Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-09-10)

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF CLAIMS:

Reply to Office Action of June 5, 2025The following Listing of Claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

1\. (Previously Presented) A power transmission device, comprising:
a case that houses a power transmission mechanism;
a control valve configured to control an oil pressure supplied to the power transmission mechanism, the control valve being arranged upright inside the case; and
a first pump and a second pump configured to supply oil to the control valve, wherein the case has a first support wall that supports an axis of rotation of the power transmission mechanism, a second support wall that supports the control valve and is arranged aligned with the axis of rotation, a first chamber located on one side of the first support wall, a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber across the second support wall, anda third support wall extending from the second support wall along the axis of rotation to the other side of the first support wall,
the first pump is mounted on the first support wall inside the first chamber, and
the second pump is mounted on the third support wall inside the second chamber.

Reply to Office Action of June 5, 2025

2\. (Currently Amended) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein \[\[the\]\] a third chamber is located on the other side of the first support wall,
the third support wall is located on a side of the third chamber,
the third support wall forms the second chamber with the second support wall, and as viewed from a radial direction of the axis of rotation, the second chamber is provided in a positional relationship overlapping the first chamber and the third chamber.

3\. (Currently Amended) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a strainer attached to the first support wall, and
 an oil path for the second pump connecting the strainer and the second pump,
the oil path for the second pump has a first oil path that extends in a straight line inside the first support wall, anda second oil path that extends in a straight line inside the third support wall and communicates with the first oil path,
the first oil path is a dead-end hole that opens in the second chamber, the second oil path is a dead-end hole that opens in an end section of the third support wall, and
an opening at a base end of the first oil path and an opening at a base end of the second oil path are each sealed with a plug.

Reply to Office Action of June 5, 2025

4\. (Currently Amended) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first pump is supported on the first support wall \[\[near\]\] adjacent to the second support wall inside the first chamber.

5\. (Previously Presented) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third support wall is formed such that a thickness of an area where the second oil path is formed is greater than in other areas.

6\. (Currently Amended) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a third oil path connecting the second pump and the control valve is provided,
the second oil path and the third oil path are arranged vertically in the third support wall,
the third support wall is formed so as to be thicker in an area where the third oil path is provided than in areas where the third oil path and the second oil path are not provided,
in the third support wall, a bulging direction of an area of the second oil path is on one side of the third support wall, and the bulging direction of an area of the third oil path is the other side of the third support wall.

Amendment dated August 18, 2025 Reply to Office Action of June 5, 2025

7\. (Previously Presented) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a circumferential wall section encircling an outer circumference of the third chamber, and
a rib protruding from the third support wall toward the circumferential wall section, wherein the circumferential wall section is provided on the first support wall and is provided with a gap between the circumferential wall section and the third support wall, and
the rib is provided spanning between the third support wall and the second support wall.

8\. (Previously Presented) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rib is formed such that a bulging width from the third support wall becomes wider closer to the first support wall.

