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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/24/202 has been entered. Claims 1 and 3-20 are currently pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-3, 6, 7, and 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime hereinafter) in view of US 7841164 (Emo hereinafter) and further in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull hereinafter).
Regarding claim 1, Grime teaches fuel supply system for an engine that discloses a fuel pump having a fuel pump motor (Pump 30 with motor 34); and a fuel pump motor controller to regulate fuel metering, wherein the fuel pump motor controller (Controller 12 per ¶ 28 and 43): (¶ 43); receive a fuel flow command from the engine; calculate a command speed of the fuel pump motor (Inherent of the start and any further request for fuel command); and control the fuel pump motor to regulate delivery of fuel to the engine based in part on the command speed (Inherent of the control of the fuel pump).
Grime is silent with respect to a characterization device integrated with the fuel pump motor and having a value representing one or more identifying characteristics that correspond to the fuel pump; and the fuel pump motor controller receives the value from the characterization device.
However, Emo teaches a fuel system that discloses a characterization device integrated with a fuel pump motor and having a value representing one or more identifying characteristics that correspond to a fuel pump (Fuel pump 106 with motor driving the pump in Figure 1 with characterization device 150and the sensed values per Column 4 Lines 8-29); and the fuel pump motor controller receives the value from the characterization device (Column 4 Lines 8-29 where the data is fed into the controller of Grimes).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the control scheme of Grime with the characterization device of Emo to precisely control the fuel demands.
Grime is silent with respect to the step of to compare the value to a listing of values corresponding to volumetric efficiency of a fuel pump.
However, Pursifull teaches a fuel control system that discloses a step of comparing the value to a listing of values corresponding to volumetric efficiency of a fuel pump (¶ 42).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the control scheme of Grime with the volumetric comparison of Pursifull to ensure that the desired fuel volume is being delivered as is requested.
Regarding claim 3, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 where the combination of Grime, Emo, and Pursifull would disclose that the characterization device is integrated with the fuel pump (Evident of Grime and Emo sensing the current used).
Regarding claim 6, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 where the combination of Grime, Emo, and Pursifull would disclose an engine controller operable to: receive a command signal to operate the engine (Initial start-up command to send fuel); and transmit the fuel flow command to the fuel pump motor controller, the fuel flow command comprising fuel metering data (inherent sensing of Grime).
Regarding claim 7, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 6 where the combination of Grime, Emo, and Pursifull would disclose the fuel pump motor controller is operable to control a speed of the fuel motor pump to deliver the fuel based on the fuel metering data (Inherent pump control of Grime and Emo).
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) and further in view of US 2015/0068495 (Ross hereinafter).
Regarding claim 4, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 where the combination of Grime and Pursifull would disclose a fuel tank connected to the fuel pump (Tank 40 of Grime).
However, Ross teaches a fuel control system that discloses the use of a boost pressure pumping between a fuel tank and a fuel pump (Figure 2 with ¶ 26).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the fuel system of Grime with the boost pump of Ross to ensure that the fuel is delivered at the required pressure.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) and further in view of US 2016/0252032 (Graf hereinafter).
Regarding claim 5, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 but are silent with respect to comprising one or more of a pressure sensor or a temperature sensor.
However, Graf teaches a fuel pump control scheme that discloses comprising a temperature sensor (¶ 24-25).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the control scheme and sensors of Grime with the temperature sensor of Graf to ensure that fluid is being pumped at an acceptable temperature.
Claims 8 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) and further in view of US 5715797 (Minagawa hereinafter).
Regarding claim 8, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 6 but are silent with respect that the characterization device is a resistor with a resistance that includes one or more discrete resistance values.
However, Minagawa teaches a fuel system and control scheme that discloses the use of a resistor acting as a sensor for the fuel pump (Column 11 Lines 25-45). The resultant combination would be such that the characterization device is a resistor with a resistance that includes one or more discrete resistance values.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the sensing of Grime with the resistance sensing of Minagawa to directly sense the pump motor and allow for accurate motor control.
Regarding claim 9, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 8 where the combination of Grime, Pursifull, and Minagawa would further disclose the fuel pump motor controller is further operable to: receive a first resistance value of the one or more discrete resistance values to determine a type of pump; and receive a second resistance value of the one or more discrete resistance values to calculate the volumetric efficiency of the fuel pump motor.
