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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: the title is not descriptive. A new title that would include the inventive features of the claimed invention is respectfully requested.
Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
Claims 1-15 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 18/375,414 to Burks et al. (hereafter Burks). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other. The only difference between the reference claims to Burks and the instant set of claims is that Burks recites that “the broadband piezoelectric sensors being sensitive to an out-of-plane displacement of the laminate structure” in the reference claims 1 and 10, while the instant claims 1 and 10 recites that “the broadband piezoelectric sensors being sensitive to displacement of the laminate structure.”
The instant claims are presented below and the corresponding reference claims are underlined:
Regarding claim 1, a monitoring system comprising: a plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors connected to a composite cylinder having a laminate structure, the broadband piezoelectric sensors being sensitive to displacement of the laminate structure of the composite cylinder, and being configured to detect deformation data associated with the composite cylinder; a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors and configured to: receive, from the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors, the detected deformation data associated with the composite cylinder when the composite cylinder is impacted by an object, determine an estimated impact location on the composite cylinder based on arrival times from each broadband piezoelectric sensor of the detected deformation data, determine a direct wave energy from the object based on the detected deformation data when the composite cylinder is impacted by the object, the direct wave energy being determined based on a direct arrival time of a slowest moving wave component of interest from the estimated impact location and a voltage detected at each of the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors, normalize the direct wave energy for propagation effect based on propagation distance to determine an impact energy corresponding to the impact of the object to the composite cylinder at the impact location, the normalization reducing false triggers by mitigating reflections and wrapping waves, and communicate a notification when the impact energy exceeds a threshold. (reference claim 1)
Regarding claim 2, the system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the notification to at least one of an ECU of a vehicle for activating a light indicating inspection of the composite cylinder or a non-transitory memory for updating a stored state of the composite cylinder. (reference claim 2)
Regarding claim 3, the system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors each have channels formed by dicing a piezoelectric material in a plurality of directions, the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors configured to conform to a shape of the composite cylinder, wherein the channels of the piezoelectric material are filled with resin configured to transition to a malleable state when a temperature of the resin is above a threshold temperature, and wherein the piezoelectric material is located between a positive electrode and a ground electrode. (reference claim 3)
Regarding claim 4, the system of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors further includes a first polyimide film located above the positive electrode and a second polyimide film located below the ground electrode. (reference claim 4)
Regarding claim 5, the system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors are further configured to communicate deformation data detected by the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors to a filling controller as the composite cylinder is filled with a fluid, causing a safety action to be immediately performed when the filling controller detects damage to the composite cylinder based on the deformation data. (reference claim 5)
Regarding claim 6, the system of claim 5, wherein the filling controller detects the damage to the composite cylinder as the composite cylinder is filled with the fluid based on a modal acoustic emission inspection. (reference claim 6)
Regarding claim 7, the system of claim 5, wherein the safety action includes at least one of shutting a valve to prevent filling of the composite cylinder, providing a notification on a speaker or a display screen, or adjusting the valve to direct the fluid to a surge tank. (reference claim 7)
Regarding claim 8, the system of claim 5, wherein the filling controller detects the damage to the composite cylinder as the composite cylinder is filled with the fluid when one or more indicators exceed a respective predetermined threshold. (reference claim 8)
Regarding claim 9, the system of claim 8, wherein the one or more indicators include at least one of a fiber tow fracture indicator corresponding to detected fiber tow fracture events being quantified and compared to a fiber tow fracture threshold, an instability indicator corresponding to instability within a local volume of material above an instability threshold, a delamination event indicator corresponding to delamination of one or more layers of the composite cylinder above a delamination threshold, a damage mechanism indicator corresponding to damage mechanisms accumulated in the local volume of material above a damage mechanism threshold, or a fretting emission indicator corresponding to fretting emission above a fretting emission threshold based on a laminate composition of the composite cylinder. (reference claim 9)
Regarding claim 10, a method comprising: detecting, by a plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors connected to a composite cylinder having a laminate structure, deformation data associated with the composite cylinder, the broadband piezoelectric sensors being sensitive to displacement of the laminate structure of the composite cylinder; determining, by a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors, an estimated impact location on the composite cylinder based on arrival times from each broadband piezoelectric sensor of detected deformation data when the composite cylinder is impacted by an object; determining, by the controller, a direct wave energy from the object based on the detected deformation data when the composite cylinder is impacted by the object, the direct wave energy being determined based on a direct arrival time of a slowest moving wave component of interest from the estimated impact location and a voltage detected at each of the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors; normalizing, by the controller, the direct wave energy for propagation effect based on propagation distance to determine an impact energy corresponding to the impact of the object to the composite cylinder at the impact location, the normalization reducing false triggers by mitigating reflections and wrapping waves; communicating, by the controller, a notification when the impact energy exceeds a threshold; and communicating, by the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors to a filling controller, deformation data detected by the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors as the composite cylinder is filled with a fluid, causing a safety action to be performed when the filling controller detects damage to the composite cylinder based on the deformation data. (reference claim 10)
Regarding claim 11, the method of claim 10, wherein the detecting the damage to the composite cylinder as the composite cylinder is filled with the fluid comprises performing, by the filling controller, a modal acoustic emission inspection using the plurality of broadband piezoelectric sensors. (reference claim 11)
Regarding claim 12, the method of claim 10, wherein the communicating, by the controller, the notification when the impact energy exceeds the threshold comprises communicating the notification to at least one of an ECU of a vehicle for activating a light indicating inspection of the composite cylinder or a non-transitory memory for updating a stored state of the composite cylinder. (reference claim 12)
Regarding claim 13, the method of claim 10, wherein the safety action includes at least one of shutting a valve to prevent further filling of the composite cylinder, providing a notification on a speaker or a display screen, or adjusting the valve to direct the fluid to a surge tank. (reference claim 13)
Regarding claim 14, the method of claim 10, wherein the detecting the damage to the composite cylinder as the composite cylinder is filled with the fluid comprises determining whether one or more indicators exceed a respective predetermined threshold. (reference claim 14)
Regarding claim 15, the method of claim 14, wherein the one or more indicators include at least one of a fiber tow fracture indicator corresponding to detected fiber tow fracture events being quantified and compared to a fiber tow fracture threshold, an instability indicator corresponding to instability within a local volume of material above an instability threshold, a delamination event indicator corresponding to delamination of one or more layers of the composite cylinder above a delamination threshold, a damage mechanism indicator corresponding to damage mechanisms accumulated in the local volume of material above a damage mechanism threshold, or a fretting emission indicator corresponding to fretting emission above a fretting emission threshold based on a laminate composition of the composite cylinder. (reference claim 15)
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: see PTO-892
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/Tran M. Tran/Examiner, Art Unit 2855