Case 6:21-cv-00428-ADA Document 2 Filed 04/28/21 Page 1 of 1
`
`AO 120 (Rev. 08/10)
`
`TO:
`
`Mail Stop 8
`Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`REPORT ON THE
`FILING OR DETERMINATION OF AN
`ACTION REGARDING A PATENT OR
`TRADEMARK
`
`In Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 290 and/or 15 U.S.C. § 1116 you are hereby advised that a court action has been
`Western District of Texas
`filed in the U.S. District Court
`on the following
`D Trademarks or
`( D the patent action involves 35 U.S.C. § 292.):
`
`~Patents.
`
`DOCKET NO.
`6:21-cv-00428
`PLAINTIFF
`
`ECOFACTOR, INC.
`
`DATE FILED
`4/28/2021
`
`U.S. DISTRICT COURT
`Western District of Texas
`
`DEFENDANT
`
`ECOBEE, INC.
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1 8,740,100
`
`2 8,751,186
`
`3 9,194,597
`
`4 10,584,890
`
`5
`
`6/3/2014
`
`EcoFactor, Inc.
`
`6/10/2014
`
`EcoFactor, Inc.
`
`11/24/2015
`
`EcoFactor, Inc.
`
`3/10/2020
`
`EcoFactor, Inc.
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following patent(s)/ trademark(s) have been included:
`
`DATE INCLUDED
`
`PATENTOR
`TRADEMARK NO.
`
`INCLUDED BY
`
`D Amendment
`DATE OF PATENT
`OR TRADEMARK
`
`D Answer
`
`D Cross Bill
`
`D Other Pleading
`
`HOLDER OF PATENT OR TRADEMARK
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`In the above-entitled case, the following decision has been rendered or judgement issued:
`
`DECISION/JUDGEMENT
`
`I (BY) DEPUTY CLERK
`
`Copy I-Upon initiation of action, mail this copy to Director Copy 3-Upon termination of action, mail this copy to Director
`Copy 2-Upon filing document adding patent(s), mail this copy to Director Copy 4-Case file copy
`ECOBEE 1009
`
`001
`
`

`

`UNIIBD STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`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 NUMBER
`
`FILING OR 37l(C) DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED APPLICANT
`
`ATTY.DOCKET NO./TITLE
`
`REQUEST ID
`
`14/082,675
`
`11/18/2013
`
`John Douglas Steinberg
`
`EFACT.007Cl
`
`99804
`
`Acknowledgement of Loss of Entitlement to Entity Status Discount
`
`The entity status change request below filed through Private PAIR on 11/14/2019 has been accepted.
`
`CERTIFICATIONS:
`
`Change of Entity Status:
`X Applicant changing to regular undiscounted fee status.
`N0IB: Checking this box will be taken to be notification of loss of entitlement to small or micro entity status, as
`applicable.
`
`This portion must be completed by the signatory or signatories making the entity status change in accordance
`with 37 CFR 1.4( d)( 4).
`
`Signature:
`Name:
`Registration Number:
`
`IJ ohn R. King/
`John R. King
`34362
`
`002
`
`

