DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the Application filed on 04/18/2024.
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 .
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.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant's cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US Pub. No. 2007/0147098; (hereinafter Mori).
Regarding claim 1, Mori [e.g. Figs. 1, ] discloses a multi-quadrant multi-level cascaded converter connectable to a load, comprising: a plurality of cells connected in series [e.g. 41 - 42], wherein each cell of the plurality of cell represents an H-bridge converter and comprises a plurality of bidirectional switches [e.g. 1UP, 1VP, 1UN, 1VN, 2UP, 2VP, 2UN, 2VN] and a storage element [e.g. 51 - 52]; and a hysteresis current control system coupled to the plurality of cells, wherein the control system is configured to control one or more of a shape and a level of current in the load [e.g. paragraph 07 recites “a power converting apparatus includes a single-phase multiplex converter connected to a load via a reactor to provide electric power to the load, the single-phase multiplex converter including a plurality of single-phase inverters connected in series at alternating current (AC) output side thereof, wherein the single-phase inverters convert direct current (DC) power fed from a DC power supply into AC power, and a control unit for controlling the single-phase multiplex converter to produce an output voltage having a quasi-sinusoidal waveform simulated by the sum of output voltages of the individual single-phase inverters. The control unit includes a current controller for regulating an output current of the single-phase multiplex converter to follow a target current which is determined in accordance with the load”].
Examiner's Note
Examiner has cited particular columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in their entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner.
In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied on for proper interpretation and also to verify and ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Alex Torres-Rivera whose telephone number is (571)272-5261. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30 ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, MONICA LEWIS can be reached at (571) 272-1838. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ALEX TORRES-RIVERA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838