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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art.
If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps.
Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
The applicant appears to be unfamiliar with the proper format of an abstract for U.S. filing. The illustration below is what the Office has on record for an abstract (dated 10/11/2023). Apparently, the applicant believes this is an acceptable form of an abstract in the U.S. The applicant is incorrect, as pointed out in the last office action dated 7/01/2025. This filing is not proper format for an abstract. This abstract is objected to for failing to with U.S. practice. A proper abstract is required.
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-17 and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1/a2 as being anticipated by Karipides et al. (US 8050069).
Claims 1-3; Karipides et al., fig. 2, disclose that it is old and well-known to provide an apparatus comprising: an energy storage system (108/110) comprising: a first energy storage element (108), and a second energy storage element (110) electrically connected to the first energy storage element (108) at an energy node (106) that is between the first energy storage element (108) and the second energy storage element (110); and an energy filter system (140) comprising an inductor (140) directly electrically connected to the energy node (106), wherein the energy filter system is configured to electrically connect to one phase of a multi-phase alternating current (AC) power system (112) while other phases of the AC power system are electrically connected to a diode-based rectifier (e.g. 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138).
Claim 4; switching modules 128 and 130, for example.
Claim 5; the filter filters and the currents are equal.
Claims 6-9; e.g. switches 128, 134, 130, 136.
Claims 10-12; Karipides et al., fig. 2, disclose a system comprising: a bus (102, 104) configured for connection to a load (VP, Vn), the bus comprising: a first side (102) and a second side (104); a diode-based rectifier (e.g. 128, 130, 132,134, 136, 138) comprising: a first switching module electrically connected to the bus (102), the first switching module comprising: a first diode (e.g. 128) electrically connected to the first side; and a second diode (e.g. 134) electrically connected to the second side (104) and to the first diode (128) wherein the first diode electrically connected to the second diode at a first input node (e.g. 122) that is between the first diode and the second diode; a second switching module electrically connected to the bus, the second switching module comprising: a third diode (e.g. 130) electrically connected to the first side; and a fourth diode (e.g. 136) electrically connected to the second side (102) and the third diode wherein the third diode is electrically connected to the fourth diode at a second input node (e.g. 124) that is between the third diode and the fourth diode; an energy storage system configured to be connected in parallel with the load, wherein the energy storage system comprises: a first energy storage element (108) electrically connected to the first side (102); a second energy storage (110) element electrically connected to the second side (110) and to the first energy storage element, wherein the first energy storage element is electrically connected to the second energy storage element at an energy node (106) that is between the first energy storage element and the second energy storage element; and an energy filter system (140) electrically connected to the energy node, wherein the first input node is configured to electrically connect to a first phase (e.g. 114) of an alternating current (AC) power system, the second input node is configured to electrically connect to a second phase (e.g. 116) of the AC power system, and the energy filter system is configured to electrically connect to a third phase (e.g. 118) of the AC power system.
Claim 13 is merely the reverse of claim 12 with bus sides switched, still disclosed by Karipides et al.
Claims 16 and 17; equal currents.
Claim 23; Karipides et al. disclose an apparatus comprising: a bus (102, 104); a diode-based rectifier (128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138) electrically connected to the bus, the diode-based rectifier comprising a first phase leg and a second phase leg, each of the first and second phase legs comprising two diodes (128, 130) configured to rectify AC electrical current; an energy storage system (108/110) electrically connected across the bus (102, 104), the energy storage system comprising: a first energy storage element (108), and a second energy storage (110) element electrically connected to the first energy storage element at an energy node (106) that is between the first energy storage element and the second energy storage element; and an inductor (140) directly electrically connected to the energy node, wherein the inductor stores electrical energy when there is an increase in current flow in any of the diodes of the diode-based rectifier and releases electrical energy when there is a decrease in current flow in any of the diodes of the diode-based rectifier (128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 18-22 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the reasons are the same as stated in the previous office action dated 7/01/2025.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 5345375 Mohan discloses a system for current injection to reduce harmonics.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY L LAXTON whose telephone number is (571)272-2079. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Crystal Hammond can be reached at 571-270-1682. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GARY L LAXTON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838 2/26/2026