Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/682,718

MULTIPLE VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE UNIT ON A COMPRESSION SHAFT LINE

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Feb 09, 2024
Examiner
MASIH, KAREN
Art Unit
2846
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie - S.r.l.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
91%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 91% — above average
91%
Career Allow Rate
904 granted / 996 resolved
+22.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
1021
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.9%
-35.1% vs TC avg
§103
54.1%
+14.1% vs TC avg
§102
11.2%
-28.8% vs TC avg
§112
16.9%
-23.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 996 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
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 Figure 1,2 boxes 5,41,42 and figure 4 box 41,42 and fig3 box 41,42 and fig 7 box 41,42 need to be labelled descriptively with text . 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. 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 1-16 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. Claim 1 line 2 the recitation “ or the like “ is vague and indefinite. 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. Claim(s) s 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pieder et al (2015/0244293) cited by Applicant . Pieder et al discloses drive unit ( fig 1-4) for driving a load ( fig 1 #17) paragraph 32, such as centrifugal compressor ( paragraph 32, a pump ) the drive unit (1) comprising a driving shaft ( fig 1 , #16) couplable with load (17) to be driven , a plurality of motors ( fig 1 3 12,#14 paragraphs 32-34), wherein each motor (12,14 ) is mechanically coupled with each other series to driving shaft ( 16) to drive load (17) and plurality of variable frequency drives ( fig 3,4, #48,49,60,62) , paragraph 51-54, each one electrically coupled with relevant motor (12,14) capable of adjusting torque and /or speed ( paragraph 54), of motor (12,14) it is connected to wherein the variable frequency drives ( fig 3,4 #48,49,60,62) paragraph 51-54, cause by their operation the generation of torque harmonics other than mean torque value ( fig 5 paragraph 56-57,) harmonic pulsating torques , oscillating torques and current harmonic components on a power grid ( fig 3 #42), other than a fundamental current component ( fig 6,7, paragraph 72), the interference on supply gird 42 caused by drives 32,34, paragraphs 73-74, low frequency beat ) and a plurality of isolation transformer ( fig 3 #40,41) each one coupled with a variable frequency drive (48,49) and to the power grid (42), wherein motors (12,14 ) and the isolation transformers (40,41) of drive unit are configured to reduce torque harmonic other than the mean torque value and/or current harmonics components other than fundamental current component ( paragraphs 6,59-81). With respect to dependent claims , phase shifting of torque harmonic due to input current is know from paragraph 72 and stator have plurality of windings, fig 3,4, whin windings of stator of second motor are radially shifted of predetermined displacement angle with respect to windings of stator of first motor , isolation transformer has delta delta configuration and delta wye configuration , see fig 3,4, paragraph 48. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CN109791005 and WO2018/03107 disclose compressor and variable frequency drive and two motors and transformer . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KAREN MASIH whose telephone number is (571)272-2068. The examiner can normally be reached m-f 8-5 with second Friday off. 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, 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. KAREN . MASIH Examiner Art Unit 2837 /KAREN MASIH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2846
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 09, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 10, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
91%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+6.7%)
2y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 996 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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