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 Amendment
This office action is in response to amendment filed on 04/10/26. Regarding the amendment, claims 1-20 are present for examination.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/10/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant argument that “Calley, by contrast, describes two opposing stator halves "placed with a coil 720 therebetween" and magnetically linked via "one or more back return laminations 718" (Calley, discussion of FIGS. 7A-7C). That architecture is not a plurality of ring-shaped stator cores each holding its own corresponding winding; rather, a coil is interposed between opposing stator halves. The Office Action's mapping effectively re-labels Calley's opposing stator halves and an interposed coil as the claimed plural ring cores each holding corresponding windings. However, anticipation requires that "each and every element" be disclosed in a single reference "arranged as in the claim." MPEP §2131; see also Net MoneyIN, Inc. v. VeriSign, Inc., 545 F.3d 1359, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2008). Calley therefore cannot anticipate either of claims 1 or 11.” Examiner disagrees with that because of the following:
First, the claim recited “a stator assembly including a plurality of stator windings and a plurality of stator cores each configured to direct a magnetic flux in each of an axial direction and a radial direction toward the rotor assembly, with each of the stator cores defining a ring shape and holding a corresponding stator winding of the plurality of stator windings.” Calley teaches a stator assembly (clearly shown figs 7A-8E) having a plurality of stator windings and a plurality of stator cores, with each of the stator cores defining a ring shape.
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Furthermore, col. 9 ln 47-50 teaches “multiple lamination stacks 614 may be utilized to form a generally ring-shaped structure”, and col 10 ln 4-8 teaches “a generally ring-shaped structure or other suitable structures composed of lamination stacks 614 and/or teeth 616 may be referred to as a "stator half".
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Second, the structure of two opposing stator halves forms a ring-shaped structure and a coil is interposed between the opposing stator halves is also a resulting of stator core defines a ring shape and holding a corresponding stator winding. MPEP 2173.01 stated “a claim must be given its broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification as it would be interpreted by one of ordinary skill in the art.” In re Yamamoto, 740 F.2d 1569, 1571, 222 USPQ 934, 936 (Fed. Cir. 1984); In re Zletz, 893 F.2d 319, 321, 13 USPQ2d 1320, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 1989) ("During patent examination the pending claims must be interpreted as broadly as their terms reasonably allow."). Although, Calley does not disclose a one-piece stator core holding a corresponding stator winding, Calley nevertheless discloses a stator structure that meets the broader claimed limitation. Specifically, Calley’s lamination stator halves forms a ring-shaped structure and a coil is interposed between and therefore satisfies the limitation of “each of the stator cores defining a ring shape and holding a corresponding stator winding” recited in the instant claims.
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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Calley et al. (US 8,952590 B2).
Regarding claim 1, Calley teaches a transverse flux machine (TFM) comprising:
a rotor assembly (850, fig 8A) configured to rotate about an axis; and
a stator assembly (810) including a plurality of stator windings (820) and a plurality of stator cores (810-1, 810-2) each configured to direct a magnetic flux in each of an axial direction and a radial direction toward the rotor assembly (fig 8D), with each of the stator cores (810-1, 810-2) defining a ring shape (814) and holding a corresponding stator winding (820) of the plurality of stator windings,
wherein the plurality of stator cores (810-1, 810-2) include an exterior stator core (810-1) located adjacent to an axial end of the stator assembly (810), and an interior stator core (810-2) spaced apart from the axial end of the stator assembly (810), and
wherein the interior stator core (810-2) defines at least one dimension (Lt) that is different than a corresponding dimension of the exterior stator core (810-1, col 16 ln 13-20).
Regarding claim 11, Calley teaches a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle, comprising:
a handwheel actuator (1000, fig 10A) coupled to apply a torque to a steering wheel (not shown, col 18 ln 44-46) and including a transverse flux machine (TFM), wherein the TFM includes:
a rotor assembly (850, fig 8A) configured to rotate about an axis; and
a stator assembly (810) including a plurality of stator windings (820) and a plurality of stator cores (810-1, 810-2) each configured to direct a magnetic flux in each of an axial direction and a radial direction toward the rotor assembly (fig 8D), with each of the stator cores (810-1, 810-2) defining a ring shape (814) and holding a corresponding stator winding (820) of the plurality of stator windings,
wherein the plurality of stator cores (810-1, 810-2) include an exterior stator core (810-1) located adjacent to an axial end of the stator assembly (810), and an interior stator core (810-2) spaced apart from the axial end of the stator assembly (810), and
wherein the interior stator core (810-2) defines at least one dimension (Lt) that is different than a corresponding dimension of the exterior stator core (810-1, col 16 ln 13-20).
