a2, EX PARTE REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE (9614th)
`United States Patent
`(10) Number:
`US 5,796,183 C1
`Hourmandetal.
`(45) Certificate Issued:
`Apr. 29, 2013
`
`
`US005796183C1
`
`(54) CAPACITIVE RESPONSIVE ELECTRONIC
`SWITCHING CIRCUIT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Byron Hourmand, Hersey, MI (US);
`John M. Washeleski, Cadillac, MI (US);
`Stephen R. W. Cooper, Fowlerville, MI
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Nartron Corporation, Reed City, MI
`(US)
`
`Reexamination Request:
`No. 90/012,439, Aug. 17, 2012
`
`Reexamination Certificate for:
`Patent No.:
`5,796,183
`Issued:
`Aug. 18, 1998
`Appl. No.:
`08/601,268
`Filed:
`Jan. 31, 1996
`
`Certificate of Correction issued May 11, 1999
`Certificate of Correction issued Oct. 11, 2011
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HO3K 17/96
`HO3K 17/94
`(52) U.S. CI.
`USPC oe 307/116; 307/125; 307/139; 361/181
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`None
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`To view the completelisting of prior art documents cited
`during the proceeding for Reexamination Control Number
`90/012,439, please refer to the USPTO’s public Patent
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system under the
`Display References tab.
`Primary Examiner — Linh M. Nguyen
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit com-
`prises an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having
`a frequency of 50 kHz or greater, an input touch terminal
`defining an area for an operator provide an input by proximity
`and touch, and a detector circuit coupled to the oscillator for
`receiving the periodic output signal from the oscillator, and
`coupledto the input touch terminal. The detector circuit being
`responsive to signals from the oscillator and the presence of
`an operator’s body capacitance to ground coupled to the
`touch terminal when in proximity or touched by an operator to
`provide a control output signal. Preferably, the oscillator pro-
`vides a periodic output signal having a frequency of 800 kHz
`or greater. An array of touch terminals may be provided in
`close proximity due to the reduction in crosstalk that may
`result from contaminants by utilizing an oscillator outputting
`a signal having a frequency of 50 kHzorgreater.
`
`104
`
`2
`to2
`
`104
`
`J
`
`405
`
`106
`
`VOLTAGE
`
`
`
`
`100
`
`103
`
`700
`
`+Vcc
`°
`
`LOAD
`
`
`
`MICRO-
`CONTROLLER
`
`|
`
`200
`
`300
`
`
`
`FLOATING
`GROUND
`GENERATOR
`
`201
`
`|
`
`301
`
`
`yee
`
`
`TOUCH
`CIRCUIT
`
`600
`
`:
`
`MICRO-
`CONTROLLER
`
`i?
`
`501
`
`500
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1006
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1006
`
`

