Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 4/30/2025 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/18/2024 was filed after the mailing date of the Final Office Action on 10/31/2024. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Response to Arguments
4. Applicant’s arguments, see remarks page 8-9, filed 4/30/2025 with respect to the rejection(s) of Claims 1, 2, 6-10 and 13-18 under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Davis in the US Patent Number US 5140257 A in view of XIAOJING WANG (Hereinafter, “Wang”) in the Patent Publication Number CN 202204614 U (DATE PUBLISHED 2012-04-25), Claims 11, 12, 19 and 20 under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Davis ‘257 A in view of Wang’614 U, and further in view of Gaarder in the US Patent Application Publication Number US 20110010118 A1 have been fully considered as follows:
Applicant’s Argument:
Applicant argues on page 8-9, regarding the independent claims 1, 9 and 13 that “The combination of Davis in view of Wang does not appear to teach or suggest "an antenna entirely within the cavity of the housing, the antenna configured to transmit a signal including information sensed by the at least one sensor away from the monitor in real time, wherein a wall of the housing is made from a material having a thickness configured to allow the signal transmitted from inside the cavity to pass through the wall,” as recited in Applicant's amended claim 1 and as similarly recited in Applicant's amended claims 9 and 13…….. However, Davis does not appear to teach or suggest an antenna entirely within a cavity of a housing, the antenna configured to transmit a signal including information (Remarks-Page 8) sensed by at least one sensor away from the monitor in real time, wherein a wall of the housing is made from a material having a thickness configured to allow the signal transmitted from inside the cavity to pass through the wall. Rather, Davis appears to teach the radio antenna 13 protruding outside the bottom of the housing 34 so as to transmit a signal from outside the housing 34 (see Davis, column 9, lines 62-68, and Figs. 1-3). Further, Wang does not appear to teach or suggest the above limitation. Applicant submits that there is no apparent reason why one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of Applicant's invention would have combined the teachings of Davis and Wang to have arrived at the claimed inventions of Applicant's amended claims 1, 9, and 13………
Each of dependent claims 2, 6-8, 10-12, and 14-20 depends (directly or indirectly) from one of independent claims 1, 9, and 13. As such, each of these dependent claims incorporates all of the terms and limitations of one of independent claims 1, 9, and 13 in addition to other limitations, which further patentably distinguish these claims over the cited references. Further, regarding claims 11, 12, 19, and 20, Gaarder does not appear to cure the deficiencies in Davis and Wang discussed above with respect to claims 9 and
13. For at least the reasons set forth above, Applicant submits that these dependent claims are patentable over the cited references. Applicant, therefore, respectfully requests that the rejections of claims 2, 6-8, 10-12, and 14-20 be withdrawn and that these claims be allowed (Remarks-Page 9).”
Examiner Response:
Applicant’s arguments, see page 8-9 (stated above), filed 4/30/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of independent claim(s) 1, 9 and 13 have been fully considered and is persuasive. Because applicant has amended the claims and added the limitation, “an antenna entirely within the cavity of the housing,” which necessitates a new ground of rejection. The combination of Davis and Wang do not disclose that the antenna is entirely within the cavity. Lau et al. (US 5565783 A) is applied to meet at least the amended limitation of claims 1, 9 and 13. Therefore claims 1, 9 and 13 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Davis in the US Patent Number US 5140257 A in view of XIAOJING WANG (Hereinafter, “Wang”) in the Patent Publication Number CN 202204614 U (DATE PUBLISHED 2012-04-25) and further in view of Lau et al. (US 5565783 A), as set forth below. Applicant’s argument is moot in view of newly applied combination of references. See the rejection set forth below.
Applicant’s argument regarding dependent claims is persuasive as explained above and claims 11, 12, 19 and 20 are now rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Davis ‘257 A in view of Wang’614 U and Lau ‘783 A, as applied to claims 9 and 13 above, and further in view of Gaarder in the US Patent Application Publication Number US 20110010118 A1, as set forth below. See the rejection set forth below.
Claims 3-5 were allowed in the Non-Final office action mailed on 2/01/2024 is maintained and the reason for allowance is copied from the Non-Final Office Action mailed on 2/01/2024 and explained below.
