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 § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 5, 8, 11, 12, 15, and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Kuranuki et al. (2016/0087426).
Regarding independent claim 5, Kuranuki teaches (Figs. 1 and 2) a power supply switching device (130) that switches a power supply of a load (20) between a main power supply (connected to 140/142) and an auxiliary power supply (connected to 144/146), the power supply switching device comprising:
a main power circuit (upper left portion of Fig. 2) connected to the main power supply (from the AC source (10) directly);
an auxiliary power circuit (lower left portion of Fig. 2) connected to the auxiliary power supply (from the inverter (120));
a load circuit (148/150) connected to the load;
a power supply side relay (200 and 210) including a first main power contact (left contact of 200) connected to the main power circuit, a second main power contact (right contact of 200) disposed corresponding to the first main power contact, a first auxiliary power contact (left contact of 210) connected to the auxiliary power circuit, and a second auxiliary power contact (right contact of 210) disposed corresponding to the first auxiliary power contact, the power supply side relay being switchable between a first main connection state and a first auxiliary connection state, the power supply side relay being configured to, in the first main connection state, connect the first main power contact and the second main power contact (i.e. close 200) and disconnect the first auxiliary power contact and the second auxiliary power contact (i.e. open 210), the power supply side relay being configured to, in the first auxiliary connection state, connect the first auxiliary power contact and the second auxiliary power contact (i.e. close 210) and disconnect the first main power contact and the second main power contact (i.e. open 200); ([0024]-[0026])
a main connecting circuit (to the right of 200) connected to the second main power contact;
an auxiliary connecting circuit (to the right of 210) connected to the second auxiliary power contact; and
a load side relay (220) including a third main power contact (top left contact of 220) connected to the main connecting circuit and a third auxiliary power contact (bottom left contact of 220) connected to the auxiliary connecting circuit, the load side relay being switchable between a second main connection state and a second auxiliary connection state, the load side relay being configured to connect the third main power contact and the load circuit and disconnects the third auxiliary power contact and the load circuit, the load side relay being configured to, in the second auxiliary connection state, connect the third auxiliary power contact and the load circuit and disconnect the third main power contact and the load circuit ([0027]); and
a controller (162) configured to:
control the power supply side relay and the load side relay ([0025]-[0027]),
switch the power supply side relay to the first main connection state and switch the load side relay to the second main connection state to supply power from the main power supply to the load ([0025]-[0027]), and
switch the power supply side relay to the first main connection state after a predetermined time has elapsed after switching the load side relay to the second main connection state (when switching from the auxiliary connection state to the main connection state; [0049], [0053], [0054]).
Regarding independent claim 8, Kuranuki teaches (Figs. 1 and 2) a power supply switching device (130) that switches a power supply of a load (20) between a main power supply (connected to 140/142) and an auxiliary power supply (connected to 144/146), the power supply switching device comprising:
a main power circuit (upper left portion of Fig. 2) connected to the main power supply (from the AC source (10) directly);
an auxiliary power circuit (lower left portion of Fig. 2) connected to the auxiliary power supply (from the inverter (120));
a load circuit (148/150) connected to the load;
a power supply side relay (200 and 210) including a first main power contact (left contact of 200) connected to the main power circuit, a second main power contact (right contact of 200) disposed corresponding to the first main power contact, a first auxiliary power contact (left contact of 210) connected to the auxiliary power circuit, and a second auxiliary power contact (right contact of 210) disposed corresponding to the first auxiliary power contact, the power supply side relay being switchable between a first main connection state and a first auxiliary connection state, the power supply side relay being configured to, in the first main connection state, connect the first main power contact and the second main power contact (i.e. close 200) and disconnect the first auxiliary power contact and the second auxiliary power contact (i.e. open 210), the power supply side relay being configured to, in the first auxiliary connection state, connect the first auxiliary power contact and the second auxiliary power contact (i.e. close 210) and disconnect the first main power contact and the second main power contact (i.e. open 200); ([0024]-[0026])
a main connecting circuit (to the right of 200) connected to the second main power contact;
an auxiliary connecting circuit (to the right of 210) connected to the second auxiliary power contact; and
a load side relay (220) including a third main power contact (top left contact of 220) connected to the main connecting circuit and a third auxiliary power contact (bottom left contact of 220) connected to the auxiliary connecting circuit, the load side relay being switchable between a second main connection state and a second auxiliary connection state, the load side relay being configured to connect the third main power contact and the load circuit and disconnects the third auxiliary power contact and the load circuit, the load side relay being configured to, in the second auxiliary connection state, connect the third auxiliary power contact and the load circuit and disconnect the third main power contact and the load circuit ([0027]); and
a controller (162) configured to:
control the power supply side relay and the load side relay ([0025]-[0027]),
switch the power supply side relay to the first auxiliary connection state (i.e. close 210) and switches the load side relay (220) to the second auxiliary connection state to supply power from the auxiliary power supply to the load ([0026], [0027]), and
switch the power supply side relay to the first auxiliary connection state after a predetermined time has elapsed after switching the load side relay to the second auxiliary connection state (when switching from the main connection state to the auxiliary connection state; [0049], [0053], [0054]).
Regarding claims 5 and 8 above, Kuranuki teaches in the paragraphs reference above, when switching from the main connection state to the auxiliary connection state and vice versa, opening the power supply side relay of the connected power source (i.e. 200) and switching the load side relay (220) to the opposite connection state at the same time and, at a predetermined time after that, closing the power supply side relay of the soon-to-be connected source (i.e. 210).
Regarding claims 11 and 15, Kuranuki teaches (Figs. 2 and 3) a main power sensor (inside 230a) configured to detect a voltage or a current of the main power circuit (via 140, 142), wherein
the controller is configured to determine whether at least one of the first main power contact, the second main power contact, and the third main power contact is welded based on the voltage or the current of the main power circuit detected by the main power sensor ([0028], [0029]).
Regarding claims 12 and 16, Kuranuki teaches (Figs. 2 and 3) an auxiliary power sensor (inside 230b) configured to detect a voltage or a current of the auxiliary power circuit (via 144, 146), wherein
the controller is configured to determine whether at least one of the first auxiliary power contact, the second auxiliary power contact, and the third auxiliary power contact is welded based on the voltage or the current of the auxiliary power circuit detected by the auxiliary power sensor ([0028], [0029]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 7, 9, 10, 13, and 14 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed August 20, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding independent claims 5 and 8, the Examiner believes that Kuranuki teaches these limitations, as described above. Additionally, when the first and third relays are simultaneously controlled, that is analogous to switching the load side relay to the second main (or auxiliary) connection state. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, Kuranuki teaches the second relay being closed, which is analogous to the claimed “switch the power supply side relay to the first main (or auxiliary) connection state”, so as to connect the main (or auxiliary) power supply,
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DRU M PARRIES whose telephone number is (571)272-8542. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday -Thursday from 9:00am to 6:00pm. The examiner can also be reached on alternate Fridays.
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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DMP
9/16/2026
/DANIEL KESSIE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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