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 .
Drawings
The drawings filed on 10/10/2024 are accepted by the examiner.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 10/10/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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: program storage unit, setting value storage unit in claim 1, actual power consumption acquisition unit in claims 1-2, expected power consumption calculation unit in claims 1 and 5-7, display unit in claims 1 and 3-4, feedback acquisition unit in claim 2, display setting unit in claims 3-4, period setting unit in claim 4, setting change unit in claims 5 and 8-10.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/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 this/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 it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s) mental steps involving calculate an expected power consumption by adding at least the actual power consumption and a power consumption increment/decrement corresponding to a change in acceleration/deceleration resulting from a change from the first acceleration/deceleration setting to a second acceleration/deceleration setting, acquires the actual power consumption by calculation using the feedback information, recalculates the expected power consumption based on the second acceleration/deceleration setting changed by the setting change unit, calculates the expected power consumption including the power consumption of the external equipment, calculates the expected power consumption by totalizing: the actual power consumption; an increment/decrement before and after a change from the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, with respect to a power consumption at a constant speed; and an increment/decrement before and after the change from the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, with respect to a power consumption at a time of acceleration/deceleration (claims 1, 2, 5-7 and 11), these limitations as described in [0048]-[0049] constitutes details of mathematical calculations of the expected power consumption/actual power consumption, thus, it falls into the “mathematical concepts” group of abstract ideas see MPEP 2106.04(a)(2).
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the additional limitations of an actual power consumption acquisition unit configured to acquire an actual power consumption by actual measurement while the machine is operated at a first acceleration/deceleration setting that is based on the operation program, a feedback acquisition unit configured to acquire feedback information from the servo control device, the feedback information including a detection voltage and a detection current or a detection current and a detection speed (claims 1, 2 and 11) represent mere data collection which is an insignificant extrasolution activity. The expected power consumption calculation unit, display unit configured to display the actual power consumption and the expected power consumption (claims 1, 3-4 and 6-8) are recited at a high level of generality and are recited as performing generic computer functions routinely used in computer applications that they represent no more than mere instructions to apply the judicial exception on a computer. These limitations can also be viewed as nothing more than an attempt to generally link the use of the judicial exception to the technological environment of a computer. It should be noted that because the courts have made it clear that mere physicality or tangibility of an additional element or elements is not a relevant consideration in the eligibility analysis, the physical nature of these computer components does not affect this analysis. See MPEP 2106.05(I) for more information on this point, including explanations from judicial decisions including Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int'l, 573 U.S. 208, 224-26 (2014). Generic computer components recited as performing generic computer functions that are well-understood, routine and conventional activities amount to no more than implementing the abstract idea with a computerized system (Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int’l 573 U.S. __, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 110 U.S.P.Q.2d 1976 (2014)). Accordingly, these additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. The program storage unit configured to store an operation program for operating a machine, setting value storage unit configured to store at least a part of information necessary for the expected power consumption calculation unit to calculate a power consumption at the first acceleration/deceleration setting and a power consumption at the second acceleration/deceleration setting, acquires a power consumption of external equipment from the setting value storage unit (claims 1, 6 and 11) represent mere data storage/retrieval which is an insignificant extrasolution activity. The numerical control device, the numerical control device is connected to a servo control device that operates the machine, the first and second acceleration/deceleration settings are set for linear acceleration/deceleration, the first and second acceleration/deceleration settings are set for bell-shaped acceleration/deceleration, the first and second acceleration/deceleration settings are set for exponential acceleration/deceleration, (claims 1-2 and 8-10) generally links the abstract idea to a particular technological environment because it claims field of use, the display setting unit configured to make a display setting for the display unit to display the actual power consumption and the expected power consumption for each period set, display setting unit includes a period setting unit that sets the period and a period dividing unit that divides the period set by the period setting unit, and the display setting unit makes a display setting for the display unit to display (claims 3-4) is insignificant extra-solution activity of presenting information in a particular format, setting change unit configured to change the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, the setting change unit changes the second acceleration/deceleration setting, a setting change unit configured to change the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, the setting change unit changes a time constant at the time of acceleration/deceleration, a setting change unit configured to change the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, and the setting change unit changes a primary acceleration/deceleration time and a secondary acceleration/deceleration time at the time of acceleration/deceleration, or a time constant or a change in speed at the time of acceleration/deceleration, a setting change unit configured to change the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting, the setting change unit changes a time constant and a finally-reachable speed at the time of acceleration/deceleration (claims 5 and 8-10), they represent recalculate the expected consumption whenever an underlying parameter (i.e. applying the abstract idea whenever a conventional parameter changes) which is the equivalent of merely reciting the words “apply it”.