For expedite prosecution, applicant is invited to call to discuss the present rejection if any further clarification is needed and any possible amendment to overcome the present rejection. Examiner suggests to amend independent claims 1, 9 and 13 and to incorporate the allowable dependent claim 4 and dependent claim 2 to make the claims allowable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 2, 6-10 and 13-18 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Davis in the US Patent Number US 5140257 A in view of XIAOJING WANG (Hereinafter, “Wang”) in the Patent Publication Number CN 202204614 U (DATE PUBLISHED 2012-04-25) and further in view of Lau et al. (hereinafter, “Lau”) in the US patent Number US 5565783 A.
Regarding claim 1, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor (Electric power transmission systems, especially those employing overhead electric power lines, and deals more particularly with a system for rating the current carrying capacity of the transmission lines and equipment on a real-time basis; Column 1 Line 14-19; Figure 1-10) comprising:
a housing [34] installable on an overhead transmission line [32] (The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]), the housing [34] comprising:
a base portion [35] (The housing 34 is generally "C-shaped" in geometry and comprises a substantially rectangular base 35; Column 9 Line 28-29; Figure 1-6); and
a cover portion [310]+42+44 (The top portion shown in Figure 6 comprising raised section 310. Cover portion also comprises an upwardly extending rear column 40, and forward upper extension 42 which includes a downwardly turned nose 44; Column 9 Line 30-32; Figure 1-6) coupled to the base portion [35] and defining a cavity [37] of the housing [34] together with the base portion [35] (The upper extension 42 and nose 44 are spaced above the base 35 to define and opening or passageway 37 through which the conductor 32 may be passed during installation or removal of the unit 30 from the conductor 32; Column 9 Line 32-36), at least one of the cover portion [42+44] or the base portion [35] being movable relative to the other (By moving the jaws the cover portion and the base portion is moved relative to the other) between an open position of the housing in which a length of the overhead transmission line [32] is receivable in the cavity (The passageway 37, which facilitates installation of the unit 30 on the conductor 32, is selectively opened and closed; Column 9 Line 36-39; The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; Power line conductor 32 is overhead power line), and a closed position of the housing [34] in which the length of the overhead transmission line [32] (The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]) is retained in the cavity [37] (With the lower jaw 52 in a fully open position, hot stick 172 is used to lift the unit 30 onto the conductor 32 by passing through opening 37 until the upper jaws 50 rest upon the conductor 32. The lead screw 138 is then turned in order to move the lower jaw 52 upwardly into contact with the conductor 32. At this point, the conductor 32 is tightly gripped between the jaws 50, 52 and the unit is secured in place; Column 20 Line 29-36);
at least one sensor [88] (Temperature sensor 88) in Figure 8 supported by the housing [34] and configured to sense in real time at least one of a temperature, a position, a current, an acceleration, a vibration, a tilt, a roll, or a distance to a nearest object of the dynamic real time transmission line [32] monitor to a nearest object (Located in compartment 42b is a temperature sensor 88 in the form of a transducer for sensing the temperature of the conductor 32. A second temperature sensor 86 is mounted in compartment 42c for sensing the ambient temperature or another conductor temperature; Column 11 Line 9-13; FIG. 15, an additional sensor 243 may be provided in the unit 30 for sensing the magnitude of the current in line 32 in order to compute real-time thermal ratings; Column 21 Line 43-46; A sensor in the nature of an inclinometer 84 may be provided to measure magnitude of sag of the conductor 32. The inclinometer 84 measures the slope angle of the conductor 32 at the point of attachment of the unit 30 to the conductor 32; Column 22 Line 3-7); and
an antenna [13] in the cavity [65] (central opening 65) of the housing [34] (A radio antenna generally indicated at 13 defined by a cylindrical antenna tube 46 formed of aluminum or the like is secured to and extends downwardly from an antenna base 45 on the bottom of the housing 34; Column 9 Line 62-65; Antenna is placed in the bottom of the housing in the cavity of 65 of the housing), the antenna [13] configured to transmit a signal including information sensed by the at least one sensor away from the monitor in real time (Signal from the antenna goes through the cavity 65 of the housing 34 to the conductor 32 and penetrates to the second plate 310);
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Figure 8: Modified Figure 8 of Davis
wherein a wall of the housing is made from a material (The radiation sensor 124 may comprise eight silicon solar cells 123 assembled in an array and mounted on the top of a raised section 310 on the extension 42, immediately above the power supply compartment 42a; Column 20 Line 49-53; The cells are completely encapsulated in a clear silicon potting compound 241 which minimizes solar radiation reflections and electrically insulates the cells from the aluminum housing 125, and the special glass cover 126 overlying the cells 123; Column 21 Line 3-7; Cover portion 310 is encapsulated with silicon potting and a special glass cover the cells. Silicon is one type of semiconductor) having a thickness configured to allow the signal transmitted from inside the cavity to pass through the wall (Therefore, the wall of the housing as the cover portion is made of semiconductive material. Applicant in the invention also discloses that the cover portion is made of semiconductive material and which has a thickness allows pass the signal. Therefore, for the broadest reasonable interpretation, although Davis does not recite that signal is passing through the wall however Davis also discloses that the wall is made of same material as the present invention and therefore the wall of Davis also can pass the signal; Figure 8: Modified Figure 8 of Davis above shows that the antenna is in the cavity and which transmits signal in the cavity and it passes through the wall 310 of the housing;
Again, the amended limitation in which applicant is relying on is the manner of use of the wall of the housing or intended use of the wall of the housing and therefore no patentable weight. If the reference has all the structures as disclosed in the claim, then the manner of use of that element or structure is not required by the claim.
