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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. CN 202311143717.7 filed on 09/05/2023.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant on 12/01/2025 has elected Group II of the restriction, which corresponds to claims 8-10. Applicant did not withdrawn Claims 1-7 as they are from Group I. Claim 8 is dependent on Claim 1, thus Claim 1 is being fully examined for patentability under 37 CFR 1.104. As Claim 1 is not under a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 101, 35 U.S.C. 102, or 35 U.S.C. 103, Claims 1-7 are hereby rejoined and fully examined for patentability under 37 CFR 1.104.
Because all claims previously withdrawn from consideration under 37 CFR 1.142 have been rejoined, the restriction requirement as set forth in the Office action mailed on 09/30/2025 is hereby withdrawn. In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement as to the rejoined inventions, applicant(s) are advised that if any claim presented in a divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01.
Claim Objections
Claims 6-10 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 6 details the limitation “an operation area b (24-6) configured to collect a signal of the ultrasonic probe b”. As Claim 6 is dependent on Claim 1 and this is the first mention of “ultrasonic probe b”, the correct antecedence is “an” rather than “the” and should thus read “an operation area b (24-6) configured to collect a signal of an ultrasonic probe b”
Claim 7 details the limitation “ultrasonic probe b (12) is electrically connected to the wireless operation controller”. As Claim 7 is dependent on Claim 1 and this is the first mention of “ultrasonic probe b”, the correct antecedence is “an” rather than “the” and should thus read “ultrasonic probe b (12) is electrically connected to an wireless operation controller”
Claim 8 details the limitation “the device” on Line 6 and on Line 7. The limitation should detail “the high precision channel flow measurement device”
Claim 9 details the limitation “the device” on Line 5, Line 12, Line 28, and Line 39. The limitation should detail “the high precision channel flow measurement device”
Claim 9 details the limitation “meanwhile, measuring calculation data h by an ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube”. As claim 9 is ultimately dependent on Claim 1, the correct antecedence basis is “the” rather than “an” for the “ultrasonic probe a”, and thus should read “meanwhile, measuring calculation data h by the ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube”
Claim 9 details the limitation “controlling a T-shaped positioning sliding block on the wireless operation controller according to initial state information of the MCU”. As claim 9 is ultimately dependent on Claim 1, the correct antecedence basis is “the” rather than “a” for the “T-shaped positioning sliding block”, and thus should read “controlling the T-shaped positioning sliding block on the wireless operation controller according to initial state information of the MCU”
Claim 10 details the cross section flow rate Q of the channel according to the equation Q = AV. Claim 10 is detailing Q as the cross section flow rate, but does not define what A and V are. Examiner suggests defining what the variables A and V are representing.
Appropriate correction is required.
Examiner’s Note
Examiner suggests formatting Claims 1, 8, and 9 so that the limitations are not paragraphs of run on sentences and thus would be easier to read and understand where one limitation ends and the next limitation begins.
Claim 1 as an example is suggested to be formatted like:
“A high precision channel flow measurement device based on a principle of multi-point head loss, comprising:
a pair of telescopic guide rods (16),
wherein a T-shaped positioning sliding block (14) is connected to the telescopic guide rod (16) in a sliding and sleeving manner;
a support rod (13) perpendicular to the telescopic guide rod (16) is fixed to the T-shaped positioning sliding block (14);
positioning wing plates (8) are respectively fixed to two ends of the support rod (13);
a motion guide pillar (4) in a vertical direction is fixed below the positioning wing plate (8);
a flow measurement tube (1) parallel to the support rod (13) is arranged between two groups of motion guide pillars (4);
the flow measurement tube is communicated with two Pitot tubes (2) for measuring heights of water heads;
the Pitot tubes (2) vertically penetrate through the positioning wing plates (8) upwards;
an ultrasonic probe a (3) is arranged at a top of the Pitot tube (2);
a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) (15) is also arranged at an upper part of the T-shaped positioning sliding block (14); and
the MCU (15) is electrically connected to each of the ultrasonic probe a (3) and a wireless operation controller (24).”
Claim 8 as example is suggested to be formatted like:
“A high precision channel flow measurement method based on a principle of multi-point head loss, using the high precision channel flow measurement device based on a principle of multi-point head loss according to claim 1, and comprising:
first, determining a measurement cross section;
selecting flow velocity measurement control points at different positions of the cross section by using a grid division method; and
finally, performing data measurement, record, and analysis on planned measurement control points in sequence by using the device:
first, erecting the device at a designated cross section position to measure a water depth H of a channel cross section,
inputting measurement control point parameters according to the water depth H,
sequentially placing the flow measurement tubes at the measurement control points one by one,
analyzing a water state of a water flow in a pipeline to obtain a flow velocity at this position, and
finally comparing a plurality of groups of measurement data and calculating a cross section flow rate according to a calculation model.”
