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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: ROTATING ELECTRIC MACHINE WITH ROTOR CORE WITH SLITS.
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 basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of 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) 1-5, 7, 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Ozaki (WO 2021166872 A1, see US 2022/0393528 A1 for English Translation).
As to claim 1, Ozaki shows (FIG. 4):
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A rotating electric machine M comprising:
a rotor 7 including a rotor core 21 and a plurality of permanent magnets 22 embedded in the rotor core 21; and
a stator 5 configured to apply a rotating magnetic field to the rotor 7,
wherein
the rotor 7 has a plurality of magnetic poles 26 formed at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction,
each of the magnetic poles 26 includes a corresponding one of the permanent magnets 22 and a corresponding portion of the rotor core 21,
each of the magnetic poles 26 has one slit A formed in the corresponding portion of the rotor core 21,
in each of the magnetic poles 26, an angle from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end of the magnetic pole is 360 degrees/P, where P is the number of the magnetic poles 26,
each of the magnetic poles 26 is divided into twelve equal areas between the first and second circumferential ends thereof,
counting the twelve areas in order of proximity to the first circumferential end, the fourth to ninth areas are respectively defined as a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, a fifth area and a sixth area,
the slits of the magnetic poles include a first slit A and a second slit B, the first slit A is arranged in the third area or the sixth area, and
the second slit B is arranged in one of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area (para [0022], pole 26 is shown as a projection on either side of slits A, B; slit A is in third area, slit B is in fourth area, slits A, B are larger than one area; the magnetic poles 26 include the entire magnet 22).
As to claim 2/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the second slit B is arranged, in one of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area, at a position where it generates torque ripple whose phase is opposite to that of rotational (3xP)th-order torque ripple generated by the first slit A (slit B is capable of performing the claimed function).
As to claim 3/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein each of the permanent magnets 22 has a folded shape that is convex inward in a radial direction of the rotor 7.
As to claim 4/3/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein a distance between intersection points between extension lines of an inside surface of each of the permanent magnets 22 having the folded shape and an outer circumferential surface of the rotor core 21 is defined as a magnetic pole pitch, and in each of the magnetic poles, all of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area are set within a range of the magnetic pole pitch.
As to claim 5/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein the first slit A is arranged in the third area, and the second slit B is arranged, in one of the second area, the fourth area and the sixth area, at a position where it generates torque ripple whose phase is opposite to that of rotational (6xP)th-order torque ripple generated by the first slit A (slit A is in third area, slit B is in fourth area, slits A, B are larger than one area, slit B is capable of performing the claimed function).
As to claim 7/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 4 above) wherein at least one of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area is set, in all of the magnetic poles 26, as an area where no slit is arranged (the first area has no slit).
As to claim 8/1, Ozaki further shows (FIG. 3) wherein the arrangement areas of the slits A,B are identical for each pair of the magnetic poles 26 located 180 degrees opposite to each other.
Claim(s) 1, 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wang (WO 2022022426 A1).
As to claim 1, Wang shows (FIG. 1, 3) A rotating electric machine comprising:
a rotor including a rotor core 1 and a plurality of permanent magnets 120 embedded in the rotor core 1; and
a stator configured to apply a rotating magnetic field to the rotor 1,
wherein
the rotor has a plurality of magnetic poles formed at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction,
each of the magnetic poles includes a corresponding one of the permanent magnets 120 and a corresponding portion of the rotor core 1,
each of the magnetic poles has one slit 123 formed in the corresponding portion of the rotor core 1,
in each of the magnetic poles, an angle from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end of the magnetic pole is 360 degrees/P, where P is the number of the magnetic poles P,
each of the magnetic poles is divided into twelve equal areas between the first and second circumferential ends thereof,
counting the twelve areas in order of proximity to the first circumferential end, the fourth to ninth areas are respectively defined as a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, a fifth area and a sixth area,
the slits 129, 128 of the magnetic poles include a first slit 129 and a second slit 128,
the first slit 129 is arranged in the third area or the sixth area, and
the second slit 128 is arranged in one of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area (first slit 129 is in sixth area, second slit 128 is in the third area, pole para [0166], stator, motor para [0206]).
As to claim 6/1, Wang further shows (FIG. 1, 3) wherein the first slit 129 is arranged in the sixth area, and the second slit 128 is arranged, in one of the first area, the third area and the fifth area, at a position where it generates torque ripple whose phase is opposite to that of rotational (6xP)th-order torque ripple generated by the first slit 129 (first slit 129 is in sixth area, second slit 128 is in the third area , the slits 128, 129 are capable of performing the claimed function).
Claim(s) 1, 9 , 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kanazawa (WO 2022050016 A1).
As to claim 1, Kanazawa shows (FIG. 1, 3) A rotating electric machine 100 comprising:
a rotor including a rotor core 1 and a plurality of permanent magnets 9 embedded in the rotor core 1; and
a stator 7 configured to apply a rotating magnetic field to the rotor 1,
wherein
the rotor has a plurality of magnetic poles P formed at equal angular intervals in a circumferential direction,
each of the magnetic poles P includes a corresponding one of the permanent magnets 9 and a corresponding portion of the rotor core 1,
each of the magnetic poles P has one slit 12 formed in the corresponding portion of the rotor core 1,
in each of the magnetic poles P, an angle from a first circumferential end to a second circumferential end of the magnetic pole is 360 degrees/P, where P is the number of the magnetic poles P,
each of the magnetic poles P is divided into twelve equal areas between the first and second circumferential ends thereof,
counting the twelve areas in order of proximity to the first circumferential end, the fourth to ninth areas are respectively defined as a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, a fifth area and a sixth area,
the slits 11,12 of the magnetic poles include a first slit 12 and a second slit 11,
the first slit 12 is arranged in the third area or the sixth area, and
the second slit 11 is arranged in one of the first area, the second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area and the sixth area (first slit 12 is in third area, second slit 11 is in the fourth area).
As to claim 9/1, Kanazawa further shows (FIG. 16, 17) wherein the rotor core 1 is formed of a plurality of core sheets laminated in an axial direction, the core sheets are identical in configuration to each other, in each of the core sheets, there are formed the slits 11, 12 including the first slit 12 and the second slit 11, and the rotor core 1 is formed by laminating the core sheets in a state of having been rotated by 360°/P in units of a predetermined number of the core sheets (sheets para [0043]; four tiers of rotor are offset by 15 degrees para [0041]).
As to claim 11/9/1, Kanazawa further shows (FIG. 16, 17) wherein the slits 11,12 of the core sheets are arranged to form, in a laminated state of the core sheets, skew portions in which the slits 11,12 of the core sheets are offset in the circumferential direction with change in positions of the slits 11,12 in the axial direction.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kanazawa (WO 2022050016 A1) in view of Tang et al. (US 20220263361 A1, hereinafter Tang).
As to claim 10/9/1, Kanazawa was discussed above with respect to claim 9 and Kanazawa further shows wherein the rotor core 1 is formed by laminating the core sheets.
Kanazawa does not show the core sheets in a state of having been rotated by 360°/P in units of one core sheet.
Tang shows the core sheets in a state of having been rotated by 360°/P in units of one core sheet (para [0040]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of
the claimed invention to modify the rotor core 1 of Kanazawa to have the core sheets in a state of having been rotated by 360°/P in units of one core sheet taught by Tang, for the advantageous benefit of producing magnetic skewing without skewing the permanent magnets as taught by Tang (para [0038]).
Conclusion
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/ROBERT E MATES/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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