Regarding claims 2 and 12, Calley teaches each of the stator cores (810-1) includes a tubular portion (818) extending between an inner wall and an outer wall and defining a back iron depth in a radial direction therebetween, and wherein the at least one dimension includes the back iron depth (fig 8B).
Regarding claims 3 and 13, Calley teaches the back iron depth of the tubular portion (718) of the interior stator core (710B-1) is approximately one-half the back iron depth of the tubular portion (718) of the exterior stator core (710A, fig 7D).
Regarding claims 4 and 14, Calley teaches each of the stator cores (810-1) includes a tubular portion (818) and an arm (814) extending from the tubular portion in a radial direction toward the rotor assembly (850), the arm (814) defining a plurality of teeth (816-1), with each tooth (816-1) of the plurality of teeth defining an angular width (Width, fig 5C) in a circumferential direction, and wherein the at least one dimension includes the angular width of the plurality of teeth (col 7 ln 47-55).
Regarding claims 5 and 15, Calley teaches the angular width of the teeth (816-1) of the interior stator core (810-1) are approximately seven percent less than the angular width of the teeth (816-2) of the exterior stator core (810-2, col 7 ln 47-55).
Regarding claims 6 and 16, Calley teaches each of the stator cores (810-1) includes a tubular portion (818) extending between an inner wall and an outer wall and defining a back iron depth in a radial direction therebetween, wherein each of the stator cores (810-1) includes an arm (814) extending from the tubular portion (818) in a radial direction toward the rotor assembly (850), the arm (814) defining a plurality of teeth (816-1), with each tooth (816-1) of the plurality of teeth defining an angular width in a circumferential direction, and wherein the at least one dimension includes both of the back iron depth and the angular width of the teeth (fig 8B).
Regarding claims 7 and 17, Calley teaches the TFM has an internal rotor configuration, with the stator assembly extending annularly about the rotor assembly (col 9 ln 60-63).
Regarding claims 8 and 18, Calley teaches the TFM has an external rotor configuration, with the rotor assembly extending annularly about the stator assembly (col 9 ln 55-59).
Regarding claims 9 and 19, Calley teaches at least one stator core of the plurality of stator cores includes a soft magnetic core (SMC) material (col 7 ln 5-10).
Regarding claim 10, Calley teaches each of the stator cores has a U-shaped cross-section (fig 8B) with a tubular portion (818) and with a first arm (814) extending radially from the tubular portion (818) toward the rotor assembly (850), and with a second arm (814) spaced apart from the first arm (824) and extending radially from the tubular portion (818) toward the rotor assembly (850), and wherein each of the stator cores (810) has a corresponding stator winding (820) of the plurality of stator windings and disposed in a winding slot between the first arm and the second arm (fig 8B).
Regarding claim 20, Calley teaches the handwheel actuator (1000) is coupled to the steering wheel via a direct drive mechanism (1080, fig 10C).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Calley et al. (US 2012/0119610 A1) teaches an electrical machines, for example transverse flux machines and/or commutated flux machines, may be configured to achieve increased efficiency, increased output torque, and/or reduced operating losses via use of laminated materials, for example laminated materials configured with cuts and/or segmentations. Segmentations may also assist with manufacturability, mechanical retention of components, and the like.
Nashiki (US 8,120215 B2) teaches a motor and a control unit therefor comprise: salient rotor poles and salient stator poles, which are arranged along circumferences of phases A, B and C with an even interval therebetween; magnetic paths for passing magnetic fluxes, the paths permitting the magnetic fluxes passing through the salient rotor and stator poles of each phase to return to the rotor side; and substantially looped windings arranged between the salient stator poles of individual phases and the magnetic paths for passing magnetic fluxes, wherein currents are supplied to the windings in synchronization with the rotational position of the rotor to thereby output torque. Since the structures of the stator, the rotor and the windings are simple, productivity is enhanced, whereby high quality, small size and low cost can be realized.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 LEDA T PHAM whose telephone number is (571)272-5806. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher M 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.
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/LEDA T PHAM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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