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the insignificant extra-solution activity of data collection is considered well-understood, routine, and conventional, see mpep 2106.05(d), infra applied prior art, references cited. The expected power consumption calculation unit, display unit configured to display the actual power consumption and the expected power consumption (claims 19, 22-27, 29-32 and 35) are recited at a high level of generality and are recited as performing generic computer functions routinely used in computer applications, which cannot provide an inventive concept. Generic computer components recited as performing generic computer functions that are well-understood, routine and conventional activities amount to no more than implementing the abstract idea with a computerized system (Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int’l 573 U.S. __, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 110 U.S.P.Q.2d 1976 (2014)). The insignificant extra-solution activity of data storage/retrieval is considered well-understood, routine and conventional because the courts have identified storing and retrieving information in memory to be well-understood, routine and conventional. Please see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II). The “field of use” limitation do not amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because they are well-understood, routine and conventional (See MPEP2106.05(d)). The insignificant extra-solution activity of presenting information in a particular format is considered well-understood, routine, and conventional, see mpep 2106.05(d), infra applied prior art, references cited. US10146213 discloses that automatically changes acceleration/deceleration settings is well-known, routine and conventional.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 11 would be allowable if the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 101, set forth in this Office action, is overcome.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claim 1
Regarding claim 1, US20190267835 discloses a motor drive system includes a converter configured to convert power between AC power in a power source and DC power in a DC link, an inverter for drive configured to convert power between the DC power in the DC link and AC power serving as drive power or regenerative power for a servomotor for drive, a motor control unit for drive configured to control the servomotor for drive connected to the inverter for drive, a power storage device configured to store the DC power from the DC link or to supply the DC power to the DC link, and a base holding energy change unit configured to change a base holding energy defined as a reference value of a holding energy of the power storage device, in accordance with the holding energy of the power storage device. US20170005606 discloses a motor driving device includes, a PWM converter that performs power conversion between AC power and DC power in a DC link, an inverter that converts the DC power in the DC link to AC power for a motor and that converts the AC power from the motor to DC power for returning to the DC link, a power storage unit that stores the DC power, a switch that connects or disconnects between an AC power supply and the PWM converter in response to a command, and a command unit that continues outputting a connection command to the switch while a DC voltage in the DC link is boosted up to a prescribed voltage by the DC power, and that initiates outputting a disconnection command to the switch after the DC voltage in the DC link reaches the prescribed voltage and before the inverter initiates powering operation. US20180134240 discloses a power supply system control device for controlling a power supply system including an electric generator, a first electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge electric power generated by the electric generator, a second electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge the generated electric power, two paths connecting between the first electricity storage and the second electricity storage, a switching unit including a first switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of one of the paths, and a second switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the other of the paths, and an electric load of a vehicle that is connected to the first electricity storage side of the switching unit.
