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 .
DETAILED ACTION
The action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on 10/16/2023.
Claims 1-8 are pending, where claims 1 and 7 are independent.
This application claims the priority benefit of the international application no. PCT/KR2022/007362 filed on 05/24/2022 incorporated herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 10/16/2023 has been filed on the filing date of the application. The submission is in-compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 of this title, 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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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.
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 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.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shin, et al. USPGPub No. 20190052097 A1 in view of Panosyan, et al. USPGPub No. 20150115902 A1.
As to claim 1, Shin discloses A grid-connected renewable energy power generation system comprising: a power generator configured to produce and output electric energy; an energy storage system configured to store electric energy produced and output from the power generator; a power conditioning system configured to supply electric energy output from the power generator or the energy storage system to a load or a grid; (Shin [abstract] “grid-connected inverter system a seamless switching function - breaker - connected between the inverter, a grid, and a load to switch between a grid-connected operation and an independent operation - controller operates the inverter in a current control mode or a voltage control mode - for a period of time longer than a turn-off time of the breaker when an abnormality in the grid is detected - disconnected from the load due to turn-off of the breaker” [0027-57] “components of the controller process or thread executable by one or more processors - execute computer program instructions - to perform a variety of functions - power source connected to the inverter 110 - renewable energy source, sunlight or wind power, or a storage energy source, such as a battery - include a battery management system manages a battery” see Fig 1-6 ) and
However, Panosyan discloses a switching unit including a power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control connected between the power conditioning system and the grid, wherein energy is supplied to the load independently by the power conditioning system, or in a case where an abnormality occurs in the power conditioning system, an off signal is applied to a gate of the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] “power generation system includes a generator mechanically coupled to an engine to generate electrical power and a fault ride through system connected between the generator and a power grid - includes a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a solid-state switch and a resistor to absorb power from the generator during a grid fault condition - controlled in coordination with the engine” [0001-06] see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel and controller uses plurality of input signal to determine whether fault occurred on the system or not and control the operation to operate the components accordingly using control signals obviously provides switching unit including a power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control connected between the power conditioning system and the grid, wherein energy is supplied to the load independently by the power conditioning system, or in a case where an abnormality occurs in the power conditioning system, an off signal is applied to a gate of the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit).
Shin and Panosyan are analogous arts from the same field of endeavor and contain overlapping structural and functional similarities and both contain grid-connected power control system.
Therefore, at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above functionalities power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control connected between the power conditioning system and the grid, as taught by Shin, and incorporating solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch and controller to control the operation to operate the components, as taught by Panosyan.
As to claim 2, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit further includes an SCR switch, and the SCR switch is connected in parallel with the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel and controller operates the components using control signals obviously provides switching unit includes an SCR switch, and the SCR switch is connected in parallel with the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control).
As to claim 3, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 2, wherein energy is supplied to the load independently by the power conditioning system, an off signal is applied to the gate of the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit such that connection between the power conditioning system and the grid is interrupted and thus independent supply of energy to the load by the power conditioning system is stopped in a case where an abnormality occurs in the power conditioning system, or the SCR switch of the switching unit is turned on first and then the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit is sequentially turned on such that energy output from the power generator or the energy storage system is supplied to the gird in a case where the power conditioning system normally operates (Panosyan (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] “power generation system includes a generator mechanically coupled to an engine to generate electrical power and a fault ride through system connected between the generator and a power grid - includes a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a solid-state switch and a resistor to absorb power from the generator during a grid fault condition - controlled in coordination with the engine” see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel and controller operates the components using control signals and program instructions obviously provides limitations).
