Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/971,191

DOUBLY SALIENT PARALLEL PATH MAGNETIC MOTOR

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 06, 2024
Priority
Jan 29, 2024 — provisional 63/626,121
Examiner
MATES, ROBERT E
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
56%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 5m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 56% of resolved cases
56%
Career Allowance Rate
259 granted / 459 resolved
-3.6% vs TC avg
Strong +36% interview lift
Without
With
+35.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
492
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
92.6%
+52.6% vs TC avg
§102
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
§112
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 459 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement filed 12/6/2024 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(2), which requires a legible copy of each cited foreign patent document; each non-patent literature publication or that portion which caused it to be listed; and all other information or that portion which caused it to be listed. The non-patent literature publications referred to therein have not been considered. Specification The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it has too many words. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b). Double Patenting Claims 1-20 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of copending Application No. 19/241,879 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of Application No. 19/241,879 are one alternative of the claims of the instant application as shown by a comparison of the independent claims in the following table. Instant Application 18/971,191 Copending Application 19/241,879 1. An electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two permanent magnets or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions. 1. An electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions. 10. An electric machine method comprising: providing an electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two permanent magnets or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and sequentially energizing and de-energizing the stator poles to impart a torque on the rotor. 10. An electric machine method comprising: providing an electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and sequentially energizing and de-energizing the stator poles to impart a torque on the rotor. 18. An electric motor assembly for an electric vehicle, the electric motor comprising: a rotor adapted to be coupled to a drive wheel of the electric vehicle; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two permanent magnets or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions. 18. An electric motor assembly for an electric vehicle, the electric motor comprising: a rotor adapted to be coupled to a drive wheel of the electric vehicle; and a stator disposed concentrically about the rotor and separated from the rotor by a gap; wherein the rotor comprises five rotor protrusions disposed concentrically about the rotor; wherein the stator comprises two direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions; and wherein the stator comprises six stator poles disposed concentrically about the stator, wherein each of the stator poles is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions. This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented. 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 MEEKER, Doubly Salient Synchronous Generator for Gas Turbine Engines, Electric Machines Technology Symposium 2014, 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by MEEKER, Doubly Salient Synchronous Generator for Gas Turbine Engines, Electric Machines Technology Symposium 2014, of record. As to claim 1, Meeker shows (FIG. 4): PNG media_image1.png 766 883 media_image1.png Greyscale An electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor R; and a stator S disposed concentrically about the rotor R and separated from the rotor R by a gap; wherein the rotor R comprises five rotor protrusions RP disposed concentrically about the rotor R; wherein the stator S comprises two permanent magnets M or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator S and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets M or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP; and wherein the stator S comprises six stator poles SP disposed concentrically about the stator S, wherein each of the stator poles SP is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP (pages 1-2). As to claim 2/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the stator S is divided into two stator segments, wherein each stator segment comprises three stator poles SP of the six stator poles SP, and wherein the two stator segments are separated by the two permanent magnets PM or direct current coils. As to claim 3/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein each of the stator poles SP comprises a stator tooth disposed concentrically about the stator S and an associated stator coil (pages 1-2). As to claim 4/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the baseline magnetic flux and/or the induced magnetic flux are adapted to arrest or cause rotation of the rotor R with respect to the stator S (capable of performing the claimed function). As to claim 5/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the baseline magnetic flux is adapted to arrest rotation of the rotor R with respect to the stator S (capable of performing the claimed function). As to claim 6/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the current provided to each of the stator poles SP has a square, near sinusoidal, or sinusoidal current waveform (three phase current is implied to be sinusoidal pages 1-2). As to claim 7/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the stator poles SP are sequentially energized and de-energized to impart a torque on the rotor R (three phase coils pages 1-2). As to claim 8/1, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the rotor R and the stator S are manufactured from a ferromagnetic material (iron label in FIG. 4). As to claim 9/1, Meeker further shows wherein the electric machine assembly is utilized in one of an electric vehicle, industrial machinery, a robot, and a turbine generator (turbine generator title). As to claim 10, Meeker shows (FIG. 4 above) An electric machine method comprising: providing an electric machine assembly comprising: a rotor R; and a stator S disposed concentrically about the rotor R and separated from the rotor R by a gap; wherein the rotor R comprises five rotor protrusions RP disposed concentrically about the rotor R; wherein the stator S comprises two permanent magnets M or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator S and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets M or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP; and wherein the stator S comprises six stator poles SP disposed concentrically about the stator S, wherein each of the stator poles SP is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP; and sequentially energizing and de-energizing the stator poles SP to impart a torque on the rotor R (three phase coils pages 1-2). As to claim 11/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the stator S is divided into two stator segments, wherein each stator segment comprises three stator poles SP of the six stator poles SP, and wherein the two stator segments are separated by the two permanent magnets PM or direct current coils. As to claim 12/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein each of the stator poles SP comprises a stator tooth disposed concentrically about the stator S and an associated stator coil (pages 1-2). As to claim 13/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the baseline magnetic flux and/or the induced magnetic flux are adapted to arrest or cause rotation of the rotor R with respect to the stator S (capable of performing the claimed function). As to claim 14/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the baseline magnetic flux is adapted to arrest rotation of the rotor R with respect to the stator S (capable of performing the claimed function). As to claim 15/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the current provided to each of the stator poles SP has a square, near sinusoidal, or sinusoidal current waveform (three phase current is implied to be sinusoidal pages 1-2). As to claim 16/10, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the rotor R and the stator S are manufactured from a ferromagnetic material (iron label in FIG. 4). As to claim 17/10, Meeker further shows wherein the electric machine assembly is utilized in one of an electric vehicle, industrial machinery, a robot, and a turbine generator (turbine generator title). As to claim 18, Meeker shows (FIG. 4) An electric motor assembly for an electric vehicle, the electric motor comprising: a rotor R adapted to be coupled to a drive wheel of an electric vehicle; and a stator S disposed concentrically about the rotor R and separated from the rotor R by a gap; wherein the rotor R comprises five rotor protrusions RP disposed concentrically about the rotor R; wherein the stator S comprises two permanent magnets M or direct current coils disposed concentrically about the stator S and magnetized is opposing directions, wherein each of the permanent magnets M or direct current coils provides an associated baseline magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP; and wherein the stator S comprises six stator poles SP disposed concentrically about the stator S, wherein each of the stator poles SP is adapted to receive a current to provide an associated induced magnetic flux that is adapted to interact with the rotor protrusions RP (pages 1-2, vehicle page 6-7). As to claim 19/18, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the stator S is divided into two stator segments, wherein each stator segment comprises three stator poles SP of the six stator poles SP, and wherein the two stator segments are separated by the two permanent magnets PM or direct current coils. As to claim 20/18, Meeker further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein each of the stator poles SP comprises a stator tooth disposed concentrically about the stator S and an associated stator coil (pages 1-2). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT E MATES whose telephone number is (571)270-5293. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 12:00pm to 8pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TULSIDAS PATEL can be reached at (571)272-2098. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834 /TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 06, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
56%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+35.8%)
3y 1m (~1y 5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 459 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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