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 .
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 25-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claim is a “computer-readable medium storing instruction” and further drawn only the “instructions comprising”, wherein the claim is explicitly directed to a computer instructions (e.g., code) perse with no embodying non-transitory computer readable medium. Since “instructions” do not fall within the statutory categories of 35 U.S.C. 101 (i.e., process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter), the claims is ineligible under 35 U.S.C. 101.
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 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
With respect to claim 21, the recitation of “the power generator generates an output voltage that varies in accordance with the at least two of +VPA1, -VPA1, or 0 volts output by the first power amplifier and the at least two of +VPA1, -VPA1, or 0 volts output by the second power amplifier” on lines 14-18 cannot be understood (Examiner’s emphasis). This is because the second amplifier does not output +VPA1, -VPA1. Rather the second amplifier outputs two of +VPA2, -VPA2, or 0 Volts. For purposes of examination it will be assumed that above bolded recitation refers to +VPA2, -VPA2 instead of+VPA1, -VPA1.
Claims 22-25 are rejected of the same reasons as claim 21.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 1-13, 17-18, 20-30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmitt et al. (USPN 11,051,369).
With respect to claim 1, Schmitt et al. discloses, in Figs. 1A, 4A-4B, 10A-10B, 11A and 14, a power generator (Fig. 1A, further details of the elements within Fig. 1A disclosed in Figs. 4A-4B, 10A-10B, 11A and 14), comprising:
a first plurality of power amplifiers (at least two amplifiers labeled 16, i.e., 1 and 2, of Fig. 1A. Further note each 16 may be trimmable to include even more power amplifiers, see 11A, and/or the additional amplifier 34 receiving power amplifier 34. Note that 34 may be trimmable see Figs. 10A and 10B), including:
a first power amplifier (16 labeled 1, “16-1”, with 18) configured to receive a first supply voltage (output of 14) and to output a plurality of DC voltages (pulsed DC voltages at the output of 16-1, i.e., see Fig. 4A when 45 and 47 generate a first DC pulsed voltage and 49 with 51 generate a second pulsed DC voltage, see also Fig. 4B which shows squared DC pulses. Additionally it is noted that the “DC” voltages of the instant application are pulsed DC signals. Additionally the amplifiers are class D amplifiers, see Col. 8 lines 64-66 which generate square/DC pulsed signals); and
a second power amplifier (16 labeled 2, “16-2”, with the 18 connected 16-2) configured to receive the first supply voltage (output of 14) and to output the plurality of DC voltages (pulsed DC voltages output from 16-2), wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are connected in series (serially connected at the secondary side 33 of 18) and the power generator generates an output voltage (Vs) that varies in accordance with a one of the plurality of DC voltages output by the first power amplifier and a one of the plurality of DC voltages output by the second power amplifier (the circuit operates as claimed according to the voltages induced on the secondary 33 of each 18).
With respect to claim 2, the power generator of claim 1 wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are controlled to output a carrier signal (output of 16-1 and 16-2), and further wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are further controlled to pulse the carrier signal (pulsing according to the combination of the phase shifts, see Fig. 4B).
With respect to claim 3, the power generator of claim 2 wherein the carrier signal is at least one of a sinusoidal, rectangular, nonsinusoidal, or piecewise linear waveform (rectangular output of the Class D amplifiers/bridges of 45 with 47 and 49 with 51).
With respect to claim 4, the power generator of claim 3 wherein the pulse is one of a rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, sawtooth, or gaussian pulse waveform (rectangular pulsing of Fig. 4B).
With respect to claim 5, the power generator of claim 4 wherein the pulse includes a plurality of states (positive power state of Fig. 4B, “zero” power state of fig. 4B and negative power state of Fig. 4B).
With respect to claim 6, the power generator of claim 2 wherein the pulse is one of a rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, sawtooth, or gaussian waveform (rectangular positive and negative pulses).