As to claim 4, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 2, wherein the switching unit further includes a mechanical switch, the mechanical switch is connected in parallel with the SCR switch of the switching unit and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control, and energy is supplied to the load independently by the power conditioning system, an off signal is applied to the gate of the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit such that connection between the power conditioning system and the grid is interrupted and thus independent supply of energy to the load by the power conditioning system is stopped in a case where an abnormality occurs in the power conditioning system, or the SCR switch, the mechanical switch, and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit are sequentially turned on such that energy output from the power generator or the energy storage system is supplied to the gird in a case where the power conditioning system normally operates (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] “power generation system includes a generator mechanically coupled to an engine to generate electrical power and a fault ride through system connected between the generator and a power grid - includes a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a solid-state switch and a resistor to absorb power from the generator during a grid fault condition - controlled in coordination with the engine” see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel and controller operates the components using control signals and program instructions obviously provides limitations).
As to claim 5, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 3, wherein, after the SCR switch, the mechanical switch, and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit are sequentially turned on, the SCR switch and the mechanical switch are turned off and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control is kept turned on (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel and controller operates the components using control signals obviously provides after the SCR switch, the mechanical switch, and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control of the switching unit are sequentially turned on, the SCR switch and the mechanical switch are turned off and the power switching semiconductor capable of active switching control is kept turned on).
As to claim 6, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses The grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 4, wherein the mechanical switch is a relay or a magnetic contactor (MC) (Panosyan [0014-24] “generator 42 coupled to power grid 44 through a power electronic converter - fault ride through system 46 includes a solid state switch 52, a resistor 53, a mechanical switch 54 and a controller 56 - components solid state switch 52, resistor 53 and the mechanical switch 54 all connected in parallel - solid state switch 52 - an integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT), insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or Triode for Alternating Current (TRIAC) - controller 56 receives one or more input signals 58 and provides control signals to solid state switch 52, mechanical switch 54 and engine 60 - controller uses input signal 58 to determine whether a fault occurred on the system or not and provides control signals to control the operation - solid state switch 52 and the mechanical switch 54 in event of the fault” [abstract] see Fig. 1-3, system (PCS) includes solid state switch, resistor, mechanical switch connected in parallel obviously includes mechanical switch a relay or a magnetic contactor).
As to the independent claim 7, the claims recite similar limitations as the independent claim 1 and rejected using same rational as stated above.
As to claim 8, the combination of Shin and Panosyan disclose all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
The combination further discloses A computer program stored in a storage medium to execute the operation method of a grid-connected renewable energy power generation system of claim 7 (Shin [abstract] “grid-connected inverter system a seamless switching function - breaker - connected between the inverter, a grid, and a load to switch between a grid-connected operation and an independent operation - controller operates the inverter in a current control mode or a voltage control mode - for a period of time longer than a turn-off time of the breaker when an abnormality in the grid is detected - disconnected from the load due to turn-off of the breaker” [0027-57] “controller - implemented as hardware, firmware - variety of components of the controller process or thread executable by one or more processors - execute computer program instructions - to perform a variety of functions - DC power source connected to the inverter 110 - renewable energy source, sunlight or wind power, or a storage energy source, such as a battery - include a battery management system manages a battery” see Fig 1-6).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2141.02 VI. PRIOR ART MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ITS ENTIRETY, i.e., as a whole and 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art made of record:
Ballantine, et al. USPGPub No. 2017/0005480 A1 discloses an electrical power system includes energy storage coupled to fuel cell configured to manage impedance of the energy storage and fuel cell system.
Nakano, et al. USPGPub No. 2021/0036698 A1 discloses a power supply system with semiconductor switch including a pair of semiconductor elements.
Pfitzer, et al. USPGPub No. 2013/0099566 A1 discloses a switching assembly includes plurality of terminals, rectifier bridge and control unit that selectively opens and closes plurality of switchs selectively turns on and off.
Ault, et al. USPGPub No. 2014/0361624 A1 discloses a power system for controlling quality of power delivered by interruptible power system during normal and fault conditions.
Cairoli, et al. USPGPub No. 2018/0026570 A1 discloses a solid-state switch includes FET-type device and thyristor-type device coupled in parallel of an electrical device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Md Azad whose telephone @(571)272-0553 or email: md.azad@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on (571)272-4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Md Azad/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
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