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 .
This office action is a response to an application filed 11/08/2023, in which claims 1-20 are pending and ready for examination.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Information Disclosure Statement
The Examiner has considered the references listed on the Information Disclosure Statement submitted on 10/18/2024.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “312” has been used to designate both “outside air damper” and “outdoor air damper” in, for example, paragraph 42 and in paragraph 46 of the instant application’s pre-grant patent publication (pgpub). There are many other paragraphs with said discrepancy regarding reference character 312.
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. 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 Objections
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 10, the claim recites the limitation “wherein the controller include…” There appears to be a typographical error where the “include” should be “includes.” Appropriate correction is required.
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 9 and 19 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.
Regarding claims 9 and 19, the claims respectively recite the limitation “…wherein a single outdoor air damper is provided in the outside air introduction flow path, and wherein a pair of ventilation dampers is provided that open and close the indoor circulation flow path by being interlocked with the outside air damper.” (or a variation thereof). The claim references both an “outside air damper” and an “outdoor air damper.” It is not clear if these are the same or different dampers, especially, since as noted in the objection to the drawings above, the instant specification and drawings use the same reference number for both terms, suggesting they are the same. However, the differing terminology is unclear. For the purpose of examination the terms are being broadly interpreted to be the same.
Examiner Notes
Examiner cites particular columns and line numbers in the references as applied to the claims below for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested that, in preparing responses, the applicant fully consider the references in entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the examiner.
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.
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.
Claims 1-8, 17, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US Patent No. 6,427,461 to Whinery et al., (hereinafter Whinery), in view of Korean Patent Publication No. KR101437313B1 to Choi et al., (hereinafter Choi.. English translation of KR101437313B1 is included and cited in this office action).
Regarding claim 1, Whinery teaches an air conditioner (Air conditioner, see C3 L4-6, C2 L24-25, C1 L45-46, Whinery), comprising:
an air handling unit (Unit that handles air, see Fig. 2, C3 L4-6, Whinery);
a return duct configured to connect to the air handling unit to supply ventilation air to the air handling unit (Return air is ducted through space such as 72 in Fig. 2, see Fig. 2, C4 L60-63, C3 L12-14, Whinery );
an outside air introduction duct configured to connect to the air handling unit to introduce outdoor air into a room (Outdoor air is ducted through space such as 70 in Fig. 2 and intended for an enclosed space 16 (i.e. room), see Fig. 2, C4 L46-57, C4 L32-42, C3 L12-14, Whinery);
a damper module configured to be installed at a position at which the return duct and the outside air introduction duct are connected to each other and including at least one damper that opens or closes the return duct and the outside air introduction duct (A damper module, such as an economizer area, is composed of dampers that regulate air passing through an outdoor intake and a return air intake, see C4 L33-54, Fig. 2, C3 L4-35, C4L-65, Whinery);
a detector configured to be installed in the at least one damper module to detect a temperature, humidity, enthalpy of air flowing through the damper module (Sensor detection of enthalpy, humidity, and temperature of air that passes through economizer, such as outside and return air, and where sensors can be installed in the economizer area, see C4 L55-67, C4 L16-20; Fig. 2, C5L50-62, Whinery);
and a controller configured to selectively and variably control an opening amount of the at least one damper based on a measured value and a set value of the detector (Damper control provides proportion control of outdoor and air returned to an enclosed space, and can be based on a measurement and a required set level (i.e. set value, e.g., humidity), see C5 L6-35, C5 L42-65, C7 L50 to C8L49, C9 L13-28, Whinery).
Whinery does not explicitly teach an air pressure detector.
However, Choi from the same or similar field of air conditioning, teaches n air pressure detector (Air pressure sensor for indoor, outdoor air, etc., see pgs. 3-4, Fig. 1, P25, p42, Choi).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by Whinery and incorporating a pressure detector, as taught by Choi.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better control air conditioning by obtaining more comprehensive and complete data of parameters indicative of an environment, and that can lead to improved and more efficient air conditioning(see pg 5, pgs. 3-4, Fig. 1, P25, p42, Choi).
Regarding claim 2, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein the damper module includes: a duct case that forms a flow path for air flowing through the return duct and the outside air introduction duct (Economizer portion encloses a formed path for outside air and return air, see Fig. 2, C4, C3, Whinery); and the at least one damper, which adjusts a discharge flow rate of the air flowing along the flow path of the duct case (Dampers adjust proportion of airflow through economizer, see C5, Fig. 2, C4, C3, Whinery).