`

`UNITED STA TES p A TENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`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.
`
`14/082,675
`
`ISSUE DATE
`
`11/24/2015
`
`PATENT NO.
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`9194597
`
`EFACT.007Cl
`
`3336
`
`11/04/2015
`7590
`20995
`KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
`2040 MAIN STREET
`FOURTEENTH FLOOR
`IRVINE, CA 92614
`
`The projected patent number and issue date are specified above.
`
`ISSUE NOTIFICATION
`
`Determination of Patent Term Adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 (b)
`(application filed on or after May 29, 2000)
`
`The Patent Term Adjustment is 57 day(s). Any patent to issue from the above-identified application will
`include an indication of the adjustment on the front page.
`
`If a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) was filed in the above-identified application, the filing date that
`determines Patent Term Adjustment is the filing date of the most recent CPA.
`
`Applicant will be able to obtain more detailed information by accessing the Patent Application Information
`Retrieval (PAIR) WEB site (http://pair.uspto.gov).
`
`Any questions regarding the Patent Term Extension or Adjustment determination should be directed to the
`Office of Patent Legal Administration at (571)-272-7702. Questions relating to issue and publication fee
`payments should be directed to the Application Assistance Unit (AAU) of the Office of Data Management
`(ODM) at (571)-272-4200.
`
`APPLICANT(s) (Please see PAIR WEB site http://pair.uspto.gov for additional applicants):
`
`EcoFactor, Inc., Millbrae, CA;
`John Douglas Steinberg, Millbrae, CA;
`Scott Douglas Hublou, Redwood City, CA;
`Leo Cheung, Sunnyvale, CA;
`
`The United States represents the largest, most dynamic marketplace in the world and is an unparalleled location
`for business investment, innovation, and commercialization of new technologies. The USA offers tremendous
`resources and advantages for those who invest and manufacture goods here. Through SelectUSA, our nation
`works to encourage and facilitate business investment. To learn more about why the USA is the best country in
`the world to develop technology, manufacture products, and grow your business, visit SelectUSA.gov.
`
`IR103 (Rev. 10/09)
`
`003
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`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
`
`TTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`14/082,675
`
`11/18/2013
`
`John Douglas Steinberg
`
`EFACT.007C1
`
`3336
`
`10/14/2015
`7590
`KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
`2040 MAIN STREET
`FOURTEENTH FLOOR
`IRVINE, CA 92614
`
`EXAMINER
`
`NORMAN, MARC E
`
`ART UNIT
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`3744
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/14/2015
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`NOTICE OF NON-COMPLIANT INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`ID lg-( lS- in the above-identified application fails to
`An Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) filed
`meet the requirements of 37 CFR 1.97(d) for the reason(s) specified below. Accordingly, the IDS will be
`placed in the file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered.
`
`The IDS is not compliant with 37 CFR 1.97(d) because:
`
`~e IDS lacks a statement aS specified in 37 CFR 1.97(e).
`
`□ The IDS lacks the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p ).
`
`□ The IDS was filed after the issue fee was paid. Applicant may wish to consider filing a petition to
`withdraw the application from issue under 37 CFR 1.313(c) to have the IDS considered. See
`MPEP 1308.
`
`Lit
`
`~571-272-4200 or 1-888-786-0101
`Application Assistance Unit
`Office of Data Management
`
`FORM PTOM327-B (Rev. 02/08)
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`004
`
`