9\. (Previously Presented) The power transmission device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pump and the second pump are provided in a positional relationship not overlapping when viewed from a direction of the axis of rotation of the power transmission mechanism.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are allowed over the prior art of record.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The prior art does not teach or render obvious the claimed combination of elements recited in claim 1, wherein a power transmission device is comprised of a case that houses a power transmission mechanism, a control valve that controls an oil pressure, the control valve is arranged upright inside the case, a first pump and a second pump that supply oil to the control valve, the case has a first support wall that supports an axis of rotation of the power transmission mechanism, a second support wall that supports the control valve and is aligned with the axis of rotation, a first chamber located on one side of the first support wall, a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber across the second support wall, a third support wall extending from the second support wall along the axis of rotation to the other side of the first support wall, the first pump is mounted on the first support wall inside the first chamber, and the second pump is mounted on the third support wall inside the second chamber. While the prior art discloses cases, control valves, pumps, support walls, oil, and chambers, the prior art does not teach or render obvious the power transmission device as claimed. One of ordinary skill in the art would not be motivated to connect the elements of each prior art reference to make the applicant's invention absent improper hindsight.
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.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSIn the June 5, 2025 Office Action, claims 2-8 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter that the inventor regards as the invention. Claims 1 and 9 were indicated as allowed, and claims 2-8 were indicated as allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection under 35 U.S.C.§112(b). No other objections or rejections were made in the Office Action.Status of Claims andAmendments In response to the June 5, 2025 Office Action, Applicant has amended claims 2-4 and 6 as indicated above. Applicant wishes to thank the Examiner for the indication of allowable subject matter and the thorough examination of this application. Thus, claims 1-9 are pending, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Reexamination and reconsideration of the pending claims are respectfully requested in view of the above amendments and the following comments.Interview Summary On August 15, 2025, the undersigned conducted a telephonic interview with Examiner Rogers, who is in charge of the above-identified patent application.During the interview, the undersigned presented proposed amendments to claims 2-4 and 6, that were identical to the amendments submitted herewith. Examiner Rogers indicated that the proposed amendments would overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. §112(b).Applicant wishes to thank Examiner Rogers for the opportunity to discuss the above- identified patent application during the interview.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. §112 On pages 2 and 3 of the Office Action, claims 2-8 were rejected under 35 U.S.C.§112(b). In response, Applicant has amended claims 2-4 and 6 to clarify claims 2-8.The limitation "the third chamber in line 3 of claim 2 has been amended to "a third chamber" to correct the antecedent basis issue.The limitation "a second pump oil path" in claim 3 has been amended to "an oil path for the second pump" to clarify the subject matter. This amendment is supported by the original disclosure, for example, in paragraph [0095] of the specification as filed.The term "near" in claim 3, line 4 has been amended to "adjacent to." This amendment is supported by the original disclosure, for example, in paragraphs [0099] and [0100] of the specification as filed, and FIG. 12 of the present application.The limitation "in other areas" in claim 6 has been amended to "in areas where the third oil path and the second oil path are not provided" to clarify the subject matter. This amendment is supported by the original disclosure, for example, in paragraphs [0103] and [0104] of the specification as filed, and FIGS. 10-12 of the present application.Applicant believes that the claims now comply with 35 U.S.C. §112(b). Withdrawal of the rejections is respectfully requested.Allowable Subject Matter On page 3 of the Office Action, claims 1 and 9 were indicated as allowed and claims 2-8 were indicated as allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C.§112(b). Applicant wishes to thank Examiner Rogers for this indication of allowable subject matter and the thorough examination of this application. In response, Applicant has amended claims 2-4 and 6 to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. §112(b). Thus, Applicant believes claims 1-8 are allowable.Prior Art Citation In the Office Action, additional prior art references were made of record. Applicant believes that these references do not render the claimed invention obvious.*
*
*In view of the foregoing amendment and comments, Applicant respectfully asserts that claims 1-9 are now in condition for allowance. Reexamination and reconsideration of the pending claims are respectfully requested.Respectfully submitted, /Nomugi Tomovori/ Nomugi Tomoyori Reg. No. 59,784 GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP1233 Twentieth Street, NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 (202)-293-0444 Dated:


