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 under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show in (FIGS.1-3, SEE CLAIMS 1, 10 & 19), A REFERENCE VOLTAGE VECTOR AND A REFERENCE CURRENT VECTOR, determining a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on a bridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determining a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current; the steps 508B, 508C shown in fig.7 is not shown in figs. 1-3; determine a reference current vector including the reference D-axis current (see steps 508D, 508E, fig.7), calculate the reference voltage vector based on the reference current vector not shown in figs.1-4 for understanding of the invention.
Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). 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.
Objection to Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Applicant’s specification, equations 12, 13 & 14 (see para’s [0057]-[0059] & [0060], PAGES 17-18) are not clear.
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172
670
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The phrase,
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88
150
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is shown inside the bracket [ ] without a mathematical operator.
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296
744
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298
788
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For equations 13 and 14, The phrase,
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70
116
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is shown inside the bracket [ ] without a mathematical operator.
Appropriate clarifications and corrections required.
4.
Claim Rejections – 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (an abstract idea) without significantly more, as it recites in (claim 1) the method comprising: determining a peak torque value; determining a limited torque command based on a torque command and which does not exceed the peak torque value; determining, based on the limited torque command, an optimized current command to cause the SPM motor to generate an output torque in accordance with the limited torque command; determining, based on the optimized current command, a reference voltage vector; and commanding, based on the reference voltage vector, an inverter to apply an output voltage to the SPM motor, wherein determining the reference voltage vector includes: calculating an optimized voltage command based on the optimized current command; determining a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on a bridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determining a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current; determining a reference current vector including the reference d-axis current; and calculating the reference voltage vector based on the reference current vector.
the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because claims 1-9 is a method include determining, commanding, calculating steps can be performed in the human mind and these above steps are performed without a physical or concrete form and there is no inventive concept and tangible concrete practical application claimed (Applicants corresponding method steps in fig.7 is performed by a controller 80 controlling a motor 32 via inverter 28 using feedback control, in figs.1, 4, wherein a motor providing a steering assist torque based on a torque command for an electronic power steering system is not claimed in claims 1-19 to achieve the inventive concept such as making the process more robust, quick and bale to run at a faster sampling rate... see spec., pages 4-5, para’s [0017]- [0018]). Claims 10-18 is an electronic controller including processor and memory executing the determining, commanding and calculating steps, which are performed without integrating into a practical application. Identified limitations in Claim 19 recite a controller configured to the determining, commanding and calculating steps, which are performed without integrating into a practical application. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because there is no inventive concept and tangible concrete practical application claimed (a motor providing a steering assist torque based on a torque command for an electronic power steering system is not claimed to achieve the results making the process more robust, quick and bale to run at a faster sampling rate... see spec., pages 4-5, para’s [0017]- [0018]).
5.
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 1-20 are rejected due to unclear subject-matter.
As to claims 1-20, what performs the method steps? and how the method steps are integrated in to a practical application is not claimed (see 35 USC 101 rejection above).
As to claims 1, 10 and 19, the phrase, “determining, based on the optimized current command, a reference voltage vector; and commanding, based on the reference voltage vector, an inverter to apply an output voltage to the SPM motor” is not clear in figs.1-3.
Fig.1 shows d-axis voltage Vd and Q axis-voltage Vq.
Fig.2 shows current reference generator 20 (200) output a reference voltage Vdref, Vq ref. Fig.3 shows a reference voltage Vdref and Vq ref calculated.
However, a reference voltage vector and a reference current vector not clear and not shown in figs.1-3.
Fig.3 shows optimized voltage command VMTPA calculated based on the optimized current command Idmin, Iqmin. However, determining, based on the optimized current command, a reference voltage vector not clear?
As to claim 1, 10 and 19, The phrase, “wherein determining the reference voltage vector includes: calculating an optimized voltage command based on the optimized current command; determining a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on a bridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determining a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current; determining a reference current vector including the reference d-axis current; and calculating the reference voltage vector based on the reference current vector” is not clear.
Specification (see para. [0056], page 16) states that “The required d-axis current Idreq can be calculated as set forth in equation (12)”. Equation 12 not clear (see spec, para. [0057], page 17 and see objection to specification).
Figs.1-3 does not show the calculation of required d-axis current Idreq. What is Idreq meant by in relation to the invention?
Determining a reference current vector and calculating the reference voltage vector” is unclear.
determining a reference current vector including the reference d-axis current is not clear.