`

`PTO/SB/08 E.,:;uivalent
`•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••------•• """'--"""--------------------••--•••••------------•wwwwww~~~wwwwww--www~· ....... .-.h .. ••••1
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`i 14/082675
`Application No.
`i
`Filing Date
`· November 18. 2013
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`I
`First Named Inventor , John Douglas Steinberg
`·············································----·.------------------------------------------------------.... ------------............ ,_, __ "'--"
`Art Unit
`: 3744
`i
`
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`
`.,._.,._.,._.,._.,._..._._._._._;,
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`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`
`c·t l Document Number
`
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`08/30/2012 Steinberg
`3!
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`13/523697
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`I 41
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`12/28/2012 ! Sloop
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`: -------· i 7 .•
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`.'EFACT007cn
`! 11/18/2003 1ste1nbergetal.
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`••························ ..... ~.~.!..
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`i Steinberg, et al.
`(
`! 13
`:
`14/527,433.
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`l 06/04/2015
`Ch
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`!Steinberg, et al.
`14/731,221f
`1·Jd14!
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`l 05/15/2012
`..................... ? ................................. ~ ....................................................................... ~ ................................................. ················;
`.• 17!
`9/1/Z015
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`0673,467
`l 01/01/2013
`lleeetal:.
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`l 05/20/2014 1ste1nberg et al.
`!
`!
`! 18
`(EFACT.Oi 5DA)
`•
`
`D 659,560
`
`~:~:::;::.! ;:;;iiiii/~[~6';\,
`
`-,;
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`!Hildebrand et al.
`
`i
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`i :~:
`
`~
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`i'i~;-;1-~;;·s;~-~~~-~re ...... --
`I *Examiner: Initial 1f referenc:--::~-;;~-;~:~~-:hether or not citation is in conform~nce with MPEP 609. ~·~~·:·;;·~:··~~·~::·~~··:;~~~;~·~--;~-~:;---
`j in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant
`¥r-:--i3Tace··a··c·h·~~~trlVt~J-g~~M~~1lt$"t!~~~;~~~~t~1\iW~~-Rf:·ttNf:D TH RutJGtt:----· N/
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`
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`_________
`
`:
`! 03/17/1998
`22
`5,729,474
`i
`i 06/27/2000 I Hartman
`·--.. ----,, .. --2.:i' ·----.. ,..
`6,079,626
`------------:-• ------------------------------------------------------------------'' -------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------.. ·'------------------------------------------------~'
`I 06/05/2001
`I
`I
`I Kline et al.
`. 24.
`6,241,156
`.
`: ._ ................................................ :_ .... ._._ ...... ._. +·c .... ._._._._._ ......................................................................................... _ _ _ _ c .......... ________ •+••· ·c ......... -... ............................................................. ~, c...· ·c............... ·..
`c............
`c ........................................................................................ t.._ ...... _ _ _ ••••••
`c-... ..................................................................................................... , ~
`I
`I
`! 11/11/2003
`I Cardinale et al.
`. 25
`6,644,098
`·•
`-- • .: •••• ---- ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• +, ................................. t, ....................................................................... {-............................................................ -•••• ~
`:: ........................................................ :
`i Biskup, Sr.,
`I 03/02/2004
`I
`I
`. 26
`6,700,224
`..
`............
`__ J
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`
`005
`
`