With respect to the intended use of the wall of the housing made of a material having a thickness, it is to be noted that a claim containing a "recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus" if the prior art apparatus teaches all the structural limitations of the claim. Ex parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647. Additionally, claims directed to an apparatus must be distinguished from the prior art in terms of structure rather than function, (In re Danly, 263 F.2d 844, 847, 120 USPQ 528, 531) and an “apparatus claim covers what a device is, not what a device does." Hewlett- Packard Co. v. Bausch & Lomb Inc., 15 USPQ2d 1525, 1528, as explained above).
Davis fails to teach that the at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor configured to sense, through the base portion, a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object below the overhead transmission line and the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing.
Wang teaches a monitoring device for measuring conductor sag and conductor temperature of overhead transmission lines (Paragraph [0001] Line 1-2), wherein
at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor [4] in Figure 1 (A power module, wherein the monitoring main control board is provided with a central processor; the radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit connected to the central processor, and a microwave radar ranging sensor connected to the high-speed sampling unit; Paragraph [0007] Line 4-6; The radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit 3 connected to the central processor 2 and a microwave radar ranging sensor 4 connected to the high-speed sampling unit 3; Paragraph [0016] Line 5-6) configured to sense, through the base portion (Preferably, the monitoring device is an integrated monitoring device, and its casing is a metal shell, which is installed on the conductor of the transmission line to be monitored; Paragraph [0011] Line 1-2; radar sensing unit is placed in the monitoring main control board, which is placed in the conductor of the overhead transmission line. Davis already discloses conductor is placed close to the base portion. Therefore, the distance measured by the radar ranging sensor through the base portion as the radar ranging sensor is placed above the base portion), a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object (ground, trees and object) below the overhead transmission line (The microwave radar ranging sensor uses the pulse method to measure distance. It emits electromagnetic waves controlled by the CPU of the monitoring main control board. When it encounters the ground, trees, buildings, etc., it reflects back, requiring a delay time T. Let the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object be L , the ranging unit emits a pulse and receives the returned electromagnetic wave within time T, then 2L=CT, where C is the electromagnetic wave propagation speed, T can be obtained by counting using the monitoring main control board, then L=CT can be obtained /2, find the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object (ground, trees, buildings), and you can find the actual sag of the conductor; Paragraph [0017] Line 7-14). The purpose of doing so is to monitor the conductor sag and to avoid the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor, to transmit the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, to ensure the safe operation of power lines.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify Davis in view of Wang, because Wang teaches to include a radar sensor to determine the distance of the nearest object below the overhead transmission line monitors the conductor sag and avoids the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor (Paragraph [0012]), transmits the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, ensures the safe operation of power lines (Paragraph [0006]).
However, the combination of Davis and Wand does not teach that the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing.