`

`US 5,796,183 Cl
`
`1
`EX PARTE
`REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE
`ISSUED UNDER35 U.S.C. 307
`
`
`THE PATENT IS TEREBY AMENDEDAS
`
`INDICATED BELOW.
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appearedin the
`patent, but has been deleted andis no longera partof the
`patent; matter printed in italics indicates additions made
`to the patent.
`
`
`
` EN
`AS A RESULT OF REEXAMINATION,
`IT HAS BE
`DETERMINEDTHAT:
`
`Claims18, 27, 28 and 32 are determined to be patentable as
`amended.
`New claims 33-39 are added and determined to be
`patentable.
`Claims 1-17, 19-26 and 29-31 were not reexamined.
`
`a wa
`
`Nyc
`
`2
`detector circuit being responsive to signals from said
`oscillator via said microcontroller and [the] a presence
`of an operator’s body capacitance to ground coupled to
`said first and second touch terminals when proximal or
`touched by [an] zke operator to provide a control output
`signalfor actuation ofthe controlled keypad device, said
`detector circuit being configured to generate said control
`output signal when [an] the operator is proximal or
`touches said second touch terminalafter the operatoris
`proximalor touchessaid first touch terminal.
`28. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 27, whereinsaid detectorcircuit generates
`said control signal only when[an]theoperator is proximal or
`touches said second touch terminal within a predetermined
`timeperiodafter the operator is proximal or touchessaidfirst
`touch terminal.
`32. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 27 and further including an indicator for
`indicating whensaid detector circuit determinesthat [an] zhe
`operatoris proximal or touchessaid first touch terminal.
`33. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuil
`as defined in claim18,further comprising wherein said detec-
`tor circuit compares the sensed body capacitance change
`caused by the body capacitance decreasing an input touch
`terminal signal on the detector to ground when proximate to
`the input touch terminal to a second threshold level to gener-
`ate the control output signal.
`34. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 18,further comprising wherein said detec-
`lor circuit compares the sensed body capacitance change
`caused by the body capacitance decreasing an input touch
`terminal signal amplitude on the detector to ground when
`proximate to the input touch terminal to a second threshold
`level to generate the control output signal.
`35. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 27, wherein when the second touch termi-
`nal is not touched onits defining area by the operator to
`provide input, the control output signal is prevented.
`36. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 27 andfurther including an indicatorfor
`indicating when said detector circuit determines that the
`operator is proximal or touches said second touch terminal.
`37.A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuitfor
`a controlled device comprising:
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a
`predefined frequency, wherein an oscillator voltage is
`greater than a supply voltage;
`a microcontroller using theperiodic output signalfrom the
`oscillator, the microcontroller selectively providing sig-
`nal outputfrequencies to a closely spaced array ofinput
`touch terminals of a keypad, the input touch terminals
`comprisingfirst and second input touch terminals;
`the first and second touch terminals defining areas for an
`operator toprovide an input byproximity and touch; and
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving
`said periodic output signal from said oscillator, and
`coupled to saidfirst and second touch terminals, said
`detector circuit being responsive to signals from said
`oscillator via said microcontroller and a presence ofan
`operator's body capacitance to ground coupled to said
`first and second touch terminals when proximal or
`touched by the operator to provide a control outpul
`signalfor actuation ofthe controlled device, said detec-
`tor circuit being configured to generate said control
`output signal when the operator is proximal or touches
`said second touch terminal after the operator is proxi-
`malor touches saidfirst touch terminal.
`
`3 °
`
`35
`
`A°
`
`45
`
`18. A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`comprising:
`tva
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a :
`predefined frequency;
`amicrocontroller using theperiodic output signalfromthe
`oscillator, the microcontroller selectively providing sig-
`nal outputfrequenciesto a pluralityofsmall sized input
`touch terminals ofa keypad;
`[a] the plurality ofsmall sized inputtouchterminals defin-
`ing adjacent areas on a dielectric substrate for an opera-
`tor to provide inputs by proximity and touch; and
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving
`said periodic output signal from said oscillator, and
`coupled to said input touch terminals, said detector cir-
`cuit being responsive to signals from said oscillator via
`said microcontroller and [the] a presence of an opera-
`tor’s body capacitance to ground coupled zo said touch
`terminals when proximal or touchedby[an] the operator
`to provide a control output signal,
`wherein said predefined frequency of said oscillator [is]
`and said signal output frequencies are selected to
`decrease[the] a first impedanceofsaid dielectric sub-
`strate relative to [the] a second impedance of any con-
`taminate that may create an clectrical path on said
`dielectric substrate between said adjacent areas defined
`bytheplurality ofsmall sized input touch terminals, and
`wherein said detector circuit compares [the] a sensed
`bodycapacitance change to ground proximate an input
`touch terminalto a threshold level to prevent inadvertent
`generation of the control output signal.
`27. A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit for
`a controlled keypad device comprising:
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a
`predefined frequency;
`amicrocontroller using theperiodic output signalfrom the
`oscillator, the microcontroller selectively providing sig-
`nal outputfrequencies to a closelv spaced arrav ofinput
`touch terminals of a keypad, the input touch terminals
`comprisingfirst and second input touch terminals;
`the first and second iapu/ touch terminals defining, areas for
`an operatorto provide an input by proximity and touch;
`and
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving
`said periodic output signal from said oscillator, and
`coupled to said first and second touch terminals, said
`
`SO
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`