Claim 9 is suggested to be formatted:
“The high precision channel flow measurement device based on a principle of multi-point head loss according to claim 8, wherein specific operation steps are as follows:
step 1: first, analyzing water potential of a channel that needs to be measured, and
selecting and determining the measurement cross section;
step 2: placing the device at the designated cross section position in advance,
synchronously adjusting heights of telescopic guide rods and load bearing telescopic lifting frames on two sides to safety and stably erect the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on both sides of the channel,
at this moment, flow measurement tubes being positioned at top ends of motion guide pillars and being not placed in water,
remaining the telescopic guide rods and the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on the same as the cross section,
manually adjusting a leveling knob on a triangular load bearing base, and
simultaneously observing whether bubbles of level gauges at the two ends of the telescopic guide rod are centered to ensure that the device remains level;
step 3: turning on a power switch of a wireless operation controller,
controlling a T-shaped positioning sliding block on the wireless operation controller according to initial state information of the MCU, and
adjusting flow measurement parts to slide to a flow measurement line position,
wherein the flow measurement parts comprise flow measurement tubes, motion guide pillars, positioning wing plates, and support rods;
step 4: measuring a water depth H in a river by using ultrasonic probes b through drive modules on the positioning wing plates on two sides,
performing grid division on the cross section according to the water depth H, and
determining and planning measurement control points and making a record; step 5: operating and controlling a convex sliding block to drive the flow measurement tube to slide to an underwater height calculation position downward according to measurement control point parameters, and
observing whether the bubble of the level gauge on the flow measurement tube is centered to ensure that the flow measurement tube remains in a level state during underwater measurement;
step 6: after a water flow is not affected by the installation of the device and restores to be stable,
standing for a period of time, observing the liquid level heights of the Pitot tubes on both sides of a longitudinal direction of the flow measurement tube,
meanwhile, measuring calculation data h by an ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube, and
transmitting the data to the MCU through a circuit;
step 7: at a measurement line position, controlling the convex sliding block to slide to change different underwater determination heights, and
repeating step 5 again to measure a plurality of groups of calculation data at the measurement line position;
step 8: operating and controlling the drive module,
controlling the flow measurement tube to slide upwards and stop after the flow measurement tube is completely above a water surface,
operating and controlling the T-shaped positioning sliding block again,
adjusting the telescopic guide rods and a main flow measurement part of the device to slide to a next flow measurement line position,
wherein the main flow measurement part comprises the flow measurement tube and the motion guide pillar;
step 9: repeating steps 5 to 7,
completing measurement work on each flow measurement line position on the cross section in sequence,
transmitting all calculation data to the MCU, and
turning off the power switch after completion; and
step 10: analyzing measured data through a calculation formula to obtain a flow measurement result.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 details the limitation “a pair of telescopic guide rods (16)”. Claim 1 further details the limitation “wherein a T-shaped positioning sliding block (14) is connected to the telescopic guide rod (16) in a sliding and sleeving manner” and “a support rod (13) perpendicular to the telescopic guide rod (16) is fixed to the T-shaped positioning sliding block (14).” It is not clear whether the T-shaped position sliding block is connected to a singular telescopic rod or if it is connected to the pair of telescopic guide rods. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the support rod is perpendicular to a single telescopic guide rod or if it is perpendicular to the pair of telescope guide rods.
Examiner interprets both cases to be related to the pair of telescopic guide rods and not a singular telescopic guide rod.
Claims 2-10 are rejected due to dependence on Claim 1.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 details the limitation “the flow measurement tube is communicated with two Pitot tubes (2) for measuring heights of water heads.”
Claim 1 further details the limitation “an ultrasonic probe a (3) is arranged at a top of the Pitot tube (2).”
It is not clear nor distinct whether the ultrasonic probe is arranged at the top of one of the two Pitot tubes, if the ultrasonic probe is arranged at the top of both Pitot tubes, or if each Pitot tube has a separate ultrasonic probe arranged at the top.
Examiner interprets the limitation as each of the Pitot tubes having an ultrasonic probe at the top, so that there are two ultrasonic probes.
Claims 2-10 are rejected due to dependence on Claim 1.