Lau teaches devices for detecting and transmitting current and voltage fault information from power transmission and distribution lines to a control center, switching center or other designated ground station (Column 1 Line 12-15),
wherein the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing [4] in Figure 1 (In broad terms, the overhead sensor device, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is comprised of an elongated housing 4 within which is contained electronic circuitry required for its operation. A dipole antenna 6 is located just under the surface of the housing for sending via IF radio signals data obtained by the sensors of the device concerning faults and power line characteristics and for receiving control or reprogramming signals sent back to the device from the remote ground monitoring and control station or other ground station; Column 5 Line 48-60). The purpose of doing so is to minimizing size and operation and maintenance cost, to manage battery maintenance and/or replacement at thousands of remote sensing locations, to detect faults over significant periods of time, to provide a compact, lightweight sensing device for an overhead power line that can be easily attached and removed from a power line and measure at least two of its operating characteristics.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify the antenna disclosed by Davis in view of Wang as disclosed by Lau, because Lau teaches to include the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing minimizes size, operation and maintenance cost, manages battery maintenance and/or replacement at thousands of remote sensing locations, to detect faults over significant periods of time (Column 1 Line 64-67 & Column 2 Line 1-9), provides a compact, lightweight sensing device for an overhead power line that can be easily attached and removed from a power line and measure at least two of its operating characteristics (Column 2 Line 59-62).
Regarding claim 2, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line [32] monitor, wherein
the cover portion is made from a semi conductive material (The radiation sensor 124 may comprise eight silicon solar cells 123 assembled in an array and mounted on the top of a raised section 310 on the extension 42, immediately above the power supply compartment 42a; Column 20 Line 49-53; The cells are completely encapsulated in a clear silicon potting compound 241 which minimizes solar radiation reflections and electrically insulates the cells from the aluminum housing 125, and the special glass cover 126 overlying the cells 123; Column 21 Line 3-7; Cover portion 310 is encapsulated with silicon potting and a special glass cover the cells. Silicon is one type of semiconductor).
Regarding claim 6, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor, wherein
the dynamic real time overhead transmission line [32] monitor is powered by a current of the transmission line (FIG. 15, an additional sensor 243 may be provided in the unit 30 for sensing the magnitude of the current in line 32 in order to compute real-time thermal ratings; Column 21 Line 43-46; The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]).
Regarding claim 7, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor, further comprising
an electronics assembly in the housing (electronic components and/or circuit boards are mounted on the inside faces of the cover plates 62, 64, while the exterior faces of plates 62, 64 provide a surface for mounting guide tracks 66 which aid in confining the travel of the jaw opening and closing mechanism in a vertical direction; Column 10 Line 30-35) and being configured to receive the information from the at least one sensor and cause the antenna to transmit the signal including the information (The sensor-transmitter unit 30 which senses conductor temperature and up to 7 parameters transmits signals to a UHF receiver 208 which typically may be located in a power substation along with a multiplexer/scanner 210 as indicated previously, alternatively however, these signals may be transmitted to the substation using PLC signals through the transmission line 32 itself; Column 27 Line 8-14).
Regarding claim 8, the combination of Davis and Lau fails to teach a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor, wherein the radar sensor has a range of about 45 m.
Wang teaches a monitoring device for measuring conductor sag and conductor temperature of overhead transmission lines (Paragraph [0001] Line 1-2), wherein
at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor [4] in Figure 1 (A power module, wherein the monitoring main control board is provided with a central processor; the radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit connected to the central processor, and a microwave radar ranging sensor connected to the high-speed sampling unit; Paragraph [0007] Line 4-6; The radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit 3 connected to the central processor 2 and a microwave radar ranging sensor 4 connected to the high-speed sampling unit 3; Paragraph [0016] Line 5-6) configured to sense, through the base portion (Preferably, the monitoring device is an integrated monitoring device, and its casing is a metal shell, which is installed on the conductor of the transmission line to be monitored; Paragraph [0011] Line 1-2; radar sensing unit is placed in the monitoring main control board, which is placed in the conductor of the overhead transmission line. Davis already discloses conductor is placed close to the base portion. Therefore, the distance measured by the radar ranging sensor through the base portion as the radar ranging sensor is placed above the base portion), a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object (ground, trees and object) below the overhead transmission line (The microwave radar ranging sensor uses the pulse method to measure distance. It emits electromagnetic waves controlled by the CPU of the monitoring main control board. When it encounters the ground, trees, buildings, etc., it reflects back, requiring a delay time T. Let the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object be L , the ranging unit emits a pulse and receives the returned electromagnetic wave within time T, then 2L=CT, where C is the electromagnetic wave propagation speed, T can be obtained by counting using the monitoring main control board, then L=CT can be obtained /2, find the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object (ground, trees, buildings), and you can find the actual sag of the conductor; Paragraph [0017] Line 7-14). The purpose of doing so is to monitor the conductor sag and to avoid the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor, to transmit the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, to ensure the safe operation of power lines.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify Davis and Lau in view of Wang, because Wang teaches to include a radar sensor to determine the distance of the nearest object below the overhead transmission line monitors the conductor sag and avoids the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor (Paragraph [0012]), transmits the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, ensures the safe operation of power lines (Paragraph [0006]).