`

`US 5,796,183 Cl
`
`3
`38. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 37, wherein feedback to the operatoris
`provided by an indicator activated by the microcontroller
`after the operator touches the second touch terminal.
`39. The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit
`as defined in claim 37,
`wherein said detector circuit compares a sensed body
`capacitance change caused by the body capacitance
`decreasing a second touch terminal signal on the detec-
`tor to ground when proximate to the second touch ter-
`minalto a threshold level to generate the control output
`signal, and
`whereinfeedback to the operator is provided by an indica-
`tor activated by the microcontroller after the operator
`touches the second touch terminal.
`* ee
`
`5
`
`16
`
`15
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O, Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto. gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`
`
` FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`
`ATTORNEYDOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`90/01 2,439
`
`08/17/2012
`
`5796183
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`4155
`
`“es PaEXAMINER
`[eee
`SLATER & MATSIL, L.L.P.
`ATS
`SLA
`17950 PRESTON RD, SUITE 1000
`NGUYEN, LINH M
`DALLAS, TX 75252-5793
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`3992
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`04/10/2013
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`4
`
`

`

`
`Control No.
`Patent Under Reexamination
`
` Notice of Intent to Issue 90/012,439 5796183
`
`
`Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`
`LINH M. NGUYEN
`
`3992
`
`Note the attached statement of reasons for patentability and/or confirmation. Any comments considered necessary
`by patent owner regarding reasons for patentability and/or confirmation must be submitted promptly to avoid
`processing delays. Such submission(s) should be labeled: “Comments On Statement of Reasons for Patentability
`and/or Confirmation.”
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`1. J Prosecution on the merits is (or remains) closed in this ex parte reexamination proceeding. This proceeding is
`subject to reopening at the initiative of the Office or upon petition. Cf 37 CFR 1.313(a). A Certificate will be issued
`in view of
`(a)
`[XX] Patent owner’s communication(s) filed: 19 November 2012.
`) C0 Patent owner's failure to file an appropriate timely response to the Office action mailed:
`(b
`) 0 Patent owner'sfailure to timely file an Appeal Brief (37 CFR 41.31).
`(c
`) LI The decision on appeal by the (] Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (_] Court dated
`(d
`(e)
`Other:
`.
`The Reexamination Certificate will indicate the following:
`(a) Changein the Specification:
`[] Yes XJ No
`
`(b) Change in the Drawing(s): (1 YesKINo
`(c) Status of the Claim(s):
`.
`(1) Patent claim(s) confirmed:
`(2) Patent claim(s) amended (including dependent on amendedclaim(s)): 78,27,28 and 32
`(3) Patent claim(s) canceled:
`.
`(4) Newly presented claim(s) patentable: 33-39.
`(5) Newly presented canceled claims:
`.
`(6) Patent claim(s) [1 previously [] currently disclaimed:
`(7) Patent claim(s) not subject to reexamination: 1-17, 19-26 and 29-31.
`
`
`
`4.) Note attached NOTICE OF REFERENCESCITED (PTO-892).
`
`5. Note attached LIST OF REFERENCES CITED (PTO/SB/08 or PTO/SB/08substitute).
`6. [J] The drawing correction requestfiled on
`is: Llapproved
`(disapproved.
`7. Acknowledgmentis madeof the priority claim under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`a)LI All b)L)Some*
`cc) None
`of the certified copies have
`L] been received.
`CL] not been received.
`.
`CJ beenfiled in Application No.
`.
`_] beenfiled in reexamination Control No.
`C1 beenreceived by the International Bureau in PCT Application No.
`
`* Certified copies not received:
`
`8. Note attached Examiner's Amendment.
`
`9. Note attached Interview Summary (PTO-474).
`10.0] Other: .
`
`All correspondencerelating to this reexamination proceeding should be directed to the Central Reexamination Unit at
`the mail, FAX, or hand-carry addresses given at the end of this Office action.
`
`cc: Requester (if third party requester)
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-469 (Rev. 07-10)
`Notice of Intent to Issue Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate
`
`Part of Paper No 20130327
`
`5
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 90/012,439
`Art Unit: 3992
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Intent to Issue Reexamination Certificate
`
`This is a reexamination of United States Patent Number 5,796,183 (‘the 183’ patent’). In
`
`the reexamination request filed 08/17/2012 (“Request’’), by Patent Owner, a substantial new
`
`question (SNQ) of patentability was raised as to claims 18 and 27. Those claimsare thus
`
`reexamined herein. Reexamination was not requested of claims 1-17, 19-26 and 28-32.