Fig. 3 shows a voltage Vdref, and voltage Vqref is calculated based on d axis current Id ref and q axis current Iq ref. However, the required d-axis current Idreq is not shown and not clear in fig.3 and is related to Equation 12, which is not clear (see spec, para. [0057], page 17 and see objection to specification).
Appropriate corrections and clarification required.
7.
Allowable Subject-matter
Formal requirements outstanding: Objection to drawings and specification, the rejection(s) of claims 1-20 under 35 USC 101 and rejection of claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Appropriate corrections and clarifications are required.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As to claim 1, Closest prior art, Cheng et al. (Pub. No., US 2008/0116842 A1) teaches (figs.1-9, para. [0008]-[0010]) a method for controlling a permanent magnet (SPM) motor 104 (figs.2), the method (fig.1-9) comprising: determining (via 218, figs.2-3, para’s [0061] thru [0064]) a maximum torque value Test/Tmax (figs.2-3); determining (via torque limiter 208, fig.2) a limited torque command To’ based on a torque command Tcmd (fig.2) and which does not exceed the maximum torque value (see para.[0063]-[0064]); determining, based on the limited torque command To’ (fig.2), an optimized current command Idq* (fig.2, para. [0117) to cause the SPM motor 104 to generate an output torque in accordance with the limited torque command To’; determining, based on the optimized current command Idq*, a reference voltage vector Vdq (via 236-240); and commanding, based on the reference voltage vector Vdq, an inverter 250 to apply an output voltage to the SPM motor 104.
However as to claim 1, Cheng et al., fails to teach wherein determining the reference voltage vector includes: calculating an optimized voltage command based on the optimized current command; determining a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on a bridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determining a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current.
As to claim 10, (closest prior art, Cheng et al., Pub. No., US 2008/0116842 A1) teaches (figs.1-9, para. [0008]-[0010]) An electronic controller [control system 200] (fig.2) comprising: 10. a processor 256; and a memory 254 that includes instructions that, when executed by the processor 256, cause the processor 256 to: determine (via 218, figs.2-3, para’s [0061] thru [0064]) a maximum torque value Test/Tmax (figs.2-3); determining (via torque limiter 208, fig.2) a limited torque command To’ based on a torque command Tcmd (fig.2) and which does not exceed the maximum torque value (see para.[0063]-[0064]); determine, based on the limited torque command To’ (fig.2), an optimized current command Idq* (fig.2, para. [0117) to cause the SPM motor 104 to generate an output torque in accordance with the limited torque command To’; determine, based on the optimized current command Idq*, a reference voltage vector Vdq (via 236-240); and command, based on the reference voltage vector Vdq, an inverter 250 to apply an output voltage to the SPM motor 104.
However as to claim 10, Cheng et al. fails to teach wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: calculate an optimized voltage command based on the optimized current command; determine a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on abridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determine a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current.
As to claim 19, (closest prior art, Cheng et al., Pub. No., US 2008/0116842 A1) teaches (figs.1-9, para. [0008]-[0010]) a motor control system 100 (fig.2), comprising: 19. a permanent magnet (SPM) motor 104; an inverter 250 configured to supply an alternating current (AC) power to the SPM motor 104; and a controller 200 configured to: determine (via 218, figs.2-3, para’s [0061] thru [0064]) a maximum torque value Test/Tmax (figs.2-3); determining (via torque limiter 208, fig.2) a limited torque command To’ based on a torque command Tcmd (fig.2) and which does not exceed the maximum torque value (see para.[0063]-[0064]); determine, based on the limited torque command To’ (fig.2), an optimized current command Idq* (fig.2, para. [0117) to cause the SPM motor 104 to generate an output torque in accordance with the limited torque command To’; determine, based on the optimized current command Idq*, a reference voltage vector Vdq (via 236-240); and commanding, based on the reference voltage vector Vdq, an inverter 250 to apply an output voltage to the SPM motor 104.
However, as to claim 19, Cheng et al. fails to teach wherein the controller is further configured to: calculate an optimized voltage command based on the optimized current command; determine a required d-axis current based on the optimized voltage command and based on abridge voltage satisfying a supply voltage constraint; determine a reference d-axis current based on the required d-axis current.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
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.
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/ANTONY M PAUL/
Primary Examiner of Art Unit 2846 02/13/2026