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 .
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.
Claims 8-13 are 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.
The claims appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and contain instances of grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Claim 8 recites “in response to a ready request that means an engaging request of the main circuit” in line 8 of the claim. This is unclear and confusing because it is not clear if the claim is indicating a ready request implies an engaging request or if these are two separate limitations: a ready request which is further limited as an engaging request, or a ready request of one circuit initiates an engaging request of another circuit, etc. In particular, the phrase “that means” is not definitive claim language.
Claim 8 further recites “based on the current time comes less than” in the last line of the claim. This is unclear and confusing. Since the limitation is directed to time, saying “comes” implies something subsequent in time. However, the grammar of the phrase is confusing and renders the claim indefinite. Perhaps this should read “based on the current time is less than” or “based on the current time becomes less than.”
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) 8-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Suzuki (US Pub. No. 2004/0026140).
Regarding claim 8, Suzuki (see paragraphs [0021 ]-[0088]) discloses A vehicle power supply management system (Fig.1) comprising: a main contactor (Fig.1: (10a)) installed on a main circuit connecting a battery (Fig.1: (1 ), (6)) and an inverter (Fig.1: (8), [0025]: Power drive unit 8 includes an inverter having a switching circuit in which two switching elements are in series connected) circuit that controls a frequency of electric power supplied to a motor (Fig.1: (2), [0025]: The converted three-phase alternating current is supplied to motor 2 by way of three phase wires 8u, 8v, and 8w. Three phase wires 8u, 8v, and 8w are respectively provided with each of current sensors 19u, 19v, and 19w for detecting current flown through three phase wires 19u, 19v, and 19w); a precharging contactor (Fig.1: (10b)) and a precharging resistor (Fig.1: (10c)) that are installed on a precharging circuit connected in parallel to the main contactor; and a capacitor (Fig.1: (9)) installed on a smoothing circuit connected in parallel to the inverter circuit, a control device that executes a precharging control that raises a voltage of the capacitor by engaging the precharging contactor in response to a ready request that means an engaging request of the main circuit, and a main control that, after the voltage of the capacitor reaches a voltage of the battery, engages the main contactor and disengages the precharging contractor ([0031 ]: If control unit 15 judges that on-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S2, control unit 15 judges whether or not charging of capacitor 9 is completed, in other words, whether or not charging of capacitor 9 is completed until voltage V2 of capacitor 9 is up to a predetermined value or more at step S3. If control unit 15 judges that charging of capacitor 9 is completed at step S3, after oncommand is outputted to main contactor 10a at step S4, off-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S5 and thereafter cooling fan 18 is stopped at step S6), wherein if the ready request vanishes while the precharging control is executed, the control device maintains an engaging state of the precharging contactor until the voltage of the capacitor reaches the voltage of the battery ([0031 ]: If control unit 15 judges that on-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S2, control unit 15 judges whether or not charging of capacitor 9 is completed, in other words, whether or not charging of capacitor 9 is completed until voltage V2 of capacitor 9 is up to a predetermined value or more at step S3), when the voltage of the capacitor reaches the voltage of the battery if the ready request vanishes while the precharging control is executed, the control device determines an energizing number of the precharging resistor in a latest predetermined time period based on a current time ([0031 ]: If control unit 15 judges that charging of capacitor 9 is completed at step S3, after on-command is outputted to main contactor 10a at step S4, off-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S5 and thereafter cooling fan 18 is stopped at step S6. [0032]: If control unit 15 judges that on-command has not been outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S2, control unit 15 judges whether or not retry of the initial charging using above-mentioned initial charging retrying unit is executed by a number of predetermined times at step S7. If control unit 15 judges that the retry of the initial charging is not executed at step S7, after on-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S8 and thereafter advancing to step S3), and if the energizing number is a predetermined number or more, the control device executes a first waiting control where the main contactor is engaged, the precharging contactor is disengaged, and an engaging state of the main contactor is maintained until the energizing number during the latest predetermined time period based on the current time comes less than the predetermined number ([0036]: If control unit 15 judges that retry of precharge is executed by a number of predetermined times at step S7, then control unit 15 judges whether or not cooling fan 18 has been operated at step S13. If control unit 15 judges that cooling fan 18 has not been operated at step 13, control unit 15 judges whether or not temperature of power drive unit 8 is a predetermined value or smaller at step S15. If control unit 15 judges that the temperature of power drive unit 8 is not a predetermined value or smaller at step S15, this routine is once completed and thereafter this routine is restarted. [0037]: If control unit 15 judges that cooling fan 18 has been already operated at step S13, control unit 15 judges whether or not predetermined time of drive of cooling fan 18 has elapsed from the start-up at step S16. If control unit 15 judges that cooling fan 18 has not being driven for predetermined time at step S16, thereafter advancing to step S14. If control unit 15 judges that cooling fan 18 has been driven for predetermined time or if control unit 15 judges that temperature of main battery 1 has been at or below a predetermined value at step S16 or if control unit 15 judges that temperature of power drive unit 8 has been at or below a predetermined value at step S15, on-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S17).
