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 .
Objection to Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show details as described in the specification. Claim 1 limitations are selected from applicant’s embodiments Figs.1 (embodiment 1), fig.2 (embodiment 2), and fig.3 (embodiment 3). Currently there is no single figure that shows all the limitations of claim 1. An electric power steering device as stated in claim 10 is not shown in applicant’s figs.1-6.
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.
2.
Objection to Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The limitations of claims 1 and 5-12 are not clear as they are selected from different embodiment figs.1-6 (see spec, page 3, lines 5-16). Claim 1 limitations are selected from applicant’s embodiments Figs.1 (embodiment 1), fig.2 (embodiment 2), and fig.3 (embodiment 3). Currently there is no single inventive figure that shows all the limitations of claim 1.
As to claim 1, the phrase, “A motor control device comprising: a motor drive circuit that outputs a drive current to a motor; a drive current detector that detects the drive current; a main control unit, and an auxiliary control unit, wherein the motor drive circuit: is driven based on a drive signal that is output from the main control unit or the auxiliary - control unit, and includes a plurality of switching elements, and the motor is driven by having each of the switching elements switch between supply and cut off of the drive current to the motor, the main control unit has: a first control signal generator that generates a first control signal based on a detected current signal that is input from the drive current detector; a first drive signal generator that generates the drive signal based on the first control signal, and a first switcher that switches an output state of the drive signal to the motor drive circuit, the auxiliary control unit has:
a second control signal generator that generates a second control signal based on a detected current signal that is input from the drive current detector; a second drive signal generator that generates the drive signal based on the second control signal, and a second switcher that switches an output state of the drive signal to the motor drive circuit (These limitations are from embodiment 1, fig.1),
As to claim 1, the phrase, “the motor control device has: a first control signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the first control signal generator, and outputs a first abnormality signal to the first switcher and the second control signal generator when the first control signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first control signal generator, and
a second control signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the second control signal generator, and outputs a second abnormality signal to the second switcher and the first control signal generator when the second control signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second control signal generator, wherein the drive signal is output to the motor drive circuit from a control unit having no abnormality out of the main control unit and the auxiliary control unit” (These limitations are from fig.2 (embodiment 2 ) and
As to claim 1, the phrase, “a first drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the first drive signal generator, and outputs a first drive abnormality signal to the first switcher and the second control signal generator when the first drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first drive signal generator, and
a second drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the second drive signal generator, and outputs a second drive abnormality signal to the second switcher and the first control signal generator when the second drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second drive signal generator (These limitations are from fig.3 (embodiment 3 ).
The above limitations of claims 1 and 5-12 are therefore not clear as they are selected from different embodiment figs.1-6. Claim 1 limitations are selected from applicant’s embodiments Figs.1 (embodiment 1), fig.2 (embodiment 2), and fig.3 (embodiment 3). Currently there is no single inventive figure that shows all the limitations of claim 1.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 and 5-12 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.
The limitations of claims 1 and 5-12 are not clear as they are selected from different embodiment figs.1-6 (see spec, page 3, lines 5-16). Claim 1 limitations are selected from applicant’s embodiments Figs.1 (embodiment 1), fig.2 (embodiment 2), and fig.3 (embodiment 3). Currently there is no single inventive figure that shows all the limitations of claim 1.
As to claim 1, the phrase, “A motor control device comprising: a motor drive circuit that outputs a drive current to a motor; a drive current detector that detects the drive current; a main control unit, and an auxiliary control unit, wherein the motor drive circuit: is driven based on a drive signal that is output from the main control unit or the auxiliary control unit, and includes a plurality of switching elements, and the motor is driven by having each of the switching elements switch between supply and cut off of the drive current to the motor, the main control unit has: a first control signal generator that generates a first control signal based on a detected current signal that is input from the drive current detector; a first drive signal generator that generates the drive signal based on the first control signal, and a first switcher that switches an output state of the drive signal to the motor drive circuit, the auxiliary control unit has:
a second control signal generator that generates a second control signal based on a detected current signal that is input from the drive current detector; a second drive signal generator that generates the drive signal based on the second control signal, and a second switcher that switches an output state of the drive signal to the motor drive circuit (These limitations are from embodiment 1, fig.1),
As to claim 1, the phrase, “the motor control device has: a first control signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the first control signal generator, and outputs a first abnormality signal to the first switcher and the second control signal generator when the first control signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first control signal generator, and
a second control signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the second control signal generator, and outputs a second abnormality signal to the second switcher and the first control signal generator when the second control signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second control signal generator, wherein the drive signal is output to the motor drive circuit from a control unit having no abnormality out of the main control unit and the auxiliary control unit” (These limitations are from fig.2 (embodiment 2 ) and
As to claim 1, the phrase, “a first drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the first drive signal generator, and outputs a first drive abnormality signal to the first switcher and the second control signal generator when the first drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first drive signal generator, and a second drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the second drive signal generator, and outputs a second drive abnormality signal to the second switcher and the first control signal generator when the second drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second drive signal generator (These limitations are from fig.3 (embodiment 3 ).