`

`PART B- FEE(S) TRANSMITTAL
`
`Complete and send this form, together with applicable t'ee(s), to: Mail Mail Stol} ISSUE FEE
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`(571 )-273-2885
`or Fax
`INSTRl'C1IONS: This form ohuuld be cise.J for trnn:,rn,,ling ,Ji" ISSUE FEE ,tnd PUHLlC:ATIDN FEE (ff n:qttfr<:d). Ble,:h l t.hrnugh 5 siwuld be cvrnplded whore
`appropriilte. l\_H further ccrr-e.sponden~e indudmg t!'Je Pi1t-2-nt. udv:!nce or:-!ers iEH.i nGtifo .. :r.1tion of nu..int,:;,_;;mf:e. fr~s wiU bt~ mailed io :..ht' current corre.snondence addres:. as
`in;_:~catcd unless CO\recte~ !JeiOtN or dn--::cted otherwise in Hltxk 1. by (a) spe,jfyfng ~ Uf~.,v cor.rc\sp:)ndcrn:e tuJdn:·ss; and/or (b) indicating a ::eparate '1fEE ADDRESS!, for
`maintenance f<:"e nt.iu:ficM.ions.
`
`C:.J:H.?..BfT CORRESPONDENCE ADDH.ESS <Note: Use: Block l for any change of address)
`
`20995
`7590
`07/13/2015
`KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
`2040 MAIN STREET
`FOURTEENTH FLOOR
`IRVINE, CA 92614
`
`Note: A certificate of mailing can only be used for domestic mailings of the
`Fee(s) Transmittal. This certificate cannot be used for any other accompanying
`papers. Each additional paper, such as an assignment or formal drawing, must
`have its own certificate of mailing or transm1sston.
`
`Certificate of Mailing or Transmission
`I hereby certify that this Fee(s) Transmittal is being deposited with the United
`Stales Postal Service with sufficient postage for first class mail in an envelor.e
`addressed to the Mail Stop ISSUE FEE address above, or being facsinule
`transmitted to the USPTO (571) 273-2885, on the date indicated below.
`
`I
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`flRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`14/082,675
`
`11/18/2013
`
`John Douglas Steinberg
`
`EFACT.007Cl
`
`1116
`
`TITLE OF INVENTION: SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING MANUAL INPUTS TO AND ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING OF
`A THERMOSTAT
`
`1\PPi__N, TYPE
`
`LYfITY STATUS
`
`ISSUE FEE DFE
`
`PUBLICATION FEE DUE PREY. PAID ISSUE FEE
`
`TOTAL FEE(S) DUE
`
`DATE DUE
`
`nonprovisional
`
`$480
`
`SO
`
`$Cl
`
`5480
`
`10/13/2015
`
`EXA\1INER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`CLAS~:-SUECL,~SS
`
`NORMAt"\f, MARC E
`
`3744
`
`D6-C{)1C,'{1C
`
`] . Change of correspondence address or indication of ''Fee Address" (37
`CPR l.363J.
`0 Change of correspondence address (or Change of Correspondence
`Address form PTO/SI3/122) attached.
`.
`0 ''Fee Address" indication (or "Fee Address" Indication form
`PTO/SB/47; Rev 03-02 or more recent) attached. Use of a Customer
`Number is required.
`
`2. For printing on the patent front page, list
`(I) The names of up to 3 registered patent attorneys
`or agents OR, alternatively,
`(2) The name of a single firm (having as a member a
`registered attorney or agent) and the names of up to
`2 registered patent attorneys or agents. If no name is
`listed, no name will be printed.
`
`.... Knobbe, Martens, ............ .
`2 ..... Olson,&,Bear,, LLP"·····-
`
`-' ..
`
`3. ASSIGNEE NAME AND RESIDENCE DATA TO BE PRINTED ON THE PATENT (print or type)
`PLEASE NOTE: Unless an assignee is identified below, no assignee data will appear on the patent. If an assignee is identified below, the document has been filed for
`recordation as sel f011h in 37 CFR 3.11. Completion of this form is NOT a substitute for filing an assignment.
`(A) NAME OF ASSIGNEE
`(B) RESIDENCE: (CITY and STATE OR COUNTRY)
`
`Redwood City, CA
`EcoFactor, Inc.
`Please check the appropriate assignee category or categories (will nol be printed on the patent): 0 Individual ~ Corpnrntici,; c,r c,th,0 c priv3trc gmup c~t,ty O Gnvc:rnrnf:nt
`
`4a. The following fee(s) are submitted:
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`0 Advance Order - # of Copies _________ _
`
`4b. Payment of Fee(s): (Please first reapply any previously paid issue fee shown above)
`0 A check is enclosed,
`0 Payment by credit card. Form PTO-2038 is attached.
`l&lThe director is hereby authorized to charge ~e Pl?e}Hin?tl ~l?~~ti), any dr~fidern;y 1 a;: credits any
`overpayment, to Deposit Account Number
`11-1'110
`( c;;clnsce an extra c,_;py r:,f this form).
`
`5. Chi.mg~ ,n Entity Stalus (from omms inctkmed ahovc)
`0 !3-Lpplicanl cerdf,ying micro entity sl~tu::. See J7 CFR j .29
`0 Applicant asserting small entity stalm, S,,~ Ti CFR J .1?
`0 Applicant changing to regular undiscounted fee sratus.
`
`NO'l'E: Abser!! a vntid rerdfkalton of Jviicrn E!!:Jty StiJ!us (see forms PTO/SB/] SA nnd J JB ), i~stk·
`fr:f' pu.yn,ent in thf: :nicff, f:::~ity tHnn:rn~ ;.,..,UJ no: hf: tK'C::pted ;it the: :(,::;k or appE::;.;Jjc:n ahnr:donmt'.nt
`~D.IJ::~_:_ ff th..:· r:pp!fr:at~O!l wtts prr•vinusly u,.;dr:r Inicro r~n-~ty :::n:Us:, .::becking this box will be laken
`to be o notificotio•i nf loss of r;nt!tlernr.:;t to m!crn :::ntity swws.
`}\JOTE: (~h•:ckinr.. ~his box will bt' tu.ken to be E rFJtiEcliti•Jn. '"-'f toss cf enlidement to :imaU or micro
`cntily sUl!us. <lS ~1~pplicii.bk.
`NOTE, Thi, form mus, be signed in acrnrdm;,:e ,.vith 3'7 CFR 1.31 n:;d 1.33 .. See .n CFR1.4for si_£nalure re@Biremer,ts a.nd certificrJ!ions.
`n~te , ............... 1°_ ~ f __ - Zo r .::.- .... .
`Rcgistrntion Ne, ........ 34,362
`
`Page 2 of3
`
`OJvlB 0651 ·{)'.).)3
`
`1-'.S. Pr::::n! and Trndemark Offir:e.: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COlv,:VffiRCE
`
`006
`
`

