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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/6/2026 has been entered.
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, 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 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chainer et al (US 2014/0049918 hereinafter “Chainer”) in view of Cui et al (US 10,238,011) and Zhai et al (US 2019/0335575 hereinafter “Zhai”).
In regards to claim 1:
Chainer teaches a processor comprising one or more circuits, the one or more circuits to determine a temperature associated with at least one computing device (Paragraph [0060] recites the temperature being associated with electronic components and Paragraph [0057] recites cold plates to cool multiple processor modules), the processor issuing one or more commands to cause one or more positions corresponding to one or more overlapping sections of a plurality of fins (1312) within a cold plate (1310) to be adjusted to form one or more fluid paths through one or more microchannels formed between adjustable fins.
Chainer does not teach the temperature being based on data from one or more sensors associated with the at least one computing device and one or more overlapping sections that restrict fluid flow from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration to control an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid.
Cui teaches temperature data based on one or more sensors associated with at least one computing device (Col 6, Lines 60-63).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing of the application to have the processor of Chainer to determine temperature from one or more sensors as taught by Cui in order to have accurate temperature data. Cui recites “For example, the monitor may receive operating data representing temperatures of the processors, cooling liquid, and airflows, which may be captured and collected via various temperature sensors.” (Col 6, Lines 60-63). Wherein using temperature data to dictate the cooling needs is understood as vital to allowing the processor to know what the temperature is and how much cooling is required to maintain a desired temperature.
Zhai teaches microchannels formed between adjustable fins, wherein one or more overlapping sections restrict fluid from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration, wherein the formation of the one or more fluid paths controls an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Shown in Figure 4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing of the application to modify the cooling system of Chainer to have adjustable fins as taught by Zhai in order to adjust the height of fins in conjunction with the midplate (1315) of Chainer.
In combination of both the Cui and Zhai references with Chainer, Chainer teaches a main channel that is divided into microchannels having a variable cross-sectional area (Shown in Figure 7A of Chainer), with the cross-sectional area being controlled by a midplate that rises and lowers to restrict the flow of the fluid. Wherein as the midplate moves down the cross-sectional area decreases and reduces the amount of surface area that the fins are exposed to a cooling fluid, and rises to increase the amount of surface area that is exposed to a cooling fluid. Zhai teaches that instead of a rising and lowering midplate, that this can be done with overlapping fins (Shown in Figure 4 of Zhai), wherein an upper fin and a lower fin overlap one another, and the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow is increased in an expanded configuration, and restrict fluid flow in a contracted configuration. As the fins contract and increase the amount of overlapping, the cross-sectional area is reduced and restricts the amount of fluid that can flow through the microchannel. As the fins expand, the cross-sectional area is approximately doubled, allowing an increase of fluid flow in an expanded configuration. Cui further teaches that temperature sensors and using the data received from the temperature sensors are known in the art to regulate cooling.
In regards to claim 2:
Chainer teaches an output to provide signals for at least one controller (1330) to enable the adjustment to the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0092]).
In regards to claim 3:
Chainer teaches an input to receive sensor inputs from sensors associated with the at least one computing device, a rack, a secondary coolant, or the fluid, the processor to determine a first cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in a retracted configuration and a second cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in an exposed configuration, based in part on the sensor inputs (Paragraph [0060] recites temperature is monitored is one or more electronic components, Table 1 recites a temperature Tj and Paragraph [0073] recites control based on an electronic component junction temperature Tj, wherein the electronic component may comprise one or more processors (a computing device)).
In regards to claim 4:
Chainer one or more neural networks to receive the sensor inputs and to infer the first cooling requirement and the second cooling requirement (Paragraph [0112] recites the program code for carrying out the operations of the present invention may entirely be executed remotely on a network).
Claims 6-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chainer in view of Zhai.
In regards to claim 6:
Chainer teaches a processor comprising one or more circuits, the one or more circuits to train one or more neural networks to infer (Paragraph [0112] recites the program code for carrying out the operations of the present invention may entirely be executed remotely on a network), from sensor inputs of sensors associated with at least one computing device, that a change in a cooling requirement has occurred (Paragraph [0060] recites The monitored variable could comprise, as one example, a temperature associated with at least one of the coolant-cooled cold plate, or the one or more electronic components being cooled by the coolant-cooled cold plate), the processor issuing one or more commands to cause one or more positions corresponding to one or more overlapping sections of a plurality of fins within a cold plate to be adjusted to control an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0093] describes the coolant carrying channel 1311 having a variable cross sectional area via adjustable midplate 1315) to form one or more fluid paths through one or more microchannels formed between adjustable fins.