`
`Therefore, claims 1-17, 19-26, and 27-31 will not be reexamined. See MPEP 2243. However,
`
`claims 28 and 32 will be reexamined, as further explained below.
`
`A Patent Owner Statement wasfiled 11/19/2012, in which claims 18 and 27 were
`
`amended, as well as claims 28 and 32 due to their dependencies from claim 27. Furthermore,
`
`new claims 33-39 were added.
`
`Within the examiner’s discretion, the newly added claims 33-39 and the non-requested
`
`amended claims 28 and 32 are now subject to reexamination.
`
`References
`
`Boie et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,463,388, filed on January 29, 1993 and issued on October
`
`31, 1996 ("Boie £388").
`
`6
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 90/012,439
`Art Unit: 3992
`
`Page 3
`
`Statement of Reasons for Patentability and/or Confirmation
`
`Claims 18, 27, amended non-requested claims 28, 32 and newly added claims 33-39 are
`
`patentable.
`
`The examiner has no opinion as to the claims that were not reexamined. The following is
`
`an examiner’s statement of reasons for patentability of the claims found patentable in this
`
`reexamination proceeding:
`
`There is not taught or disclosed in the prior art a capacitive responsive electronic
`
`switching circuit having a microcontroller using the periodic output signal from the oscillator,
`
`the microcontroller selectively providing signal outputfrequencies to a plurality of small sized
`
`input touch terminals of a keypad, as called for in independent claim 18; nor a capacitive
`
`responsive electronic switching circuit having a microcontroller using the periodic output signal
`
`from the oscillator, the microcontroller selectively providing signal outputfrequencies to a
`
`closely spaced arrayofinput touch terminals ofa keypad, the input touch terminals comprising
`
`first and second input touch terminals, as called for in independent claims 27 and 37. The
`
`examiner agrees with the discussion articulated by Patent Ownerin the Statement that Boie does
`
`not teach or suggest these claim elements. Rather, Boie discloses that "RF oscillator 408
`
`provides an RFsignal, for example, 100 kilohertz, to circuits 401, synchronous detectorand filter
`
`404 via inverter 410, and guard plane 411." Boie, col. 3:67-col. 4:2. Boie further discloses that
`
`"[t]he effects of electrode-to-electrode capacitances, wiring capacitances and other extraneous
`
`7
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 90/012,439
`Art Unit: 3992
`
`Page 4
`
`capacitances arc minimized by driving all electrodes and guard plane 411 in unison with the
`
`same RF signal from RF oscillator 408." Jd. at col. 4:58-60 (emphasis added); see id. at Fig. 4.
`
`Thus Boie discloses driving the electrodes of electrode array 100 and guard plane 411 witha
`
`single RF signal. Boie does not teach or suggest providing signal output frequencies to these
`
`components. Accordingly, claims 18, 27, amended non-requested claims 28, 32, and newly
`
`added claims 33-39 are patentable.
`
`Any comments considered necessary by PATENT OWNER regarding the above
`
`statement must be submitted promptly to avoid processing delays. Such submission by the
`
`patent owner should be labeled: "Comments on Statement of Reasons for Patentability and/or
`
`Confirmation" and will be placed in the reexaminationfile.
`
`8
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 90/012,439
`Art Unit: 3992
`
`Page 5
`
`Correspondence
`
`All correspondencerelating to this inter partes reexamination proceeding should be directed:
`ByMail to: Mail Stop Inter Partes Reexam
`Attn: Central Reexamination Unit
`Commissioner for Patents
`United States Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`By FAX to:
`
`(571) 273-9900
`Central Reexamination Unit
`
`Byhand:
`
`Customer Service Window
`Randolph Building
`401 DulanyStreet
`Alexandria, VA 22314
`
`Registered users of EFS-Web mayalternatively submit such correspondencevia the electronic filing system
`EFS-Web,at https://efs uspto.gzov/etile/myportal/efs-registered EFS-Weboffers the benefit of quick
`
`
`
`submission to the particular area of the Office that needs to act on the correspondence. Also, EFS-Web
`submissionsare “soft scanned” (i-e., electronically uploaded) directly into the official file for the
`reexamination proceeding, which offers parties the opportunity to review the content of their submissionsafter
`the “‘soft scanning” process is complete.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner, or as to the
`status of this proceeding, should be directed to the Central Reexamination Unit at telephone number (571) 272-
`7705.
`
`/Linh M. Nguyen/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3992
`
`Conferees:
`/James Menefee/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3992
`
`/Daniel Ryman/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3992
`
`9
`
`

