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 as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 51 in Figures 5A and 5B. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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. 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.
Claim Objections
Applicant is advised that should claim 6 be found allowable, claim 8 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
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 1-19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-4, 1, 5, 6, 5, 8-10, 13-15, 13, 16-17, and 11-12, respectively, of U.S. Patent No. 12,424,376. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-19 are broader than claims 1-4, 1, 5, 6, 5, 8-10, 13-15, 13, 16-17, and 11-12, respectively, of U.S. Patent No. 12,424,376.
U.S. Patent Application 19/313,142
U.S. Patent No. 12,424,376.
1.A wireless power transfer coil circuit, comprising:
two or more current paths including a first current path having a first conductive spiral trace and a second current path having a second conductive spiral trace nested with the first conductive spiral trace.
1.A wireless power transfer coil circuit, comprising:
Two or more current paths including a first current path having a first conductive spiral trace and a second current path having a second conductive spiral trace nested with the first conductive spiral trace,
wherein the first current path further comprises a first passive component in series with the first conductive spiral trace and the second current path further comprises a second passive component in series with the second conductive spiral trace, and
wherein an impedance of the first passive component and an impedance of the second passive component have values capable of equalizing current flow in the first and second current paths.
2.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are formed in a same layer.
2.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are formed in a same layer.
3.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 2, wherein the layer is planar.
3.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 2, wherein the layer is planar.
4. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second current paths are connected in parallel.
4. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second current paths are connected in parallel.
5.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1,
wherein the first current path further comprises a first passive component in series with the first conductive spiral trace and the second current path further comprises a second passive component in series with the second conductive spiral trace.
1.A wireless power transfer coil circuit, comprising:
Two or more current paths including a first current path having a first conductive spiral trace and a second current path having a second conductive spiral trace nested with the first conductive spiral trace,
wherein the first current path further comprises a first passive component in series with the first conductive spiral trace and the second current path further comprises a second passive component in series with the second conductive spiral trace, and
wherein an impedance of the first passive component and an impedance of the second passive component have values capable of equalizing current flow in the first and second current paths.
6.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 5, wherein the first passive component comprises a first capacitor and the second passive component comprises a second capacitor.
5.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first passive component comprises a first capacitor and the second passive component comprises a second capacitor.
7.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 5, wherein the first passive component comprises a first resistor and the second passive component comprises a second resistor.
6. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first passive component comprises a first resistor and the second passive component comprises a second resistor.
8.The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 5, wherein the first passive component comprises a first capacitor and the second passive component comprises a second capacitor.
5. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first passive component comprises a first capacitor and the second passive component comprises a second capacitor.
9. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first current path and the second current path comprise respective resistances selected to equalize current flow in the first and second current paths.
8. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first current path and the second current path comprise respective resistances selected to equalize current flow in the first and second current paths.
10. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 9, wherein the respective resistances are resistances of the respective first and second conductive spiral traces and/or resistances of resistors in series with the respective first and second conductive spiral traces.
9. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 9, wherein the respective resistances are resistances of the respective first and second conductive spiral traces and/or resistances of resistors in series with the respective first and second conductive spiral traces.
11. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, further comprising a third conductive spiral trace nested with the first and second conductive spiral traces and in a same layer as the first and second conductive spiral traces.
10. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, further comprising a third conductive spiral trace nested with the first and second conductive spiral traces and in a same layer as the first and second conductive spiral traces.
12. The wireless power transfer coil of claim 1, further comprising:
a third conductive spiral trace; and
a fourth conductive spiral trace nested with the third conductive spiral trace, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are in a first layer and the third and fourth conductive spiral traces are in a second layer different from the first layer.
15. The wireless power coil circuit of claim 12, wherein the first conductive spiral trace is nested within the second conductive spiral trace, the third conductive spiral trace is nested within the fourth conductive spiral trace, and the first conductive spiral trace is connected in series with the fourth conductive spiral trace.
