DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
2. This communication is a first office action, non-final rejection on the merits. Claims 1-16, as originally filed, are currently pending and have been considered below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
3. 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.
4. Claim 1 is 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.
In claim 1, the recitation, “an output configured to output the control data..” renders it indefinite, since it is not clear, what is an output? whether it is a system or a module or an apparatus etc.?
Appropriate clarification is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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.
6. Claims 1-7, 12-15 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 10 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Bailey et al. ( USP 2018/0138716A1).
As per Claim 1, Bailey et al. ( Bailey) teaches, a controller (via Power Management system (controller) 124, [0022], Fig.2) for an electrical drive system (via power distribution system 100 of an aircraft , [0021]), Fig.2) , the electrical drive system (100) comprising one or more electrical drives ( Electrical Power Source 116, Fig.2) , one or more electrical loads ( loads 132), and a switching component (118, 130, Fig.2) configured to connect the one or more electrical drives (electrical power source 116, Fig.2) to the one or more electrical loads ( loads 132, Fig.2) in a switching configuration, the controller (124) , [0021]-[0022]) comprising: a processing device configured to receive switching data (“The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130” [0031], [0022]), indicative of the switching configuration and analyze the switching data ([0022]) to determine control data for at least one of the one or more electrical drives; ( “…determine the overall power demand”, [0031])) and an output configured to output the control data to the at least one electrical drive; (“The controller 124 can activate the energy storage devices 140”, [0033]); wherein the at least one electrical drive is configured to use the control data to supply the one or more electrical loads, via the switching component, with electrical power (“In this way, the energy storage devices 140 supply additional electrical power to the electrical power distribution system 118 when the load demand from the essential and non-essential devices 132 is above the power level output from the energy conversion device 120.”..[0033]), Fig.2).
As per Claim 2, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 1. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein: in response to a change in the switching configuration, the processing device is further configured to analyze the switching data to determine updated control data for at least one of the one or more electrical drives; and the output is configured to output the updated control data to the at least one of the one or more electrical drives. (via “The controller 124 can selectively enable additional energy storage devices 140 to meet transient power overload requirements.”, [0032]).
As per Claim 3, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 2. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein a first number of electrical drives is connected to a first number of electrical loads in the switching configuration and a different number of electrical drives is connected to a different number of electrical loads in the updated switching configuration such that the switching data is indicative of a change in a number of electrical loads and/or a change in a number of electrical drives (via “the bus contactor 122 and the electrical power source 116 can sense and monitor an output current. The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130, the bus contactor 122, the electrical power source 116 or any combination of those elements, along with any additional load characteristic database to determine the overall power demand.”, [0031]).
As per Claim 4, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 3. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein the switching data is further indicative of a change in an electrical characteristic of the one or more electrical loads and/or the one or more electrical drives. (via “the bus contactor 122 and the electrical power source 116 can sense and monitor an output current. The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130, the bus contactor 122, the electrical power source 116 or any combination of those elements, along with any additional load characteristic database to determine the overall power demand.”, [0031]).
As per Claim 5, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 4. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic includes a change in a level of power output from the one or more electrical drives. (via “the bus contactor 122 and the electrical power source 116 can sense and monitor an output current. The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130, the bus contactor 122, the electrical power source 116 or any combination of those elements, along with any additional load characteristic database to determine the overall power demand.”, [0031]).
As per Claim 6, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 4. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein the change in the electrical characteristic includes a change in an inductance and/or a resistance of the one or more electrical loads.
( via “the controller 124 can activate the energy storage devices 140 to smooth out any delay or lag in matching the power level output from the electrical power source 116 to the output power loads ….”(via changing resistance), [0033]).
As per Claim 7, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 1. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein: the electrical drive system comprises a plurality of electrical drives; the processing device is further configured to analyze the switching data to determine individual control data for each of the electrical drives; and the output is further configured to output the individual control data to each the electrical drives.
( via “the controller 124 can activate the energy storage devices 140 to smooth out any delay or lag in matching the power level output from the electrical power source 116 to the output power loads ….”(via changing resistance), [0033]).
As per Claim 12, Bailey et al. ( Bailey) teaches, an electrical drive system for an aircraft ( a system for aircraft power distribution , 100, Abstract, Fig.2), the electrical drive system ( 100, Fig.2) comprising: one or more electrical drives( Electrical Power Source 116, Fig.2); one or more electrical loads (Loads 132, Fig.2); a switching (118, 130) [0022] Fig,2) component configured to connect the one or more electrical drives ( Electrical power source 116) to the one or more electrical loads (Loads 132) in a switching (130) configuration ([0021]-[0022]); and a controller (via Power Management system (controller) 124, [0022], Fig.2) configured to: receive switching data (“The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130” [0031]),indicative of the switching configuration and analyze the switching data ([0022]) to determine control data for at least one of the one or more electrical drives ( “…determine the overall power demand”, [0031])); and output the control data to the at least one electrical drive, wherein the at least one electrical drive (“The controller 124 can activate the energy storage devices 140”, [0033]) is configured to use the control data to supply the one or more electrical loads, via the switching component, with electrical power (“In this way, the energy storage devices 140 supply additional electrical power to the electrical power distribution system 118 when the load demand from the essential and non-essential devices 132 is above the power level output from the energy conversion device 120.”..[0033]), Fig.2).
