DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the Application filed 10/29/2024.
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 lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,132,397. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other, see limitation in bold below.
Instant Application
US Patent No. 12,132,397
1. A system for reducing common-mode noise, the system comprising:
a switch mode power supply including primary and secondary sides, primary and secondary side grounds, an input voltage source, a primary switch, a transformer having a magnetic core, and a power output;
the transformer includes a primary winding on the primary side connected to the input voltage source via the primary switch, and a secondary winding on the secondary side connected to the power output via a rectifier means, wherein the secondary winding has a first section and a second section;
first and second partial active shields, wherein the first partial active shield winding is placed between the primary winding and the first section of the secondary winding, and the second partial active shield is placed between the primary winding and the second section of the secondary winding, and each of the first and second partial active shield windings has two terminations, are wound in a same direction as the secondary winding;
wherein the first and second partial active shields and the secondary winding have a number of turns; and
one of the two terminations of the first and the second partial active shield windings is connected to a quiet termination on the primary side, so that the terminations of the secondary windings and the first and second active shield windings that are adjacent each other carry alternating voltages of a same polarity such that there is a displacement current flowing in between the first and second partial active shield and the secondary winding, so that a common mode current from the primary side ground to the secondary side ground is zero.
1. A system for reducing common-mode noise, the system comprising:
a switch mode power supply including primary and secondary sides, primary and secondary side grounds, an input voltage source, a primary switch, a transformer having a magnetic core, and a power output, wherein the primary side and the secondary side each have at least a quiet termination wherein a voltage does not change with respect to the primary side ground and with respect to the secondary side ground;
the transformer includes a primary winding on the primary side connected to the input voltage source via the primary switch, and a secondary winding on the secondary side connected to the power output via a rectifier means, wherein the secondary winding has a first section and a second section;
first and second partial active shields, wherein the first partial active shield overlaps the first section of the secondary winding, and the second partial active shield overlaps the second section of the secondary winding;
wherein the first partial active shield winding is placed between the primary winding and the first section of the secondary winding, and the second partial active shield is placed between the primary winding and the second section of the secondary winding, and each of the first and second partial active shield windings has two terminations, are wound in a same direction as the secondary winding;
wherein the first and second partial active shields and the secondary winding have a number of turns; and
one of the two terminations of the first and the second partial active shield windings is connected to a quiet termination on the primary side, so that the terminations of the secondary windings and the first and second active shield windings that are adjacent each other carry alternating voltages of a same polarity such that there is a displacement current flowing in between the first and second partial active shield and the secondary winding, so that a common mode current from the primary side ground to the secondary side ground is zero.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 is/are allowed over prior-art.
The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance:
The primary reason for the indication of the allowability of claim 1 is the inclusion therein, in combination as currently claimed as a whole, of the limitation of “wherein the first partial active shield winding is placed between the primary winding and the first section of the secondary winding, and the second partial active shield is placed between the primary winding and the second section of the secondary winding, and each of the first and second partial active shield windings has two terminations, are wound in a same direction as the secondary winding… one of the two terminations of the first and the second partial active shield windings is connected to a quiet termination on the primary side, so that the terminations of the secondary windings and the first and second active shield windings that are adjacent each other carry alternating voltages of a same polarity such that there is a displacement current flowing in between the first and second partial active shield and the secondary winding, so that a common mode current from the primary side ground to the secondary side ground is zero”.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US Pub. No. 2017/0163164 discloses an energy transfer element circuitry for use in a power converter includes a cancellation shield winding wound around an energy transfer element core. A first trimming capacitor is coupled to a first end of the cancellation shield winding to adjust a shield response of the cancellation shield winding. A second end of the cancellation shield winding is unconnected. A primary winding is wound around the energy transfer element core. A balance shield winding is wound around the energy transfer element core. A second trimming capacitor is coupled to a second end of the balance shield winding to adjust a shield response of the cancellation shield winding. A first end of the balance shield winding is unconnected. A secondary winding is wound around the energy transfer element core.
US Pub. No. 2014/0334198 discloses a transformer and power converter including an isolation transformer is provided wherein the transformer includes a shielding arrangement for reducing or avoiding transmission of common mode noise between windings of a transformer, said transformer comprising a first winding, a second winding magnetically linked to the first winding, and a shield element interposed between the windings of the transformer, the shield element being connected to the first winding of the transformer and having a voltage distribution along a length of the shield element that causes common mode currents between said shield element and another shield element or said second winding of said transformer to be substantially complementary and resulting in substantially zero net common mode current in a parasitic capacitance formed by the shield element and another winding or a further shield element.
US Pub. No. 2014/0185337 discloses a shield windings, such as balance shield windings and cancellation shield windings, may be utilized to reduce common mode current (e.g., noise current) in the power converter. In general, the shield windings may be used to restrict the displacement current to a path that does not include the input conductive elements of the power converter. Further, the shield windings may be used to keep displacement current within the energy transfer element. The shield windings accomplish their purpose by introducing electric fields at the proper place and at the proper strength to steer the displacement current to take a desired path.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Alex Torres-Rivera whose telephone number is (571)272-5261. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30 ET.
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/ALEX TORRES-RIVERA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
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