The combination of Davis, Wang and Lau discloses the claimed invention except for the radar sensor has a range of about 45 m. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to include the radar sensor has the range of about 45 m, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
Regarding claim 9, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor (Electric power transmission systems, especially those employing overhead electric power lines, and deals more particularly with a system for rating the current carrying capacity of the transmission lines and equipment on a real-time basis; Column 1 Line 14-19; Figure 1-10) comprising:
a dynamic real time overhead transmission line (The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]) monitor [30] (Sensor transmitter unit 30) comprising:
a housing [34] installable on an overhead transmission line [32] ((The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]) and comprising:
a base portion [35] (The housing 34 is generally "C-shaped" in geometry and comprises a substantially rectangular base 35; Column 9 Line 28-29; Figure 1-6); and
a cover portion [310]+42+44 (The top portion shown in Figure 6 comprising raised section 310. Cover portion also comprises an upwardly extending rear column 40, and forward upper extension 42 which includes a downwardly turned nose 44; Column 9 Line 30-32; Figure 1-6) coupled to the base portion [35] and defining a cavity [37] of the housing [34] together with the base portion [35] (The upper extension 42 and nose 44 are spaced above the base 35 to define and opening or passageway 37 through which the conductor 32 may be passed during installation or removal of the unit 30 from the conductor 32; Column 9 Line 32-36),
at least one sensor [88] (Temperature sensor 88) in Figure 8 configured to sense in real time at least one of a temperature, a position, a current, an acceleration, a vibration, a tilt, a roll, or a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object (Located in compartment 42b is a temperature sensor 88 in the form of a transducer for sensing the temperature of the conductor 32. A second temperature sensor 86 is mounted in compartment 42c for sensing the ambient temperature or another conductor temperature; Column 11 Line 9-13; FIG. 15, an additional sensor 243 may be provided in the unit 30 for sensing the magnitude of the current in line 32 in order to compute real-time thermal ratings; Column 21 Line 43-46; A sensor in the nature of an inclinometer 84 may be provided to measure magnitude of sag of the conductor 32. The inclinometer 84 measures the slope angle of the conductor 32 at the point of attachment of the unit 30 to the conductor 32; Column 22 Line 3-7); and
an antenna [13] in the cavity [65] (central opening 65) of the housing [34] (A radio antenna generally indicated at 13 defined by a cylindrical antenna tube 46 formed of aluminum or the like is secured to and extends downwardly from an antenna base 45 on the bottom of the housing 34; Column 9 Line 62-65; Antenna is placed in the bottom of the housing in the cavity of 65 of the housing), the antenna [13] configured to transmit a signal including information sensed by the sensor away from the monitor in real time (Signal from the antenna goes through the cavity 65 of the housing 34 to the conductor 32 and penetrates to the cover plate 310);
wherein a wall of the housing is made from a material (The radiation sensor 124 may comprise eight silicon solar cells 123 assembled in an array and mounted on the top of a raised section 310 on the extension 42, immediately above the power supply compartment 42a; Column 20 Line 49-53; The cells are completely encapsulated in a clear silicon potting compound 241 which minimizes solar radiation reflections and electrically insulates the cells from the aluminum housing 125, and the special glass cover 126 overlying the cells 123; Column 21 Line 3-7; Cover portion 310 is encapsulated with silicon potting and a special glass cover the cells. Silicon is one type of semiconductor) having a thickness configured to allow the signal transmitted from inside the cavity to pass through the wall (Therefore, the wall of the housing as the cover portion is made of semiconductive material. Applicant in the invention also discloses that the cover portion is made of semiconductive material and which has a thickness allows pass the signal. Therefore, for the broadest reasonable interpretation, although Davis does not recite that signal is passing through the wall however Davis also discloses that the wall is made of same material as the present invention and therefore the wall of Davis also can pass the signal; Figure 8: Modified Figure 8 of Davis above shows that the antenna is in the cavity and which transmits signal in the cavity and it passes through the wall 310 of the housing;
Again, the amended limitation in which applicant is relying on is the manner of use of the wall of the housing or intended use of the wall of the housing and therefore no patentable weight. If the reference has all the structures as disclosed in the claim, then the manner of use of that element or structure is not required by the claim.
