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 .
Claims 1-21 are pending.
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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Claims 1, 18 and 20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 18 and 20 of U.S. Patent No. 12188418 B2 and USP 11859562 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they have similar limitations.
Instant applications 19/011, 405
USP 12188418 B2
A system for controlling an engine, comprising: a governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative)
control loop operating in parallel with a second VCPID control loop to regulate fuel to the engine, each VCPID
control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop being associated with a respective engine parameter and/or one or more external parameter, an external transducer comprising a sensor for sensing an external parameter of the one or more external parameter, wherein the first VCPID control loop incorporates feedback from the second VCPID control loop to feed a term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising:
(i) a previous gain is subtracted from a selected output for the engine to yield a first result term,
(ii) the first result term is input to a gain portion of the first VCPID control loop, wherein the each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop includes a VCPID output that is fed to a first function, wherein the first function selects a command based on the VCPID output, the command being a command that requires a first amount of fuel to the second VCPID control loop, and wherein the governor provides the first amount of fuel to the engine to regulate the fuel to the engine to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
1. A system for controlling an engine, comprising: a fuel governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop operating in parallel with a second VCPID control loop to regulate fuel flow to the engine, each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop being associated with a respective engine parameter and one or more external parameter, an external transducer comprising a sensor for sensing an external parameter of the one or more external parameter, wherein the first VCPID control loop incorporates feedback from the second VCPID control loop to feed an integral term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising:
(i) a previous derivative gain and a previous proportional gain are summed and subtracted from a selected output for the engine to yield a first result term, (ii) the first result term is input to an integral gain portion of the first VCPID control loop, wherein the each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop includes a VCPID output that is fed to a first function, wherein the first function selects a fuel command based on the VCPID output, the fuel command being a command that requires a first amount of fuel to the second VCPID control loop, and wherein the fuel governor provides the first amount of fuel to the engine to regulate the fuel flow to the engine to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
18. A system for controlling a prime mover, comprising: a governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop to regulate an input energy source to the prime mover, the first VCPID control loop being associated with a prime mover parameter and/or a parameter, a transducer comprising a sensor for sensing the parameter, wherein the first VCPID control loop incorporates feedback from a second VCPID control loop to feed a term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising: (i) a previous gain is subtracted from a selected output for the prime mover to yield a first result term, (ii) the first result term is input to a portion of the first VCPID control loop, wherein the first VCPID control loop includes a VCPID output that is fed to a first function, wherein the first function selects an input energy command based on the VCPID output, the input energy command being a command that requires a first amount of input energy to the first VCPID control loop, and wherein the governor provides the first amount of input energy to the prime mover to regulate input energy flow to the prime mover to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
18. A system for controlling a prime mover, comprising: a governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop to regulate an input energy source to the prime mover, the first VCPID control loop being associated with a prime mover parameter and an external parameter, an external transducer comprising a sensor for sensing the external parameter, wherein the first VCPID control loop incorporates feedback from a second VCPID control loop to feed an integral term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising: (i) a previous derivative gain and a previous proportional gain are summed and subtracted from a selected output for the prime mover to yield a first result term, (ii) the first result term is input to an integral gain portion of the first VCPID control loop, wherein the first VCPID control loop includes a VCPID output that is fed to a first function, wherein the first function selects an input energy command based on the VCPID output, the input energy command being a command that requires a first amount of input energy to the first VCPID control loop, and wherein the governor provides the first amount of input energy to the prime mover to regulate input energy flow to the prime mover to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
20. A method of controlling an engine, comprising: operating a governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop operating in parallel with a second VCPID control loop to regulate fuel flow to the engine, each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop being associated with a respective engine parameter and/or one or more external parameter; sensing, by an external transducer comprising a sensor, an external parameter of the one or more external parameter; incorporating, by the first VCPID control loop, feedback from the second VCPID control loop to feed a term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising: (i) a previous derivative gain and a previous proportional gain are summed and subtracted from a selected output for the engine to yield a first result term, (ii) the first result term is input to a gain portion of the first VCPID control loop; feeding, by the each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop, a VCPID output that is fed to a first function; selecting, by the first function, a fuel command based on the VCPID output, the fuel command being a command that requires a first amount of fuel to the second VCPID control loop; and providing, by the fuel governor, the first amount of fuel to the engine to regulate the fuel flow to the engine to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
20. A method of controlling an engine, comprising: operating a fuel governor comprising a first VCPID (Variable Coefficient Proportional Integrative Derivative) control loop operating in parallel with a second VCPID control loop to regulate fuel flow to the engine, each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop being associated with a respective engine parameter and one or more external parameter; sensing, by an external transducer comprising a sensor, an external parameter of the one or more external parameter; incorporating, by the first VCPID control loop, feedback from the second VCPID control loop to feed an integral term of the first VCPID control loop by steps comprising: (i) a previous derivative gain and a previous proportional gain are summed and subtracted from a selected output for the engine to yield a first result term, (ii) the first result term is input to an integral gain portion of the first VCPID control loop; feeding, by the each VCPID control loop of the first VCPID control loop and the second VCPID control loop, a VCPID output that is fed to a first function; selecting, by the first function, a fuel command based on the VCPID output, the fuel command being a command that requires a first amount of fuel to the second VCPID control loop; and providing, by the fuel governor, the first amount of fuel to the engine to regulate the fuel flow to the engine to maintain the external parameter sensed by the sensor at least one of (i) above a lower limit and (ii) below an upper limit.
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and listed on the attached PTO Form 892 but not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Hunt et al. USPGPUB 20100038907 A1 teaches power generation is accomplished by capturing off-gas from a wellhead of an oil producing well, sensing a change in pressure from which a change in available off-gas can be determined, and adjusting a torque supplied by a prime mover to a generator responsive to the change in available off-gas to vary an amount of electricity generated by the generator.
Gao et al. USPGPUB 20090005886 A1 teaches methods and processes for controlling a system or plant using an extended active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based controller are presented. The extended ADRC controller accepts sensor information from the plant. The sensor information is used in conjunction with an extended state observer in combination with a predictor that estimates and predicts the current state of the plant and a co-joined estimate of the system disturbances and system dynamics. The extended state observer estimates and predictions are used in conjunction with a control law that generates an input to the system based in part on the extended state observer estimates and predictions as well as a desired trajectory for the plant to follow.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZIAUL KARIM whose telephone number is (571)270-3279. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on 571 272 4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZIAUL KARIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
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