, the one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see claim 31).
Regarding claims 15-20 these claims are unpatentable over claims 32-34 of US Patent 11,670,449 since are similar.
6. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19,31-34 of US Patent 11,316,381 since are similar.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they both claim a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system in a similar manner without patentable distinguishable features.
Regarding claim 1, claim 1 of US Patent 11,316,381 discloses a receiver unit of a wireless power transfer system, the receiver unit comprising: a receiver drive unit comprising at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and a controller operatively coupled to the receiver drive unit and configured to control one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see Claim 1).
Regarding claims 2-13 these claims are unpatentable over claims 2-19 of US Patent 11,316,381 since are similar.
Regarding claim 14, claim 31 of US Patent 11,316,381 discloses a method of a receiver unit, the method comprising: determining one or more circuit parameters of a receiver drive unit, the receiver drive unit including at least: a first converter capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal, a first voltage at a first output terminal, a second converter capable of generating, based on the wireless power signal, a second voltage at a second output terminal, and a common output terminal formed by the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and controlling one or more switches of the first converter or the second converter based on the one or more circuit parameters, the one or more circuit parameters including at least one of voltage, current, frequency, or power of the wireless power signal (see claim 31).
Regarding claims 15-20 these claims are unpatentable over claims 32-34 of US Patent 11,316,381 since are similar.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
7. 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 1-20 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.
Specifically, regarding claims 1 and 14, the term “capable of generating, based on a wireless power signal …” in claim 1 and 14 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “based on” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
Particularly, the claim language as currently recited is ambiguous since the claim language does not clarify how the generation of a first and second voltage is achieved based on the wireless power signal, in addition the claim does not even provide a wireless power transmitter, therefore it is impossible to determine where the “wireless power signal” comes from.
Claims 2-13 and 15-20 are also rejected under 112(b) based on the dependency of claim 1 and 14 respectively.
Conclusion
8. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see the cited prior art of record in the 892-form attached.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALFONSO PEREZ BORROTO whose telephone number is (571) 270-1714. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30am-5:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Rexford Barnie can be reached on (571) 272-7492. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ALFONSO PEREZ BORROTO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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