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 .
DRAWINGS
The drawings are objected to because FIGS.1-8 fails to show an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop (suspended) operating. Closest figs.4, 5 & 6 shows when bus voltage U being greater than a first preset voltage U1, control the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) to stop (suspended) operating T1-T2, but does not show or not clear an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage (see claims 12-30). A powertrain (see claim 22) not shown.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
3.
Objection to Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Applicant’s specification fails to teach “the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating”. Applicants’ closest figs. 4, 5, & 6 shows when bus voltage U being greater than a first preset voltage U1, control the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) to stop (suspended) operating T1-T2, but does not show or teach the power supply control circuit 107 (fig.1) is configured to, in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) to stop operating. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections – 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 12-30 are rejected due to unclear subject-matter.
As to claim 12, the phrase,” the backup power supply comprises a flyback conversion circuit configured to receive a bus voltage at two ends of the switching bridge arm” is not clear as ambiguity is raised as bridge arm circuit 105 that receive the bus voltage U is shown separate (see figs.1-2) from the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) that receive a bus voltage U.
As to claim 12, the phrase “the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating” is unclear in that applicants’ closest figs. 4, 5, & 6 shows when bus voltage U being greater than a first preset voltage U1, control the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) to stop (suspended) operating T1-T2, but does not show or not clear in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating. Appropriate correction is required.
Applicant’s specification also fails to teach “the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating”.
As to claims 13 thru 19, and 23-30, the phrase, “wherein the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage” is unclear in that applicants’ closest figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 does not show or specification does not teach wherein the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage.
As to claim 23, the phrase, “receiving, by the flyback conversion circuit, a bus voltage at two ends of the switching bridge arm;” is not clear as ambiguity is raised as bridge arm circuit 105 that receive the bus voltage U is shown separate (see figs.1-2) from the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) that receive a bus voltage U.
As to claim 23, the phrase, “in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, controlling, by the power supply control circuit, the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating” is unclear in that applicants’ closest figs. 4, 5, & 6 shows when bus voltage U being greater than a first preset voltage U1, control the flyback conversion circuit (fig.3) to stop (suspended) operating T1-T2, but does not show (figs.4-8) or specification does not teach in response to an output voltage of the main power supply being greater than or equal to a second preset voltage, controlling, by the power supply control circuit, the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating.
Claims 23-30 fails to include inventive features such as motor 106 and motor controller 100 and powertrain.
Allowable Subject-Matter
Claims 12-22 and 23-30 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As to claim 12, (closest prior art, Hirakata, US patent No.: US 11,894, 791 B2) teaches (figs.1-12, abstract, (col.3, lines 29-67), (col.4, lines 1-65)) a motor controller 101 (fig.1), a power supply control circuit 30, a fail-safe control circuit 7 configured to receive electric energy VH/VL from a main power supply 1 or a backup power supply 6 and control a switching bridge arm of inverter 4, wherein the power supply control circuit 30 is configured to control the backup power supply 6 to supply power Vin to the fail-safe control circuit 7, Hirakata shows in figs. 1, 3 a flyback conversion circuit 9x of drive circuit 12x of control circuit 7. However, as to claim 12, Hirakata fails to teach the backup power supply comprises a flyback conversion circuit and supply power to the safety state control circuit, and the power supply control circuit is configured to, in response to and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, control the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating.
As to claim 23, (closest prior art, Hirakata, US patent No.: US 11,894, 791 B2) teaches (figs.1-12, (col.3, lines 29-67), (col.4, lines 1-65)) a motor controller 101 (fig.1), a power supply control circuit 30, a fail-safe control circuit 7 configured to receive electric energy VH/VL from a main power supply 1 or a backup power supply 6 and control a switching bridge arm of inverter 4, wherein the power supply control circuit 30 is configured to control the backup power supply 6 to supply power Vin to the fail-safe control circuit 7. Hirakata shows in figs. 1, 3 a flyback conversion circuit 9x of drive circuit 12x of control circuit 7. However, as to claim 23, Hirakata fails to teach the backup power supply comprises a flyback conversion circuit; supplying, by the flyback conversion circuit, power to the safety state control circuit; and in response to and the bus voltage being greater than a first preset voltage, controlling, by the power supply control circuit, the flyback conversion circuit to stop operating.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTONY M PAUL whose telephone number is (571)270-1608. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am to 4 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mr. Eduardo Colon Santana can be reached at 571-272-2060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANTONY M PAUL/
Primary Examiner of Art Unit 2846