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 .
This Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on August 04, 2025. In virtue of this communication, claims 1-18 are currently presented in the instant application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/16/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
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 conflicting claims 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 9-13 and 15-18 of U.S. Patent No. 12,389,507.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the above indicated claims of the instant application are either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the above identified claims of the above patent, including:
As claim 1: A controller operable for controlling a light source module comprising a first light-emitting diode (LED) string and a second LED string, said controller comprising: a first input terminal configured to receive a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal that controls a first switch coupled in series with said first LED string, wherein said first switch is on if said first PWM signal is in a first state and is off if said first PWM signal is in a second state; a second input terminal configured to receive a second PWM signal that controls a second switch coupled in series with said second LED string, wherein said second switch is on if said second PWM signal is in said first state and is off if said second PWM signal is in said second state; and a brightness limit unit, coupled to said first and second input terminals, and configured to turn off said light source module if a width monitoring signal indicating a duration of said first state of said first PWM signal and a duration of said first state of said second PWM signal is greater than a width threshold signal indicating a width threshold (see claim 9 of the above patent).
As claim 2: The controller of claim 1, wherein said brightness limit unit comprises: a third switch coupled in parallel with a capacitor, wherein said controller is configured to turn off said third switch to charge said capacitor if either said first PWM signal or said second PWM signal is in said first state, and configured to turn on said third switch to discharge said capacitor if both said first PWM signal and said second PWM signal are in said second state, wherein said width monitoring signal comprises a voltage across said capacitor; and a comparator configured to compare said width monitoring signal with said width threshold signal, wherein an output of said comparator determines whether to turn off said light source module (see claim 10 of the above patent).
As claim 3: The controller of claim 1, further comprising: a current sensing terminal, coupled to a sensing resistor, and configured to receive a current sensing signal indicating a current of said first LED string and a current of said second LED string, wherein said sensing resistor is coupled to a cathode of said first LED string and a cathode of said second LED string, wherein said current of said first LED string flows from a buck converter through said first LED string, said first switch and said sensing resistor to ground, and wherein said current of said second LED string flows from said buck converter through said second LED string, said second switch, and said sensing resistor to ground (see claim 11 of the above patent).
As claim 4: The controller of claim 3, wherein said controller is further configured to: receive a first voltage sensing signal, indicating a voltage at an anode of said light source module, through a voltage divider coupled between said anode of said light source module and said sensing resistor; receive a second voltage sensing signal, indicating a voltage drop across said light source module, from said anode of said light source module; and detect a short-circuit condition based on said first voltage sensing signal, said second voltage sensing signal, and said current sensing signal (see claim 12 of the above patent).
As claim 5: The controller of claim 3, further comprising: a protection unit configured to detect a short-circuit condition based on a first voltage sensing signal, a second voltage sensing signal, and said current sensing signal, wherein said first voltage sensing signal indicates a voltage at an anode of said light source module, said second voltage sensing signal indicates a voltage drop across said light source module, and said current sensing signal further indicates a voltage at a cathode of said light source module, and wherein said protection unit comprises: a differential unit configured to generate a differential signal indicating a difference between said first voltage sensing signal and said current sensing signal; a first comparator configured to compare said differential signal and a first protection threshold; a second comparator configured to compare said current sensing signal and a second protection threshold; a third comparator configured to compare said second voltage sensing signal and a third protection threshold; an OR gate configured to perform an OR operation of an output of said first comparator and an output of said third comparator; an AND gate configured to perform an AND operation of an output of said OR gate and an output of said second comparator; and a timing unit configured to generate an alert signal based on an output of said AND gate, said first PWM signal, said second PWM signal, and a predetermined time duration (see claim 12 of the above patent).
As claim 6: The controller of claim 3, further comprising: a dimming unit configured to generate an analog signal based on a third PWM signal; an amplifier configured to compare said analog signal and said current sensing signal to generate an error signal; a soft start unit configured to generate a soft start signal by charging and discharging a capacitor, wherein said soft start signal comprises a voltage across said second capacitor; and a multiplexer configured to select a signal from said error signal and said soft start signal to regulate said current of said first LED string, wherein said controller is configured to regulate said current of said first LED string
based on said soft start signal if a voltage of said soft start signal is less than said error signal when said first switch is turned on (see claim 13 of the above patent).
As claim 7: The controller of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and provide said electric power to said light source module
through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power terminal, coupled to an output capacitor of said boost converter, and configured to provide a current to charge said output capacitor; a first comparator configured to compare an output voltage of said boost converter with a first threshold; a second comparator configured to compare said output voltage of said boost converter with a second threshold; a selection unit configured to select a reference signal from a plurality of reference signals based on an output of said first comparator and an output of said second comparator; a current sensing unit configured to generate a sensing signal indicating said current; and an error amplifier configured to control a transistor coupled in series with said output capacitor to regulate said current based on said sensing signal and said reference signal (see claims 15-16 of the above patent).
As claim 8: The controller of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and provide said electric power to said light source module
through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power limit unit configured to control said boost converter to regulate an output voltage of said boost converter to be below a voltage threshold, and to control said boost converter to regulate an input current received by said controller from a power source to be below a current threshold (see claim 15 of the above patent).
As claim 9: The controller of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and provide said electric power to said light source module
through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power limit unit configured to control said boost converter to regulate an output voltage of said boost converter to below a voltage threshold, and to control said boost converter to regulate an output current of said boost converter to below a current threshold (see claim 15 of the above patent).