With respect to claim 7, the power generator of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of power amplifiers is actuated at a first time and an other of the plurality of power amplifiers is actuated at a second time (each 16 of Fig. 1A may be actuated at different first and second times according to one of the signals 11 and 13 to enable/disable the each 16 and according to the phase delays provided to the signals of 17 and 19, see Col. 8 lines 13-17 and lines 47-56).
With respect to claim 8, the power generator of claim 7 wherein a time delay between the first time and the second time controls one of ringing, overshoot, or power sharing of the output voltage (the phase shifts and activation controls the power sharing/combining of the output voltage).
With respect to claim 9, the power generator of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of power amplifiers is characterized and grouped, and the groups are actuated in a predetermined order to control power sharing (groupings according to the multiple trimmed amplifiers of Fig. 11A, as well as the sharing between 16-1 and 16-2).
With respect to claim 10, the power generator of claim 1 further comprising a first control module (30) configured to generate a voltage output command for a selected one of the first plurality of power amplifiers (one of 11, 17, 13 and 19), wherein the voltage output command determines which one of the plurality of DC voltages is output by the selected one of the first plurality of power amplifiers (via the selection of 11 and 13).
With respect to claim 11, the power generator of claim 10 wherein the first control module is further configured to generate a voltage output command for an other of the first plurality of power amplifiers (other amplifier 16), wherein the voltage output command determines which one of the plurality of DC voltages is output by the other of the first plurality of power amplifiers (via the selection of the other one of 11 and 13).
With respect to claim 12, the power generator of claim 10 further comprising a second control module (Decode and distribution of Fig. 14) configured to generate a voltage output command for an other of the first plurality of power amplifiers (the decode and distribution system of Fig. 14 is operative with the controller to control which power amplifiers of 16 are active), wherein the voltage output command determines which one of the plurality of DC voltages is output by the other of the first plurality of power amplifiers (via the selection of the other amplifier).
With respect to claim 13, the power generator of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of power amplifiers comprises a fixed step generation section (when 16-1, 16-2 are not trimmable or selected to stay at the same power level), and the power generator further comprises a variable step generation section including a first variable power amplifier configured (34 of Fig. 1A when 34 is trimmable as shown in Fig. 10B) to receive a second supply voltage (37/Vf) and to output a second plurality of DC voltages that differs from the plurality of DC voltages (output of the trimmable amplifiers of 66 a-n of Fig. 10B).
With respect to claim 17, the power generator of claim 1 wherein components of the power generator are disposed in one of a remote module or a proximity module, and a proximity module is placed in proximity to a load, and the remote module is placed remotely from the load (the devices are remote to the load due to the isolation provided by transformers 18/40 and the separation provided by tank 22, note the claims are written in the alternative and do not require both remote and proximity modules. Furthermore, “remote” and “proximity” are merely functional limitations that do not have any explicitly claimed meaning or definition).
With respect to claim 18, the power generator of claim 17 wherein the proximity module includes switching components of the first plurality of power amplifiers, and the remote module includes components for generating the first supply voltage (12 is remote from the circuitry).
With respect claim 20, the power generator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of DC voltages includes at least two of +VPA (V+ of Fig. 4A), -VPA, or 0 volts (0 Volts/ground of Fig. 4A), where +VPA1 and -VPA1 vary in accordance with the supply voltage (V+ is dependent upon the supply voltage).
