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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraphs throughout the Specification do not end in periods (i.e. ending in semicolons, commas, etc.) and do not start with capital letters.
[0012] ends with a circle instead of a period.
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Fig. 1 is fuzzy and difficult to read and interpret. The fuzzy lines make it difficult to see how various components are connected and the fuzzy element numbers makes it difficult to see what the numbers are. Please provide a clearly figure, such as the one used in the certified copy of foreign priority application.
Fig. 2 has no element numbers indicating which parts are which.
Fig. 3 also has no element numbers indicating which parts are which.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 3, and 5 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 Line 7: the Examiner recommends amending “a lead screw” to --a solid long shaft lead screw-- as used in later claims (e.g. Claim 5 Line 4).
Claim 1 Line 9: the Examiner recommends amending “a lead screw” to --a hollow long shaft lead screw-- as used in later claims (e.g. Claim 3 Line 5).
Claim 1 Line 10: “an” should be amended to --a--.
Claim 1 Line 15: the Examiner recommends clarifying that the “non-fault mode” and the “normal operation” are the same mode/operation (e.g. having both recitations be either “non-fault mode” or “normal operation”).
Claim 1 Line 16: the Examiner recommends deleting “to output power” since the primary work roller screw pair more accurately outputs “an axial reciprocating movement” which is also recited in Claim 1 Line 18.
Claim 3 Line 5: “a hollow long shaft lead screw” should be amended to --the hollow long shaft lead screw-- (see Claim 1 Line 9).
Claim 5 Line 4: “a solid long shaft lead screw” should be amended to --the solid long shaft lead screw-- (see Claim 1 Line 7).
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-13 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.
Claim 1 Lines 16-17: The recitation “and under a constraint of the lead screw roll limiting electromagnetic clutch assembly” is indefinite. In particular, Claim 1 Lines 13-15 recite that in a non-fault mode (note: being interpreted as the same as “normal operation”) that the lead screw roll limiting electromagnetic clutch assembly is “inoperative”. As such, it is unclear how it can be inoperative and provide constraint to the primary work roller screw pair assembly.
Claim 1 Line 27: The recitation “completing mechanical fault recovery” is indefinite. In particular, it is unclear how the recitation is meant to limit the claim. Lines 20-27 recites that the servo mechanism is in a “fault self-recovery mode” and what happens in this mode. Does the limitation mean that once the servo mechanism provides these functions it returns to a normal operating mode? It would seem that servo mechanism in fault mode is merely providing an alternative power path for operating the servo mechanism and not fixing what caused the fault to occur in the first place, which would mean that the servo mechanism should continue to run in fault mode until a technician repaired whatever caused the fault in the first place. As best understood, the Examiner recommends deleting the recitation to avoid confusion.
Claim 13 Lines 3-4: The recitations “linear travel of 2x” and “linear travel of 4x” are indefinite. In particular, while it appears that this means the secondary work roller screw pair assembly can travel twice as far as the primary work roller screw pair assembly (i.e. 4x instead of 2x), it is unclear what x is relative to. The use of 2x and 4x, compared to something like “twice as far” (or x and 2x), appears to be intended to further define the travel of both assemblies beyond just compared to each other. Please advise.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Song (CN 107612205-A) is considered the closest prior art.
Regarding Claim 1, Song discloses an ultra-short mechanical fault self-recovery electromechanical servo mechanism, comprising:
A servo motor assembly (100, 200), a primary work roller screw pair assembly (1, 13), a secondary work screw pair assembly (6, 61), a lead screw roll limiting electromagnetic clutch assembly (22), a nut roll limiting electromagnetic clutch assembly and an external connection assembly (72).
Wherein the servo motor assembly is mounted coaxially with the primary work roller screw pair assembly (see Fig. 2); a lead screw (6) of the secondary work roller screw pair assembly has a first end secured to an interior of the external connection assembly (see Fig. 2, showing a connection through nut 61), and a second end matingly connected to a lead screw of the primary work roller screw pair assembly (see Fig. 2, showing the right side of the lead screw); the lead screw roll limiting electromagnet clutch assembly is provided at an power output end of the primary work roller screw pair assembly (see Fig. 2, showing the right side of the housing has the clutch assembly), and the nut roll limiting electromagnetic clutch assembly is provided on the secondary work roller screw pair assembly (see Fig. 2).
During normal operations (i.e. non-fault mode), both motors of the servo motor assembly operate, and only during a mechanical malfunction does the respective clutch assembly, in the form of a brake acting on the rotor of a motor, is engaged to stop movement of that rotor, which stops movement of the respective work screw pair driven by it.
In contrast, Applicant’s claimed invention uses a single motor generally works by both clutches being disengaged during normal operation and only the primary work roller screw pair assembly operating. During a malfunction both clutches are engaged, which locks up the primary roller screw pair assembly so that the entire thing rotates but does not provide linear movement, and at the same time the secondary work roller screw pair assembly is engaged to the motor rotating the nut and causing linear movement.
It would not have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Song to require both clutches to be engaged for the secondary roller screw pair assembly to operate as this would require significant structural changes to be made to the servo mechanism, and would fundamentally change how it operates.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY WEBER whose telephone number is (571)272-3307. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM - 5PM M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, MINNAH SEOH can be reached at (571) 270-7778. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GREGORY ROBERT WEBER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618