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 .
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.
Claim 3 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.
Claim 3 recites “the plurality of fluid circuits” which lacks antecedent basis. For the purpose of examination claim 3 will be treated as depending from claim 2.
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.
Claim(s) 1-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Oudenhoven (US 4,483,156).
Regarding claim 1, Oudenhoven discloses a heat pump system for optimizing operational efficiency without charge imbalance, the heat pump system comprising:
an indoor HVAC unit (14) comprising an indoor coil; and
an outdoor HVAC unit (20) in communication with the indoor HVAC unit, the outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
a compressor (12) in communication with a reversing valve (30); and
an outdoor coil in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising at least one charge storage circuit (23, where 23 includes 24 and 26),
wherein, during a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit (4:13-19), and
wherein, during a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant (4:53-64).
Regarding claim 2, Oudenhoven discloses the outdoor coil comprises: a plurality of fluid circuits (22); and the at least one charge storage circuit (23).
Regarding claim 3, Oudenhoven discloses the outdoor HVAC unit further comprises an expansion valve (54)located between the at least one charge storage circuit (23) and the plurality of fluid circuits (22).
Regarding claim 4, Oudenhoven discloses the plurality of fluid circuits are spaced apart from each other in a linear direction (an arbitrary line may be drawn along which the fluid circuits are spaced apart).
Regarding claim 5, Oudenhoven discloses the number of plurality of fluid circuits are greater than the number of the at least one charge storage circuit (nine fluid circuits 22 are counted in figure 1 and one charge storage circuit 23).
Regarding claim 6, Oudenhoven discloses when operating in the cooling mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to: receive liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil; and supply vapor refrigerant to the compressor before returning to the outdoor coil (the indoor coil is performing as an evaporator in the cooling mode).
Regarding claim 7, Oudenhoven discloses when operating in the heating mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to: receive vapor refrigerant exiting the compressor; and return liquid refrigerant to the outdoor HVAC unit (in the heating mode the indoor coil is operating as a condenser).
Regarding claim 8, Oudenhoven discloses an outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
a compressor (12);
an outdoor coil (20) in communication with an indoor HVAC unit (14) and the compressor (12),
the outdoor coil comprising:
a plurality of fluid circuits (22);
at least one charge storage circuit (23, including 24 and 26); and
an expansion valve (54) located between the at least one charge storage circuit and the plurality of fluid circuits,
wherein, during a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit (4:13-19), and
wherein, during a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant (4:53-64).
Regarding claim 9, Oudenhoven discloses a method for optimizing operational efficiency of a heat pump system without charge imbalance, the method comprising:
operating the heat pump system, in at least one of a heating mode and a cooling mode (col 4 discusses heating and cooling modes), the heat pump system comprising:
an indoor HVAC unit (14) comprising an indoor coil; and
an outdoor HVAC unit in communication with the indoor HVAC unit, the outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
a compressor (12) in communication with a reversing valve (30); and
an outdoor coil (20) in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising at least one charge storage circuit (23; including 24 and 26);
supplying liquid refrigerant into the indoor HVAC unit during the cooling mode (the indoor unit functions as an evaporator in the cooling mode);
configuring the at least one charge storage circuit to function as a subcooling circuit during the cooling mode (4:13-19); and
configuring the at least one charge storage circuit to contain liquid refrigerant during the heating mode (4:53-64).
Regarding claim 10, Oudenhoven discloses the outdoor coil comprises: a plurality of fluid circuits (22); and the at least one charge storage circuit (23).
Regarding claim 11, Oudenhoven discloses spacing the plurality of fluid circuits apart from each other in a linear direction (an arbitrary line may be drawn along which the fluid circuits are spaced apart).
Regarding claim 12, Oudenhoven discloses the number of plurality of fluid circuits are greater than the number of the at least one charge storage circuit (nine fluid circuits 22 are counted in figure 1 and one charge storage circuit 23).
Regarding claim 13, Oudenhoven discloses when operating in the cooling mode, configuring the indoor HVAC unit to: receive liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil; and supply vapor refrigerant to the compressor before returning to the outdoor coil (the indoor unit operates as an evaporator in the cooling mode).
Regarding claim 14, Oudenhoven discloses operating in the heating mode, configuring the indoor HVAC unit to: receive vapor refrigerant exiting the outdoor coil via the compressor; and return liquid refrigerant to the outdoor coil (in the heating mode the indoor unit operates as a condenser).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102/103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 6-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by Leman et al (US 11,215,388). or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Leman et al (US 11,215,388) in view of Hyde (US 5,509,272).
Regarding claims 1, 8, and 9, Leman discloses a heat pump system for optimizing operational efficiency without charge imbalance, the heat pump system comprising:
an indoor HVAC unit (12) comprising an indoor coil; and
an outdoor HVAC unit (14) in communication with the indoor HVAC unit, the outdoor HVAC unit comprising:
a compressor (18) in communication with a reversing valve (V); and
an outdoor coil in communication with the indoor HVAC unit and the compressor, the outdoor coil comprising at least one charge storage circuit (40a and 40b),
wherein, during a cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor HVAC unit and the at least one charge storage circuit functions as a subcooling circuit (4:48-64 discloses that flow occurs through 20a and 20b and thus 40a and 40b includes refrigerant flow and heat exchange therein, while the term subcooling is not discussed within the disclosure it is understood that the continuance of heat exchange after condensing of the refrigerant and prior to expansion is a subcooling operation thus the arrangement is capable of subcooling), and
wherein, during a heating mode, the at least one charge storage circuit contains liquid refrigerant (5:20-27).
Further regarding subcooling. As discussed above the storage circuit 40a and 40b of Leman is capable of subcooling. Hyde is provided to evidence that within a condensing circuit that continued cooling of the refrigerant after it has condensed is a subcooling circuit. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have provided the circuit to be of sufficient size to enable subcooling in order to increase energy efficiency and cooling capacity.
Regarding claims 2, 10, and 12, Leman discloses the outdoor coil comprises: a plurality of fluid circuits (40); and the at least one charge storage circuit (40a and 40b).
Regarding claims 6 and 13, Leman discloses when operating in the cooling mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to: receive liquid refrigerant from the outdoor coil; and supply vapor refrigerant to the compressor before returning to the outdoor coil (in the cooling mode the indoor unit operates as an evaporator).
Regarding claims 7 and 14, Leman discloses when operating in the heating mode, the indoor HVAC unit is adapted to: receive vapor refrigerant exiting the compressor; and return liquid refrigerant to the outdoor HVAC unit (when operating in the heating mode the indoor unit performs as a condenser).
Regarding claim 11, Leman discloses spacing the plurality of fluid circuits apart from each other in a linear direction (along a vertical line).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Yokozeki et al (US 10,591,192) subcooler arrangement.
Bashyam (US 2024/0191917) charge compensation.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER R ZERPHEY whose telephone number is (571)272-5965. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00-4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jianying Atkisson can be reached at 5712707740. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER R ZERPHEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3799