`

`EFACT.007C1
`
`PATENT
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Inventor
`
`App. No.
`
`Filed
`
`For
`
`Steinberg, et al.
`
`14/082,675
`
`November 18, 2013
`
`SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING
`MANUAL INPUTS TO AND ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING OF A
`THERMOSTAT
`
`Examiner
`
`Marc E. Norman
`
`Art Unit
`
`Conf. No.
`
`3744
`
`3336
`
`COMMENTS ON STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
`
`Mail Stop Amendment
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`In response to the Statement of Reasons for Allowance in the Notice of
`
`Allowance mailed July 13, 2015, Applicants respectfully submit the following comments.
`
`Applicant respectfully disagrees with the Examiner's statement of reasons for
`
`allowance to the extent that the limitations recited by the Examiner are not present in all
`
`of the claims. Also, to the extent that there is any implication that the patentability of
`
`the claims rests on the recitation of a single feature, Applicant respectfully disagrees
`
`with the Examiner's Statement because it is the combination of features that makes the
`
`claims patentable.
`
`-1-
`
`007
`
`

`

`Application No.: 14/082,675
`Filing Date:
`November 18, 2013
`
`Applicant submits that the claims of the present application are allowable
`
`because each of the claims recites a combination of features that are not taught or
`
`suggested by the prior art
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
`
`By J~?~n9e .. ~
`
`Registration No. 34,362
`Attorney of Record
`Customer No. 20,995
`(949) 760-0404
`
`21742188:ad
`100215
`
`-2-
`
`008
`
`

