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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/7/2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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.
Claim(s) 1-5 and 8-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Holzmueller et al. (US 2017/0244294; IDS).
In claim 1, Holzmueller discloses (Fig. 3-4 and 7) an electric motor (700) comprising: a stator component (780) comprising a plurality of stator slots (sot portions of 780), each stator slot of the plurality of stator slots comprising a dielectric material (412, 772); and a magnet wire assembly (770) comprising a conductive wire (copper wire; [0114]) and an insulating member (404) that overlays the conductive wire ([0114]), wherein the insulating member (404) comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ([0092]), and wherein the magnet wire assembly (770) is located at at least one of the plurality of stator slots to define a magnetic circuit that includes at least the magnet wire assembly (770) and the dielectric material (412, 772) at the at least one of the plurality of stator slots.
In claim 2, Holzmueller discloses wherein the magnet wire assembly (770) is located at each of the plurality of stator slots (sots shown in Fig. 7) to define a magnetic circuit that includes at least the magnet wire assembly (770) and the dielectric material (412, 772) at each of the plurality of stator slots.
In claim 3, Holzmueller discloses wherein the magnetic circuit, including the magnet wire assembly (770) applied at the dielectric material (412, 772) at the at least one of the plurality of stator slots, is configured to provide a path to conduct flux.
In claim 4, Holzmueller discloses wherein the dielectric material (412, 772) is provided as an insulating member (412 is a motor slot film liner; [0092]) around a perimeter of the at least one of the plurality of stator slots, and wherein the dielectric material (412, 772) is configured to provide electrical resistance to ground.
In claim 5, Holzmueller discloses wherein the magnet wire assembly (770) forms a continuously wound coil ([0044, 0047, 0052]) that defines the at least one of the plurality of stator slots.
In claim 8, Holzmueller discloses wherein the electric motor (700) is configured to operate in an operating environment having a pressure of up to 34 Kpsi and a temperature of up to 200⁰ C (see NOTE).
Applicant recites a functional recitation. 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 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1987).
In claim 9, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) comprising ePTFE is configured to resist hydrolysis when the electric motor in the presence of an operating environment that has a pressure of up to 34 Kpsi and a temperature of up to 200⁰ C (see NOTE).
Applicant recites a functional recitation. 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 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1987).
In claim 10, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) comprising ePTFE directly overlays the conductive wire such that the insulating member (404) comprising ePTFE forms a sleeve around the conductive wire ([0144]).
In claim 11, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) consists of ePTFE ([0092]).
In claim 12, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404; member coating the wire) directly contacts the dielectric material (412, 772) such that the ePTFE of the insulating member (404) directly contacts the dielectric material (412, 772; Fig. 7)).
In claim 13, Holzmueller discloses a magnet wire assembly (770) comprising: a conductive wire (copper wire; [0114]) and an insulating member (404) overlaying the conductive wire ([0114]), wherein the insulating member (404) comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene ([0092]).
In claim 14, Holzmueller discloses wherein the conductive wire comprises a copper wire ([0114]).
In claim 15, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) directly overlays the conductive wire ([0144]).
In claim 16, Holzmueller discloses wherein the ePTFE directly overlays the conductive wire ([0144]).
In claim 17, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) forms a sleeve around the conductive wire ([0144]).
In claim 18, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) is configured to resist hydrolysis when the electric motor in the presence of an operating environment that has a pressure of up to 34 Kpsi and a temperature of up to 200⁰ C (see NOTE).
Applicant recites a functional recitation. 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 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1987).
In claim 19, Holzmueller discloses wherein the insulating member (404) consists of ePTFE ([0092]).
In claim 20, Holzmueller discloses wherein the magnet wire assembly (770), including the conductive wire and the ePTFE of the insulating member (404), forms a continuously wound magnetic coil ([0044, 0047, 0052]).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 6-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Holzmueller et al. (US 2017/0244294; IDS) in view of Islam et al. (US 2019/0379251)
In claim 6, Holzmueller teaches the motor of claim 5, with the exception of wherein the magnet wire assembly forms a concentrated winding pattern at each of the plurality of stator slots.
However, Islam teaches that a fractional winding structure configuration is provided for a concentrated winding pattern at each of the plurality of stator slots ([0022]).
Therefore in view ofIslam, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to provide a compact structure that helps with torque density, torque ripple, and core losses (Islam; [0022]).
In claim 7, Holzmueller teaches the motor of claim 5, with the exception of wherein the magnet wire assembly forms a distributed winding pattern at each of the plurality of stator slots.
However, Islam teaches that a fractional winding structure configuration is provided for a distributed winding pattern at each of the plurality of stator slots ([0022]).
Therefore in view ofIslam, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have arrived at the claimed invention, in order to provide a compact structure that helps with torque density, torque ripple, and core losses (Islam; [0022]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Sercombe et al. (US 2020/0169136) teaches a winding system for use in an electrical, electronic or electromagnetic device or component including: one or more set of windings, each set of windings including an electrically-conductive element arranged in a winding pattern with multiple turns.
Hall et al. (US 9472987) teaches induction motor stator windings.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RASHAD H JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-1231. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-5pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
RASHAD H. JOHNSON
Examiner
Art Unit 2834
/RASHAD H JOHNSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2834