`

`
`Applicant(s)/Patent under
`Application/Control No.
`gs
`:
`Issue Classification
`pp
`Reoxamination
`
`
`
`
`90/012,439
`Examiner
`
`5796183
`Art Unit
`
`
`
`
`
`8
`
`LINH M. NGUYEN
`
`3992
`
`ISSUE CLASSIFICATION
`[onewar—s—=~=“‘(RSOS”~*dCSO*~“‘(™#(™C#N#*C#QROSSREFERENGES)SSS
`SUBCLASS (ONE SUBCLASS PER BLOCK)
`|sor|12|190|UTld
`sr|eTldcmdcclc
`
`(Date)
`
`(Primary Examiner)
`
`
`
`(Date)
`
`
`
`
`(Assistant Examiner
`
`/Linh M. Nguyen/.3/27/2013 OG.
`/A. Kelley-Collier/
`Print Claim(s)
`(Legal Instruments Examiner}
`18
`
`|-
`iginal
`ginal
`5
`5
`
`5
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`Part of Paper No. 20130327
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`
`
`2) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OTTICE
`"
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`Www. TSpro. gov
`
`BIB DATA SHEET
`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`90/012,439
`
`FILINGor. 371(c)
`08/1 7/2012
`RULE
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.4155
`
`GROUP ART UNIT ATTORNEY DOCKET
`NAR-57961 83RX
`
`APPLICANTS
`5796188, Residence Not Provided;
`OWNER, REED CITY, MI;
`PATENT OWNER, REED CITY, MI;
`Kk CONTINUING DATA KEKKEKEKREKEKEKEKERKKEEKRERERE
`This application is a REX of 08/601 ,268 01/31/1996 PAT 5796183
`EK FOREIGN APPLICATIONS KREKRERERKEEKEREREREREKERERE
`
`** IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED **
`
`
`Foreign Priority claimed STATEOR|SHEETSU) ves tNo TOTAL |INDEPENDENT
`
`
`
`Allowance
`35 USC 119(a-d) canditions met LU ves (No
`Q) Met after
`COUNTRY
`DRAWINGS
`CLAIMS
`CLAIMS
`Verified and
`/LINH M NGUYEN/
`Acknowledged
`Examiner's Signature
`
`Initials
`
`
`
`32
`
`8
`
`ADDRESS
`
`SLATER & MATSIL, L.L.P.
`17950 PRESTON RD, SUITE 1000
`DALLAS, TX 75252-5793
`UNITED STATES
`TITLE
`
`Capacitive Responsive Electronic Switching Circuit
`
`FILING FEE |FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
`RECEIVED |No._—s—C—S—Cétco Chhaarge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`for following:
`
`LI All Fees
`
`
`UO 1.16 Fees(Filing)
`L) 1.17 Fees (Processing Ext. of time) |
`L) 1.18 Fees (Issue)
`LJ Other
`
`L) Credit
`
`BIB (Rev.05/07).
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`
`
`Search Notes
`
`Application/Control No.
`
`Applicant(s)/Patent under
`Reexamination
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`90/012,439
`Examiner
`
`LINH M. NGUYEN
`
`5796183
`Art Unit
`
`3992
`
`
`
`
`SEARCH NOTES
`
`(INCLUDING SEARCH STRATEGY)
`|examine
`
`None
`
`3/27/2013
`
`
`
`SEARCHED
`
`Zz°3SoO
`
`3/27/2013
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERFERENCE SEARCHED
`
`Subclass
`
`Examiner
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`Part of Paper No. 20130327
`
`12
`
`
`
`12
`
`