Regarding claim 3, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein the duct case includes: a ventilation inflow plate along which the ventilation air of the return duct flows and which includes a ventilation inflow passage (A passage flow for return air into enclosure, which has a wall plate, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery); an outdoor air inflow plate along which the outdoor air of the outside air introduction duct flows and which includes an outdoor air inflow passage (A passage flow for outdoor air into enclosure, which has a wall plate, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery); and an air discharge plate disposed at a position at which the ventilation air passing through the ventilation inflow passage and the outside air inflow passage is discharged, and including a ventilation discharge passage and an outside air discharge passage and through which ventilation and outside air are separately discharged (A passage that permits separately discharging outside and return air inflow with selective dampers, 64 or 56, through enclosure, which has a wall plate, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery).
Regarding claim 4, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein an indoor circulation flow path is provided inside of the duct case and configured to connect to the return duct, and wherein an outside air introduction flow path is provided inside of the duct case and configured to connect to the outside air introduction duct (Air supplied into an enclosed space 16, is circulated back through a return flow into enclosure case duct 12, and which includes connected outdoor duct for outdoor air inflow, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery ).
Regarding claim 5, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein the ventilation inflow passage has a same width as a width of the return duct so that an amount of ventilation air flowing through the return duct is directly supplied to the indoor circulation flow path (Cross section of inflow is same as return flow, see Fig. 2, Whinery).
Regarding claim 6, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein the indoor circulation flow path and the outside air introduction flow path are partitioned by a partition wall so that the air flowing therein from the return duct and the outside air introduction duct are not mixed with each other inside of the duct case (A division wall separates outdoor inflow intake duct 70 and return air inflow duct 72, see Fig. 2, Whinery).
Regarding claim 7, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein a partition wall includes: a first partition wall configured to extend into the duct case at an angle from a corner at which the ventilation inflow plate and the outside air inflow plate cross each other (A partition 12d at an angle extending between outside duct enclosure and inflow, see Fig. 2, Whinery); and a second partition wall configured to extend from the first partition wall to the air discharge plate to separate the indoor circulation flow path and the outside air introduction flow path (Another partition connected almost perpendicular to 12d separating outdoor and return flow, see Fig. 2, Whinery).
Regarding claim 8, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein an at least one damper includes: a plurality of dampers configured to be installed in the indoor circulation flow path and the outside air introduction flow path to adjust a discharge flow rate of inflow air (Dampers 64, 56 for outside and return inflows, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery); a rotational shaft and a rotational wheel configured to be supported by the plurality of dampers to form a rotational center of the plurality of dampers (A shaft extends from an actuator motor wheel 60 that is at the center of a plurality of dampers, see Fig. 2, C4 L31-44, Whinery); a connection link configured to interlock an outside air damper that controls an introduction amount of outside air and a ventilation damper that controls an introduction amount of ventilation air among the plurality of dampers to provide rotational power and enable link rotation (Linkage system that is interlocked to respective outdoor and return air dampers, and that illustratively pivot rotationally dampers to affect airflow, see Fig. 2, C4 L31-44, C3-C5, Whinery); and a damper motor configured to be installed on the outside air damper to provide rotational power to the outside air damper (An actuator motor for controlling dampers, and which is installed with the dampers to control them, including outside dampers , see Fig. 2, C4 L31-44, Whinery).
Claim 17 is rejected on the same grounds as claim 1.
Claim 18 is rejected on the same grounds as claim 8.
Claims 9 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Whinery, in view of Choi, and in further view of US Patent Publication No. 2022/0082268 to Hammond et al., (hereinafter Hammond).
Regarding claim 9, the combination of Whinery and Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery further teaches wherein outdoor air dampers are provided in an outside air introduction flow path, and wherein ventilation dampers are provided that open and close indoor circulation flow path by being interlocked with the outside air dampers (Dampers provided on outdoor air path 64 and from return circulation flow path 56 and are interlocked, and their opening are controlled thus open and close, see Fig. 2, C3-C5, Whinery).
Whinery does not explicitly teach a single damper and a pair of dampers.
However, Hammond from the same or similar field of air conditioners and economizers, teaches a single damper and a pair of dampers (dampers for a return and external air paths, where there can be one or more dampers, see P34, p46, Hammond).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditinoing as described by the combination that includes Whinery and incorporating a desired number of dampers, as taught by Hammond.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better accommodate a desired number of damper flaps for a desired duct cross section (see p34, Hammond).
Claim 19 is rejected on the same grounds as claim 9.
