DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1, 6, 7, 12-14, and 24-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pahlevaninezhad et al. (2022/0247204), Zhuang et al. (2019/0238088), and Vavilpalli et al. (2021/0211066).
Regarding independent claim 1, Pahlevaninezhad teaches an energy storage system (Figs. 7 and 37), comprising:
a plurality of converter modules (102’s) electrically coupled together to form an array, wherein the array is configured to output an AC signal, each converter module of the plurality of converter modules comprising:
a DC/DC converter (inside 116; aka 284, 286, 288 in Fig. 25) configured to electrically couple with a photovoltaic (PV) source (112) and configured to convert an input DC voltage from the PV source to a first DC converter output voltage ([0034], [0040]), wherein the DC/DC converter (Fig. 25) comprises:
a transformer (322),
a first DC/AC converter (284) coupled to the primary side of the transformer,
a second DC/AC converter (288), which is bidirectional, coupled to a secondary side of the transformer ([0034] teaches power flow between components), and
a third DC/AC converter (286), which is bidirectional, coupled to a side of the transformer ([0133]);
an energy source (114) electrically coupled with the DC/DC converter;
a power connection (Left of 108 in Fig. 37) configured to output an AC module voltage of the module;
a fourth DC/AC converter coupled to the second DC/AC converter of the DC/DC converter, and configured to convert the first DC converter output voltage to the AC module voltage ([0040]),
wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to electrically couple with the PV source through the first DC/AC converter, and the transformer is configured to (i) operate as an energy hub to transfer energy among the PV source, the power connection, and the energy source, and (ii) transfer energy bidirectionally between the power connection and the energy source ([0133]); and
a local control device ([0033], “control module”; 316 in Fig. 25B) configured to control the DC/DC converter and the fourth DC/AC converter to selectively route energy (i) from the PV source to the energy source of the converter module or (ii) from the PV source to the power connection of the converter module ([0133]).
Pahlevaninezhad teaches examples of cascaded converter modules (i.e. Fig. 35) but fails to explicitly teach the claimed plurality of converter modules (like the ones in Fig. 37) electrically coupled together in a cascaded fashion configured to output an AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the plurality of converter modules. Zhuang teaches a similar power distribution system (Fig. 3) to that of Pahlevaninezhad. Zhuang teaches a plurality of converter modules (i.e. 3 shown for each phase; very similar to the converter modules in Pahlevaninezhad) electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion to form an array that outputs an AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the plurality of converter modules. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to substitute Zhuang’s cascaded converter module configuration into Pahlevaninezhad’s invention for their circuit configuration in Fig. 37, since it involves a mere simple substitution of one configuration for another to perform the same function of outputting a combined AC signal to a load/grid to power the load/grid.
Pahlevaninezhad arguably fails to explicitly teach the second DC/AC converter being bidirectional, and also fails to teach the claimed energy buffer. Vavilpalli teaches a similar energy storage system (Fig. 5A) to that of Pahlevaninezhad. Vavilpalli teaches the idea of an energy buffer (C2) electrically coupled between an energy source (BATTERY-n) and a converter ((DC-DC)n), and also teaches the idea of the converter (510; similar to Pahlevaninezhad’s second DC/AC converter) being bidirectional ([0071]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement an energy buffer between Pahlevaninezhad’s energy source (i.e. battery) and their third DC/AC converter, since Vavilpalli teaches a similar circuit configuration and it would allow for protection of the energy source against voltage transients in the circuit. It also would have been obvious to have Pahlevaninezhad’s second DC/AC converter being bidirectional to allow the power to flow throughout all elements in their system.
Pahlevaninezhad also fails to explicitly teach the third DC/AC converter (286) being coupled to the secondary side of the transformer (and not the first, as shown in Fig. 25C). However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to move the third DC/AC converter (286) to the secondary side of the transformer, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art (and the invention would perform the exact same way with the third DC/AC converter on the secondary side). In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Regarding claims 6 and 7, Pahlevaninezhad fails to explicitly teach a plurality of arrays of converter modules as claimed. Vavilpalli teaches (Fig. 5A) the idea of a plurality of arrays (n arrays inside phase R shown in Fig. 5A), each having its own AC output signal (via each of the n DC/AC inverters in the R-phase of 510), its own plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in a cascaded fashion, and each AC output signal comprises a superposition of AC module voltages from their plurality of converter modules. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement a plurality of arrays into Pahlevaninezhad’s invention, since Vavilpalli teaches the idea and it would allow for redundant AC output power in their energy storage system.
Regarding claim 12, Zhuang teaches (Fig. 2) the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of each array (A, B, or C) are connected in a daisy chain arrangement.
Regarding claim 13, similar to the rejection of claims 6 and 7 above, Vavilpalli teaches the system comprising a second instance of arrays (i.e. phase Y or B in Fig. 5A) comprising fourth, fifth, and sixth arrays. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement a second instance of arrays into Pahlevaninezhad’s invention to be able to supply different phases of AC power to the system.