`

`GofU2, FB
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`U.S. Patent No.:
`
`3,796,183 BL
`
`Issued:
`Filed:
`
`August 18, 1998
`January 31, 1996
`
`Control No.
`
`TBP-
`
`§
`
`§
`§
`
`§
`
`Docket No..
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Hourmandet al.
`Inventors:
`Patent Owner: UUSI, LLC
`
`Examiner:
`
`Neuyen, Linh M.
`
`For:
`
`Capacitive Responsive Electronic Switching Circuit
`
`Mail Stop Ex Parte Reexam
`Attn: Central Reexamination Unit
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`PATENT OWNER STATEMENT
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`Patent Ownerrespectfully submits this Patent Owner Statementin response to the
`
`September20, 2012 Order Granting Request for Ex Parte Reexamination of U.S. Patent Number
`
`5,796,183 Bl (the “183 Patent’). Patent Ownerrespectfully requests that the following
`
`amendments and remarks be entered, and respectfully requests consideration of amended claims
`
`18, 27, 28 and 32, and newly-added claims 33-39.
`
`Tlortes,
`LMM 3/29 /£4)3
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page i of 37
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`
`Applicant(s)/Patent Under
`Reexamination
`Application/Control No.
`Reexamination
`5796183
`Certificate Number
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`90/012,439
`Certificate Date
`
`
`
`Requester
`
`Correspondence Address:
`
`x] Patent Owner
`
`C1
`
`SLATER & MATSIL, L.L.P.
`17950 PRESTON RD, SUITE 1000
`DALLAS, TX 75252-5793
`
`
`
`LITIGATION REVIEW [x]
`
`LMN
`
`3/27/2013
`date
`examiner initials
`DirectorInitials
`Case Name
`
`U.S. District - Michigan Western
`(Grand Rapids)
`1:10cev691 (CLOSED)
`Nartron Corporation et al v. Hourmand
`US District Court Civil Docket
`
`[] Third Party
`
`
`
`
`U.S. District- Pennsylvania Middle
`
`(Harrisburg)
`
`1:060v1777
`
`Orq, Ltd, A/K/A Quantum Research Group, Ltd v. Nartron Corporatio
`
`2:06cv500
`
`Qrg, Ltd v. Nartron Corporation (CLOSED
`
`(CLOSED)
`
`U.S. District - Pennsylvania Western
`(Pittsburgh)
`
`
`
`
`
`TYPE OF PROCEEDING
`
`
`
`NUMBER
`
`1.
`
`N/A
`
`14
`
`
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`DOG. CODE RXFILJKT
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`U.S. Patent No.:
`
`5,796,183 B1
`
`Issued:
`
`Filed:
`
`August 18, 1998
`
`January 31, 1996
`
`Control No.
`
`TBD
`
`§
`
`§
`
`§
`
`§
`
`Docket No.:
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Inventors:
`
`Hourmandet al.
`
`Patent Owner: UUSI, LLC
`
`Examiner:
`
`Nguyen, Linh M.
`
`For:|Capacitive Responsive Electronic Switching Circuit
`
`Mail Stop Ex Parte Reexam
`Attn: Central Reexamination Unit
`Commissionerfor Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`PATENT OWNER STATEMENT
`
`DearSit:
`
`Patent Ownerrespectfully submits this Patent Owner Statement in response to the
`
`September 20, 2012 Order Granting Request for Ex Parte Reexamination of U.S. Patent Number
`
`5,796,183 B1 (the ““183 Patent”). Patent Owner respectfully requests that the following
`
`amendments and remarks be entered, and respectfully requests consideration of amended claims
`
`18, 27, 28 and 32, and newly-added claims 33-39.
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page | of 37
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`I. Listing OfThe “183Patent Claims Under Reexamination
`
`A listing of each claim under reexamination is provided below. Reexamination of claims
`
`18 and 27 was granted in the Order dated September 20, 2012. Accordingly, please amend
`
`claims 18 and 27, as well claims 28 and 32, which depend from claim 27, as provided below. In
`
`addition, please add new claims 33-39 as follows.
`
`18.
`
`(Amended) A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit comprising:
`
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a predefined frequency;
`
`a microcontroller using the periodic output signal from the oscillator, the microcontroller
`
`selectively providing signal output frequencies to a plurality of small sized input touch terminals
`
`of a keypad;
`
`[a] the plurality of small sized input touch terminals defining adjacent areas on a
`
`dielectric substrate for an operator to provide inputs by proximity and touch; and
`
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving said periodic output signal from
`
`said oscillator, and coupled to said input touch terminals, said detector circuit being responsive to
`
`signals from said oscillator via said microcontroller and [the] a presence of an operator's body
`
`capacitance to ground coupled to said touch terminals when proximal or touched by [an] the
`
`operator to provide a control output signal,
`
`wherein said predefined frequency of said oscillator [is] and said signal output
`
`
`frequencies are selected to decrease [the] a first impedanceofsaid dielectric substrate relative to
`
`[the] a second impedance of any contaminate that may create an electrical path on said dielectric
`
`substrate between said adjacent areas defined by the plurality of small sized input touch
`
`terminals, and wherein said detector circuit compares [the] a sensed body capacitance change to
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page 2 of 37
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

