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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because of the following informalities:
Fig. 4, step D3, T should be labeled as T1.
Fig. 4, step D6, T should be labeled as T3.
Fig. 4, step D7, T should be labeled as T3.
Fig. 4, step D8, T should be labeled as T2.
Fig. 4, step D10, T should be labeled as T4.
Fig. 4, step D11, T should be labeled as T5.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 14 and 22-23 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 14 recites the limitation "the acceleration sensor" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 22 recites the limitation "the plurality of defined levels" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13, 15-21 and 24-26 are allowed.
Claims 14 and 22-23 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Independent claim 1 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “generates feature parameters based on the acceleration signal and (emphasis added) the charge-variation signal; and generates a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the cartridge based on the generated feature parameters, the generated feature parameters including a peak-to-peak distance of the acceleration signal and a maximum of the charge variation signal (emphasis added)” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Independent claim 8 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “generates feature parameters based on the acceleration signal and (emphasis added) the charge-variation signal; and generates a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the laser printer cartridge based on the generated feature parameters, the generated feature parameters including a peak-to-peak distance of the acceleration signal and a maximum of the charge variation signal (emphasis added)” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Independent claim 13 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “generates feature parameters based on the acceleration signal and (emphasis added) the charge-variation signal; and generates a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the laser printer cartridge based on the generated feature parameters, the generated feature parameters including a peak-to-peak distance of the acceleration signal and a maximum of the charge variation signal (emphasis added)” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Independent claim 24 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “generates feature parameters based on the acceleration signal and (emphasis added) the charge-variation signal; and generates a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the laser printer cartridge based on the generated feature parameters, the generated feature parameters including a peak-to-peak distance of the acceleration signal and a maximum of the charge variation signal (emphasis added)” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Allen et al. (US Pat. No. 5,987,269) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a charge variation sensor and a processing circuitry to generate a level signal. Allen et al. does not disclose an acceleration sensor.
Bessette (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2002/0159795 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: an acceleration sensor and a processing circuitry to generate a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the cartridge. Bessette does not disclose a charge variation sensor.
Otake (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2011/0286754 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: an acceleration sensor and a processing circuitry to generate a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the cartridge. Otake does not disclose a charge variation sensor.
Kotani et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2017/0023877 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: an acceleration sensor (a density sensor) and a processing circuitry to generate a level signal indicative of a level of toner in the cartridge. Kotani et al. does not disclose a charge variation sensor.
Wakisaka (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2023/0400795 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a charge variation sensor (an inductance sensor) and a processing circuitry to generate a level signal. Wakisaka does not disclose an acceleration sensor.
Kimura et al. (WO 2004/083965 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising: a developing member; a toner concentration sensor located below the developing roller; a stirring member; a charge variation sensor located below the stirring member; and a controller. Kimura et al. does not disclose an acceleration sensor.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SOPHIA S CHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2133. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am - 5 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.
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/SOPHIA S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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April 21, 2026
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