As claim 10: A system comprising: a light source module comprising a first light-emitting diode (LED) string and a second LED string; a control unit configured to provide a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to control a first switch coupled in series with said first LED string, and configured to provide a second PWM signal to control a second switch coupled in series with said second LED string, wherein said first switch is on if said first PWM signal is in a first state and is off if said first PWM signal is in a second state, and wherein said second switch is on if said second PWM signal is in said first state and is off if said second PWM signal is in said second state; and a controller, coupled to said light source module and said control unit, and configured to receive a width monitoring signal indicating a duration of said first state of said first PWM signal and a duration of said first state of said second PWM signal, and to turn off said light source module if said width monitoring signal is greater than a width threshold signal (see claim 9 of the above patent).
As claim 11: The system of claim 10, further comprising: a capacitor configured to provide said width monitoring signal, wherein said controller is further configured to: turn off a third switch coupled in parallel with said capacitor to charge said capacitor if either said first PWM signal or said second PWM signal is in said first state, turn on said third switch to discharge said capacitor if both said first PWM signal and said second PWM signal are in said second state, and compare said width monitoring signal with said width threshold signal (see claim 10 of the above patent).
As claim 12: The system of claim 10, further comprising: a sensing resistor, coupled in series to said first switch and said first LED string, coupled in series to said second switch and said second LED string, and configured to provide a current sensing signal indicating a current of said first LED string and a current of said second LED string, wherein said current of said first LED string flows from a buck converter through said first LED string, said first switch, and said sensing resistor to ground if said first switch is on, and wherein said current of said second LED string flows from said buck converter through said second LED string, said second switch, and said sensing resistor to ground if said second switch is on (see claim 11 of the above patent).
As claim 13: The system of claim 12, wherein said controller is further configured to: receive a first voltage sensing signal, indicating a voltage at an anode of said light source module, through a voltage divider coupled between said anode of said light source module and said sensing resistor; receive a second voltage sensing signal, indicating a voltage drop across said light source module, from said anode of said light source module; and detect a short-circuit condition based on said first voltage sensing signal, said second voltage sensing signal, and said current sensing signal (see claim 12 of the above patent).
As claim 14: The system of claim 12, wherein said controller comprises: a protection unit configured to detect a short-circuit condition based on a first voltage sensing signal, a second voltage sensing signal, and said current sensing signal, wherein said first voltage sensing signal indicates a voltage at an anode of said light source module, said second voltage sensing signal indicates a voltage drop across said light source module, and said current sensing signal further indicates a voltage at a cathode of said light source module, and wherein said protection unit comprises: a differential unit configured to generate a differential signal indicating a difference between said first voltage sensing signal and said current sensing signal; a first comparator configured to compare said differential signal and a first protection threshold; a second comparator configured to compare said current sensing signal and a second protection threshold; a third comparator configured to compare said second voltage sensing signal and a third protection threshold; an OR gate configured to perform an OR operation of an output of said first comparator and an output of said third comparator; an AND gate configured to perform an AND operation of an output of said OR gate and an output of said second comparator; and a timing unit configured to generate an alert signal based on an output of said AND gate, said first PWM signal, said second PWM signal, and a predetermined time duration (see claim 12 of the above patent).
As claim 15: The system of claim 12, wherein said controller comprises: a dimming unit configured to generate an analog signal based on a third PWM signal; an amplifier configured to compare said analog signal and said current sensing signal to generate an error signal;
a soft start unit configured to generate a soft start signal by charging and discharging a
capacitor, wherein said soft start signal comprises a voltage across said second capacitor; and
a multiplexer configured to select a signal from said error signal and said soft start signal
to regulate said current of said first LED string, wherein said controller is configured to regulate said current of said first LED string based on said soft start signal if a voltage of said soft start signal is less than said error signal when said first switch is turned on (see claims 13 and 15 of the above patent).
As claim 16: The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and provide said electric power to said light source module
through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power terminal, coupled to an output capacitor of said boost converter, and configured to provide a current to charge said output capacitor; a first comparator configured to compare an output voltage of said boost converter with a first threshold; a second comparator configured to compare said output voltage of said boost converter with a second threshold; a selection unit configured to select a reference signal from a plurality of reference signals based on an output of said first comparator and an output of said second comparator; a current sensing unit configured to generate a sensing signal indicating said current; and an error amplifier configured to control a transistor coupled in series with said output capacitor to regulate said current based on said sensing signal and said reference signal (see claim 16 of the above patent).
As claim 17: The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and to provide said electric power to said light source through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power limit unit configured to control said boost converter to regulate an output voltage of said boost converter to be below a voltage threshold, and to control said boost converter to regulate an input current received by said controller from a power source to be below a current threshold (see claim 17 of the above patent).
As claim 18: The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to receive electric power from a boost converter and provide said electric power to said light source through a buck converter, wherein said controller comprises: a power limit unit configured to control said boost converter to regulate an output voltage of said boost converter to below a voltage threshold, and to control said boost converter to regulate an output current of said boost converter to below a current threshold (see claim 18 of the above patent).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Prior art Kanemitsu et al. – US 12,082,319
Prior art Chan – US 10,721,804
Prior art Hu et al. – US 2021/0259073
Prior art Ruan et al. – US 2016/0128150
Prior art Kanemitsu et al. – US 2013/0016310
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TUNG X LE whose telephone number is (571)272-6010. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.
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, Alexander H. Taningco can be reached at 571-272-8048. 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.
/TUNG X LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845 September 11, 2026
Prosecution Insights