With respect to the intended use of the wall of the housing made of a material having a thickness, it is to be noted that a claim containing a "recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus" if the prior art apparatus teaches all the structural limitations of the claim. Ex parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647. Additionally, claims directed to an apparatus must be distinguished from the prior art in terms of structure rather than function, (In re Danly, 263 F.2d 844, 847, 120 USPQ 528, 531) and an “apparatus claim covers what a device is, not what a device does." Hewlett- Packard Co. v. Bausch & Lomb Inc., 15 USPQ2d 1525, 1528, as explained above); and
a remote receiving device [208] in Figure 30 receiving the signal from the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor (The sensor-transmitter unit 30 which senses conductor temperature and up to 7 parameters transmits signals to a UHF receiver 208 which typically may be located in a power substation along with a multiplexer/scanner 210 as indicated previously, alternatively however, these signals may be transmitted to the substation using PLC signals through the transmission line 32 itself; Column 27 Line 8-14).
Davis fails to teach that the at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor configured to sense, through the base portion, a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object below the overhead transmission line and the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing.
Wang teaches a monitoring device for measuring conductor sag and conductor temperature of overhead transmission lines (Paragraph [0001] Line 1-2), wherein
at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor [4] in Figure 1 (A power module, wherein the monitoring main control board is provided with a central processor; the radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit connected to the central processor, and a microwave radar ranging sensor connected to the high-speed sampling unit; Paragraph [0007] Line 4-6; The radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit 3 connected to the central processor 2 and a microwave radar ranging sensor 4 connected to the high-speed sampling unit 3; Paragraph [0016] Line 5-6) configured to sense, through the base portion (Preferably, the monitoring device is an integrated monitoring device, and its casing is a metal shell, which is installed on the conductor of the transmission line to be monitored; Paragraph [0011] Line 1-2; radar sensing unit is placed in the monitoring main control board, which is placed in the conductor of the overhead transmission line. Davis already discloses conductor is placed close to the base portion. Therefore, the distance measured by the radar ranging sensor through the base portion as the radar ranging sensor is placed above the base portion), a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object (ground, trees and object) below the overhead transmission line (The microwave radar ranging sensor uses the pulse method to measure distance. It emits electromagnetic waves controlled by the CPU of the monitoring main control board. When it encounters the ground, trees, buildings, etc., it reflects back, requiring a delay time T. Let the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object be L , the ranging unit emits a pulse and receives the returned electromagnetic wave within time T, then 2L=CT, where C is the electromagnetic wave propagation speed, T can be obtained by counting using the monitoring main control board, then L=CT can be obtained /2, find the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object (ground, trees, buildings), and you can find the actual sag of the conductor; Paragraph [0017] Line 7-14). The purpose of doing so is to monitor the conductor sag and to avoid the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor, to transmit the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, to ensure the safe operation of power lines.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify Davis in view of Wang, because Wang teaches to include a radar sensor to determine the distance of the nearest object below the overhead transmission line monitors the conductor sag and avoids the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor (Paragraph [0012]), transmits the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, ensures the safe operation of power lines (Paragraph [0006]).
However, the combination of Davis and Wand does not teach that the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing.
Lau teaches devices for detecting and transmitting current and voltage fault information from power transmission and distribution lines to a control center, switching center or other designated ground station (Column 1 Line 12-15),
wherein the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing [4] in Figure 1 (In broad terms, the overhead sensor device, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is comprised of an elongated housing 4 within which is contained electronic circuitry required for its operation. A dipole antenna 6 is located just under the surface of the housing for sending via IF radio signals data obtained by the sensors of the device concerning faults and power line characteristics and for receiving control or reprogramming signals sent back to the device from the remote ground monitoring and control station or other ground station; Column 5 Line 48-60). The purpose of doing so is to minimizing size and operation and maintenance cost, to manage battery maintenance and/or replacement at thousands of remote sensing locations, to detect faults over significant periods of time, to provide a compact, lightweight sensing device for an overhead power line that can be easily attached and removed from a power line and measure at least two of its operating characteristics.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify the antenna disclosed by Davis in view of Wang as disclosed by Lau, because Lau teaches to include the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing minimizes size, operation and maintenance cost, manages battery maintenance and/or replacement at thousands of remote sensing locations, to detect faults over significant periods of time (Column 1 Line 64-67 & Column 2 Line 1-9), provides a compact, lightweight sensing device for an overhead power line that can be easily attached and removed from a power line and measure at least two of its operating characteristics (Column 2 Line 59-62).
