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
This office action is responsive to the preliminary amendment filed on 04/29/2026. As directed by the amendment: no claim(s) has/have been amended, no claim(s) has/have been cancelled, and no new claim(s) has/have been added. Thus, claims 1-19 are presently pending in this application.
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) 1-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 & 102a2 as being clearly anticipated by Alston (US 20090107743 A1).
Alston ‘743 discloses the invention as follows:
1. A system 70 (see Fig. 5) comprising:
a source of electrical energy (e.g., an electrical power generator 76 in an electrical generation system 44; see 0055);
a first battery 40 electrically connected to and configured to be charged by the source of electrical energy 76, 44 (see fig. 5; 0060 “The electrical power generation system 44 comprises an electrical power generator 76 configured to charge the first battery 40, the second battery 42, and/or run the electrical load 78.”);
a second battery 42 (see par. 0055-0057 & 0060) electrically connected to at least one load 78 (0060); and
a power converter (e.g., battery management controller 60 and First Regulator or Converter 72; 0055, 0057, 0060-0061) electrically connected between the first battery 40 and the second battery 42;
wherein the power converter 60, 72 is configured such that the source of electrical energy 76, 44 is used to charge the second battery 42 only if a measured voltage of the first battery 40 is above a first setpoint voltage (par. 0067: “The battery management controller 60 provides the following functions: (1) to monitor the first voltage of the first battery 40 and the second voltage of the second battery 42 and/or to monitor current flow to and from the first and second batteries 40 and 42; (2) to control the operation of the second regulator or converter 73 to operate in either the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode or the second battery charging mode; (3) to control the first or current regulator 72 and the second regulator or converter to adjust the relative charging rates of the first and second batteries; (4) to control the third regulator or boost converter 74 to adjust the power being supplied to the load 78 from the at least one of the first and second batteries 40 and 42; (5) to control the power system 70 to conduct an equalization charge of one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery using the other of the first and second batteries; (6) to control the electrical generator to raise an output voltage to an increased value greater than a normal output voltage in order to conduct an equalization charge on one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery; and/or (7) to control the first or current regulator 72 so as to increase the amount of current flowing from the generator to the one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery.”); and
wherein the power converter 60, 72 (fig. 5) comprises:
a DC-DC converter (e.g., First Regulator or Converter 72);
an input voltage regulator 72 (see par. 0061: “In other words, the first regulator 72 may charge up the first battery 40, charge up the second battery 42, and/or run the components of the HVAC system 10 based on commands from the battery management controller 60. The first regulator 72 may be a DC-to-DC converter, such as a buck DC regulator or a buck/boost DC regulator and selector.”) that adjusts an input current limit (see citation above) such that a measured voltage of the first battery 40 does not drop below the first setpoint voltage;
a processor 60, 66-67 (par. 0069 “The battery management controller 60 may comprise a control logic circuit 66 and a memory 67. The battery management controller 60 carries out its function by being connected to the voltage and temperature sensors 63, the first regulator 72, the second regulator 73, the third regulator 74, the electrical power generation system 44, a user interface 51 (which may comprise a display 310 and one or more input devices 312), and the HVAC component controller 50.”) that determines a maximum allowed charge current based on the input current limit and based on a predetermined output current limit (see citation above); and
an output voltage regulator 72 that determines a desired charge current (see citation above) so as to bring a measured voltage of the second battery 42 to a second setpoint voltage;
wherein the DC-DC converter 72 outputs the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current so as to charge the second battery 42 while the measured voltage of the first battery 40 is maintained at or above the first setpoint voltage.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first setpoint voltage is a voltage at which the first battery 40 is fully charged (par. 0067).
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor 60, 66, 67 selects whichever of the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current has a lower magnitude as a setpoint inductor current (implicitly taught; par. 0067: “The battery management controller 60 provides the following functions: (1) to monitor the first voltage of the first battery 40 and the second voltage of the second battery 42 and/or to monitor current flow to and from the first and second batteries 40 and 42; (2) to control the operation of the second regulator or converter 73 to operate in either the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode or the second battery charging mode; (3) to control the first or current regulator 72 and the second regulator or converter to adjust the relative charging rates of the first and second batteries; (4) to control the third regulator or boost converter 74 to adjust the power being supplied to the load 78 from the at least one of the first and second batteries 40 and 42; (5) to control the power system 70 to conduct an equalization charge of one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery using the other of the first and second batteries; (6) to control the electrical generator to raise an output voltage to an increased value greater than a normal output voltage in order to conduct an equalization charge on one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery; and/or (7) to control the first or current regulator 72 so as to increase the amount of current flowing from the generator to the one of the first (secondary) battery and the second (main) battery.”).