Claims 10-12, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Whinery, in view of Choi, in further view of Hammond, and in further view of US Patent Publication No. 2024/0035683 to Rosso et al., (hereinafter Rosso).
Regarding claim 10, the combination of Whinery, Choi, and Hammond teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery does not explicitly teach wherein a controller include a ventilation air introduction mode in which, when a temperature of outdoor air flowing into a room is high and a temperature of the ventilation air flowing into the room is low, an outside air introduction flow path is blocked to prevent introduction of outdoor air and an indoor circulation flow path is opened.
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, teaches wherein a controller include a ventilation air introduction mode in which, when a temperature of outdoor air flowing into a room is high and a temperature of the ventilation air flowing into the room is low, an outside air introduction flow path is blocked to prevent introduction of outdoor air and an indoor circulation flow path is opened (When an outside environment temperature is greater (i.e. hot) compared to a room space, thus a low temperature, then an operative mode with outdoor environment dampers 13 closed and return recirculating dampers 11 open, can be used, see P41, Fig. 3A, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Whinery and incorporating a ventilation mode with outside flow blocked and indoor circulation open, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning by not introducing outdoor temperature that can be counterproductive by introducing warmer air than supplied cooling system flow (see Fig. 3A, p41, Rosso).
Regarding claim 11, the combination of Whinery, Choi, and Hammond teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery does not explicitly teach wherein a controller includes an outside air introduction mode in which, when a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room is low and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room is high, an outside air introduction flow path is opened to secure the introduction of outdoor air and to block the indoor circulation flow path.
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, teaches a controller includes an outside air introduction mode in which, when a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room is low and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room is high, an outside air introduction flow path is opened to secure the introduction of outdoor air and to block the indoor circulation flow path (When an outside environment temperature is lower compared to a room space, thus a higher temperature, then an operative mode with outdoor environment dampers 13 opened and return recirculating dampers 11 closed as illustrated, can be used, see Fig. 4A, P42, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Whinery and incorporating a ventilation mode with outside flow open and indoor circulation blocked, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning and energy efficiency by introducing cooler outdoor temperature air that that can cool a warmer air in a space, while blocking the warm air from raising the to be introduced outdoor air (see Fig. 4A, Rosso).
Regarding claim 12, the combination of Whinery, Choi, and Hammond teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Whinery does not explicitly teach wherein a controller includes: a mixed air introduction mode that controls an opening amount of an outside air introduction flow path by comparing a temperature of an outdoor air at an inlet of an outdoor air inflow passage and a temperature of a ventilation air at an inlet of a ventilation inflow passage, and a temperature of the mixed air mixed at outlets of the ventilation discharge passage and the outdoor air discharge passage.
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, teaches wherein a controller includes: a mixed air introduction mode that controls an opening amount of an outside air introduction flow path by comparing a temperature of an outdoor air at an inlet of an outdoor air inflow passage and a temperature of a ventilation air at an inlet of a ventilation inflow passage, and a temperature of the mixed air mixed at outlets of the ventilation discharge passage and the outdoor air discharge passage (When an outside environment temperature is compared to a temperature of space ventilation, then an operative mode that introduces a combination of outdoor and circulated air, can be used, see Fig. 5A, P43, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Whinery and incorporating mixed air, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning by partially taking advantage moderately cool outdoor temperature with conditioned circulated air (see Fig. 5A, p43, Rosso).
Claim 20 is rejected on the same grounds as claims 10 to 12.
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 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Korean Patent Publication No. KR101437313B1 to Choi et al., (hereinafter Choi.. English translation of KR101437313B1 is included and cited in this office action).
Regarding claim 13, Choi discloses a method for controlling an air conditioner (Air conditioning, see P1, 25, Choi), comprising:
measuring a temperature and relative humidity of an inlet of a ventilation inflow passage and an inlet of an outdoor air inflow passage (Sensor sensing temperature and humidity for outdoor air and indoor air at air conditioner, see pg. 3, Fig. 1, P25, p37, Choi) and measuring an air pressure at the inlet of the outdoor air inflow passage and an outlet of an outdoor air discharge passage (Sensor sensing pressure for outdoor air and indoor air at air conditioner, see pgs. 3-4, Fig. 1, P25, p42, Choi);
calculating absolute humidity and enthalpy at the temperature and the relative humidity of the inlet of the ventilation inflow passage and the inlet of the outdoor air inflow passage (Absolute humidity and enthalpy of outside and inside air determined with temperature and humidity, see p54, pg. 6, Choi);
and controlling an opening amount of an outdoor air introduction flow path based on the temperature, the relative humidity, the absolute humidity, and the enthalpy (Appropriate conditioning is determined based on absolute humidity, enthalpy, temperature and humidity, and by damper control, see p54-65, pg. 3-6, 57, Choi).
