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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/17/2025,11/28/2024 (2) and 09/09/2024 (2). The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. EP22461511.2, filed on 02/28/2022.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-13) in the reply filed on 04/09/2026 is acknowledged.
Double Patenting
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 § 2146 et seq. 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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-13 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-12 of copending Application No. 18/817,252 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the difference thereof merely involves with description language that would deemed obvious variations of forms of representation to a person skilled in the art.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented.
Instant Application: 18/814,717
copending Application No. 18/817,252
1. A high power (HP) generator configured to deliver a pulsed high power with a high voltage value and/or a high current value to a capacitive load, the HP generator comprising: a plurality of low power (LP) generators, each respective LP generator comprising a respective energy storage component, wherein, during operation, the respective energy storage component is charged to a respective predefined value related to the respective energy storage component, each respective LP generator configured to supply, during operation, at an output thereof a respective LP-generator-value, which corresponds to the respective predefined value of the respective energy storage component incorporated in the respective LP generator, a coupling in which the plurality of LP generators is electrically connected such that a coupling-value at an output of the coupling, which corresponds to an output value at an output of the HP generator, is obtainable, and wherein, during operation, at least in some states of the HP generator, the coupling-value is higher than the LP-generator-value at the output of one of the plurality of LP generators, a control unit configured to select a respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators to the output value of the HP generator during power delivery of the HP generator, in order to generate a rise and/or a decay of a pulse at the output of the coupling, and a respective damping circuit positioned between each pair of adjacent LP generators of the plurality of LP generators in an open chain configuration, wherein the damping circuit comprises a resistor and/or an inductor.
2. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to select the respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a way that one or a combination of following features is accomplished: the output of the coupling and/or the output of the HP generator is a step-function, at a rising edge and/or a falling edge of a pulse, and/or during the pulse, the plurality of LP generators is activated sequentially during the pulse, at least one amplitude step is lower than 1 kV, the plurality of LP generators is connected by switching only.
3. The HP generator according to claim 1wherein more than four LP generators of the plurality of LP generators are electrically connected in the coupling, and/or wherein a number of LP generators electrically connected in the coupling is high enough to form, at the output of the coupling: pulses with a voltage rise and/or a voltage fall with values equal to or higher than a sum of the LP-generator-values of the number of LP generators, and a step-line pulse shape, wherein a value of a step is equal to or higher than the LP-generator-values of one or more of the number of LP generators.
4. The HP generator according to claim 1wherein a charging energy of the plurality of LP generators is supplied over a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding for each respective LP generator, wherein the secondary winding is connected to a rectifier, the rectifier is connected to the energy storage component of the corresponding LP generator and/or a plurality of the primary windings is connected in series.
5. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein a charging energy of the plurality of LP generators is supplied over a plurality of transformers, each respective transformer corresponds to a respective LP generator and comprises at least one balancing winding, and wherein a balancing winding of one transformer is connected to a balancing winding of a different transformer.
6. The HP generator according to claim 1,further comprising a balancing circuit, the balancing circuit comprising a component allowing a current to flow in one direction only.
7. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the HP generator is at least partially directly liquid cooled, by being immersed in a dielectric cooling liquid.
8. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select the respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a sequenced way through the the plurality of LP generators, wherein each pulse sequence begins on a different LP generator.
9. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises switching units, having a current rise capability of at least 10 A/µs, and/or having a capability of withstanding a voltage of at least 0.5 kV with voltage rise and fall rates of at least 15 kV/µs.
10. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select the respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a way to reduce voltage overshoots at the output of the HP generator and/or at a dedicated location on the capacitive load.
11. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one LP generator comprises an LP-generator-value limiting circuit.
12. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select the respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a galvanically isolated way, via a fiber optic connection or a magnetically coupling.
13. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein a charging energy of the plurality of LP generators is supplied over a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding for each respective LP generator, the HP generator further comprising an inverter connected to the primary windings, the inverter comprising a full-bridge circuit and a buck converter.