`

`ground proximate an input touch terminal to a threshold level to prevent inadvertent generation
`
`of the control output signal.
`
`27.
`
`(Amended) A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit for a controlled keypad
`
`device comprising:
`
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a predefined frequency;
`
`a microcontroller using the periodic output signal from the oscillator, the microcontroller
`
`
`selectively providing signal output frequencies to a closely spaced array of input touch terminals
`
`of a keypad, the input touch terminals comprising first and second input touch terminals;
`
`the first and second input touch terminals defining areas for an operator to provide an
`
`input by proximity and touch; and
`
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving said periodic output signal from
`
`said oscillator, and coupled to said first and second touch terminals, said detector circuit being
`
`responsive to signals from said oscillator via said microcontroller and [the] a presence of an
`
`operator's body capacitance to ground coupledto said first and second touch terminals when
`
`proximal or touched by [an] the operator to provide a contro] output signal for actuation ofthe
`
`controlled keypad device, said detector circuit being configured to generate said control output
`
`signal when [an] the operator is proximalor touches said second touch terminal after the operator
`
`is proximal or touches said first touch terminal.
`
`28.
`
`(Amended) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 27,
`
`wherein said detector circuit generates said control signal only when [an] the operatoris
`
`proximal or touches said second touch terminal within a predetermined time period after the
`
`operator is proximal or touchessaid first touch terminal.
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page 3 of 37
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`32.
`
`(Amended) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 27
`
`and further including an indicator for indicating when said detector circuit determines that [an]
`
`the operator is proximal or touchessaid first touch terminal.
`
`
`
`33. New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 18
`
`further comprising wherein said detector circuit compares the sensed body capacitance change
`
`caused by the body capacitance decreasing an input touch terminal signal on the detector to
`
`ground whenproximate to the input touch terminal to a second threshold level to generate the
`
`control output signal.
`
`
`
`34. New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 18
`
`further comprising wherein said detector circuit compares the sensed body capacitance change
`
`caused by the body capacitance decreasing an input touch terminal signal amplitude on the
`
`
`detector to ground when proximate to the input touch terminal to a second threshold level to
`
`generate the control output signal.
`
`
`
`35. New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 27
`
`wherein when the second touch terminal is not touched onits defining area by the operatorto
`
`provide input, the control output signal is prevented.
`
`36.
`
`(New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 27 and
`
`further including an indicator for indicating when said detector circuit determines that the
`
`
`operator is proximal or touches said second touch terminal.
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page 4 of 37
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`
`37.
`New) A capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit for a controlled device
`
`comprising:
`