`

`Docket No.: EFACT.007C1
`
`Customer No. 20995
`
`Inventor
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`Steinberg, et al.
`
`App. No.
`
`14/082,675
`
`Filed
`
`For
`
`November 18, 2013
`
`SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING MANUAL
`INPUTS TO AND ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING OF A THERMOSTAT
`
`Examiner
`
`Norman, Marc E.
`
`Art Unit
`
`Conf. No.
`
`3744
`
`3336
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`References and Listing
`
`Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.56, an Information Disclosure Statement listing references is
`
`provided herewith. Copies of any listed foreign and non-patent literature references are being
`
`submitted.
`
`No Disclaimers
`
`To the extent that anything in the Information Disclosure Statement or the listed
`
`references could be construed as a disclaimer of any subject matter supported by the present
`
`application, Applicant hereby rescinds and retracts such disclaimer.
`
`Timing of Disclosure
`
`This Information Disclosure Statement is being filed after the mailing date of a final
`
`action or after the mailing date of a Nofice of Allowance. Please place these references in the
`
`file in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97(i).
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
`
`'
`l(: __ '\
`\.J
`
`~"'-"-'. f}
`By: \l{;t~ {Z.
`John R. King
`Registration No. 34,362
`Attorney of Record
`Customer No. 20995
`(949) 760-0404
`
`21742127:ad
`100215
`
`009
`
`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`
`(Multiple sheets used when necessary)
`SHEET 1 OF 1
`
`Application No.
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`14/082675
`
`November 18, 2013
`
`John Douglas Steinberg
`
`3744
`
`Norman, Marc E.
`
`EFACT.007Cl
`
`p TO/S
`I
`'
`B/08 EquIva ent
`
`Pages, Columns, Lines Where
`Relevant Passages or
`Relevant Figures Appear
`
`Examiner
`Initials
`
`Cite
`No.
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`Document Number
`Number - Kind Code (if known)
`Example: 1,234,567 B1
`9,057,649
`(EFACT.006C2)
`2013/0178985
`2015/0168001
`(EFACT.012C2)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Publication
`Date
`MM-DD-YYYY
`
`Name
`
`06/16/2015 Steinberg, et al.
`
`07/11/2013
`
`Lombard et al.
`
`06/18/2015 Steinberg
`
`Examiner
`Initials
`
`Foreign Patent Document
`Cite Country Code-Number-Kind
`No.
`Code
`Example: JP 1234567 A1
`WO 2005/098331 A1
`
`4
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Publication
`Date
`MM-DD-YYYY
`
`Name
`
`10/20/2005 Zip Ind Aust Pty Ltd.
`
`Examiner
`Initials
`
`Cite
`No.
`
`Include name of the author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the article (when appropriate), title of the
`item (book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc.), date, page(s), volume-issue
`number(s), publisher, citv and/or countrv where published.
`
`NON PATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENTS
`
`21742097:ad
`100215
`
`Pages, Columns, Lines
`Where Relevant Passages
`or Relevant Figures
`APPear
`
`T1
`
`T1
`
`Examiner Signature
`
`I Date Considered
`
`*Examiner: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609. Draw line through citation if not
`in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant.
`
`T1
`
`- Place a check mark in this area when an English language Translation is attached.
`
`010
`
`

`

`(ll) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property
`Organization
`International Bureau
`
`1111111111111111 IIIIII IIIII 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 IIII IIIIIII IIII 11111111
`
`( 43) International Publication Date
`20 October 2005 (20.10.2005)
`
`PCT
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 2005/098331 Al
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 7:
`F25D l 1/00, 13/00, 29/00
`
`F25B 49/02,
`
`(74) Agent: SPRUSON & FERGUSON; GPO Box 3898, Syd(cid:173)
`ney, NSW 2001 (AU),
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN,
`CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, Fl,
`GB, GD, GE, OH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE,
`KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD,
`MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PG,
`PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, SY, TJ,
`TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, YU, ZA,
`ZM, ZW.
`
`(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARll'O (B W, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, Fl,
`FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, MC, NL, PL, PT, RO,
`SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, ON,
`GQ, OW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TO).
`
`Published:
`with international search report
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid(cid:173)
`ance Noles on Codes and Abbrevialions" appearing al lhe begin(cid:173)
`ning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/ AU2005/000361
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 15 March 2005 (15,032005)
`
`(25) J<'iling Langnage:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`2004901850
`
`6 April 2004 (06.04.2004) AU
`
`(71) Applicant {for all designated States except US): ZIP IN(cid:173)
`DUSTRIES (AUST) PTY LTD [AU/AU]; 67 Allingharn
`Street, Condell Park, NSW 2200 (AU).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): CHERTKOW,
`Brian [ZA/AU]; 67 Allingharn Road, Condell Park,
`NSW 2200 (AU). PEPPER, Philip, Ross [AU/AU];
`57 Fifth Street, Ashbury, NSW 2193 (AU). CURTH,
`Roger [GB/AU]; 8 Laurina Avenue, Engadine, NSW 2233
`(AU). CHICK, Steve [AU/AU]; 14/122 Todman Avenue,
`Kensington, NSW 2033 (AU).
`
`(54) Tille: A METHOD OF OPERATING A WATER CHILLER
`
`--
`---
`= --
`= =
`--------------------------------------------
`--= =
`
`20
`
`22
`
`/ 4 _
`
`fZ.
`
`~
`~
`~
`00
`0--,
`
`0 --"' 0
`
`0
`M
`0 (57) Abstract: A method of operating a water chiller (10) having a water tank (12), a cold water tap, and a condenser and fan
`> (18). The chiller avoids freezing of the water in the tank (12) by switching between 'normal' and 'protection' operating modes. The
`
`;;;,. switching is initially triggered by checking the length of lime since the cold waler lap was last operated.
`
`011
`
`

