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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) was submitted on 08/26/2026, 01/05/2026, 05/06/2026, 12/14/2023. 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 Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in an application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Regarding claim 1, claim includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: a discharge state value acquisition unit configured to acquire, as a discharge state value, any one of an average inter-electrode voltage, which is a time average of a voltage applied to the inter-electrode gap; a discharge state value compensation unit configured to compensate the discharge state value to obtain a compensated value in accordance with a machining speed; a driving unit configured to cause the wire electrode to move relatively with respect to the workpiece; a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on the compensated value, and thereby keep a size of the inter-electrode gap constant during machining.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
In this case, the limitations listed above being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents as disclosed para 0016 “The control device 18 includes a computation unit 28 and a storage unit 30. The computation unit 28 is constituted by a processor, for example, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like. The computation unit 28 includes an average inter-electrode voltage calculation unit 32, a compensation unit 34, a motor control unit 36, and a machining electrical power source control unit 38. The average inter-electrode voltage calculation unit 32, the compensation unit 34, the motor control unit 36, and the machining electrical power source control unit 38 are realized by a program stored in the storage unit 30 being executed by the computation unit 28. At least one of the average inter-electrode voltage calculation unit 32, the compensation unit 34, the motor control unit 36, or the machining electrical power source control unit 38 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or the like”.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 of copending Application No. 18570441. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claimed subject matter of the present applicant and that of the claims of the copending application are substantially the same and the claimed subject matter of the present application would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art based on the claimed subject matter of the claims of the copending application.
18570272
18570441
1. A wire electrical discharge machine configured to carry out machining of a workpiece by generating an electric discharge in an inter-electrode gap between a wire electrode and the workpiece, the wire electrical discharge machine comprising: a discharge state value acquisition unit configured to acquire, as a discharge state value, any one of an average inter-electrode voltage, which is a time average of a voltage applied to the inter-electrode gap, a reciprocal of a number of discharge pulses in the inter-electrode gap per unit time, or a discharge delay time period, which is a time period from when the voltage is applied to the inter-electrode gap until when the electric discharge is generated in the inter-electrode gap; a discharge state value compensation unit configured to compensate the discharge state value to obtain a compensated value in accordance with a machining speed, which is a relative speed of the wire electrode with respect to the workpiece; a driving unit configured to cause the wire electrode to move relatively with respect to the workpiece; and a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on the compensated value, and thereby keep a size of the inter-electrode gap constant during machining; wherein the discharge state value compensation unit determines the compensated value based on an equation in which the discharge state value defines a numerator, and a value obtained by exponentiation with a coefficient as a base and the machining speed as an exponent defines a denominator.
2. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the discharge state value compensation unit determines the compensated value based on the equation Sc=S/α.sup.(1+V) where the compensated value is Sc, the discharge state value is S, the coefficient is a, and the machining speed is V.
3. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 2, wherein the discharge state value acquisition unit acquires, as the discharge state value, the reciprocal of the number of discharge pulses per unit time, or the discharge delay time period.
4. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit: subjects the driving unit to a proportional control, an integral control, and a derivative control, and thereby sets the machining speed to a target machining speed; and sets, in accordance with the compensated value, at least one of a proportional gain of the proportional control, an integration time of the integral control, a derivative time of the derivative control, or the target machining speed.
5. A method of controlling a wire electrical discharge machine configured to carry out machining of a workpiece by generating an electric discharge in an inter-electrode gap between a wire electrode and the workpiece, the method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine comprising: a discharge state value acquisition step of acquiring, as a discharge state value, any one of an average inter-electrode voltage, which is a time average of a voltage applied to the inter-electrode gap, a reciprocal of a number of discharge pulses in the inter-electrode gap per unit time, or a discharge delay time period, which is a time period from when the voltage is applied to the inter-electrode gap until when the electric discharge is generated in the inter-electrode gap; a discharge state value compensation step of compensating the discharge state value to obtain a compensated value in accordance with a machining speed, which is a relative speed of the wire electrode with respect to the workpiece; a driving step of causing the wire electrode to move relatively with respect to the workpiece by a driving unit; and a control step of controlling the driving unit based on the compensated value, and thereby keeping a size of the inter-electrode gap constant during machining; wherein, in the discharge state value compensation step, the compensated value is determined based on an equation in which the discharge state value defines a numerator, and a value obtained by exponentiation with a coefficient as a base and the machining speed as an exponent defines a denominator.
6. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 5, wherein in the discharge state value compensation step, the compensated value is determined based on the equation Sc=S/α.sup.(1+V) where the compensated value is Sc, the discharge state value is S, the coefficient is a, and the machining speed is V.
7. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 6, wherein in the discharge state value acquisition step, the reciprocal of the number of discharge pulses per unit time, or the discharge delay time period is acquired as the discharge state value.
8. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 5, wherein, in the control step: the driving unit is subjected to a proportional control, an integral control, and a derivative control, to thereby set the machining speed to a target machining speed; and in accordance with the compensated value, at least one of a proportional gain of the proportional control, an integration time of the integral control, a derivative time of the derivative control, or the target machining speed is set.