1. A high power (HP) generator configured to deliver a pulsed high power with a high voltage value and/or a high current value to a capacitive load, the HP generator comprising: a plurality of low power (LP) generators, each respective LP generator comprising a respective energy storage component, wherein, during operation, the respective energy storage component is charged to a respective predefined value related to the respective energy storage component, each respective LP generator configured to supply, during operation, at an output thereof a respective LP generator-value, which corresponds to the respective predefined value of the respective energy storage component incorporated in the respective LP generator, a coupling in which the plurality of LP generators is electrically connected such that a coupling-value at an output of the coupling, which corresponds to an output value at an output of the HP generator, is obtainable, and wherein, during operation, at least in some states of the HP generator, the coupling-value is higher than the LP-generator-value at the output of one of the plurality of LP generators, a control unit configured to select a respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators to the output value of the HP generator during power delivery of the HP generator, in order to generate a rise and/or a decay of a pulse at the output of the coupling, wherein at least one LP generator comprises an LP-generator-value limiting circuit, the LP-generator-value limiting circuit comprising at least one of: a series circuit of a diode and a capacitor configured to clamp an overvoltage present at ends thereof to a voltage that the capacitor is charged up, and a discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor, or a resistor and a switching element, or a variable electrically controllable impedance with a power dissipating part.
7. The HP generator according to claim 1, further comprising a damping circuit positioned between each pair of adjacent LP generators of the plurality of LP generators in an open chain configuration, wherein the damping circuit comprises a resistor and/or an inductor.
2. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to select the respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a way that one or a combination of following features is accomplished: the output of the coupling and/or the output of the HP generator is a step-function, at a rising edge and/or a falling edge of a pulse, and/or during the pulse, the plurality of LP generators is activated sequentially during the pulse, at least one amplitude step is lower than 1 kV, the plurality of LP generators is connected by switching only.
3. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein more than four LP generators are electrically connected in the coupling, and/or wherein a number of LP generators electrically connected in the coupling is high enough to form at the output of the coupling: pulses with a voltage rise and/or a voltage fall with values equal to or higher than a sum of the LP-generator-values of the number of LP generators, and a step-line pulse shape, wherein a value of a step is equal to or higher than the LP-generator-value(s) of one or more of the number of LP generators.
4. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein a charging energy of the plurality of LP generators is supplied over a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding for each respective LP generator, wherein the secondary winding is connected to a rectifier, the rectifier is connected to the energy storage component of the corresponding, LP generator and/or wherein a plurality of the primary windings is connected in series.
5. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein a charging energy of the plurality of LP generators is supplied over a plurality of transformers, wherein each respective transformer corresponds to a respective LP generator and comprises at least one balancing winding, and wherein a balancing winding of one transformer is connected to a balancing winding of a different transformer (T2).
6. The HP generator according to claim 1, further comprising a balancing circuit, the balancing circuit comprising a component allowing a current to flow in one direction only.
7. The HP generator according to claim 1, further comprising a damping circuit positioned between each pair of adjacent LP generators of the plurality of LP generators in an open chain configuration, wherein the damping circuit comprises a resistor and/or an inductor.
8. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the HP generator is at least partially directly liquid cooled, by being immersed in a dielectric cooling liquid.
9. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select a respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a sequenced way through the plurality of LP generators, wherein each pulse sequence begins on a different LP generator.
10. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises switching units, having a current rise capability of at least 10 A/µs, and/or having a capability of withstanding a voltage of at least 0.5 kV with voltage rise and fall rates of at least 15 kV/µs.
11. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select a respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a way to reduce voltage overshoots at the output of the HP generator and/or at a dedicated location on the capacitive load.
12. The HP generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select a respective contribution of each of the plurality of LP generators in a galvanically isolated way, via a fiber optic connection or a magnetically coupling
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WEI (VICTOR) CHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5177. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00am to 6:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Alexander H Taningco can be reached at 571-272-8048. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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WEI (VICTOR) CHAN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2844
/WEI (VICTOR) Y CHAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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