DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
CLAIM INTERPRETATION
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“an energy management system…configured to” in claim 17
Because these claim limitation(s) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, they are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
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, 6-9, 14-17, and 22-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nakano et al. US 2023/0396055 (“Nakano”).
Nakano discloses:
1. An energy management system for a load center, the system comprising:
a processor (e.g., Figs. 1,2 #5); and
a storage unit (e.g., Fig. 2 #13e) coupled to the processor, the storage unit storing computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
obtain a load center energy level from an overcurrent protection device in the load center, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through the overcurrent protection device (e.g., Fig. 2 #13c: “Current Detection”, Fig. 2 #6, [0035]: “shut-off device 6”);
determine whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., Fig. 3, [0055], [0059]); and
adjust the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0049]-[0059], where the load center energy level, i.e., loads starting or stopping, is adjusted based on when the temperature of the overcurrent device exceeding a predetermined level which is based on the thermal model of Fig. 3. Particularly in [0059], it is possible to see that this means that the load current of the device is allowed to be operated in an overload state, see Fig. 3, for a certain time of which the temperature remains below a certain temperature, i.e., following the thermal model, and once it crosses the predetermined value, the load having low priority can be either restricted from starting or stopped).
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to adjust the load center energy level by:
computing a thermal recovery time for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device;
determining whether a load has been shed from the load center for a time equal to the thermal recovery time; and
issuing, responsive to the load having been shed from the load center for an amount of time equal to the thermal recovery time, a control signal configured to cause the load to be connected to the load center (e.g., [0065], loads can be started (i.e., be connected) based on the temperature exceeding or not a predetermined value and provides a time difference, i.e., a thermal recovery time, based on that).
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to compute the thermal recovery time in response to the load being identified as having been shed from the load center (e.g., [0065]).
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the thermal model of the overcurrent protection device is implemented as one or more lookup tables, and wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to retrieve model values for the thermal model from the one or more lookup tables (e.g., Fig. 3, [0054]-[0058], where there is a model for low temperature and a model for high temperature).
9. A method of managing a load center, the method comprising:
obtaining a load center energy level from an overcurrent protection device in the load center, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through the overcurrent protection device (e.g., Fig. 2 #13c: “Current Detection”, Fig. 2 #6, [0035]: “shut-off device 6”);
determining whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., Fig. 3, [0055], [0059]); and
adjusting the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0049]-[0059], where the load center energy level, i.e., loads starting or stopping, is adjusted based on when the temperature of the overcurrent device exceeding a predetermined level which is based on the thermal model of Fig. 3. Particularly in [0059], it is possible to see that this means that the load current of the device is allowed to be operated in an overload state, see Fig. 3, for a certain time of which the temperature remains below a certain temperature, i.e., following the thermal model, and once it crosses the predetermined value, the load having low priority can be either restricted from starting or stopped).
14. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the load center energy level comprises:
computing a thermal recovery time for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device;
determining whether a load has been shed from the load center for a time equal to the thermal recovery time; and
issuing, responsive to the load having been shed from the load center for an amount of time equal to the thermal recovery time, a control signal configured to cause the load to be connected to the load center (e.g., [0065], loads can be started (i.e., be connected) based on the temperature exceeding or not a predetermined value and provides a time difference, i.e., a thermal recovery time, based on that).
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thermal recovery time is computed in response to the load being identified as having been shed from the load center (e.g., [0065]).
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the thermal model of the overcurrent protection device is implemented as one or more lookup tables, further comprising retrieving model values for the thermal model from the one or more lookup tables (e.g., Fig. 3, [0054]-[0058], where there is a model for low temperature and a model for high temperature).
17. A load center, comprising:
a housing (e.g., Figs. 1,2);
an overcurrent protection device installed within the housing (e.g., Fig. 2 #6, [0035]: “shut-off device 6”); and
an energy management system installed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the overcurrent protection device, the energy management system configured to:
obtain a load center energy level from the overcurrent protection device, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through an overcurrent protection device (e.g., Fig. 2 #13c: “Current Detection”, Fig. 2 #6, [0035]: “shut-off device 6”);
determine whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., Fig. 3, [0055], [0059]); and
adjust the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0049]-[0059], where the load center energy level, i.e., loads starting or stopping, is adjusted based on when the temperature of the overcurrent device exceeding a predetermined level which is based on the thermal model of Fig. 3. Particularly in [0059], it is possible to see that this means that the load current of the device is allowed to be operated in an overload state, see Fig. 3, for a certain time of which the temperature remains below a certain temperature, i.e., following the thermal model, and once it crosses the predetermined value, the load having low priority can be either restricted from starting or stopped).
22. The load center of claim 17, wherein the energy management system adjusts the load center energy level by:
computing a thermal recovery time for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device;
determining whether a load has been shed from the load center for a time equal to the thermal recovery time; and
issuing, responsive to the load having been shed from the load center for an amount of time equal to the thermal recovery time, a control signal configured to cause the load to be connected to the load center (e.g., [0065], loads can be started (i.e., be connected) based on the temperature exceeding or not a predetermined value and provides a time difference, i.e., a thermal recovery time, based on that).
23. The load center of claim 22, wherein the energy management system computes the thermal recovery time in response to the load being identified as having been shed from the load center (e.g., [0065]).
24. The load center of claim 17, wherein the thermal model of the overcurrent protection device is implemented as one or more lookup tables, and wherein the energy management system retrieves model values for the thermal model from the one or more lookup tables (e.g., Fig. 3, [0054]-[0058], where there is a model for low temperature and a model for high temperature).