13. A wireless power transfer coil circuit comprising:
two or more current paths including a first current path having a first conductive spiral trace and a second current path having a second conductive spiral trace nested with the first conductive spiral trace;
a third conductive spiral trace; and
a fourth conductive spiral trace nested with the third conductive spiral trace, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are in a first layer and the third and fourth conductive spiral traces are in a second layer different from the first layer,
wherein the first conductive spiral trace is nested within the second conductive spiral trace, the third conductive spiral trace is nested within the fourth conductive spiral trace, and the first conductive spiral trace is connected in series with the fourth conductive spiral trace.
13. The wireless power transfer circuit of claim 12, wherein the first and second layers are separated by a dielectric layer.
14. The wireless power transfer circuit of claim 13, wherein the first and second layers are separated by a dielectric layer.
14. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 12, wherein two or more of the first, second, third and fourth conductive spiral traces are connected in parallel.
15. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 13, wherein two or more of the first, second, third and fourth conductive spiral traces are connected in parallel.
16. The wireless power transfer coil of claim 12, further comprising at least one conductive connection between the first and second layers within an inner diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit.
16. The wireless power transfer coil of claim 13, further comprising at least one conductive connection between the first and second layers within an inner diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit.
17. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of leads extending from the first and second layers from an outer diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit.
17. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of leads extending from the first and second layers from an outer diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit.
18. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first conductive spiral trace comprises a first segment and a second segment, and the first current path further comprises a capacitor connected in series between the first segment and the second segment.
11. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein the first conductive spiral trace comprises a first segment and a second segment, and the first current path further comprises a capacitor connected in series between the first segment and the second segment.
19. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein a width of the first conductive spiral trace is less than three times a skin depth at a frequency of operation or a minimum frequency of operation.
12. The wireless power transfer coil circuit of claim 1, wherein a width of the first conductive spiral trace is less than three times a skin depth at a frequency of operation or a minimum frequency of operation.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 9-10, and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by the US patent application publication of Kurz et al. (2015/0145634).
As to claim 1, Kurz discloses a wireless power transfer coil circuit, comprising:
two or more current paths including a first current path having a first conductive spiral trace (130) and a second current path having a second conductive spiral trace (150) nested with the first conductive spiral trace (130) (see paragraph [0037], lines 1-7 and Figure 4).
As to claim 2, the first and second conductive traces of Kurz (130,150) are formed in a same layer (the conductive traces are positioned with in each other, see paragraph [0037], lines 3-7 and Figure 4).
As to claim 3, the layer is planar (see paragraph [0037], lines 3-7 and Figure 4).
As to claim 4, the first and second current paths of Kurz are connected in parallel (see paragraph [0030], lines 8-11).
As to claim 9, the first current path and the second current path of Kurz comprise respective resistances selected to equalize current flow in the first and second current paths (the resistance can vary depending on the performance characteristics required, see paragraph [0042], lines 7-9; the first coil 730 and the second coil 750 could be exactly the same size and shape, see paragraph [0050], lines 3-5).
As to claim 10, the respective resistances are resistances of the respective first and second conductive spiral traces (see paragraph [0042], lines 7-9; paragraph [0060], lines 3-5; and Figure 4).
As to claim 19, a width of the first conductive spiral trace of Kurz is less than three times a skin depth at a frequency of operation or a minimum frequency of operation (the conductive spiral trace can be of any suitable dimensions, e.g. between 0.005 in. and 0.250 in. in width; the dimensions could vary depending on physical and performance requirements of the mobile device; see paragraph [0033], lines 11-18).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 5-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kurz in view of the US patent application publication of Weber (2009/0319025).
As to claim 5, Kurz discloses all of the claimed features, as set forth above,
except for the first current path further comprising a first passive component in series with the first conductive spiral trace and the second current path further comprising a second passive component in series with the second conductive spiral trace.
