DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed 01/07/2025, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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 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.
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claims 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-5 of prior U.S. Patent No. 11,909,351. This is a statutory double patenting rejection.
Instant Application
Conflicting US Patent 11,909,351
1. An inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness for photovoltaic solar facilities, comprising:(a) a housing containing a plurality of DC/DC converters, each having a two- pole input and a two-pole output, wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing;(b) wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector operatively connected to an existing circuit; and(c) wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a respective corresponding connector operatively connected to a DC combiner box.
1. An inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness for photovoltaic solar facilities, comprising: a housing containing a plurality of DC/DC converters, each having a two-pole input and a two-pole output, wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing; wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a corresponding connector operatively connected to an existing circuit; and wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a respective corresponding connector operatively connected to a DC combiner box.
2. An inline DC voltage step-up system for retrofitting a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility to provide a new, higher-voltage output, the system comprising:(a) an inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness, including:(i) a housing,(ii) a plurality of DC/DC converters disposed within the housing, each DC/DC converter having a two-pole input and a two-pole output, (iii) wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing,(iv) wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a respective corresponding connector operatively connected to an existing circuit, and(v) wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector; and(b) a DC combiner box having a two-pole input, terminated with connectors coupled to the connectors of the exterior output of the inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness, and an output connected to a load.
2. An inline DC voltage step-up system for retrofitting a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility to provide a new, higher-voltage output, the system comprising: (a) an inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness, including: (i) a housing, (ii) a plurality of DC/DC converters disposed within the housing, each DC/DC converter having a two-pole input and a two-pole output, (iii) wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing, (iv) wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector adapted to connect to a respective corresponding connector operatively connected to an existing circuit, and (v) wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector; and (b) a DC combiner box having a two-pole input, terminated with connectors coupled to the connectors of the exterior output of the inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness, and an output connected to a load.
3. A method of retrofitting a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility to replace an existing lower-voltage module, connected to connectors that terminate output circuits from the PV solar facility, with a new higher-voltage module, the existing lower-voltage module providing output voltage to a load at a first voltage, the method comprising:(a) providing an inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness and a first DC combiner box, wherein the inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness includes:(i) a housing,(ii) a plurality of DC/DC converters disposed within the housing, each DC/DC converter having a two-pole input and a two-pole output, (iii) wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing,(iv) wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector, and(v) wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector; and(b) disconnecting a second DC combiner box from the plurality of connectors that terminate output circuits from the PV solar facility;(c) after disconnecting, connecting inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness to the output circuits from the PV solar facility by connecting the respective connectors together;(d) connecting the first DC combiner box to the output from the housing via the respective connectors; and (e) thereafter, providing an output voltage to the load at a second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage.
3. A method of retrofitting a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility to replace an existing lower-voltage module, connected to connectors that terminate output circuits from the PV solar facility, with a new higher-voltage module, the existing lower-voltage module providing output voltage to a load at a first voltage, the method comprising: (a) providing an inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness and a first DC combiner box, wherein the inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness includes: (i) a housing, (ii) a plurality of DC/DC converters disposed within the housing, each DC/DC converter having a two-pole input and a two-pole output, (iii) wherein the outputs of the DC/DC converters are connected together in parallel in the housing and provided as an exterior two-pole output from the housing, (iv) wherein each pole of the input of each of the plurality of DC/DC converters is terminated with a connector, and (v) wherein each pole of the exterior output from the housing is terminated with a connector; and (b) disconnecting a second DC combiner box from the plurality of connectors that terminate output circuits from the PV solar facility; (c) after disconnecting, connecting inline DC feeder DC/DC voltage step-up harness to the output circuits from the PV solar facility by connecting the respective connectors together; (d) connecting the first DC combiner box to the output from the housing via the respective connectors; and (e) thereafter, providing an output voltage to the load at a second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first DC combiner box is a replacement combiner box.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first DC combiner box is a replacement combiner box.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first voltage is 600 VDC or 1000 VDC, and the second voltage is 1500 VDC.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first voltage is 600 VDC or 1000 VDC, and the second voltage is 1500 VDC.
Conclusion
Examiner's Note:
Examiner has cited particular columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in their entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner.
In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied on for proper interpretation and also to verify and ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAKAISHA JACKSON whose telephone number is (571)270-3111. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00-5:00.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, MONICA LEWIS can be reached on 571-272-1838. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LAKAISHA JACKSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2838
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