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20250240209A1: Claims:
A device configuration method for a vehicle in a fleet of vehicles, the method comprising: at an edge computing device configured to connect a plurality of electronic devices with a server, the plurality of electronic devices provided in the vehicle at an edge of a network, and the server remote from the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the edge computing device, obtaining at least one template configuration file assigned to the edge computing device based on a user selection, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; automatically self-configuring for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising: identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices; and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data; and transmitting the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
at an edge computing device configured to connect a plurality of electronic devices with a server, the plurality of electronic devices provided in the vehicle at an edge of a network, and the server remote from the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the edge computing device, obtaining at least one template configuration file assigned to the edge computing device based on a user selection, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; automatically self-configuring for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising: identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices; and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data; and transmitting the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
obtaining at least one template configuration file assigned to the edge computing device based on a user selection, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices;
automatically self-configuring for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising: identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices; and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data; and
identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices; and
connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data; and
transmitting the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user selection is received at the server, further wherein the at least one template configuration file is associated, at the server and based on the user selection, with an identifier of the edge computing device.
The method of claim 2 , wherein obtaining the at least one template configuration file comprises retrieving the at least one template configuration file from the server.
The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the at least one template configuration file comprises receiving the at least one template configuration file in response to a user-initiated command.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a cloud server, further wherein the obtaining the at least one template configuration file occurs in response to the edge computing device powering on and connecting to the cloud server.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising periodically communicating with the server to monitor configuration changes for at least one of the edge computing device and the plurality of electronic devices, wherein the obtaining the at least one template configuration file occurs subsequent to detecting the configuration changes.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second configuration data is transmitted to the at least some of the one or more electronic devices comprising one or more video cameras, the second configuration data transmitted to the one or more video cameras to cause the one or more video cameras to adjust the at least one configuration parameter comprising at least one of a frame rate, an image quality, an image resolution, at least one network setting, a location update frequency, and login credentials associated with the one or more video cameras.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, subsequent to the self-configuring, device data from the at least some of the one or more electronic devices and temporarily storing, for a given period of time, the device data in a local storage media accessible to the edge computing device.
The method of claim 8 , wherein the first configuration data is further indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the server.
The method of claim 9 , further comprising uploading the device data to the server after the given period of time has elapsed.
The method of claim 10 , wherein the given period of time corresponds to a period of time during which a connection between the edge computing device and the server is lost, further wherein the device data is uploaded to the server after the connection is restored.
The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the device data from the plurality of devices comprises receiving video data from a plurality of video cameras installed in the vehicle.
The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the device data from the at least some of the one or more devices comprises receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors installed in the vehicle.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising deriving, from the second configuration data, different configurations for different ones of the plurality of electronic devices, and transmitting the different configurations to the different ones of the plurality of electronic devices.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, subsequent to the self-configuring, device data from the at least some of the one or more electronic devices and transmitting the device data to the server.
A device configuration method for a vehicle in a fleet of vehicles, the method comprising: at a mobile device separate from the vehicle, obtaining an identifier associated with an edge computing device configured to connect a plurality of electronic devices with a server, the plurality of electronic devices provided in the vehicle at an edge of a network, and the server remote from the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the edge computing device; obtaining a list of template configuration files for the edge computing device; rendering the list of template configuration files on an output device associated with the mobile device; receiving, in response to the rendering, a user selection of at least one template configuration file among the list of template configuration files, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; and transmitting the user selection of the at least one template configuration file to the server to cause the edge computing device to: obtain the at least one template configuration file from the server, automatically self-configure for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices, and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data, and transmit the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more of electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
at a mobile device separate from the vehicle, obtaining an identifier associated with an edge computing device configured to connect a plurality of electronic devices with a server, the plurality of electronic devices provided in the vehicle at an edge of a network, and the server remote from the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the edge computing device; obtaining a list of template configuration files for the edge computing device; rendering the list of template configuration files on an output device associated with the mobile device; receiving, in response to the rendering, a user selection of at least one template configuration file among the list of template configuration files, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; and transmitting the user selection of the at least one template configuration file to the server to cause the edge computing device to: obtain the at least one template configuration file from the server, automatically self-configure for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices, and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data, and transmit the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more of electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
