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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 2/19/2024 and 3/24/2025 were filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim 17 is 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 claimed “computer-readable storage medium” is not limited to only non-transitory mediums. In fact, paragraph 0124 of the Specification specifically states that the medium can include a carrier wave (see lines 6-8 of paragraph 0124). A carrier wave is a transitory medium and therefore the claim is ineligible due to being directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Claims 1-8, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s):
Claim 1. (Original) A method for detecting a power grid frequency, comprising:
converting a collected three-phase voltage at a point of common coupling into a two-phase voltage;
transforming the two-phase voltage based on a phase angle of a specific frequency to obtain a voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and a voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled;
decoupling the voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and the voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled based on the phase angle, and filtering a decoupled voltage positive sequence component to obtain a voltage positive sequence fundamental component;
performing inverse transformation on the voltage positive sequence fundamental component based on the phase angle to obtain a set of orthogonal voltage components in a two-phase stationary coordinate system;
obtaining a phase angle of a power grid based on the set of orthogonal voltage components; and
obtaining the power grid frequency based on the phase angle of the power grid.
15. (Original) An apparatus for detecting a power grid frequency, comprising:
a two-phase voltage acquisition unit, configured to convert a collected three-phase voltage at a point of common coupling into a two-phase voltage;
a transformation unit, configured to transform the two-phase voltage based on a phase angle of a specific frequency to obtain a voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and a voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled;
a decoupling and filtering unit, configured to decouple the voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and the voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled based on the phase angle, and to filter a decoupled voltage positive sequence component to obtain a voltage positive sequence fundamental component;
an inverse transformation unit, configured to perform inverse transformation on the voltage positive sequence fundamental component based on the phase angle to obtain a set of orthogonal voltage components in a two-phase stationary coordinate system;
a power grid phase angle acquisition unit, configured to obtain a phase angle of the power grid based on the set of orthogonal voltage components; and
a power grid frequency acquisition unit, configured to obtain the power grid frequency based on the phase angle of the power grid.
Step 1: The claims recite methods and an apparatus for detecting a power grid frequency. Thus, the claims are to a process and manufacture or machine, which are statutory categories of invention.
Step 2A Prong One: The limitation of “converting a collected three-phase voltage…” (claims 1 and 15) falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the converting could practically be performed in the human mind. Note that even if most humans would use a physical aid (e.g., pen and paper or a calculator) to help them complete the recited conversion, the use of such physical aid does not negate the mental nature of this (or any) limitation. Nor does the recitation of the “two-phase voltage acquisition unit” (claim 15) negate the mental nature of this limitation because the claim here merely uses the two-phase voltage acquisition unit as a tool to perform the otherwise mental process. Also, the limitation of “transforming the two-phase voltage…” (claims 1 and 15) falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the transformation could practically be performed in the human mind. The recitation of the “transformation unit” (claim 15) does not negate the mental nature of this limitation because the claim here merely uses the transformation unit as a tool to perform the otherwise mental process. Further, the limitation of “decoupling the voltage positive sequence component…” (claims 1 and 15) falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the decoupling could practically be performed in the human mind. The recitation of the “decoupling and filtering unit” (claim 15) does not negate the mental nature of this limitation because the claim here merely uses the decoupling and filtering unit as a tool to perform the otherwise mental process. Further, the limitation of “performing inverse transformation on the voltage positive sequence fundamental component…” (claims 1 and 15) falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the inverse transformation could practically be performed in the human mind. The recitation of the “inverse transformation unit” (claim 15) does not negate the mental nature of this limitation because the claim here merely uses the inverse transformation unit as a tool to perform the otherwise mental process.