Regarding claim 10, Davis teaches a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitoring system, wherein
the remote receiving device comprises at least one of a monitoring station or another dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor (The real-time data received from the units 30 at the substation is scanned at a preselected rate, converted from analog to digital form and is then multiplexed to a systems operation center via any suitable telecommunication link such as telephone, microwave, etc. The data received through the communication link at a systems operation center is input to a dynamic line capacity computer which may comprise by way of an example a microcomputer system 214 that performs real-time calculations using the received data; Column 27 Line 25-34).
Regarding claim 13, Davis teaches a method of dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor (Electric power transmission systems, especially those employing overhead electric power lines, and deals more particularly with a system for rating the current carrying capacity of the transmission lines and equipment on a real-time basis; Column 1 Line 14-19; Figure 1-10) the method comprising:
providing a dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor [30] on an overhead transmission line [32] (The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22; the overhead power line conductor 32 as the overhead transmission line [32]),
the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor [30] comprising:
a housing [34] (The unit 30 includes a housing 34 adapted to be removably clamped to a current carrying conductor, such as the overhead power line conductor 32; Column 9 Line 19-22) including:
a base portion [35] (The housing 34 is generally "C-shaped" in geometry and comprises a substantially rectangular base 35; Column 9 Line 28-29; Figure 1-6); and
a cover portion [310]+42+44 (The top portion shown in Figure 6 comprising raised section 310. Cover portion also comprises an upwardly extending rear column 40, and forward upper extension 42 which includes a downwardly turned nose 44; Column 9 Line 30-32; Figure 1-6) coupled to the base portion [35] and defining a cavity [37] of the housing [34] together with the base portion [35] (The upper extension 42 and nose 44 are spaced above the base 35 to define and opening or passageway 37 through which the conductor 32 may be passed during installation or removal of the unit 30 from the conductor 32; Column 9 Line 32-36), and
an antenna 13] in the cavity [65] (central opening 65) of the housing [34] (A radio antenna generally indicated at 13 defined by a cylindrical antenna tube 46 formed of aluminum or the like is secured to and extends downwardly from an antenna base 45 on the bottom of the housing 34; Column 9 Line 62-65; Antenna is placed in the bottom of the housing in the cavity of 65 of the housing),
sensing in real time at least one of a temperature, a position, a current, an acceleration, a vibration, a tilt, a roll, or a distance to a nearest object (Located in compartment 42b is a temperature sensor 88 in the form of a transducer for sensing the temperature of the conductor 32. A second temperature sensor 86 is mounted in compartment 42c for sensing the ambient temperature or another conductor temperature; Column 11 Line 9-13; FIG. 15, an additional sensor 243 may be provided in the unit 30 for sensing the magnitude of the current in line 32 in order to compute real-time thermal ratings; Column 21 Line 43-46; A sensor in the nature of an inclinometer 84 may be provided to measure magnitude of sag of the conductor 32. The inclinometer 84 measures the slope angle of the conductor 32 at the point of attachment of the unit 30 to the conductor 32; Column 22 Line 3-7) using at least one sensor [88] of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor [30] (Temperature sensor 88 in Figure 8 supported by the housing [34]); and
transmitting a signal including information sensed using the at least one sensor to a remote receiving device [208] in real time via the antenna [13] (The sensor-transmitter unit 30 which senses conductor temperature and up to 7 parameters transmits signals to a UHF receiver 208 which typically may be located in a power substation along with a multiplexer/scanner 210 as indicated previously, alternatively however, these signals may be transmitted to the substation using PLC signals through the transmission line 32 itself; Column 27 Line 8-14; Signal from the antenna goes through the cavity 65 of the housing 34 to the conductor 32 and penetrates to the cover plate 310);