1. A wire electrical discharge machine configured to carry out machining of a workpiece by generating an electric discharge in an inter-electrode gap between a wire electrode and the workpiece, the wire electrical discharge machine comprising: a discharge state value acquisition unit configured to acquire, as a discharge state value, any one of an average inter-electrode voltage, which is a time average of a voltage applied to the inter-electrode gap, a reciprocal of a number of discharge pulses in the inter-electrode gap per unit time, or a discharge delay time period, which is a time period from when the voltage is applied to the inter-electrode gap until when the electric discharge is generated in the inter-electrode gap; a discharge state value compensation unit configured to compensate the discharge state value to obtain a compensated value in accordance with a machining speed, which is a relative speed of the wire electrode with respect to the workpiece; a driving unit configured to cause the wire electrode to move relatively with respect to the workpiece; and a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on the compensated value, and thereby keep a size of the inter-electrode gap constant during machining; wherein the discharge state value compensation unit determines the compensated value based on an equation in which the discharge state value defines a numerator, and a value obtained by multiplying the machining speed by a coefficient defines a denominator.
2. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the discharge state value compensation unit determines the compensated value based on the equation Sc=S/(1+α.Math.V) where the compensated value is Sc, the discharge state value is S, the coefficient is α, and the machining speed is V.
3. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 2, wherein the discharge state value acquisition unit acquires, as the discharge state value, the reciprocal of the number of discharge pulses per unit time, or the discharge delay time period.
4. The wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit: subjects the driving unit to a proportional control, an integral control, and a derivative control, and thereby sets the machining speed to a target machining speed; and sets, in accordance with the compensated value, at least one of a proportional gain of the proportional control, an integration time of the integral control, a derivative time of the derivative control, or the target machining speed.
5. A method of controlling a wire electrical discharge machine configured to carry out machining of a workpiece by generating an electric discharge in an inter-electrode gap between a wire electrode and the workpiece, the method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine comprising: a discharge state value acquisition step of acquiring, as a discharge state value, any one of an average inter-electrode voltage, which is a time average of a voltage applied to the inter-electrode gap, a reciprocal of a number of discharge pulses in the inter-electrode gap per unit time, or a discharge delay time period, which is a time period from when the voltage is applied to the inter-electrode gap until when the electric discharge is generated in the inter-electrode gap; a discharge state value compensation step of compensating the discharge state value to obtain a compensated value in accordance with a machining speed, which is a relative speed of the wire electrode with respect to the workpiece; a driving step of causing the wire electrode to move relatively with respect to the workpiece by a driving unit; and a control step of controlling the driving unit based on the compensated value, and thereby keeping a size of the inter-electrode gap constant during machining; wherein, in the discharge state value compensation step, the compensated value is determined based on an equation in which the discharge state value defines a numerator, and a value obtained by multiplying the machining speed by a coefficient defines a denominator.
6. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 5, wherein in the discharge state value compensation step, the compensated value is determined based on the equation Sc=S/(1+α.Math.V) where the compensated value is Sc, the discharge state value is S, the coefficient is α, and the machining speed is V.
7. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 6, wherein in the discharge state value acquisition step, the reciprocal of the number of discharge pulses per unit time, or the discharge delay time period is acquired as the discharge state value.
8. The method of controlling the wire electrical discharge machine according to claim 5, wherein, in the control step: the driving unit is subjected to a proportional control, an integral control, and a derivative control, to thereby set the machining speed to a target machining speed; and in accordance with the compensated value, at least one of a proportional gain of the proportional control, an integration time of the integral control, a derivative time of the derivative control, or the target machining speed is set.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Onodera (US 20110100959 A1) discloses, a wire electric discharge machine that applies a pre determined pulse voltage between a wire electrode and a workpiece, while moving the wire electrode relatively to the workpiece along a path programmed beforehand in a machining program, wherein for skim cuts, the wire electric discharge machine includes a straight line portion instructing unit that outputs, when machining a straight line portion, to a servo amplifier a straight-line-portion-machining-feed-speed instruction specifying a machining feed speed for the straight line portion, an average speed calculating unit that calculates a straight-line-portion average speed when machining the straight line portion, a corner-portion detecting unit that looks ahead the machining program and outputs, if detecting a corner portion, corner-portion detection information about the corner portion's path, a volume ratio calculating unit that calculates, based on the corner-portion detection information outputted by the corner-portion detecting unit, a machining volume ratio ((a machining volume per unit distance at the corner portion)/(a machining volume per unit distance at the straight line portion)), a corner-portion-machining-feed-speed calculating unit that calculates, based on the straight-line-portion average speed calculated by the average speed calculating unit and the machining volume ratio calculated by the volume ratio calculating unit, a machining feed speed at the corner portion ((the straight-line-portion average speed).times.(the inverse of the machining volume ratio)), a corner portion instructing unit that outputs, when machining the corner portion, to the servo amplifier a corner-portion-machining-feed-speed instruction specifying a machining feed speed for the corner portion, based on the machining feed speed at the corner portion calculated by the corner-portion-machining-feed-speed calculating unit.
Magara (US 5021622 A) discloses, a wire cut electrical discharge machine which performs machining by applying a voltage between a wire-form electrode and a workpiece to produce a discharge therebetween, and by causing a relative movement between the wire-form electrode and the workpiece, the improvement comprising:
a first discriminator for discriminating whether a machining position is moving along a circular path at a corner portion of said workpiece or not;
an arithmetic unit for calculating a predetermined amount of correction with respect to a change in an amount of removal;
a control device for correcting a change in an electrode side gap due to the change in said amount of removal in accordance with a signal from said first discriminator and a calculated result of said arithmetic unit; and
a second discriminator for discriminating whether the corner portion to be machined is an incorner portion or an outcorner portion and for providing a discrimination signal to said control device.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VY T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571) 272-6015. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday approx. 9:00 am-5:00 pm ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ibrahime Abraham can be reached on (571) 270-5569. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VY T NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 3761
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