Step 2A Prong Two: Besides the abstract ideas, the claims recite additional elements of “obtaining a phase angle of the power grid…” and “obtaining the powder grid frequency…”. These additional elements represent mere data gathering that is necessary for use of the recited judicial exception. The “two-phase voltage acquisition unit”, “transformation unit”, “decoupling and filtering unit”, inverse transformation unit”, “power grid phase angle acquisition unit”, and “power grid frequency acquisition unit” (each of claim 15) are also additional elements which are configured to carry out the limitations. Each represent no more than a link to use the judicial exceptions to the technological environment of each unit. Even when viewed in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the recited judicial exceptions into a practical application and the claim is directed to the judicial exceptions.
Step 2B: The claims as a whole does not amount to significantly more than the recited exceptions. Each additional element, which as explained previously, are extra-solution activity, which for the purposes of Step 2A Prong Two were considered insignificant. Each limitation remains insignificant extra-solution activity even upon reconsideration. Therefore, the limitations do not amount to significantly more. Even when considered in combination, these additional elements represent mere instructions to apply to an exception and insignificant extra-solution activity, which does not provide an inventive concept. The claims are not eligible.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9-14 and 18 are allowed while claims 1-8, 15, and 17 include allowable subject matter and would be in condition for allowance with resolution to the above 35 U.S.C. 101 rejections.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As indicated by WRITTEN OPINION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY PCT/CN2022/102858, prior art (CN 110365018) discloses a self-adaptive broadband positive and negative sequence separation method (and apparatus), and specifically discloses (see description, paragraphs [0008]-[0085]): relating to a power grid frequency detection method, comprising: (1) transforming a three-phase voltage input into a two-phase static coordinate system by using Clarke transformation; (2) performing filtering processing on a two-phase static coordinate component by using an in-phase second-order generalized integrator to obtain an in-phase signal; (3) performing filtering processing by using an all-pass filter to obtain a quadrature component with a phase delay of 90°; ( 4) respectively obtaining positive and negative sequence components in the two-phase static coordinate system by using a phase lag 90° algorithm; (5) performing Park transformation on the positive sequence component to obtain a DQ rotating coordinate component under a synchronous rotating coordinate system; (6) performing frequency tracking on the positive sequence component by using a software phase-locked loop to obtain a frequency signal.
As also indicated by WRITTEN OPINION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY, (CN 110365018) does not disclose the following features of claim 1: (a) decoupling a voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and a voltage negative sequence component on the basis of the phase angle, and filtering the decoupled voltage positive sequence component to obtain a voltage positive sequence fundamental component; performing inverse transformation on the voltage positive sequence fundamental component on the basis of the phase angle to obtain a set of quadrature voltage components under a two-phase static coordinate system; obtaining a power grid phase angle on the basis of the set of quadrature voltage components; obtaining a power grid frequency on the basis of the power grid phase angle.
Similarly, Xue et al. (US PGPub 2013/0121046) discloses a method and apparatus for detecting a power grid frequency, comprising:
converting a collected three-phase voltage at a point of common coupling into a two-phase voltage (Step S1, see Fig. 6);
transforming the two-phase voltage based on a phase angle of a specific frequency to obtain a voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and a voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled (Steps S1 and S2, see Fig. 6).
However, Xue also fails to specifically disclose the method and apparatus comprising:
decoupling the voltage positive sequence component to be decoupled and the voltage negative sequence component to be decoupled based on the phase angle, and filtering a decoupled voltage positive sequence component to obtain a voltage positive sequence fundamental component;
performing inverse transformation on the voltage positive sequence fundamental component based on the phase angle to obtain a set of orthogonal voltage components in a two-phase stationary coordinate system;
obtaining a phase angle of a power grid based on the set of orthogonal voltage components; and
obtaining the power grid frequency based on the phase angle of the power grid.
Accordingly, independent claims 1, 15, and the claims which depend upon them are allowable over the prior art and would be in condition for allowance with resolution to the above 35 U.S.C. 101 rejections. Claims 9-14, and 18 are allowable as they are not subject to the above 35 U.S.C. 101 rejections.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael J. Brown whose telephone number is (571)272-5932. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday from 5:30am-4:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kamini Shah can be reached at (571)272-2279. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Michael J Brown/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2115
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