Chainer does not teach one or more overlapping sections that restrict fluid flow from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration to control an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid.
Zhai teaches microchannels formed between adjustable fins, wherein one or more overlapping sections restrict fluid from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration, wherein the formation of the one or more fluid paths controls an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Shown in Figure 4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing of the application to modify the cooling system of Chainer to have adjustable fins as taught by Zhai in order to adjust the height of fins in conjunction with the midplate (1315) of Chainer. In combination, Chainer teaches a main channel that is divided into microchannels having a variable cross-sectional area (Shown in Figure 7A of Chainer), with the cross-sectional area being controlled by a midplate that rises and lowers to restrict the flow of the fluid. Wherein as the midplate moves down the cross-sectional area decreases and reduces the amount of surface area that the fins are exposed to a cooling fluid, and rises to increase the amount of surface area that is exposed to a cooling fluid. Zhai teaches that instead of a rising and lowering midplate, that this can be done with overlapping fins (Shown in Figure 4 of Zhai), wherein an upper fin and a lower fin overlap one another, and the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow is increased in an expanded configuration, and restrict fluid flow in a contracted configuration. As the fins contract and increase the amount of overlapping, the cross-sectional area is reduced and restricts the amount of fluid that can flow through the microchannel. As the fins expand, the cross-sectional area is approximately doubled, allowing an increase of fluid flow in an expanded configuration.
In regards to claim 7:
Chainer teaches an output to provide signals for the at least one controller (1330) to enable adjustment to control the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0093] recites the controller 1330 controlling and adjusting the midplate 1315 which controls the amount of surface area of the fins 1312 exposed to a fluid).
In regards to claim 8:
Chainer teaches the one or more neural networks to receive the sensor inputs and to be trained to infer a first cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in a retracted configuration and a second cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in an exposed configuration, based in part on the sensor inputs (Paragraphs [0093] – [0096] recites control of the adjustable midplate, wherein control can be done remotely).
In regards to claim 9:
Chainer teaches an output to provide signals to at least one controller to cause one or more different exposures of the surface area of the plurality of fins to address different cooling requirements (Paragraph [0095] recites the controller implementing a cooling control process to expose the surface area of the fins to optimally cool the associated electronic components while at the same time reducing power consumption).
In regards to claim 10:
Chainer teaches an input to receive the sensor inputs associated with a temperature from the at least one computing device, the secondary coolant, or the fluid, the one or more neural networks trained to infer a change in cooling requirement has occurred based in part on the temperature and on prior temperatures, the one or more circuits to control the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0060] recites temperature is monitored is one or more electronic components, Table 1 recites a temperature Tj and Paragraph [0073] recites control based on an electronic component junction temperature Tj, wherein the electronic component may comprise one or more processors (a computing device)).
In regards to claim 11:
Chainer teaches a processor comprising one or more circuits, the one or more circuits comprising one or more neural networks to infer (Paragraph [0112] recites the program code for carrying out the operations of the present invention may entirely be executed remotely on a network), from sensor inputs of sensors associated with at least one computing device, that a change in a cooling requirement has occurred (Paragraph [0060] recites The monitored variable could comprise, as one example, a temperature associated with at least one of the coolant-cooled cold plate, or the one or more electronic components being cooled by the coolant-cooled cold plate), the processor issuing one or more commands to cause one or more positions corresponding to one or more overlapping sections of a plurality of fins within a cold plate to be adjusted to control an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0093] describes the coolant carrying channel 1311 having a variable cross sectional area via adjustable midplate 1315) to form one or more fluid paths through one or more microchannels formed between adjustable fins.
Chainer does not teach one or more overlapping sections that restrict fluid flow from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration to control an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid.
