DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/04/2024 and 01/14/2025 was filed before the mailing of a first Office action on the merits. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97(b)(3). Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 claims at issue 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground(s) of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable by Claims 1-20, in the USPN 12,191,668 since the similar elements of the present Application 18/968,224 is the broader set of the claims of the USPN 12,191,668. In re Karlson, 136 USPQ 184 (1963): “Omission of an element and its function is an obvious expedient if the remaining elements perform the same functions as before”.
Exemplary Claims in Present Application No.18/968,224
Conflicting claims USPN 12,191,668
1. A system comprising:
a series string of photovoltaic modules comprising at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
wherein each of the first photovoltaic module and the second photovoltaic module comprise a first terminal and a second terminal;
wherein the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module is connected to the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module; and
a compensation circuit, the compensation circuit comprising:
a power converter;
a first input terminal connected to the first terminal of the first photovoltaic module;
a second input terminal connected to the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module and the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module; and
an output terminal connected to a direct current (DC) bus.
1. A system comprising:
a series string of photovoltaic modules comprising at least a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
wherein each of the first photovoltaic module and the second photovoltaic module comprise a first terminal and a second terminal;
wherein the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module is connected to the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module; and
a compensation circuit, the compensation circuit comprising:
a power converter;
a first input terminal connected to the first terminal of the first photovoltaic module;
a second input terminal connected to the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module and the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module;
a first output terminal connected to the first input terminal of the compensation circuit; and
a second output terminal connected to a direct current (DC) bus.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is connected to a first input terminal of an inverter.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is connected to a first input terminal of an inverter.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the inverter is connected to a power grid.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the inverter is connected to a power grid.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the inverter is connected to an energy storage device.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the inverter is connected to an energy storage device.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second terminal of the second photovoltaic module is connected to a different DC bus.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second terminal of the second photovoltaic module is connected to a different DC bus.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the different DC bus is connected to a second input terminal of the inverter.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the different DC bus is connected to a second input terminal of the inverter.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the different DC bus is a ground bus.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the different DC bus is a ground bus.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is a power bus.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is a power bus.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is connected to a second compensation circuit.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus is connected to a second compensation circuit.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second compensation circuit is connected to a second series string of photovoltaic modules.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second compensation circuit is connected to a second series string of photovoltaic modules.
11. A method comprising:
connecting a compensation circuit to a series string of photovoltaic modules, the series string comprising a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module, by:
connecting a first input terminal of the compensation circuit to a first terminal of the first photovoltaic module; connecting a second input terminal of the compensation circuit to a second terminal of the first photovoltaic module and a first terminal of the second photovoltaic module;
connecting an output terminal of the compensation circuit to a direct current (DC) bus; and
connecting the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module of the series string to the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module of the series string, wherein
the compensation circuit comprises a power converter.
11. A method comprising:
connecting a compensation circuit to a series string of photovoltaic modules, the series string comprising a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module, by:
connecting a first input terminal of the compensation circuit to a first terminal of the first photovoltaic module;
connecting a second input terminal of the compensation circuit to a second terminal of the first photovoltaic module and a first terminal of the second photovoltaic module;
connecting a first output terminal of the compensation circuit to the first input terminal of the compensation circuit;
connecting a second output terminal of the compensation circuit to a direct current (DC) bus; and
connecting the second terminal of the first photovoltaic module of the series string to the first terminal of the second photovoltaic module of the series string, wherein
the compensation circuit comprises a power converter.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the DC bus to a first input terminal of an inverter.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the DC bus to a first input terminal of an inverter.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the inverter to a power grid.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the inverter to a power grid.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the inverter to an energy storage device.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting the inverter to an energy storage device.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a second terminal of the second photovoltaic module to a different DC bus.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a second terminal of the second photovoltaic module to a different DC bus.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting the different DC bus to a second input terminal of the inverter.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting the different DC bus to a second input terminal of the inverter.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the different DC bus is a ground bus.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the different DC bus is a ground bus.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the DC bus is a power bus.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the DC bus is a power bus.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the DC bus to a second compensation circuit.
19. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the DC bus to a second compensation circuit.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising connecting the second compensation circuit to a second series string of photovoltaic modules.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising connecting the second compensation circuit to a second series string of photovoltaic modules.
Conclusion
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/XUAN LY/Examiner, Art Unit 2836
/REXFORD N BARNIE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2836