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an inductor current regulator (i.e., 60, 66-67 and 72) that determines an output control signal that will bring a measured inductor current (again implicitly taught, see the cited functions from the controller 60 above) of the DC-DC converter 72 close to the setpoint inductor current.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the source of electrical energy is an alternator 76 driven by an internal combustion engine (fig. 5; par. 0060: “…the electrical power generator 76 is an alternator, such as a truck alternator, configured to be driven by the engine of the vehicle. The alternator may be configured such that, when the engine is on and running idle, the HVAC system should be able to run at maximum speed and load while the alternator provides maximum charging capacity for the batteries at the same time. For example, the alternator may be rated for 250 A, 24 V or 500 A, 12 V. In such an embodiment, the battery management controller 60 is configured to control the excitation of the alternator to control the alternator output voltage.”); and
the first battery 40 is electrically connected to a starter motor 64 of the engine (par. 0059: “The engine starter 64 is connected to one of the batteries so as to provide enough power to start the engine of the vehicle. The engine starter 64 may be electrically directly connected to the first battery, directly connected to the second battery, and/or directly connected to one of the first and second batteries while the other of the first and second batteries is connected to the engine starter through the second regulator or converter 73. In FIG. 5, the engine starter 64, for example, is directly connected to the first battery 40 and is indirectly connected to the second battery 42 via the first battery 40 and the second regulator 73.”).
6. A system 70 (see fig. 5) comprising:
a first battery 40;
a second battery 42;
a DC-DC converter 72 (see par. 0061: “In other words, the first regulator 72 may charge up the first battery 40, charge up the second battery 42, and/or run the components of the HVAC system 10 based on commands from the battery management controller 60. The first regulator 72 may be a DC-to-DC converter, such as a buck DC regulator or a buck/boost DC regulator and selector.”) electrically connected between the first 40 and second 42 batteries;
an input voltage regulator 72 that adjusts an input current limit (see citation in claim 1 above) such that a measured voltage of the first battery 40 does not drop below a first setpoint voltage;
a processor 60, 66-67 that determines a maximum allowed charge current based on the input current limit and based on a predetermined output current limit (see citation above); and
an output voltage regulator 72 that determines a desired charge current so as to bring a measured voltage of the second battery 42 to a second setpoint voltage;
wherein the DC-DC converter 72 (see above) outputs the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current so as to charge the second battery 42 while the measured voltage of the first battery 40 is maintained at or above the first setpoint voltage.
7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an internal combustion engine and at least one house load 78 (see fig. 5; par. 0066: “The electrical load 78 may be powered by at least one of the first battery 40, the second battery 42, and/or the electrical generator 76. The load 78 may be components of the HVAC system 10 for either heating or cooling the compartment of the vehicle and/or other electrical power accessories, such as microwave ovens, televisions, stereos, refrigerators, etc.”);
wherein the first battery 40 is an engine battery 40 electrically connected to a starter motor 64 of the engine (fig. 5; par. 0059: “The engine starter 64 is connected to one of the batteries so as to provide enough power to start the engine of the vehicle. The engine starter 64 may be electrically directly connected to the first battery, directly connected to the second battery, and/or directly connected to one of the first and second batteries while the other of the first and second batteries is connected to the engine starter through the second regulator or converter 73. In FIG. 5, the engine starter 64, for example, is directly connected to the first battery 40 and is indirectly connected to the second battery 42 via the first battery 40 and the second regulator 73.”); and
wherein the second battery 42 is a service battery 42 electrically connected to the at least one house load 78 (see par. 0066).
8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an alternator 76 driven by the engine, wherein the alternator 76 is configured to generate electrical energy to charge at least one of the first 40 and second 42 batteries (see par. 0060: “In one embodiment, the electrical power generator 76 is an alternator, such as a truck alternator, configured to be driven by the engine of the vehicle. The alternator may be configured such that, when the engine is on and running idle, the HVAC system should be able to run at maximum speed and load while the alternator provides maximum charging capacity for the batteries at the same time. For example, the alternator may be rated for 250 A, 24 V or 500 A, 12 V. In such an embodiment, the battery management controller 60 is configured to control the excitation of the alternator to control the alternator output voltage.”).
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor selects whichever of the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current has a lower magnitude as a setpoint inductor current (see claim 3 above).
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an output current regulator that determines an output control signal that will bring a measured inductor current of the DC-DC converter close to the setpoint inductor current (see claim 4 above).