With respect to claim 21, as far as can be understood, Schmitt et al. discloses, in Figs. 1A, 4A-4B, 10A-10B, 11A and 14, a power generation system (Fig. 1A, details disclose in Figs. 4A/B, 10A/B, 11A and 14), comprising:
a first power source (20 with AC source connected to 20 of Fig. 1A);
a second power source (Fig. 1 lest 20 and AC source to 20) including a first plurality of power amplifiers (each 16 and/or each 34 of Fig. 1A. Note the trimmable power amplifiers of Figs. 10B and 11B), including:
a first power amplifier (e.g., 16 labeled as 1, “16-1”, with 18) configured to receive a first supply voltage (output of 14) and to output at least two of +VPA1, -VPA1, or 0 volts (high voltage output of Fig. 4A, e.g., V+ and ground), wherein +VPA1 and -VPA1 vary in accordance with the first supply voltage (V+ varies with the first supply voltage since it is dependent upon it); and
a second power amplifier (other 16 labeled as 2, “16-2”, with 18, or 34 with 39 and 41) configured to receive a second supply voltage (V+ or Vf) and to output at least two of +VPA2, (V+ for 16-2 or Vf for 34, see Fig. 4A) -VPA2, or 0 volts (ground/0 volts see Fig. 4A), wherein +VPA2 and -VPA2 vary in accordance with the second supply voltage (the voltages vary with the supply voltage since they are dependent upon the supply voltage),
wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are connected in series (via the secondaries 33 of 18 and/or 41) and the power generator generates an output voltage that varies in accordance with the at least two of +VPA1, -VPA1, or 0 volts output by the first power amplifier and the at least two of +VPA1, -VPA1, or 0 volts output by the second power amplifier (Vs the magnitude of Vs is dependent upon the outputs of the power amplifier), and wherein the first power supply and second power supply may be a single power supply or different power supplies and output equal or different voltages, and +VPA1, -VPA1 may be equal to or different than +VPA2, -VPA2. (in 18-1 and 18-2 they are equal; in 18-1 and 34 they are different).
With respect to claim 22, the power generation system of claim 21, wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are controlled to output a carrier signal (output of 16-1 and 16-2), and further wherein the first power amplifier and the second power amplifier are further controlled to pulse the carrier signal (pulsing according to the combination of the phase shifts, see Fig. 4B).
With respect to claim 23, the power generation system of claim 22 wherein the carrier signal is at least one of a sinusoidal, rectangular, nonsinusoidal, or piecewise linear waveform, and the pulse is one of a rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, sawtooth, or gaussian pulse waveform (rectangular output of the Class D amplifiers/bridges of 45 with 47 and 49 with 51).
With respect to claim 24, the power generation system of claim 22 wherein one of the plurality of power amplifiers is actuated at a first time and an other of the plurality of power amplifiers is actuated at a second time (each 16 of Fig. 1A may be actuated at different first and second times according to one of the signals 11 and 13 to enable/disable the each 16 and according to the phase delays provided to the signals of 17 and 19, see Col. 8 lines 13-17 and lines 47-56).
With respect to claim 25, the power generation system of claim 21 wherein the first plurality of power amplifiers comprises a fixed step generation section (fixed step according to each 16-1, 16-2, etc. when they are non-trimmable), and the power generator further comprises:
a variable step generation section including at least one variable power amplifier (34 when trimmable according to Fig. 10B) configured to receive at least one third supply voltage (Vf when the first and second amplifiers are interpreted as 16-1 and 16-2) and to output a second plurality of DC voltages (pulsed outputs of 34/each output of Fig. 10B) that differs from +VPA1, -VPA1, +VPA2, and -VPA2, (Differ due to Vf generated by 19) wherein the variable step generation section is connected in series with the fixed step generation section (via the secondaries of the transformers), and the power generator is configured to generate an output voltage that varies in accordance with the second plurality of DC voltages and the output voltage (Vs is generated as claimed via the secondaries).
Claims 26-30 are rejected for essentially the same reasons as claims 21-25, wherein Fig. 20 includes a “non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions” (see at least one of 204, 206 and 208 storing 202. Furthermore, Fig. 20 is a computer readable medium that stores instructions for the operations of the circuitry of operations as shown in Figs. 1A-19).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-16 and 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Thomas J. Hiltunen whose telephone number is (571)272-5525. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00AM-5:30PM EST M-F.
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, Menatoallah Youssef can be reached at (571)270-3684. 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.
/THOMAS J. HILTUNEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Prosecution Insights