Zhai teaches microchannels formed between adjustable fins, wherein one or more overlapping sections restrict fluid from flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to a contracted configuration and increase fluid flowing through the one or more microchannels when the fins are adjusted to an expanded configuration, wherein the formation of the one or more fluid paths controls an amount of surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to a fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Shown in Figure 4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing of the application to modify the cooling system of Chainer to have adjustable fins as taught by Zhai in order to adjust the height of fins in conjunction with the midplate (1315) of Chainer. In combination, Chainer teaches a main channel that is divided into microchannels having a variable cross-sectional area (Shown in Figure 7A of Chainer), with the cross-sectional area being controlled by a midplate that rises and lowers to restrict the flow of the fluid. Wherein as the midplate moves down the cross-sectional area decreases and reduces the amount of surface area that the fins are exposed to a cooling fluid, and rises to increase the amount of surface area that is exposed to a cooling fluid. Zhai teaches that instead of a rising and lowering midplate, that this can be done with overlapping fins (Shown in Figure 4 of Zhai), wherein an upper fin and a lower fin overlap one another, and the cross-sectional area of the fluid flow is increased in an expanded configuration, and restrict fluid flow in a contracted configuration. As the fins contract and increase the amount of overlapping, the cross-sectional area is reduced and restricts the amount of fluid that can flow through the microchannel. As the fins expand, the cross-sectional area is approximately doubled, allowing an increase of fluid flow in an expanded configuration.
In regards to claim 12:
Chainer teaches an output to provide signals for the at least one controller to enable adjustment to control the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0095] recites the controller implementing a cooling control process to expose the surface area of the fins to optimally cool the associated electronic components while at the same time reducing power consumption).
In regards to claim 13:
Chainer teaches the one or more neural networks to receive the sensor inputs and to infer a first cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in a retracted configuration and a second cooling requirement for the plurality of fins to be in an exposed configuration, based in part on the sensor inputs (Paragraphs [0093] – [0096] recites control of the adjustable midplate, wherein control can be done remotely).
In regards to claim 14:
Chainer teaches an output to provide signals to at least one controller to cause one or more different exposures of the surface area of the plurality of fins to address different cooling requirements (Paragraph [0095] recites the controller implementing a cooling control process to expose the surface area of the fins to optimally cool the associated electronic components while at the same time reducing power consumption).
In regards to claim 15:
Chainer teaches an input to receive the sensor inputs associated with a temperature from the at least one computing device, the secondary coolant, or the fluid, the one or more neural networks to infer a change in cooling requirement has occurred based in part on the temperature and on prior temperatures, the one or more circuits to control the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid and to be cooled by the fluid (Paragraph [0060] recites temperature is monitored is one or more electronic components, Table 1 recites a temperature Tj and Paragraph [0073] recites control based on an electronic component junction temperature Tj, wherein the electronic component may comprise one or more processors (a computing device)).
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chainer, Cui and Zhai as applied to claim 1 above and further in view of Malone et al (US 9,003,821 hereinafter “Malone”).
In regards to claim 5:
Chainer teaches one or more neural networks to control the cooling system (Paragraph [0112]) but does not teach in response to a failure of a secondary cooling loop, the one or more circuits to cause at least one controller to adjust the amount of the surface area of the plurality of fins to be exposed to the fluid that is from a local cooling loop instead of the secondary cooling loop.
Malone teaches a secondary cooling loop, wherein upon a failure, increasing the cooling from a local cooling loop that picks up the extra cooling demand.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing of the application to modify the system of Chainer to adjust the local cooling loop instead of a failing secondary loop as taught by Malone in order to pick up the extra cooling demand (Col 7, Lines 1-13).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-10 of Remarks, filed 7/6/2026, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-15 under 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of different interpretation of the previously applied reference. Additional language has been added to describe the combination. Wherein Chainer teaches cooling of a cold plate with microchannels formed with cooling fins, that already have an expanding and retracting configuration to adjust the cross-sectional area that the coolant is to flow through said microchannel. Zhai teaches that this cross-sectional area can be altered through overlapping fins, wherein the cooling has an upper fin and a lower fin, with the upper fin being inserted into the lower fin to reduce the overall height of the combined fin structure of the upper and lower fin. As the upper fin is inserted deeper into the lower fin, the cross-sectional area is reduced, and when expanded the cross-sectional area is increased, adjusting the flow of coolant to reduce or increase.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES JAY KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-7610. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Logan Kraft can be reached at (571) 270-5065. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES J KIM/Examiner, Art Unit 3747 /HUNG Q NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
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