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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claims do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because claim is directed to computer readable medium, which may include transitory signals. Applicant should amend the claims to be directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium to clearly direct the claims to a statutory class of invention.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Ciaccio et al. (US 11,220,988) teaches an ultracapacitor module (110) configured to be connected to a voltage supply bus (102) of a vehicle, the ultracapacitor module comprising: an ultracapacitor cell stack containing one ultracapacitor cell; a bidirectional boost/buck DC/DC converter (161), wherein the ultracapacitor cell stack and the DC/DC converter are connected in series with the voltage supply bus; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature T (130/136); one or more voltage sensors (134/134) configured to determine an operating voltage Vo of the voltage supply bus; and an electronic controller (see vehicle controller and power manager) in electrical communication with the DC/DC converter, the temperature sensor, and the one or more voltage sensors, however does not teach wherein the electronic controller is configured to: determine an initial voltage value Vi corresponding to the measured temperature T, determine an adjustment voltage value Va when a rate of change dV/dt of the operating voltage Vo is less than a predetermined threshold, calculate a target bus voltage value Vt using a first formula Vt = Vi + Va, and control the DC/DC converter to be in a boost mode or a buck mode to maintain the operating voltage Vo at or near the target bus voltage value Vt. At least this further limitation is not taught or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Tyler et al. (US 2008/0277175) teaches a vehicle power system and connection with an ultracapacitor on a system bus relevant the claimed arrangement.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael Fin whose telephone number is (571)272-5921. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Rexford Barnie can be reached at 571-272-7429. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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MICHAEL FIN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2836
/MICHAEL R. FIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
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