Claims 2 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 2 details “the Pitot tube (2)”. Claim 1 details “two Pitot tubes (2)”. It is not clear whether the “Pitot Tube” of Claim 2 is one of the two Pitot tubes of Claim 1 or if it is intended to mean both the Pitot Tubes of Claim 1.
Examiner interprets the limitation as both Pitot Tubes.
Claim 4 is rejected due to dependence on Claim 2.
Claims 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 8 depends on Claim 1.
Claim 1 details a high precision channel flow measurement device based on the principle of multi-point head loss. Claim 1 further details a singular flow measurement tube.
Claim 8 details a high precision channel flow measurement method based on a principle of multi-point head loss, using the high precision channel flow measurement device based on a principle of multi-point head loss according to claim 1. Claim 8 further details sequentially placing the flow measurement tubes at the measurement control points one by one. Thus it is not clear whether Claim 8 is utilizing a plurality of flow measurement devices or if it is a singular flow measurement device that comprises a plurality of flow measurement tubes.
Examiner interprets the limitation as a plurality of flow measurement devices.
Claims 9-10 are rejected due to dependence on Claim 8.
Claims 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 8 details the limitation “first, determining a measurement cross section; selecting flow velocity measurement control points at different positions of the cross section by using a grid division method; and finally, performing data measurement, record, and analysis on planned measurement control points in sequence by using the device: first, erecting the device at a designated cross section position to measure a water depth H of a channel cross section, inputting measurement control point parameters according to the water depth H, sequentially placing the flow measurement tubes at the measurement control points one by one, analyzing a water state of a water flow in a pipeline to obtain a flow velocity at this position, and finally comparing a plurality of groups of measurement data and calculating a cross section flow rate according to a calculation model.” Breaking up the limitation as follows:
first, determining a measurement cross section;
selecting flow velocity measurement control points at different positions of the cross section by using a grid division method; and
finally, performing data measurement, record, and analysis on planned measurement control points in sequence by using the device:
first, erecting the device at a designated cross section position to measure a water depth H of a channel cross section,
inputting measurement control point parameters according to the water depth H,
sequentially placing the flow measurement tubes at the measurement control points one by one,
analyzing a water state of a water flow in a pipeline to obtain a flow velocity at this position, and
finally comparing a plurality of groups of measurement data and calculating a cross section flow rate according to a calculation model
Limitations (a), (b), and (c) constitute the “first” to “finally” set of instructions, and limitations (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) constitute another use of “first to finally” set of instructions. As limitation c details performing data measurement, record, and analysis by using the device, it is not clear whether the steps (d)-(h) are a more in depth detail of steps (a)-(c) or if they are steps to be performed subsequent to steps (a)-(c) as both detail starting with “first” and ending with “finally”.
Examiner interprets steps (d)-(h) to be more in depth limitations of (a)-(c).
Claims 9-10 are rejected due to dependence on Claim 8.
Claims 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 9 details the limitation “step 2: placing the device at the designated cross section position in advance, synchronously adjusting heights of telescopic guide rods and load bearing telescopic lifting frames on two sides to safety and stably erect the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on both sides of the channel, at this moment, flow measurement tubes being positioned at top ends of motion guide pillars and being not placed in water, remaining the telescopic guide rods and the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on the same as the cross section, manually adjusting a leveling knob on a triangular load bearing base, and simultaneously observing whether bubbles of level gauges at the two ends of the telescopic guide rod are centered to ensure that the device remains level”. Breaking up the limitation as follows:
placing the device at the designated cross section position in advance
synchronously adjusting heights of telescopic guide rods and load bearing telescopic lifting frames on two sides to safety and stably erect the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on both sides of the channel
at this moment, flow measurement tubes being positioned at top ends of motion guide pillars and being not placed in water
remaining the telescopic guide rods and the load bearing telescopic lifting frames on the same as the cross section
manually adjusting a leveling knob on a triangular load bearing base
simultaneously observing whether bubbles of level gauges at the two ends of the telescopic guide rod are centered to ensure that the device remains level
It is not clear nor distinct what the limitation of (d) is detailing as step (b) details the adjustment to the heights of the telescopic guide rods and load bearing telescoping lifting frames and step (d) details “remaining” the telescopic guide rods and the load bearing telescopic lifting frames.
Claim 10 is rejected due to dependence on Claim 9.
Claims 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 9 is dependent on Claim 8 which is dependent on Claim 1.
Claim 1 details the limitation “the flow measurement tube is communicated with two Pitot tubes (2) for measuring heights of water heads.”