The above limitations of claims 1 and 5-12 are therefore not clear as they are selected from different embodiment figs.1-6. Claim 1 limitations are selected from applicant’s embodiments Figs.1 (embodiment 1), fig.2 (embodiment 2), and fig.3 (embodiment 3). Currently there is no single inventive figure that shows all the limitations of claim 1.
Appropriate corrections are required.
Allowable Subject-Matter
Claims 1 and 5-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As to claim 1, prior art of records (closest prior art, Hayakawa, Pub.No.: US 2019/097565 A1) teaches (figs.1-8) A motor control device 101/102/103 (figs.1-8) comprising:
a motor drive circuit [first inverter 61/second inverter 62] that outputs a drive current to a motor 80;
a drive current detector [71, 72] that detects the drive current;
a main control unit 21, and
an auxiliary control unit 22, wherein
the motor drive circuit [first inverter 61/second inverter 62]: is driven based on a drive signal [Dr1/Dr2] that is output from the main control unit 21 or the auxiliary control unit 22 (see figs.1-8), and includes a plurality of switching elements 611-616/ 621-626 (fig.3), and the motor 80 is driven by having each of the switching elements 611-616/ 621-626 switch between supply and cut off of the drive current to the motor 80 (see para’s [0066] thru [0074],
the main control unit 21 has: a first control signal generator [first Micro-Computer] that generates a first control signal Dr1 based on a detected current signal [Iu1-Iw1/Iu2-Iw2] (figs1/6) that is input from the drive current detector [71, 72];
a first drive signal generator 51 that generates the drive signal [UH-WH, UL-WL] based on the first control signal [Dr1], and
a first switcher 41 that switches an output state of the drive signal [Dr1/Dr2] (figs.1/6/8) to the motor drive circuit [61/ 62],
the auxiliary control unit 22 has:
a second control signal generator [second micro-computer] (figs.1/6) that generates a second control signal [Dr2] based on a detected current signal [Iu1-Iw1/Iu2-Iw2] that is input from the drive current detector [71, 72];
a second drive signal generator 52 that generates the drive signal [UH-WH,UL-WL] based on the second control signal [Dr2/Dr1], and a second switcher 42 that switches an output state of the drive signal [Dr2/Dr1] to the motor drive circuit [62],
the motor control device has:
a first control signal generator monitoring unit [31] (fig.1/6) that monitors an operation state of the first control signal generator [first micro-computer], and outputs a first abnormality signal [RESET] (sel1, via 21) to the first switcher 41 when the first control signal generator monitoring unit 31 determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first control signal generator [first microcomputer] (see para’s [0063] thru [0065], [0086] thru [0095], figs.4-5), and
a second control signal generator monitoring unit 32 (figs.1/6) that monitors an operation state of the second control signal generator[second Micro-computer], and outputs a second abnormality signal [Reset] (Sel2, via 22) to the second switcher 42 and when the second control signal generator monitoring unit 32 determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second control signal generator[Second Micro-computer], wherein the drive signal [Dr1/Dr2] is output to the motor drive circuit 61/62 from a control unit having no abnormality out of the main control unit 21 and the auxiliary control unit 22 (see para’s [0063] thru [0065], [0086] thru [0095], figs.4-5).
However, Hayakawa fails to teach outputs a first abnormality signal to the second control signal generator, and outputs a second abnormality signal to the first control signal generator, and a first drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the first drive signal generator, and outputs a first drive abnormality signal to the first switcher and the second control signal generator when the first drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the first drive signal generator, and a second drive signal generator monitoring unit that monitors an operation state of the second drive signal generator, and outputs a second drive abnormality signal to the second switcher and the first control signal generator when the second drive signal generator monitoring unit determines that an abnormality is occurring in the second drive signal generator.
However, formal requirements outstanding (Objection to drawings, Objection to specification and 35 USC 112 rejection of claims 1, and 5-12) needs to be corrected and clarified.
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