Regarding claims 9-10, Suzuki discloses wherein if the energizing number is less than the predetermined number in the determining of the energizing number, the control device executes an off control that disengages the main contactor and the precharging contactor; wherein if the energizing number is less than the predetermined number in the determining of the energizing number, the control device executes a second waiting control that maintains an engaging state of the main contactor or the precharging contactor until a waiting time elapses ([0030]: control unit 15 judges whether or not a precharge interval is a predetermined value or larger at step S1, the precharge interval to be defined by considering the cooling time of precharge contactor 10b in view of a previous charging processing of capacitor 9 in order to prevent current-restriction resistor 10c in precharge circuit 10d from being burned-out in precharge circuit 10d. At step S1, if the precharge interval is a predetermined value or larger, then control unit 15 judges whether or not on-command (also called "drive signal") is outputted to precharge contact 10b at step S2. Alternatively, if control unit 15 judges that the precharge interval is smaller than a predetermined value at step S1, this routine is once completed and thereafter this routine is restarted).
Regarding claims 11-12, Suzuki discloses wherein the control device waits during the second waiting control, maintaining the engaging state of the main contactor, and disengages the main contactor when the waiting time elapses; wherein the control device waits during the second waiting control, maintaining the engaging state of the precharging contactor, and disengages the precharging contactor when the waiting time elapses ([0033]: If control unit 15 judges that charging of capacitor 9 is not completed at step S3, in other words, if control unit 15 judges that voltage V2 of capacitor 9 is below a predetermined value, control unit 15 judges whether or not on-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b continuously for predetermined time, in other words, whether or not predetermined time necessary for precharge has elapsed at step S9. If control unit 15 judges that the predetermined time necessary for precharge has not elapsed at step S9, this routine is once completed and thereafter this routine is restarted).
Regarding claim 13, Suzuki discloses wherein the waiting time is equal to a sum of a first waiting time and a second waiting time, and the control device waits during the second waiting control, maintaining an engaging state of the precharging contactor, and disengages the precharging contactor and engages the main contactor when the first waiting time elapses, and disengages the main contactor when the second waiting time elapses ([0044]: after predetermined time Tp elapses, which is required for precharge, off-command is outputted to precharge contactor 10b at step S10. Thereafter, the present step returns to the routine by way of step S11. [0055]: Next, if drive time of cooling fan 18 becomes a predetermined value Tc1, oncommand is outputted to precharge contactor 1 Ob at step S17. Then, because voltage V3 of sub-battery 6 becomes larger than moving voltage threshold voltage Vt, resulting in that precharge contactor 10b is turned on. Accordingly, following step returns to the routine by way of steps S18 and S19. On-command is outputted to main contactor 10a at step S4 by way of steps S1, S2, and S3 and the present step is completed by way of steps S5 and S6 (refer to Flow E)).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACOB B MEYER whose telephone number is (571)270-3535. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9-7.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, J Allen Shriver can be reached at 303.297.4337. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JACOB B. MEYER
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3613
/JACOB B MEYER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3613
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