As per Claim 13, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 12. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein: the switching component is configured to switch into an updated switching configuration; and the updated switching configuration differs from the switching configuration by a change in a number or a type of electrical loads connected to the one or more electrical drives (via “the bus contactor 122 and the electrical power source 116 can sense and monitor an output current. The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130, the bus contactor 122, the electrical power source 116 or any combination of those elements, along with any additional load characteristic database to determine the overall power demand.”, [0031]).
As per Claim 14, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 12. However, Bailey further teaches, wherein: the switching component is configured to switch into an updated switching configuration; and the updated switching configuration differs from the switching configuration by a change in a number of electrical drives connected to the one or more electrical loads. (via “the bus contactor 122 and the electrical power source 116 can sense and monitor an output current. The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130, the bus contactor 122, the electrical power source 116 or any combination of those elements, along with any additional load characteristic database to determine the overall power demand.”, [0031]).
As per Claim 15, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 12. However, Bailey further teaches wherein, the one or more electrical loads include one or more of: a propulsion load, a motor load, a low voltage network, a resistive load, or an actuation load for an aileron or flight control surface. (Bailey : via “electrical power for electrical loads related to avionics, motors, and other electric equipment”, [0001]).
As per Claim 16, Bailey et al. ( Bailey) teaches, a method for controlling (via Power Management system (controller) 124, [0022], Fig.2) an electrical drive system, ( via power distribution system 100 of an aircraft , [0021]), Fig.2) the electrical drive system (100, Fig.2), comprising one or more electrical drives, (Electrical Power Source 116, Fig.2) one or more electrical loads, ( loads 132), and a switching component (118, 130) configured to connect the one or more electrical drives (electrical power source 116, Fig.2) to the one or more electrical loads (loads 132, Fig.2) in a switching configuration ([0021]-[0022]), the method comprising: receiving switching data indicative of the switching configuration; (“The controller 124 can use the current measurements provided by the set of switches 130” [0031], [0022]),
analyzing the switching data to determine control data for at least one of the one or more electrical drives; ( “…determine the overall power demand”, [0031])) and
outputting the control data to the at least one electrical drive; (“The controller 124 can activate the energy storage devices 140”, [0033]); wherein the at least one electrical drive is configured to use the control data to supply the one or more electrical loads, via the switching component, with electrical power. (“In this way, the energy storage devices 140 supply additional electrical power to the electrical power distribution system 118 when the load demand from the essential and non-essential devices 132 is above the power level output from the energy conversion device 120.”..[0033]), Fig.2).
7. Claims 8-10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 10 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Bailey et al. ( USP 2018/0138716A1) in view of Hogan et al. ( USP 2022/0021323).
As per Claim 8, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 7. However, Bailey does not explicitly teach, wherein, in response to a change in the switching configuration: the processing device is further configured to analyze the switching data to determine updated individual control data; and the output is further configured to output the updated individual control data to each of the electrical drives.
In a related field of art, Hogan et al. ( Hogan) teaches, distributed control architecture, wherein, wherein, in response to a change in the switching configuration: the processing device is further configured to analyze the switching data to determine updated individual control data; and the output is further configured to output the updated individual control data to each of the electrical drives ( via “The local current controllers receiving current values associated with each output voltage phase of the inverter 122 and then calculating a local voltage reference V.sub.local for each of the motor drives 120 to be transmitted to the central controller 150”, ( [0066-0067], Figs. 1,5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Bailey and Hogan. before him before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the systems of Bailey to include the distributed control architecture teachings (controller) of Hogan and configure with the system of Bailey in order to controller receiving the current output voltage, processing it, calculating local voltage and transmitting it to central controller.
As per Claim 9, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 2. However, Bailey further does not explicitly teach, wherein the control data and/or the updated control data comprises a set of control parameters.
In a related field of art, Hogan et al. ( Hogan) teaches, distributed control architecture, wherein, the control data and/or the updated control data comprises a set of control parameters (via “The local current controllers receiving current values associated with each output voltage phase of the inverter 122 and then calculating a local voltage reference V.sub.local for each of the motor drives 120 to be transmitted to the central controller 150”, ( [0066-0067], Figs. 1,5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Bailey and Hogan. before him before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the systems of Bailey to include the distributed control architecture teachings (controller) of Hogan and configure with the system of Bailey in order to controller receiving the current output voltage, processing it, calculating local voltage and transmitting it to central controller.
As per Claim 10, Bailey teaches the limitation of Claim 2. However, Bailey further does not explicitly teach, wherein the control data and/or the updated control data comprises instructions to the one or more electrical drives to use a set of control parameters that are stored locally in the one or more electrical drives.
In a related field of art, Hogan et al. ( Hogan) teaches, distributed control architecture, wherein, the control data and/or the updated control data comprises instructions to the one or more electrical drives to use a set of control parameters that are stored locally in the one or more electrical drives (via “The local current controllers receiving current values associated with each output voltage phase of the inverter 122 and then calculating a local voltage reference V.sub.local for each of the motor drives 120 to be transmitted to the central controller 150”, ([0066-0067], Figs. 1,5).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Bailey and Hogan. before him before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the systems of Bailey to include the distributed control architecture teachings (controller) of Hogan and configure with the system of Bailey in order to controller receiving the current output voltage, processing it, calculating local voltage and transmitting it to central controller.
As per Claim 11, Bailey as modified by Hogan teaches the limitation of Claim 1. However, Bailey in view of Hogan teaches , wherein the control parameters are a set of proportional, integral and/or derivative data values for use by the one or more electrical drives in supplying the electrical power to the one or more electrical loads ( Hogan : Fig. 1).
Conclusion
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/MUHAMMAD SHAFI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3666C