Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/703,133

MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Apr 19, 2024
Priority
Oct 22, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021039110
Examiner
ISLAM, MUHAMMAD S
Art Unit
2846
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
525 granted / 598 resolved
+19.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
621
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
55.3%
+15.3% vs TC avg
§102
29.8%
-10.2% vs TC avg
§112
11.4%
-28.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 598 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION This action is responsive to the following communications: Application filed on April 19, 2024. Claims 1-13 are presented for Examination. Claims 1 and 13 are independent. 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 § 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 1-13 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Claim 1 recites the limitation " DC power to AC power, the motor driven using the AC power " in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation “the pulse width modulation " in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation “the rotation speed " in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation “interlinkage magnetic flux " in line 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 13 recites the limitation " DC power to AC power, the motor driven using the AC power " in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 13 recites the limitation " the frequency " in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 13 recites the limitation " the rotation speed" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 13 recites the limitation " the pulse width modulation" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is requested. Since the independent claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) and hence the dependents claim of 1 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b). 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. Claims 1-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takahashi et al (US 20220021267). Regarding independent claim 1, Takahashi et al disclose that a motor control device (Fig.19) that controls driving of a motor connected to a power converter performing power conversion from DC power (Fig.19:103) to AC power (Fig.19; U.V.W), the motor driven using the AC power, comprising: a carrier wave generation unit that generates a carrier wave ([0357]); a carrier wave frequency adjustment unit that adjusts frequency of the carrier wave(Fig.32); and a gate signal generation unit (Fig.20:116) that generates a gate signal for controlling operation of the power converter by performing pulse width modulation of a voltage command corresponding to a torque command using the carrier wave; wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave in accordance with the torque command and the rotation speed of the motor so that a phase of pulsating torque due to command current generated by the pulse width modulation using the carrier wave overlaps a phase of pulsating torque due to interlinkage magnetic flux of the motor within a predetermined phase difference (Fig.20:[0352]). Regarding claim 2, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the predetermined phase difference is within a range of 30 degrees ([0346]). Regarding claim 3, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave when a relationship between the torque command and the rotation speed of the motor satisfies a torque enhancement condition (Fig.32). Regarding claim 4, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the torque enhancement condition is a case where the torque command indicates a maximum torque command ([0362]). Regarding claim 5, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the torque enhancement condition is a case where the torque command indicates a maximum torque command and the rotation speed of the motor does not include a low speed range ([0250]). Regarding claim 6, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the torque enhancement condition is a case where the relationship between the torque command and the rotation speed of the motor is within a specified range[0263]. Regarding claim 7, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave when a torque enhancement instruction for instructing torque enhancement of the motor is input and the torque enhancement condition is satisfied ([0469]). Regarding claim 8, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave when a torque limiting signal indicating during torque limitation is input and the torque enhancement condition is satisfied[0469]. Regarding claim 9, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave when it detects vibration of the motor or a vehicle on which the motor is mounted, and when the torque enhancement condition is satisfied([0588]). Regarding claim 10, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave according to a magnitude of the vibration of the motor or the vehicle ([0508]). Regarding claim 11, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the carrier wave frequency adjustment unit adjusts the frequency of the carrier wave when the torque enhancement condition is satisfied in regenerative operation of the motor([0353]). Regarding claim 12, Takahashi et al disclose that wherein the pulsating torque due to the command current is a harmonic component of 6Nth order (where N is a natural number) ([0641]). Regarding independent claim 13, Takahashi et al disclose a motor control method in a motor control device (Fig.19) that controls driving of a motor connected to a power converter performing power conversion from DC power (Fig.19:103) to AC power(Fig.19; U.V.W), the motor driven using the AC power, comprising: generating a carrier wave([0357]); adjusting frequency of the carrier wave (Fig.32); generating a gate signal for controlling operation of the power converter by performing pulse width modulation of a voltage command corresponding to a torque command using the carrier wave(Fig.20:116); and adjusting the frequency of the carrier wave in accordance with the torque command and the rotation speed of the motor so that a phase of pulsating torque due to command current generated by the pulse width modulation using the carrier wave overlaps a phase of pulsating torque due to interlinkage magnetic flux of the motor within a predetermined phase difference(Fig.20:[0352]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD S ISLAM whose telephone number is (571)272-8439. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am to 6:00pm. 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 on 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. /MUHAMMAD S ISLAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2846
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 19, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §102, §112
Apr 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
88%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+9.2%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 598 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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