Claim 9 details the limitation “meanwhile, measuring calculation data h by an ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube”
It is not clear nor distinct whether the ultrasonic probe is arranged at the top of one of the two Pitot tubes, if the ultrasonic probe is arranged at the top of both Pitot tubes, or if each Pitot tube has a separate ultrasonic probe arranged at the top.
Examiner interprets the limitation as each of the Pitot tubes having an ultrasonic probe at the top, so that there are two ultrasonic probes.
Claim 10 is rejected due to dependence on Claim 9.
Claims 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 9 details the limitation “step 6: after a water flow is not affected by the installation of the device and restores to be stable, standing for a period of time, observing the liquid level heights of the Pitot tubes on both sides of a longitudinal direction of the flow measurement tube, meanwhile, measuring calculation data h by an ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube, and transmitting the data to the MCU through a circuit.”
Breaking up the limitation as follows:
after a water flow is not affected by the installation of the device and restores to be stable
standing for a period of time
observing the liquid level heights of the Pitot tubes on both sides of a longitudinal direction of the flow measurement tube
meanwhile
measuring calculation data h by an ultrasonic probe a at a top end of the Pitot tube
and transmitting the data to the MCU through a circuit
It is not clear how the limitation with respect to (b) is to be interpreted as it could be interpreted as part of (a) linking to (c) as “after a water flow is not affected by the installation of the device and restores to be stable and standing for a period of time, observing…” or if it is intended to mean to be after (a), that is, “after a water flow is not affected…, after standing for a period of time, observing the liquid level heights…”
Furthermore it is not clear what the “meanwhile” from (d) is to be in meanwhile to with respect to (a), (b), and (c). That is does it mean (e) occurs while (a) is occurring or does (e) occur while (c) is occurring?
Examiner interprets (b) as the first option of “after a water flow is not affected by the installation of the device and restores to be stable and standing for a period of time, observing…” and interprets (d) as occurring while (c) is occurring.
Claim 10 is rejected due to dependence on Claim 9.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 10 details “Vi” and “vi”. That is, Claim 10 details upper case V and lower case V, with both instances referencing velocity magnitudes. It is not clear whether “Vi” and “vi” are referencing the same average flow velocity of water flow cross section of the ith measurement point or if they are representing different variables.
Examiner interprets “Vi” and “vi” as referencing the same variable.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Zhou (CN211373724U) teaches an open channel multi-point automatic flow measurement device with Figure 1 which includes a support 1, frame 3, horizontal guide rod 5, guide rod fixing component 7, Pitot tube 10, fixing component 14, lifting plate 15, vertical guide rod 17, host computer 18, automation control center 19, microcontroller control system 21, two-dimensional motion structure 22, horizontal motion mechanism 23, vertical motion mechanism 24.
Cain (US4320665A) teaches with Figure 1 a tubular transmission line 12 that a fluid 10 flows through, and the tubular transmission line includes a first Pitot Tube 14 and a second Pitot Tube 16. Figure 1 shows at the top of the Pitot tubes include a first ultrasonic transducer 20 and a second ultrasonic transducer 22.
Liang (CN105222831A) teaches in Figure 1 a pipe 11 that has an ultrasonic probe 3 and Pitot tube 6 connected to it, where the Pitot tube and ultrasonic probe are connected to a computer 9.
Sato (JP2009008567A) teaches in Figure 3 a flow rate measurement system for a river where the system is installed across a river with supports 28 on the edge of the river and a connecting means 20 holding the current flow meter 12 in the river.
In regards to Claim 1, Zhou, Cain, Liang, and Sato are silent to the language of “a pair of telescopic guide rods (16),
wherein a T-shaped positioning sliding block (14) is connected to the telescopic guide rod (16) in a sliding and sleeving manner;
a support rod (13) perpendicular to the telescopic guide rod (16) is fixed to the T-shaped positioning sliding block (14);
positioning wing plates (8) are respectively fixed to two ends of the support rod (13);
a motion guide pillar (4) in a vertical direction is fixed below the positioning wing plate (8);
a flow measurement tube (1) parallel to the support rod (13) is arranged between two groups of motion guide pillars (4);
the flow measurement tube is communicated with two Pitot tubes (2) for measuring heights of water heads;
the Pitot tubes (2) vertically penetrate through the positioning wing plates (8) upwards;
an ultrasonic probe a (3) is arranged at a top of the Pitot tube (2);
a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) (15) is also arranged at an upper part of the T-shaped positioning sliding block (14); and
the MCU (15) is electrically connected to each of the ultrasonic probe a (3) and a wireless operation controller (24)”
Conclusion
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/YOSSEF KORANG-BEHESHTI/ Examiner, Art Unit 2857