Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/233,554

A POWER SUPPLY AND A METHOD FOR SUPPLYING DIRECT CURRENT TO A LOAD

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jun 10, 2025
Priority
Nov 11, 2024 — EU 24212134.1
Examiner
CHANG, JOSEPH
Art Unit
2836
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Skeleton Technologies GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1062 granted / 1183 resolved
+21.8% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1199
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
33.4%
-6.6% vs TC avg
§102
37.0%
-3.0% vs TC avg
§112
14.7%
-25.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1183 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . The annotated version of Figure 1 of this application is shown below for item-to-item matching for claimed languages: PNG media_image1.png 668 514 media_image1.png Greyscale Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The annotated version of Figure 1 of CN 108667337 is shown below for item-to-item matching for the prior art, pairing exact claimed language to particular language used in the prior art, and/or clearly explaining examiner’s interpretation: PNG media_image2.png 565 704 media_image2.png Greyscale 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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN108667337. Regarding claims 1 and 15, CN108667337 discloses in FIG 1-2 a power supply (FIG 1) and a method comprising: - an input voltage terminal for receiving input voltage (see the indicated arrow), - a direct voltage terminal for supplying direct current to a load of the power supply (see the indicated arrow), - an input voltage converter between the input voltage terminal and the direct voltage terminal, and configured to convert the input voltage to direct voltage of the direct voltage terminal(see the indicated arrow), and - a first capacitor (C) connected between positive (upper) and negative (lower) poles of the direct voltage terminal (see the indicated arrow), the first capacitor comprising at least one of: an electrolytic capacitor and a foil capacitor (“energy storage capacitor C” ¶[0032] implies an electrolytic capacitor or a foil capacitor because they are examples of well-known energy storage capacitors, further electrolytic capacitors are high capacitance values for power smoothing for a power supply), wherein the power supply comprises a second capacitor (see the indicated arrow) being a super-capacitor (Abstract, ¶[0027]), and a direct voltage converter (see the indicated arrow) between the second capacitor and the direct voltage terminal and configured to carry out voltage conversion between direct voltage of the second capacitor and the direct voltage of the direct voltage terminal. Although CN108667337 does not explicitly disclose “the first capacitor comprising at least one of: an electrolytic capacitor and a foil capacitor”, the first capacitor corresponds to “energy storage capacitor C” disclosed in ¶[0032] and therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such capacitors because these capacitors are examples of “energy storage capacitor C” of CN108667337 and further, electrolytic capacitors are high capacitance values for power smoothing for a power supply. Regarding claims 2|1 and 16|15, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the power supply comprises a controller (FIG 2b) except the limitation settings : “configured to control the direct voltage converter to charge the second capacitor in response to a situation in which the direct current is below a first predetermined current limit and the direct voltage of the second capacitor is below a predetermined upper limit, and to discharge the second capacitor in response to a situation in which the direct current is above a second predetermined current limit and the direct voltage of the second capacitor is above a predetermined lower limit” (Abstract, ¶[0028]-[0031]). Such limitation settings are not explicitly disclosed but are well-known techniques for bi-directional buck/boost converters as shown in FIG 2(a) and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art use such techniques for obtaining predictable results. Regarding claims 3|1 and 17|15, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the second capacitor comprises one or more carbon capacitor cells (carbon capacitor cells, commonly known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, specifically electric double-layer capacitors or EDLCs, store electrical energy electrostatically)(Abstract, ¶[0005]). Regarding claim 4|2|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the second capacitor comprises one or more carbon capacitor cells (carbon capacitor cells, commonly known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, specifically electric double-layer capacitors or EDLCs, store electrical energy electrostatically)(Abstract, ¶[0005]). Regarding claims 5|1 and 18|15, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the second capacitor comprises one or more electric double layer capacitor cells (carbon capacitor cells, commonly known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, specifically electric double-layer capacitors or EDLCs, store electrical energy electrostatically)(Abstract, ¶[0005]). Regarding claim 6|2|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the second capacitor comprises one or more electric double layer capacitor cells (carbon capacitor cells, commonly known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, specifically electric double-layer capacitors or EDLCs, store electrical energy electrostatically)(Abstract, ¶[0005]). Regarding claims 7|1 and 19|15, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the direct voltage converter is a bi-directional buck-boost converter (Abstract, ¶[0005]). Regarding claims 8|1 and 20|15, CN108667337 discloses a power supply except wherein the first capacitor comprises a parallel connection of the electrolytic capacitor and the foil capacitor. As known in the art, these parallel capacitors are used for storing energy and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such configuration because such a configuration provides bulk energy storage or low-frequency filtering, while the foil capacitor filters high-frequency noise. Regarding claim 9|2|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the first capacitor comprises a parallel connection of the electrolytic capacitor and the foil capacitor. As known in the art, these parallel capacitors are used for storing energy and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such configuration because such a configuration provides bulk energy storage or low-frequency filtering, while the foil capacitor filters high-frequency noise. Regarding claim 10|3|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the first capacitor comprises a parallel connection of the electrolytic capacitor and the foil capacitor. As known in the art, these parallel capacitors are used for storing energy and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such configuration because such a configuration provides bulk energy storage or low-frequency filtering, while the foil capacitor filters high-frequency noise. Regarding claim 11|4|2|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the first capacitor comprises a parallel connection of the electrolytic capacitor and the foil capacitor. As known in the art, these parallel capacitors are used for storing energy and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such configuration because such a configuration provides bulk energy storage or low-frequency filtering, while the foil capacitor filters high-frequency noise. Regarding claim 12|5|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the first capacitor comprises a parallel connection of the electrolytic capacitor and the foil capacitor. As known in the art, these parallel capacitors are used for storing energy and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use such configuration because such a configuration provides bulk energy storage or low-frequency filtering, while the foil capacitor filters high-frequency noise. Regarding claim 13|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the input voltage converter is an alternating voltage - direct voltage converter (FIG 1). Regarding claim 14|1, CN108667337 discloses a power supply wherein the input voltage converter is a direct voltage converter (FIG 1). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. EP2914866A1 discloses a power supply in FIG 1 - an input voltage terminal (input of 115) for receiving input voltage (110), - a direct voltage terminal (107, 108) for supplying direct current to a load (102, 111, 112) of the power supply, - an input voltage converter (115) between the input voltage terminal and the direct voltage terminal, and configured to convert the input voltage to direct voltage of the direct voltage terminal, and - a first capacitor (101) connected between positive (+) and negative (-) poles of the direct voltage terminal, the first capacitor comprising at least one of: an electrolytic capacitor (103) and a foil capacitor, wherein the power supply comprises a second capacitor (116 “battery” can be replaced with a super capacitor as known in the art) being a super-capacitor, and a direct voltage converter (117) between the second capacitor and the direct voltage terminal and configured to carry out voltage conversion between direct voltage of the second capacitor and the direct voltage of the direct voltage terminal. It is noted that the claimed language “a second capacitor being a super-capacitor” is not disclosed in EP 2924866A1 instead Figure 1 of EP 2924866A1 shows Battery 116. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Joseph Chang whose telephone number is (571)272-1759. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00- 17:00. 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, Menatoallah M Youssef can be reached at 571-270-3684. 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. /JOSEPH CHANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 10, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+3.9%)
1y 11m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1183 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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