11. The system of claim 6, further comprising a source of electrical energy (e.g., an electrical power generator 76 in an electrical generation system 44; see 0055), wherein the first battery 40 is electrically connected to and configured to be charged by the source of electrical energy 76, 44.
12. The system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined output current limit is a user-selected value ([0069] The battery management controller 60 may comprise a control logic circuit 66 and a memory 67. The battery management controller 60 carries out its function by being connected to the voltage and temperature sensors 63, the first regulator 72, the second regulator 73, the third regulator 74, the electrical power generation system 44, a user interface 51 (which may comprise a display 310 and one or more input devices 312), and the HVAC component controller 50. [0074] One or more input devices 312 may also be a part of the user interface. The input devices may be one or more of a keyboard, a control panel, or the like, so that the vehicle occupant may input user preferences for the operation of the HVAC system 10 and the power system 70. For example, the user preferences may include the operating mode of the HVAC system such as off, heating, and cooling modes of operation. Also, the input device 312 of the user interface may allow a user, such as a vehicle occupant, to select the operating mode of the second regulator or converter 73, for example, the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode, or the second battery charging mode.).
13. The system of claim 6, wherein the first setpoint voltage is a voltage at which the first battery is fully charged (see claims 1-2 above).
14. A power converter module (e.g., 60, 72; fig. 5) comprising:
a first terminal (e.g., depicted as left arrow connecting converter 72 to first battery 40) configured to be connected to a first battery 40 and a source of electrical energy (e.g., an electrical power generator 76 in an electrical generation system 44; see 0055);
a second terminal (e.g., depicted as right arrow connecting converter 72 to second battery 42) configured to be connected to a second battery 42;
a DC-DC converter 72 (par. 0061: “The first regulator 72 may be a DC-to-DC converter, such as a buck DC regulator or a buck/boost DC regulator and selector.”) electrically connected between the first terminal and the second terminal;
an input voltage regulator 72 that adjusts an input current limit such that a measured voltage of the first battery 40 does not drop below a first setpoint voltage (again, see claims 1 and 6 above);
a processor 60, 66-67 (fig. 5) that determines a maximum allowed charge current based on the input current limit and based on a predetermined output current limit (see claims 1 and 6 above); and
an output voltage regulator 72 that determines a desired charge current so as to bring a measured voltage of the second battery 42 to a second setpoint voltage (see citations above);
wherein the DC-DC converter 72 outputs the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current so as to charge the second battery 42 while the measured voltage of the first battery 40 is maintained at or above the first setpoint voltage (again, see citations above in claims 1 + 6).
15. The power converter module of claim 14, wherein the DC-DC converter 72, 60, 66-67 selects whichever of the maximum allowed charge current or the desired charge current has a lower magnitude as a setpoint inductor current (see claims 3 + 9 above).
16. The power converter module of claim 15, further comprising an output current regulator 72, 60, 66-67 that determines an output control signal that will bring a measured inductor current of the DC-DC converter 72 close to the setpoint inductor current (see claims 4 + 10 above).
17. The power converter module of claim 14, wherein the source of electrical energy is an alternator 76 (see par. 0060);
wherein the first battery 40 is an engine battery 40 electrically connected to a starter motor 64 (see fig. 5; par. 0059) of an internal combustion engine that drives the alternator 76 (0060); and
wherein the second battery 42 is a service battery 42 electrically connected to at least one house load (par. 0066).
18. The power converter module of claim 14, wherein the predetermined output current limit is a user-selected value ([0069] The battery management controller 60 may comprise a control logic circuit 66 and a memory 67. The battery management controller 60 carries out its function by being connected to the voltage and temperature sensors 63, the first regulator 72, the second regulator 73, the third regulator 74, the electrical power generation system 44, a user interface 51 (which may comprise a display 310 and one or more input devices 312), and the HVAC component controller 50. [0074] One or more input devices 312 may also be a part of the user interface. The input devices may be one or more of a keyboard, a control panel, or the like, so that the vehicle occupant may input user preferences for the operation of the HVAC system 10 and the power system 70. For example, the user preferences may include the operating mode of the HVAC system such as off, heating, and cooling modes of operation. Also, the input device 312 of the user interface may allow a user, such as a vehicle occupant, to select the operating mode of the second regulator or converter 73, for example, the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode, or the second battery charging mode.).
19. The power converter module of claim 14, wherein the first setpoint voltage is a voltage at which the first battery is fully charged (see claims 1-2, 6 + 13 above).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HUNG Q NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5424. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 7am-4pm (CT).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Lindsay Low can be reached at 571-272-1196. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HUNG Q. NGUYEN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3747
/HUNG Q NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
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