Claims 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) and further in view of US 2002/0032095 (Miyata hereinafter).
Regarding claim 10, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 but are silent with respect to a transmission to modify speed of the flow of fuel from the fuel pump at a given speed of the fuel pump motor.
However, Miyata teaches a pump drive system that discloses a transmission to modify speed of the flow of fuel from the fuel pump at a given speed of the fuel pump motor (¶ 25).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the pump system of Grime with the transmission of Miyata to allow for further control of the pump system of Grime.
Regarding claim 11, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 10 where the combination of Grime and Miyata would further disclose that the transmission includes one or more of a clutch or gears (Miyata ¶ 25).
Claims 12 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) and further in view of US 2008/0216799 (Wunderlich hereinafter).
Regarding claim 12, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 1 but are silent with respect to the characterization device includes a distance sensor to measure a distance between one or more components of the fuel pump.
However, Wunderlich teaches a fuel pump that discloses a distance sensor to measure a distance between one or more components of the fuel pump (¶ 29).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the sensing components of Grime with the distance sensor of Wunderlich to ensure that the components are correctly placed.
Regarding claim 13, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 12 where the combination of Grime and Wunderlich would further disclose that the distance sensor comprises one or more of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) or a hall-effect sensor (¶ 29 of Wunderlich).
Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 7841164 (Emo) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull) in view of US 2008/0216799 (Wunderlich) and further in view of US 4241484 (Graham hereinafter).
Regarding claim 14, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 12 but are silent with respect to a distance adjuster to set the distance.
However,
Regarding claim 15, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 12 where the combination of Grime and Graham would further disclose that the distance adjuster comprises a threaded distance adjuster (Threaded bolts of Graham in Figure 1).
Claims 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2018/0142642 (Grime) in view of US 2016/0356237 (Pursifull).
Regarding claim 16, Grime teaches fuel supply system for an engine that discloses a fuel pump having a fuel pump motor (Pump 30 with motor 34) wherein the fuel pump having the motor delivers fuel to a channel that leads from the pump the engine (Figure 1 with passage from 30 to rails 24); one or more sensors to measure pump output (Sensors feeding the controller 12 per ¶ 28 and 43); and a fuel pump motor controller to regulate fuel metering, the fuel pump motor controller (Controller 12) operable to: receive a pump output value from the one or more sensors (¶ 43); and control the fuel pump motor to regulate delivery of fuel to the engine based in part on the command speed (Inherent of the control of the fuel pump).
Grime is silent with respect to calculate volumetric efficiency of the fuel pump based on the pump output value; calculate a command speed of the fuel pump motor based on the volumetric efficiency.
However, Pursifull teaches a fuel control system that discloses a step of comparing the value to a listing of values corresponding to volumetric efficiency of a fuel pump (¶ 42). The resultant combination would allow for the controller to calculate a command speed of the fuel pump motor based on the volumetric efficiency.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the control scheme of Grime with the volumetric comparison of Pursifull to ensure that the desired fuel volume is being delivered as is requested.
Regarding claim 17, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 16 were the combination of Grime and Pursifull would further disclose that the one or more sensors is a pressure sensor to measure pump output as fluid flow or pressure from the fuel pump (¶ 43-44 of Grime details the use of a fuel flow).
Regarding claim 18, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 16 were the combination of Grime and Pursifull would further disclose a variable downstream restriction device to adjust an output pressure of the fuel pump and characterize the condition of the pump (Valve 27 of Grime per ¶ 32), wherein the downstream restriction device is located downstream of the fuel pump and upstream of the engine (Grime Figure 1 shows 27 being upstream of 24 and downstream of 30).
Regarding claim 19, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 18 were the combination of Grime and Pursifull would further disclose that the variable downstream restriction device comprises an adjustable valve (Under the broadest reasonable interpretation, the pressure relief valve 27 of Grime is a variable downstream valve).
Regarding claim 20, Grime’s modified teachings are described above in claim 16 were the combination of Grime and Pursifull would further disclose that the fuel pump motor controller is configured to measure the pump output during an engine start up or calibration sequence (Inherent for the fuel pump of Grime to operate as described during an engine start-up due to fuel being required during engine start-up).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1 and 3-20 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CONNOR J. TREMARCHE whose telephone number is (571)272-2175. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 0700-1700 Eastern.
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/CONNOR J TREMARCHE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3762
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