`

`WO 2005/098331
`
`PCT/AU2005/000361
`
`1
`
`A METHOD OF OPERATING A WATER CHILLER
`
`Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a method of operating a water chiller.
`The invention has been primarily developed in relation to a combined water
`
`s
`
`chiller and boiling water heater unit and will be described hereinafter with reference to
`
`this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this
`
`particular field of use and also suitable for use in a stand alone water chiller unit.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`Background of the Invention
`A known combined water chiller and boiling water heater unit provides instant
`boiling and instant chilled water from a single tap. The tap is typically mounted on a
`
`bench top or on a sink and the heater and chiller are housed together in a module,
`commonly in a cupboard under the sink. The unit includes a boiling water storage tank as
`well as a chilled water storage tank. An electronic controller controls both the boiling and
`
`chiller units.
`The chiller unit has a complete refrigeration circuit which includes a compressor,
`a condenser, a fan and an evaporator. The chiller unit also has a chilled water tank with
`the evaporator (ie. cooling coil) and level and temperature sensors therein.
`
`As per any refrigeration plant, to achieve cooling, heat must be removed. The
`
`refrigeration process involves the refrigerant being compressed through the compressor.
`
`20
`
`This compression also raises the temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigerant then
`
`passes through a heat exchanger, known as a condenser, which cools the refrigerant.
`Thereafter the refrigerant passes through an evaporator which allows the refrigerant to
`expand causing the refrigerant to cool rapidly. This evaporator is submerged in the
`
`chilled water tank. As the water is hotter than the refrigerant, heat is removed from the
`
`25 water and passed into the refrigerant through the evaporator coils. The refrigerant then
`
`passes through the compressor again and the cycle starts over.
`
`The heat is removed through a heat exchanger condenser that is force air cooled
`via an electric fan. The air is thus the cooling medium and its temperature rises. The
`effect of all of this is that the ambient air temperature within the unit, and within the
`cupboard, rises. Cupboards are often not well ventilated and as such the temperature of
`ambient air in the cupboard can rise noticeably. It follows that the hotter the ambient air,
`
`30
`
`the less efficient the cooling process.
`
`012
`
`

`

`WO 2005/098331
`
`PCT/ AU2005/000361
`
`2
`
`It should also be noted that water contracts in size as it cools to a temperature of
`
`4 °C. As the water cools from 4 to O °C it expands again until the water is completely
`
`frozen. As water freezes the temperature remains constant at O °C until all the water has
`
`frozen and thereafter the temperature will continue to drop.
`It is important that the water in the unit's chilled water tank is not allowed to
`
`s
`
`freeze, as this can cause the tank to rupture.
`
`A known approach to this issue has involved shutting down the compressor and
`
`indicating a fault if the compressor has been running continuously for one hour with no
`
`water being drawn off from the unit. This is based on the assumptions that, under normal
`
`10
`
`circumstances, a compressor will normally only run for 5 to 10 minutes at a time if no
`
`new water is being introduced to the tank and that one hour continuous running is
`
`insufficient to completely freeze all of the water in the tank.
`
`Units of this type suffer from the problem that: if the cupboard is not sufficiently
`
`ventilated; the incoming ambient water temperature is high; and the unit is required to
`
`1s work continuously due to the demand