wherein a wall of the housing is made from a material (The radiation sensor 124 may comprise eight silicon solar cells 123 assembled in an array and mounted on the top of a raised section 310 on the extension 42, immediately above the power supply compartment 42a; Column 20 Line 49-53; The cells are completely encapsulated in a clear silicon potting compound 241 which minimizes solar radiation reflections and electrically insulates the cells from the aluminum housing 125, and the special glass cover 126 overlying the cells 123; Column 21 Line 3-7; Cover portion 310 is encapsulated with silicon potting and a special glass cover the cells. Silicon is one type of semiconductor) having a thickness configured to allow the signal transmitted from inside the cavity to pass through the wall (Therefore, the wall of the housing as the cover portion is made of semiconductive material. Applicant in the invention also discloses that the cover portion is made of semiconductive material and which has a thickness allows pass the signal. Therefore, for the broadest reasonable interpretation, although Davis does not recite that signal is passing through the wall however Davis also discloses that the wall is made of same material as the present invention and therefore the wall of Davis also can pass the signal; Figure 8: Modified Figure 8 of Davis above shows that the antenna is in the cavity and which transmits signal in the cavity and it passes through the wall 310 of the housing;
Again, the amended limitation in which applicant is relying on is the manner of use of the wall of the housing or intended use of the wall of the housing and therefore no patentable weight. If the reference has all the structures as disclosed in the claim, then the manner of use of that element or structure is not required by the claim.
With respect to the intended use of the wall of the housing made of a material having a thickness, it is to be noted that a claim containing a "recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus" if the prior art apparatus teaches all the structural limitations of the claim. Ex parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647. Additionally, claims directed to an apparatus must be distinguished from the prior art in terms of structure rather than function, (In re Danly, 263 F.2d 844, 847, 120 USPQ 528, 531) and an “apparatus claim covers what a device is, not what a device does." Hewlett- Packard Co. v. Bausch & Lomb Inc., 15 USPQ2d 1525, 1528, as explained above).
Davis fails to teach that the at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor configured to sense, through the base portion, a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object below the overhead transmission line and the antenna is entirely within the cavity of the housing.
Wang teaches a monitoring device for measuring conductor sag and conductor temperature of overhead transmission lines (Paragraph [0001] Line 1-2), wherein
at least one sensor comprising a radar sensor [4] in Figure 1 (A power module, wherein the monitoring main control board is provided with a central processor; the radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit connected to the central processor, and a microwave radar ranging sensor connected to the high-speed sampling unit; Paragraph [0007] Line 4-6; The radar ranging unit is provided with a high-speed sampling unit 3 connected to the central processor 2 and a microwave radar ranging sensor 4 connected to the high-speed sampling unit 3; Paragraph [0016] Line 5-6) configured to sense, through the base portion (Preferably, the monitoring device is an integrated monitoring device, and its casing is a metal shell, which is installed on the conductor of the transmission line to be monitored; Paragraph [0011] Line 1-2; radar sensing unit is placed in the monitoring main control board, which is placed in the conductor of the overhead transmission line. Davis already discloses conductor is placed close to the base portion. Therefore, the distance measured by the radar ranging sensor through the base portion as the radar ranging sensor is placed above the base portion), a distance of the dynamic real time overhead transmission line monitor to a nearest object (ground, trees and object) below the overhead transmission line (The microwave radar ranging sensor uses the pulse method to measure distance. It emits electromagnetic waves controlled by the CPU of the monitoring main control board. When it encounters the ground, trees, buildings, etc., it reflects back, requiring a delay time T. Let the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object be L , the ranging unit emits a pulse and receives the returned electromagnetic wave within time T, then 2L=CT, where C is the electromagnetic wave propagation speed, T can be obtained by counting using the monitoring main control board, then L=CT can be obtained /2, find the distance from the monitoring device to the measured object (ground, trees, buildings), and you can find the actual sag of the conductor; Paragraph [0017] Line 7-14). The purpose of doing so is to monitor the conductor sag and to avoid the impact of the overhead power line conductor on the ground and trees caused by the increase in temperature or ice coating of the conductor, to transmit the monitoring data to a monitoring center through a short-distance or long-distance communication network, to ensure the safe operation of power lines.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made, to modify Davis in view of Wang, because Wang teaches to include a radar sensor to determine the distance of the nearest object below the overhead transmissio