Regarding claim 14, Vavilpalli teaches the idea of replacing the PV source(s) with a wind source (Fig. 3B; [0024], [0059], [0069], [0183], claim 9). Therefore, it would be obvious for the Pahlevaninezhad/Vavilpalli combination to teach the power connection of the first converter module of each of the first, second, and third plurality of converter modules being electrically coupled to a wind source.
Regarding claims 24 and 26, Zhuang teaches a master control device configured to communicate with/instruct a local control device to route the energy from the PV source throughout the system ([0070]; the various controllers in communication with each other).
Regarding claim 25, Pahlevaninezhad teaches the transformer being configured to receive energy from or provide energy to an entity according to a state of at least one of: the PV source, the energy source, a DC bus, the power connection or a fuel cell. ([0034])
Regarding claim 27, Vavilpalli teaches a control system that comprises a master control device and the local control device, wherein the control system is configured to monitor energy flows throughout the system (including Pahlevaninezhad’s transformer). (Vavilpalli’s Figs. 8, 10, 12 and [0173]-[0189])
Regarding claim 28, Pahlevaninezhad teaches the DC/DC converter (Fig. 25) comprising:
a first sub-converter (284) coupled to the transformer (322) and configured to convert the DC input voltage from the PV source (Solar) to a first AC voltage, wherein the transformer is arranged to transform the first AC voltage into a second AC voltage; and
a second sub-converter (288) coupled to the transformer and configured to convert the second AC voltage into the DC converter output voltage.
Regarding claim 29, Pahlevaninezhad teaches the DC/DC converter comprising a third sub-converter (286) coupled to the transformer and configured to convert a third AC voltage from the transformer into an additional DC converter output voltage (to the battery).
Regarding claim 30, the Pahlevaninezhad/Vavilpalli combination teaches the energy buffer (of Vavilpalli) being coupled to the third sub-converter (286 of Pahlevaninezhad) of the DC/DC converter (and the energy source/battery).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed December 18, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Examiner believes that the Pahlevaninezhad reference explicitly teaches the added limitations to the claim at [0133].
Regarding the Applicant’s other argument regarding a lack of motivation to combine the prior art references, the Examiner disagrees. Also, to clarify the combination: the main reference (Pahlevaninezhad) teaches most of the claimed invention. The main reference is being modified by the single teaching in Zhuang of a different circuit configuration used to provide power from DC power sources (i.e. a PV panel and energy source) to a grid. The main reference (Pahlevaninezhad) is also being modified by the teachings in Vavilpalli which teach the idea of an energy buffer between the energy source and their converter, and the idea of the second DC/AC converter being bidirectional. The argument that the primary functions/objectives of each of the prior art references is different is moot, since the rejection involves the Pahlevaninezhad invention being modified with teachings in the Zhuang and Vavilpalli references that would not cause changes to the main operation of Pahlevaninezhad and would allow it to function more efficiently and safely.
Both Pahlevaninezhad and Zhuang teaches the idea of power distribution systems using plural cascaded converter modules to distribute power between PV modules and an AC grid, including DC/AC converters and a transformer. They each perform the same function of controlling the flow of power between the PV modules and the AC grid. Therefore, it would have been obvious to substitute Zhuang’s circuit configuration (between the PV panels and the grid) into Pahlevaninezhad’s invention for their circuit configuration to accomplish the same thing of controlling the flow of power. The modified Pahlevaninezhad invention would still function in the way and provide the desired amounts of power as described in Pahlevaninezhad, but with the circuit configuration described in Zhuang.
Regarding the Pahlevaninezhad and Vavilpalli combination, they both teach similar power distribution systems comprising PV panels and an energy source (i.e. battery) providing power to an AC grid. Vavilpalli teaches (Fig. 5A) the idea of an energy buffer (C2) connected between the energy source (i.e. battery) and their converter that converts energy source power. Vavilpalli also teaches the idea of their converter connected to the AC grid (510; analogous to Pahlevaninezhad’s second DC/AC converter) being bidirectional. So, implementing these two features into Pahlevaninezhad’s invention would be obvious since they are in the same field of power distribution and conversion of an energy source/battery, and adding the energy buffer would allow for protection of the energy source against voltage transients; and making the second DC/AC converter in Pahlevaninezhad’s invention bidirectional is beneficial since it would allow for power in the grid to be able to be supplied back to the energy source to charge it, when necessary, if there is excess power in the grid and would allow the system to run more efficiently and waste less power.
Regarding the transformer’s primary and secondary windings, the Examiner believes that Pahlevaninezhad’s Fig. 25C is analogous to the Applicant’s Fig. 11G, which is analogous to the claimed DC/DC converter. Having the winding connected to the energy source located on the left or the right of the transformer is an obvious matter of design choice to one of ordinary skill in the art since the circuits will function in the exact same manner independent of the winding being on the left or right side of the transformer.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DRU M PARRIES whose telephone number is (571)272-8542. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday -Thursday from 9:00am to 6:00pm. The examiner can also be reached on alternate Fridays.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Rexford Barnie, can be reached on 571-272-7492. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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DMP
1/15/2026
/DANIEL CAVALLARI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836