`an oscillator providing a periodic output signal having a predefined frequency, wherein
`
`an oscillator voltage is greater than a supply voltage;
`
`a microcontroller using the periodic output signal from the oscillator, the microcontroller
`
`selectively providing signal output frequencies to a closely spaced array of input touch terminals
`
`of a keypad, the input touch terminals comprising first and second input touch terminals;
`
`the first and second touch terminals defining areas for an operator to provide an input by
`
`proximity and touch; and
`
`a detector circuit coupled to said oscillator for receiving said periodic output signal from
`
`
`said oscillator, and coupled to said first and second touch terminals, said detector circuit being
`
`responsive to signals from said oscillator via said microcontroller and a presence of an operator's
`
`
`body capacitance to ground coupled to said first and second touch terminals when proximal or
`
`touched by the operator to provide a control output signal for actuation of the controlled device,
`
`said detector circuit being configured to generate said control output signal when the operator is
`
`proximal or touches said second touch terminal after the operator is proximal or touches said first
`
`touch terminal.
`
`
`38.
`(New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 37,
`
`wherein feedback to the operator is provided by an indicator activated by the microcontroller
`
`
`after the operator touches the second touch terminal.
`
`
`39.
`New) The capacitive responsive electronic switching circuit as defined in claim 37
`
`wherein said detector circuit compares a sensed body capacitance change caused by the
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page 5 of 37
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`

`body capacitance decreasing a second touch terminal signal on the detector to ground when
`
`
`proximate to the second touch terminal to a threshold level to generate the control output signal,
`
`and
`
`wherein feedback to the operator is provided by an indicator activated by the
`
`microcontroller after the operator touches the second touch terminal.
`
`NAR-5796183RX
`
`Page 6 of 37
`
`21
`
`21
`
`

`

`Hl. Status of the Claims
`
`Claims 1-39 are pending in the present reexamination proceeding, of which claims 18,
`
`27, 28 and 32 are amended herein and 33-39 are addedherein.
`
`HY, Discussion of Claims and Prior Art Reference
`
`Patent Ownerfiled a Request for Ex Parte Reexamination on August 17, 2012,
`
`submitting that a substantial new question of patentability of claims 18 and 27 is raised by Boie
`
`et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,463,388 (“Boie”). Reexamination of these claims was granted in the
`
`Order dated September 20, 2012.
`
`Patent Owner is amending claims 18 and 27 in this Patent Owner Statement. Because
`
`someof these amendments were made to provide better antecedent basis for some claim terms,
`
`Patent Owneris amending dependent claims 28 and 32 for the same reason. Patent Owneralso
`
`is adding new claims 33-39. Accordingly, Patent Owner respectfully requests consideration of
`
`amended claims 18, 27, 28 and 32, and new claims 33-39. No new matter has been added.
`
`A. Independent Claim 18
`
`Independent claim 18 recites “a microcontroller using the periodic output signal from the
`
`oscillator, the microcontroller selectively providing signal output frequencies to a plurality of
`
`small sized input touch terminals of a keypad.” Boie does not teach or suggest these claim
`
`elements.
`
`Rather, Boie discloses that “RF oscillator 408 provides an RF signal, for