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 39 and 42 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.
Regarding claim 39, the term "preferably" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation(s) following the term are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Regarding claim 42, the phrase "such as" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2173.05(d).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 26-38, 40-41, and 43-45 are allowed.
Claims 39 and 42 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 26:
Closest prior art: Knauer (US 10,975,837)
Knauer discloses a method of controlling diffusion of a wake generated by a horizontal axis wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine comprises a rotor having a hub and a plurality of rotor blades mounted to the hub, wherein each rotor blade has a radially-outer, energy-extraction portion and a radially-inner, ventilation portion, and wherein the radially-inner ventilation portion is shaped to, in use, ventilate a central area of the wake by extracting reduced levels of kinetic energy from the wind compared to the radially-outer energy extraction portion.
The closest prior art fails to disclose or suggest adjusting the tip speed ratio of the rotor so as to modify turbulent mixing within the wake.
Claims 27-38 and 40 are allowed to for depending upon claim 26.
Regarding claim 41:
Closest prior art: Post et al. (US 11,639,710; hereinafter Post) and Knauer (US 10,975,837)
Post discloses a method of optimizing power production of a wind farm comprising a plurality of horizontal axis wind turbines, the method comprising: determining the effect that the wake of each wind turbine has on the efficiency of the wind farm.
Knauer teaches the wind turbines comprising a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades, each rotor blade having a radially-outer, energy-extraction portion and a radially-inner, ventilation portion, wherein the radially-inner ventilation portion is shaped to, in use, ventilate a central area of the wake by extracting reduced levels of kinetic energy from the wind compared to the radially-outer energy extraction portion.
The closest prior art fails to disclose or suggest adjusting the tip speed ratio of the rotor of at least one of the wind turbines to modify turbulent mixing within its wake and increase the efficiency of the wind farm.
Claims 43-45 are allowed to for depending upon claim 41.
Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Christensen et al. (US 2025/0382944) discloses a means for controlling a wind turbine farm in which how the wake of an upstream wind turbine affects a downstream wind turbine is taken into account when controlling the wind turbines.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIELLE M CHRISTENSEN whose telephone number is (571)270-3275. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Courtney Heinle can be reached at 571-270-3508. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Danielle M. Christensen/Examiner, Art Unit 3745
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