Claims 1-5, 9-13, and 17-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dudek et al. CZ 307686B6 (“Dudek”).
Dudek discloses:
1. An energy management system for a load center (e.g., Obr. 2: “APMS”), the system comprising:
a processor (e.g., Obr. 2: “HMI”, “ACS”, and “APMS” implicitly have processor and storage); and
a storage unit coupled to the processor (e.g., Obr. 2: “HMI”, “ACS”, and “APMS” implicitly have processor and storage), the storage unit storing computer-readable instructions thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
obtain a load center energy level (i.e., current) from an overcurrent protection device in the load center, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through the overcurrent protection device (e.g., Obr. 2, Graf. 3, [0147]-[0149], where the overcurrent protection device APMS obtains tripping characteristic, i.e., the load center energy level, of the DC/AC inverter and its protecting device PPS-0);
determine whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., abstract, [0011]); and
adjust the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0139], where, in the event of increasing or prolonged overload of the DC/AC inverter, coordination of the tripping characteristics of the overcurrent protection devices according to the tripping characteristic is carried out according to the priority of the loads by reducing the fuse value and therefore allowing or adjusting the load, while the output current of the DC/AC converter is continuously monitored. This is done to avoid the tripping of the PPS-0 device protecting the DC/AC inverters).
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to adjust the load center energy level of the load center by:
computing a thermal shedding time (i.e., tripping characteristic) for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157]);
determining whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024]); and
issuing, responsive to the load center operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time, a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to compute the thermal shedding time for the load center in response to a determination that the load center energy level exceeds a thermal shedding threshold multiplied by the current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to adjust the load center energy level by immediately issuing a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer-readable instructions cause the processor to immediately issue the control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center in response to the load center energy level exceeding a fast shedding threshold multiplied by a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
9. A method of managing a load center, the method comprising:
obtaining a load center energy level from an overcurrent protection device in the load center, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through the overcurrent protection device (e.g., Obr. 2, Graf. 3, [0147]-[0149], where the overcurrent protection device APMS obtains tripping characteristic, i.e., the load center energy level, of the DC/AC inverter and its protecting device PPS-0);
determining whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., abstract, [0011]); and
adjusting the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0010], [0139], where, in the event of increasing or prolonged overload of the DC/AC inverter, coordination of the tripping characteristics of the overcurrent protection devices according to the tripping characteristic is carried out according to the priority of the loads by reducing the fuse value and therefore allowing or adjusting the load, while the output current of the DC/AC converter is continuously monitored. This is done to avoid the tripping of the PPS-0 device protecting the DC/AC inverters).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the load center energy level of the load center comprises:
computing a thermal shedding time (i.e., tripping characteristic) for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157]);
determining whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024]); and
issuing, responsive to the load center operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time, a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the thermal shedding time for the load center is computed in response to a determination that the load center energy level exceeds a thermal shedding threshold multiplied by the current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
12. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the load center energy level comprises immediately issuing a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center is issued in response to a determination that the load center energy level exceeds a fast shedding threshold multiplied by a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
17. A load center, comprising:
a housing;
an overcurrent protection device installed within the housing; and
an energy management system installed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the overcurrent protection device, the energy management system configured to:
obtain a load center energy level from the overcurrent protection device, the load center energy level indicative of an amount of current flowing through an overcurrent protection device (e.g., Obr. 2, Graf. 3, [0147]-[0149], where the overcurrent protection device APMS obtains tripping characteristic, i.e., the load center energy level, of the DC/AC inverter and its protecting device PPS-0);
determine whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state based on the load center energy level (e.g., abstract, [0011]); and
adjust the load center energy level of the load center according to a thermal model of the overcurrent protection device to allow the load center to operate in an overloaded state without tripping the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0010], [0139], where, in the event of increasing or prolonged overload of the DC/AC inverter, coordination of the tripping characteristics of the overcurrent protection devices according to the tripping characteristic is carried out according to the priority of the loads by reducing the fuse value and therefore allowing or adjusting the load, while the output current of the DC/AC converter is continuously monitored. This is done to avoid the tripping of the PPS-0 device protecting the DC/AC inverters).
18. The load center of claim 17, wherein the energy management system adjusts the load center energy level of the load center by:
computing a thermal shedding time (i.e., tripping characteristic) for the load center as a function of the load center energy level and a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157]);
determining whether the load center is operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024]); and
issuing, responsive to the load center operating in an overloaded state for an amount of time equal to or greater than the thermal shedding time, a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
19. The load center of claim 18, wherein the energy management system computes the thermal shedding time for the load center in response to a determination that the load center energy level exceeds a thermal shedding threshold multiplied by the current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., abstract, [0011], [0022]-[0024], During a prolonged overload, low priority loads are shed, implying the load center shedding loads for a time greater than the thermal shedding time. The overcurrent characteristics are reduced by the APMS to cause specific loads from categories 2 and 3 to shed.).
20. The load center of claim 17, wherein the energy management system adjusts the load center energy level by immediately issuing a control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
21. The load center of claim 20, wherein the energy management system issues the control signal configured to cause a specified load to be shed from the load center in response to a determination that the load center energy level exceeds a fast shedding threshold multiplied by a current rating of the overcurrent protection device (e.g., [0147]-[0157], immediate tripping can be done for specific loads based on the energy level exceeding the instantaneous values).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RYAN A JARRETT whose telephone number is (571)272-3742. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kenneth Lo can be reached at 571-272-9774. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RYAN A JARRETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2116
06/25/26
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