Regarding claim 1, the combination of the cited prior arts does not describe:
an expected power consumption calculation unit configured to calculate an expected power consumption by adding at least the actual power consumption and a power consumption increment/decrement corresponding to a change in acceleration/deceleration resulting from a change from the first acceleration/deceleration setting to a second acceleration/deceleration setting; a setting value storage unit configured to store at least a part of information necessary for the expected power consumption calculation unit to calculate a power consumption at the first acceleration/deceleration setting and a power consumption at the second acceleration/deceleration setting
Claim 11
Regarding claim 1, US20190267835 discloses a motor drive system includes a converter configured to convert power between AC power in a power source and DC power in a DC link, an inverter for drive configured to convert power between the DC power in the DC link and AC power serving as drive power or regenerative power for a servomotor for drive, a motor control unit for drive configured to control the servomotor for drive connected to the inverter for drive, a power storage device configured to store the DC power from the DC link or to supply the DC power to the DC link, and a base holding energy change unit configured to change a base holding energy defined as a reference value of a holding energy of the power storage device, in accordance with the holding energy of the power storage device. US20170005606 discloses a motor driving device includes, a PWM converter that performs power conversion between AC power and DC power in a DC link, an inverter that converts the DC power in the DC link to AC power for a motor and that converts the AC power from the motor to DC power for returning to the DC link, a power storage unit that stores the DC power, a switch that connects or disconnects between an AC power supply and the PWM converter in response to a command, and a command unit that continues outputting a connection command to the switch while a DC voltage in the DC link is boosted up to a prescribed voltage by the DC power, and that initiates outputting a disconnection command to the switch after the DC voltage in the DC link reaches the prescribed voltage and before the inverter initiates powering operation. US20180134240 discloses a power supply system control device for controlling a power supply system including an electric generator, a first electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge electric power generated by the electric generator, a second electricity storage configured to be charged with and to discharge the generated electric power, two paths connecting between the first electricity storage and the second electricity storage, a switching unit including a first switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of one of the paths, and a second switch configured to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state of the other of the paths, and an electric load of a vehicle that is connected to the first electricity storage side of the switching unit.
Regarding claim 11, the combination of the cited prior arts does not describe:
calculating an expected power consumption by adding at least the actual power consumption and a power consumption increment/decrement corresponding to a change in acceleration/deceleration resulting from a change from the first acceleration/deceleration setting to the second acceleration/deceleration setting
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
US20120296475 discloses a controller (10) for a machine tool (18) for tapping by a main shaft and a feed shaft, comprising an identifier unit (12) for identifying an index of the size of the tap, a temperature detector unit (19b) for detecting the temperature of a motor (19a) for the main shaft, an acceleration storage unit (21) for storing the acceleration of the main shaft corresponding to the index of the size of the tap, a rate storage unit (22) for storing the rate of varying the acceleration of the main shaft depending upon the temperature of the motor, and an acceleration calculation unit (16) for calculating a new acceleration of the main shaft by multiplying an acceleration determined from the index of the size of the tap and from the acceleration storage unit by a rate determined from the detected temperature and from the rate storage unit.
US20090228135 discloses a numerical control apparatus 101 includes: a machining-condition storage device 104 that stores in a storage device 107 machining conditions including a tool number, a servo-axis feed-speed instruction value, and a main-axis rotation-number instruction value, and override values of a servo axis and a main axis that are specified through an override switch; a machining-condition monitoring unit (a machining-condition checking unit 114) that monitors whether the machining conditions are in a same combination in a machining block, and outputs a machining condition changing signal when the machining conditions are in the same combination; and a controller (an interpolation processor 115) that multiplies and executes the override values stored in the storage device 107 to the servo-axis feed-speed instruction value and the main-axis rotation-number instruction value to be executed, based on a machining condition changing signal output from the machining-condition checking unit 114.
US20200052489 discloses a motor drive system includes a power source unit configured to supply DC power to a DC link, a servo-amplifier for drive configured to convert the DC power in the DC link into AC power and supply the AC power as drive power to a servomotor for drive, a power storage device configured to store the DC power from the DC link or supply the DC power to the DC link, a power consumption calculation unit configured to calculate total power consumption as the sum of power consumed by the servomotor for drive, the servo-amplifier for drive and the power source unit, and a power storage device control unit configured to control power storage and power supply of the power storage device according to the total power consumption, wherein the power storage device control unit determines start and end of power storage or power supply, based on different thresholds.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON LIN whose telephone number is (571)270-3175. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Robert E. Fennema can be reached on (571)272-2748. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON LIN/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2117
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