DETAILED ACTION
1. This action is in response to the application filed on 11/2/23.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Drawings
3. The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore,
In claim 6, the limitation recites “a circuit arrangement that is part of a power module of an inverter of an electronic module for driving an electric drive of a vehicle, the circuit arrangement comprising: at least one half-bridge having two mutually complementary topological switches; and an integrated component configured to: detect a bridge short circuit at one of the topological switches; de-energize a topological switch (i.e. the underline limitations must show)”
In claims 7 and 11, the limitation recites “a desaturation of a power semiconductor”
In claims 9 and 13, the limitation recites “of the topological switches is a high-side switch and the other is a low-side switch, each comprising at least one power semiconductor”
In claim 10, the limitation recites “an integrated component that is part of a power module of an inverter of an electronic module for driving an electric drive of a vehicle equipped, wherein the integrated component is configured to: detect a bridge short circuit at one of the topological switches; de-energize a topological switch (i.e. the underline limitations must show)”
In claim 15 the limitation recites “an electronic module”
(Examiner notes: Applicant’s figure 2 merely shows the method for driving… of claims 1-5),
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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)(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.
5. Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by EL-Barbari et al. (US 20240088812).
Regarding claim 6: EL-Barbari et al. disclose a circuit arrangement (i.e. figures 1-5) that is part of a power module (i.e. module of figure 1) of an inverter (i.e. 1) of an electronic module (i.e. module of figure 1) for driving an electric drive of a vehicle (i.e. vehicle),
the circuit arrangement (i.e. figures 1-5) comprising: at least one half-bridge (i.e. HB1, HB2, HB3) having two mutually complementary topological switches (i.e. S1, S2, and S3, S4 and S5, S6); and
an integrated component (i.e. detection circuit, ¶ 29-30) configured to: detect a bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) at one of the topological switches (i.e. HB1, HB2, HB3);
de-energize (i.e. turn off) a topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 or S6) complementary to the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) was detected (i.e. detected by detection circuit, ¶ 29-30); and
temporally switch off the short-circuit current (i.e. turns off the switch) in the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) was detected subsequent to de-energizing the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) complementary to the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit is detected (i.e. detected by detection circuit) (¶ 25-30 and 51-57).
Regarding claims 7 and 11: (i.e. figures 1-5) wherein the integrated component is configured to: detect the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) by detecting a desaturation of a power semiconductor of the topological switch (i.e. detected by detection circuit, ¶ 29-30) at which the bridge short circuit was detected (¶ 25-30 and 51-57).
Regarding claims 8 and 12: (i.e. figures 1-5) the integrated component is configured to: de-energize the complementary topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 or S6) immediately upon detection of the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) (¶ 25-30 and 51-57).
Regarding claims 9 and 13: (i.e. figures 1-5) wherein one of the topological switches (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) is a high-side switch and the other is a low-side switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6), each comprising at least one power semiconductor (i.e. semiconductor the switches).
Regarding claim 10: EL-Barbari et al. disclose (i.e. figures 1-5) an integrated component that is part of a power module (i.e. module of figure 1) of an inverter (i.e. 1) of an electronic module for driving an electric drive of a vehicle equipped (i.e. abstract),
wherein the integrated component (i.e. detection circuit, ¶ 29-30) configured to: detect a bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) at one of the topological switches (i.e. HB1, HB2, HB3);
de-energize (i.e. turn off) a topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 or S6) complementary to the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) was detected (i.e. detected by detection circuit, ¶ 29-30); and
temporally switch off the short-circuit current (i.e. turns off the switch) in the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit (i.e. short circuit of the bridge) was detected subsequent to de-energizing the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) complementary to the topological switch (i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, or S6) at which the bridge short circuit is detected (i.e. detected by detection circuit) (¶ 25-30 and 51-57).
Regarding claim 14: (i.e. figures 1-5) An inverter (i.e. 1) comprising: the integrated component according to claim 10.
Regarding claim 15: (i.e. figures 1-5) an electric drive of a vehicle, comprising: an electronic module for driving the electric drive, the electronic module comprising the inverter according to claim 14 (i.e. abstract).
Regarding claim 16: (i.e. figures 1-5) a vehicle comprising: the electric drive according to claim 15 (i.e. abstract).
Regarding claim 1-5: the method steps will be met during the normal operation of the apparatus described above (i.e. in claim ***). (Examiner notes: For method claims, note that under MPEP 2112.02, the principles of inherency, if a prior art device, in its normal and usual operation, would necessarily perform the method claimed, then the method claimed will be considered to be anticipated by the prior art device. When the prior art device is the same as a device described in the specification for carrying out the claimed method, it can be assumed the device will inherently perform the claimed process. In re King, 801 F.2d 1324, 231 USPQ 136 (Fed. Cir. 1986). Therefore the previous rejections based on the apparatus will not be repeated).
Conclusion
6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NGUYEN TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1269. The examiner can normally be reached Flex: M-F 8-7.
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, Monica Lewis can be reached at 571-272-1838. 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.
/Nguyen Tran/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838