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.
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.
Claims 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Choi, in view of Rosso.
Regarding claim 14, Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Choi suggests when a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room through an outdoor air inflow passage is high and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room through the ventilation inflow passage is low, performing a ventilation introduction mode in which the outside air introduction flow path is closed to prevent the introduction of outdoor air and to open the indoor circulation flow path (suggested by temperature and enthalpy comparisons of indoor and outdoor air in paras 54-66, choi).
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, more explicitly teaches when a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room through an outdoor air inflow passage is high and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room through the ventilation inflow passage is low, performing a ventilation introduction mode in which the outside air introduction flow path is closed to prevent the introduction of outdoor air and to open the indoor circulation flow path (When an outside environment temperature is greater (i.e. hot) compared to a room space, thus a low temperature, then an operative mode with outdoor environment dampers 13 closed and return recirculating dampers 11 open, can be used, see P41, Fig. 3A, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Choi and incorporating a ventilation mode with outside flow blocked and indoor circulation open, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning by not introducing outdoor temperature that can be counterproductive by introducing warmer air than supplied cooling system flow (see Fig. 3A, p41, Rosso).
Regarding claim 15, Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Choi suggests further comprising: when a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room through an outdoor air inflow passage is low and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room through a ventilation inflow passage is high, performing an outside air introduction mode in which an outside air introduction flow path is opened to secure an introduction of outside air and an indoor circulation flow path is blocked (suggested by temperature and enthalpy comparisons of indoor and outdoor air in paras 54-66, choi)
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, teacheswhen a temperature of an outdoor air flowing into a room through an outdoor air inflow passage is low and a temperature of a ventilation air flowing into the room through a ventilation inflow passage is high, performing an outside air introduction mode in which an outside air introduction flow path is opened to secure an introduction of outside air and an indoor circulation flow path is blocked (When an outside environment temperature is lower compared to a room space, thus a higher temperature, then an operative mode with outdoor environment dampers 13 opened and return recirculating dampers 11 closed as illustrated, can be used, see Fig. 4A, P42, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Choi and incorporating a ventilation mode with outside flow open and indoor circulation blocked, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning and energy efficiency by introducing cooler outdoor temperature air that that can cool a warmer air in a space, while blocking the warm air from raising the to be introduced outdoor air (see Fig. 4A, Rosso).
Regarding claim 16, Choi teaches all the limitations of the base claim as outlined above, and are analyzed as previously discussed with regard to that claim.
Choi suggests further comprising: performing a mixed air introduction mode which controls an opening amount of an outside air introduction flow path by comparing a temperature of the outdoor air at an inlet of an outdoor air inflow passage and a temperature of a ventilation air at an inlet of a ventilation inflow passage with a temperature of a mixed air mixed at the outlets of the ventilation discharge passage and the outdoor air discharge passage (suggested by temperature and enthalpy comparisons of indoor and outdoor air in paras 54-66, choi).
However, Rosso from the same or similar field of air conditioners and free cooling, teaches performing a mixed air introduction mode which controls an opening amount of an outside air introduction flow path by comparing a temperature of the outdoor air at an inlet of an outdoor air inflow passage and a temperature of a ventilation air at an inlet of a ventilation inflow passage with a temperature of a mixed air mixed at the outlets of the ventilation discharge passage and the outdoor air discharge passage (When an outside environment temperature is compared to a temperature of space ventilation, then an operative mode that introduces a combination of outdoor and circulated air, can be used, see Fig. 5A, P43, p25, 44, Rosso).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify the air conditioning as described by the combination that includes Choi and incorporating mixed air, as taught by Rosso.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to better provide efficient cooling conditioning by partially taking advantage moderately cool outdoor temperature with conditioned circulated air (see Fig. 5A, p43, Rosso).
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Grabinger et al., US. Patent Publication No. 2012/0079425 teaches an air conditioner with an economizer control system, thus including outdoor air and passage, and return air and passage. Also includes enthalpy sensors.
Horie et al., US. Patent Publication No. 2020/0200413 teaches an air conditioner with an outdoor air and passage, return air and passage, and a damper that selectively opens or closes.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EMILIO J SAAVEDRA whose telephone number is (571)270-5617. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:30am-5:30pm (EST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert E Fennema can be reached at (571) 272-2748. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EMILIO J SAAVEDRA/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2117