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 .
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.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/07/2024 and 08/29/2024 has been considered by the examiner.
Oath/Declaration
Oath/Declaration as file 07/29/2024 is noted by the Examiner.
Title Objection
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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 1-6 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 recites the limitation “…comprises adjusting a start measurement value of the measurement circuit based on a measurement value…” in lines 4-5 of Claim 1. It is not clear if the limitation in question refers to the same “current measurement circuit” or if it refers to a different “measurement circuit”. If this is the case, then please change the limitation to “the current measurement circuit”.
Claims 2-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph as they further limit Claim 1.
Please make the proper corrections.
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.
(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) 1-4 and 6-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Babazadeh et al. US 2014/0002037 (Provided by Applicant; Hereinafter Babazadeh).
Regarding claim 1, Babazadeh teaches a method (Figs. 1-4), comprising:
measuring a current (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0013-0014]) in a conductor (Figs. 1-4; [0013-0018, 0028, 0029]; buck, boost, buck-boost, flyback and SEPIC converters) in successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0014]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”) using a current measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation),
wherein measuring the current (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation), in each of the successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; [0014]), comprises adjusting a start measurement value of the measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; controller, 106) based on a measurement value obtained in a preceding measurement cycle (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”).
Regarding claim 2, Babazadeh further teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the start measurement value is obtained in the preceding measurement cycle at a time instance that is different from a beginning of the preceding measurement cycle and that is different from an end of the preceding measurement cycle (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”).
Regarding claim 3, Babazadeh further teaches the method of claim 1, wherein measuring the current comprises measuring the current in a power converter (Figs. 1-4; [0013-0018, 0028, 0029]; converter) that includes at least one electronic switch (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; switching regulator).
Regarding claim 4, Babazadeh further teaches the method of claim 3, wherein each of the successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”) is during an on-time of the at least one electronic switch (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; switching regulator) and is shorter than the on-time of the at least one electronic switch (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; switching regulator).
Regarding claim 6, Babazadeh further teaches the method of claim 3, wherein the power converter is selected from the group consisting of: a buck converter ([0013]; buck converter); a boost converter ([0013]; boost converter); a buck-boost converter ([0013]; buck-boost converter); a flyback converter ([0013]; flyback converter); and a Sepic converter ([0013]; SEPIC converter).
Regarding claim 7, Babazadeh teaches a current measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation) configured to measure a current (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0013-0014]) in a conductor (Figs. 1-4; [0013-0018, 0028, 0029]; buck, boost, buck-boost, flyback and SEPIC converters) in successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0014]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”),
wherein the current measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation) is further configured, in each of the successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; [0014]), to adjust a start measurement value based on a measurement value (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; controller, 106) obtained in a preceding measurement cycle (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”).
Regarding claim 8, Babazadeh further teaches the current measurement circuit according to claim 7, wherein the current measurement circuit is configured to obtain the start measurement value in the preceding measurement cycle at a time instance that is different from a beginning of the preceding measurement cycle and that is different from an end of the preceding measurement cycle (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”).
Regarding claim 9, Babazadeh teaches a power converter (Figs. 1-4), comprising:
at least one electronic switch (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; switching regulator);
a control circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; controller, 106) configured to control operation of the at least one electronic switch (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; switching regulator); and
a current measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation) configured to measure a current (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0013-0014]) in a conductor (Figs. 1-4; [0013-0018, 0028, 0029]; buck, boost, buck-boost, flyback and SEPIC converters) of the power converter (Figs. 1-4; [0013-0018, 0028, 0029]) in successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; Abstract; [0014]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”) and provide a current measurement signal based on the measured current to the control circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0016-0021]; controller, 106),
wherein the current measurement circuit (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; circuits implement cycle-by-cycle current estimation) is further configured, in each of the successive measurement cycles (Figs. 1-4; [0014]), to adjust a start measurement value based on a measurement value obtained in a preceding measurement cycle (Figs. 1-4; [0013, 0014, 0019-0024]; “The current is estimated cycle-by-cycle based on the measured current in the previous cycle and a prediction of the pulse width of the present cycle.”).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5 and 10 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.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 5, the prior art does not teach or suggest, in combination with the rest of the limitations of claims 1, 3 and 4,
“…wherein the at least one electronic switch has a minimum on-time, and wherein the start measurement value is obtained at a time instance when the minimum on-time of the at least one electronic switch expires.”
Regarding claim 10, the prior art does not teach or suggest, in combination with the rest of the limitations of claim 9,
“…wherein the control circuit is configured to operate the at least one electronic switch in a plurality of successive drive cycles each including a minimum on-time; and wherein the current measurement circuit is configured to obtain the start measurement value at a time instance at which the minimum on-time in each of the plurality of successive drive cycles expires.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wang et al. US 2024/0006986 - A voltage spike measurement circuit for a power switch includes a rectifier unit, a capacitive divider unit and a discharge unit, the rectifier unit configured to receive a voltage signal at both ends of a power switch and output a rectified signal.
Kris et al. US 2016/0344289 - The average of a complex waveform measured over a time period may be determined by first converting the complex waveform to a voltage, then converting this voltage to a current and using this current to charge a capacitor.
Hartlieb et al. US 2010/0315091 - A method detects a short circuit in a load current path that includes an inductive load.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAUL J RIOS RUSSO whose telephone number is (571)270-3459. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm, EST.
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/RAUL J RIOS RUSSO/Examiner, Art Unit 2858