obtaining an identifier associated with an edge computing device configured to connect a plurality of electronic devices with a server, the plurality of electronic devices provided in the vehicle at an edge of a network, and the server remote from the vehicle and communicatively coupled to the edge computing device;
obtaining a list of template configuration files for the edge computing device;
rendering the list of template configuration files on an output device associated with the mobile device;
receiving, in response to the rendering, a user selection of at least one template configuration file among the list of template configuration files, the at least one template configuration file specific to the fleet of vehicles and comprising first configuration data and second configuration data, the first configuration data indicative of a manner in which the edge computing device is to interface with the plurality of electronic devices, and the second configuration data indicative of a desired setting for at least one configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; and
transmitting the user selection of the at least one template configuration file to the server to cause the edge computing device to: obtain the at least one template configuration file from the server, automatically self-configure for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices, and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data, and transmit the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more of electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
obtain the at least one template configuration file from the server,
automatically self-configure for operation based on the first configuration data, comprising identifying, based on the first configuration data, one or more electronic devices among the plurality of electronic devices, and connecting, based on the first configuration data, to the one or more electronic devices for transmitting thereto and receiving therefrom data, and
transmit the second configuration data to at least some of the one or more electronic devices to cause the at least some of the one or more of electronic devices to adjust the at least one configuration parameter to the desired setting.
The method of claim 16 , wherein obtaining the identifier comprises reading computer-readable indicia associated with the edge computing device to acquire the identifier encoded in the computer-readable indicia.
The method of claim 17 , wherein reading the computer-readable indicia comprises scanning one of a barcode, a matrix code, and a quick response (QR) code.
The method of claim 17 , wherein reading the computer-readable indicia comprises reading a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) tag.
The method of claim 16 , wherein obtaining the identifier comprises receiving the identifier via at least one input device associated with the mobile device.
The method of claim 16 , further comprising connecting to the edge computing device over a wireless communication link, the identifier obtained via the wireless communication link.
The method of claim 21 , further comprising setting, via the wireless communication link, at least one initial configuration of the edge computing device.
The method of claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication link uses one of a Bluetooth communication protocol and a Near-field communication protocol.
The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting the identifier to the server for enrolment of the edge computing device with a customer account, wherein obtaining the list of template configuration files comprises receiving, from the server, the list of template configuration files associated with the customer account at the server.
The method of claim 24 , further comprising authenticating the mobile device with the server and logging into the customer account prior to transmitting the identifier thereto.
Ref US20250205168A1: Claims:
A method for producing nucleic acid-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles, comprising the following steps: a) a step of preparing a suspension of lipid nanoparticles not containing a nucleic acid, by mixing an alcohol solution comprising ionic lipid, sterol and PEG lipid with an acidic buffer having a buffering action at pH 1 to 6.5, and b) a step of mixing, without lyophilization, the suspension of the lipid nanoparticles obtained in step a with an aqueous solution comprising a nucleic acid and optionally containing 0 to 25 v/v % alcohol, and optionally incubating the mixture at 0 to 95Â° C. for 0 to 60 min to obtain nucleic acid-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles.
a) a step of preparing a suspension of lipid nanoparticles not containing a nucleic acid, by mixing an alcohol solution comprising ionic lipid, sterol and PEG lipid with an acidic buffer having a buffering action at pH 1 to 6.5, and
b) a step of mixing, without lyophilization, the suspension of the lipid nanoparticles obtained in step a with an aqueous solution comprising a nucleic acid and optionally containing 0 to 25 v/v % alcohol, and optionally incubating the mixture at 0 to 95Â° C. for 0 to 60 min to obtain nucleic acid-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles.
The production method according to claim 1 , comprising the following step c after step b: c) a step of exchanging an external aqueous phase of the obtained nucleic acid-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles with a neutral buffer by dialysis, ultrafiltration or dilution.
c) a step of exchanging an external aqueous phase of the obtained nucleic acid-encapsulated lipid nanoparticles with a neutral buffer by dialysis, ultrafiltration or dilution.
The production method according to claim 1 , wherein step a further comprises a step of freezing the lipid nanoparticles not containing a nucleic acid at â80 to 0Â° C. and then thawing the lipid nanoparticles at 0 to 95Â° C.
The production method according to claim 1 , wherein step a further comprises, after preparation of the suspension of the lipid nanoparticles, exchanging the external aqueous phase with another acidic buffer having a buffering action at pH 1 to 6.5 by dialysis, ultrafiltration or dilution.
The production method according to claim 1 , wherein the alcohol solution further comprises phospholipid in step a.
The production method according to claim 1 , wherein the ionic lipid is a compound represented by the formula (1):
(in the formula (1), R 1a and R 1b are each independently an alkylene group having 1-6 carbon atoms, X a and X b are each independently a non-cyclic alkyl tertiary amino group having 1-6 carbon atoms and one tertiary amino group, or a cyclic alkylene tertiary amino group having 2-5 carbon atoms and 1-2 tertiary amino groups, R 2a and R 2b are each independently an alkylene group or an oxydialkylene group each having not more than 8 carbon atoms, Y a and Y b are each independently an ester bond, an amide bond, a carbamate bond, an ether bond or a urea bond, Z a and Z b are each independently a divalent group derived from an aromatic compound having 3-16 carbon atoms and at least one aromatic ring, and optionally having a hetero atom, n a and n b are each independently 0 or 1, and R 3a and R 3b are each independently a residue derived from a reaction product of a liposoluble vitamin having a hydroxyl group, and succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride, a residue derived from a reaction product of a sterol derivative having a hydroxyl group, and succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1-40 carbon atoms, an alkyl group having a cyclopropane ring and having 3-40 carbon atoms, or a group represented by the formula (3): R 9 âO
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