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
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 1-18 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 recites the limitation "the generation of torque which propels the vehicle" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 2-18 are rejected for incorporating the deficiencies of their base claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 19-20 are allowed.
The prior art does not specifically disclose a method for operating a drive unit of a vehicle operable by muscle power and/or motor power and comprising an electric motor and a control unit, comprising: performing a system start of a system including the drive unit by starting the drive unit; actuating, in response to the system start of the drive unit, the electric motor at a start current configured such that the electric motor rotates in a reverse direction of rotation; further actuating the electric motor at a test current in a non-torque generating direction during the actuating at the start current; estimating at least one motor parameter of the electric motor during the further actuation of the electric motor at the test current; and detecting an angular change of an electric angle, a test voltage in the non-torque generating direction, and the test current in the non-torque generating direction during the further actuation of the electric motor at the test current, wherein the estimation of the at least one motor parameter is performed by calculating a previously known machine model of the electric motor based on the detected angular change, and/or the detected test voltage, and/or the detected test current.
Nor does the prior art specifically disclose a method for operating a drive unit of a vehicle operable by muscle power and/or motor power and comprising an electric motor and a control unit, comprising: actuating the electric motor at a start current configured such that the electric motor rotates in a reverse direction of rotation; further actuating the electric motor at a test current in a non-torque generating direction during the actuating at the start current; estimating at least one motor parameter of the electric motor during the further actuation of the electric motor at the test current; and detecting an angular change of an electric angle, a test voltage in the non-torque generating direction, and the test current in the non-torque generating direction during the further actuation of the electric motor at the test current, wherein the estimation of the at least one motor parameter is performed by calculating a previously known machine model of the electric motor based on the detected angular change, and/or the detected test voltage, and/or the detected test current.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 1/19/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. See rejection above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 GERTRUDE ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE whose telephone number is (571)272-6954. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday, 7:30-8:00 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ramya P Burgess can be reached at 571-272-6011. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GERTRUDE ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3661