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 .
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(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2015/0115704 (Gorai) in view of US 2016/0046194 (Tsukamoto).
Regarding claim 1, Gorai teaches a contactless electric power transmission system (Fig. 2 shows a contactless electric power transmission system) that supplies electric power in a contactless manner from an electric power supply device (Fig. 2 shows electric power transmission equipment 200 comprising electric power transmission unit 220) provided on a movement path (Fig. 1 shows electric power transmission device 220A-C provided on a movement path) of a movable body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle A-C i.e. movable body) to an electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception unit 110, vehicle ECU 300 and communication 150) provided on the movable body (Fig. 1-2 shows vehicle i.e. movable body comprising electric power reception unit 110) [0097],wherein the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception unit 110, vehicle ECU 300 and communication 160) comprises a control portion (Fig. 2 shows vehicle ECU 300) that transmits pairing information to the electric power supply device [0076-77, 0139-141, 0147] when being in a weak coupling state coupled with the electric power supply device by a weak magnetic field (a weak coupling state coupled with the transmission equipment by a weak magnetic field is established) [0097-98] in a predetermined range (weak coupling state being in a predetermined range) [0108-110] and shifts an operation mode of the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows vehicle comprising power reception unit) to an electric power reception mode when a reply from the electric power supply device is obtained (normal electric power feed is started after electric power transmission equipment gives a notice of end of verification control to vehicle 100) [0124].
However, Gorai does not explicitly teach control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information.
However, Tsukamoto teaches control portion (Fig. 2 shows coupling control unit 204) that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information (power pattern frequency matching communicates establishing identification information matching power pattern) [0122-123].
It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information as taught by Tsukamoto in order to efficiently perform compatibility for power transfer between the contactless electric power transmission system and movable body.
Regarding claim 2, Gorai does not teach wherein the pairing information is data within 8 bytes.
However, Tsukamoto teaches wherein the pairing information is data within 8 bytes [0003].
It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the pairing information to be data within 8 bytes in order to ensure ease of communication.
Regarding claim 3, Gorai teaches wherein the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows vehicle 100) superimposes the pairing information on a current to be induced at the electric power supply device when the current is induced at the electric power supply device by the weak coupling state with the electric power supply device (vehicle superimposes the pairing information on a current to be induced at transmission equipment over a weak coupling state coupled with the transmission equipment by a weak magnetic field is established) [0018, 0059, 0097-98], and the electric power supply device acquires a content of the pairing information from the current [0076, 0112-113].
Regarding claim 4, Gorai teaches wherein the control portion transmits the pairing information from the electric power reception device to the electric power supply device when a time or a distance in accordance with a position of the movable body and a position corresponding to an installation position of the electric power supply device is less than a threshold value (vehicle ECU transmits pairing information from the power reception unit in vehicle to electric power transmission equipment 200 when a distance in accordance with a position of the vehicle and transmission equipment is less than a threshold value) [0098-99, 0106-107].
Regarding claim 5, Gorai teaches a movable body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle 100) on which an electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception unit 110) that receives electric power in a contactless manner from an electric power supply device (Fig. 2 shows electric power transmission equipment 200 comprising electric power transmission unit 220) provided on a movement path (Fig. 1 shows transmission unit 220 on movement path) is mounted (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception equipment 110 mounted in vehicle 100), the movable body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle 100) comprising:
a control portion (Fig. 2 shows vehicle ECU) that transmits pairing information to the electric power supply device (vehicle ECU via communication unit 160 transmits pairing information to the communication unit 230 of transmission equipment) [0076-77, 0139-141, 0147] when being in a weak coupling state coupled with the electric power supply device by a weak magnetic field (a weak coupling state coupled with the transmission equipment by a weak magnetic field is established) [0097-98] in a predetermined range (weak coupling state being in a predetermined range) [0108-110] and shifts an operation mode of the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows vehicle comprising power reception unit) to an electric power reception mode when a reply from the electric power supply device is obtained (normal electric power feed is started after electric power transmission equipment gives a notice of end of verification control to vehicle 100) [0124].
However, Gorai does not explicitly teach control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information.
However, Tsukamoto teaches control portion (Fig. 2 shows coupling control unit 204) that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information (power pattern frequency matching communicates establishing identification information matching power pattern) [0122-123].
It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information as taught by Tsukamoto in order to efficiently perform compatibility for power transfer between the contactless electric power transmission system and movable body.
Regarding claim 6, Gorai teaches a contactless electric power transmission method (Fig. 2 shows a contactless electric power transmission method) that supplies electric power in a contactless manner from an electric power supply device (Fig. 2 shows electric power transmission equipment 200 comprising electric power transmission unit 220) provided on a movement path (Fig. 1 shows electric power transmission device 220A-C provided on a movement path) of a movable body (Fig. 1 shows vehicle A-C i.e. movable body) to an electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception unit 110, vehicle ECU 300 and communication 150) provided on the movable body (Fig. 1-2 shows vehicle i.e. movable body comprising electric power reception unit 110) [0097], the contactless electric power transmission method comprising:
by way of the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows electric power reception unit 110, vehicle ECU 300 and communication 160), transmitting pairing information to the electric power supply device (vehicle ECU via communication unit 160 transmits pairing information to the communication unit 230 of transmission equipment) [0076-77, 0139-141, 0147] when being in a weak coupling state coupled with the electric power supply device by a weak magnetic field (a weak coupling state coupled with the transmission equipment by a weak magnetic field is established) [0097-98] in a predetermined range (weak coupling state being in a predetermined range) [0108-110]; and
shifting an operation mode of the electric power reception device (Fig. 2 shows vehicle comprising power reception unit) to an electric power reception mode when a reply from the electric power supply device is obtained (normal electric power feed is started after electric power transmission equipment gives a notice of end of verification control to vehicle 100) [0124].
However, Gorai does not explicitly teach control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information.
However, Tsukamoto teaches control portion (Fig. 2 shows coupling control unit 204 on vehicle side i.e. electric power reception device) that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information (power pattern frequency matching communicates establishing identification information matching power pattern) [0122-123].
It would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information as taught by Tsukamoto in order to efficiently perform compatibility for power transfer between the contactless electric power transmission system and movable body.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/18/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claims 1, 5 and 6, Applicant presents that Gorai reference does not teach: a control portion that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information to the electric power supply device…
Examiner would like to point to Gorai teaching communication between the electric power reception device control portion and electric power supply device via radio communication [0112-113].
Examiner is in agreement with the Applicant regarding the insufficiencies of Gorai in light of the amended portion, however, the Examiner would like to point to Fig. 2 of Tsukamoto showing coupling control unit 204 that transmits, using a frequency for electric power transmission, pairing information to the electric power supply device as taught in paragraph [0123] wherein power frequency patterns match is obtained in order for identification information to be confirmed for establishing coupling.
Thereby, the rejection stands.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SWARNA N CHOWDHURI whose telephone number is (571)431-0696. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.
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SWARNA N. CHOWDHURI
Examiner
Art Unit 2836
/S.N.C/Examiner, Art Unit 2836
/REXFORD N BARNIE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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