Weber discloses coils (106,114) (see paragraph [0025], lines 1-3), a first current path further comprising a first passive component (162) in series with the first conductive spiral trace (106) and the second current path further comprising a second passive component (164) in series with the second conductive spiral trace (see paragraph [0050], lines 1-11 and Figure 1). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified Kurz by connecting respective passive components in series with the first and second conductive spiral traces, in order to provide an improved system with an inductive response across a wider spectrum of RF energies.
As to claims 6 and 8, the first passive component of Weber comprises a first capacitor (in series with the resistor 162) and the second passive component comprises a second capacitor (in series with the resistor 164) (see paragraph [0050], lines 6-10 and Figure 1).
As to claim 7, the first passive component of Weber comprises a first resistor (162) and the second passive component comprises a second resistor (164) (see paragraph [0050], lines 6-10 and Figure 1).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kurz in view of the US patent of Cheng (7,622,891).
As to claim 11, Kurz discloses all of the claimed features, as set forth above,
except for a third conductive spiral trace nested with the first and second conductive traces and in a same layer as the first and second conductive spiral traces. Cheng discloses a third conductive trace nested with first and second conductive traces and in a same layer as the first and second conductive traces (one or more smaller coils may be contained within a boundary of one or more larger coils, there are provided four nested sets of electrical coils (see column 4, lines 5-42). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified Kurz by nesting a third conductive spiral trace with the first and second conductive spiral traces, in order to provide efficient power to receiving devices of different sizes and power requirements.
Claim(s) 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kurz in view of the US patent application publication of Foley (2017/0323718).
As to claim 12, Kurz discloses all of the claimed features, as set forth above,
except for a third conductive spiral trace, and a fourth conductive spiral trace nested with the third conductive spiral trace, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are in a first layer and the third and fourth conductive spiral traces are in a second layer different from the first layer. Foley discloses a third conductive spiral trace; and a fourth conductive spiral trace nested with the third conductive spiral trace, wherein the first and second conductive spiral traces are in a first layer and the third and fourth conductive spiral traces are in a second layer different from the first layer (the first and second, and third and fourth, conductive spiral traces are stacked and therefore in different layers (see paragraph [0009], lines 9-14 and paragraph [0030], lines 1-3). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified Kurz to include third and fourth conductive traces as taught by Foley, in order to provide an improved system with the increased ability to support higher voltage ranges while reducing the overall footprint of the device.
As to claim 13, the first and second layers of Foley are separated by a dielectric layer (insulator; see paragraph [0105], lines 1-4).
As to claim 14, Kurz discloses the first and second conductive spiral traces connected in parallel (see paragraph [0030], lines 5-8).
Claim(s) 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kurz in view of the US patent application publication of Chen (2008/0185284).
As to claim 18, Kurz discloses all of the claimed features, as set forth above,
except for the first conductive trace comprising a first segment and a second segment, and the first current path further comprising a capacitor connected in series between the first segment and the second segment. Chen discloses a first conductive coil trace comprising a first segment and a second segment, and the first current path further comprises a capacitor connected in series between the first segment and the second segment (the top coil is approximately spiral, see paragraph [0077], lines 1-4; a capacitor is connected in series between the second end of the first coil segment and the first end of the second coil segment, see Abstract). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to have modified Kurz by connecting a capacitor in series between first and second segments of the first conductive trace, as taught by Chen, in order to provide an improved system with a capacitor to provide a voltage peak along the first coil segment that is aligned with a virtual ground along the second coil segment to improve uniformity and efficiency.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 15-17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claim 15 contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of
record discloses or suggests the first conductive spiral trace nested within the second conductive spiral trace, the third conductive spiral trace nested within the fourth conductive spiral trace, and the first conductive spiral trace connected in series with the fourth conductive spiral trace, in combination with the remaining claimed features.
Claim 16 contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record discloses or suggests at least one conductive connection between the first and second layers within an inner diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit, in combination with the remaining claimed features.
Claim 17 contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record discloses or suggests a plurality of leads extending from the first and second layers from an outer diameter of the wireless power transfer coil circuit, in combination with the remaining claimed features.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAL KAPLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8587. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM-5:30PM.
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/HAL KAPLAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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