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 11 – 20 remain pending in the application and have been fully considered.
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)(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) 11 – 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Loveall et al. (US 2023/0373316).
Regarding Claim 1:
Loveall et al. teaches a method for operating a vehicle (210), the vehicle having at least one electric machine (140, 226) which can be operated in an engine mode for driving the vehicle and in a generator mode for recuperative braking of the vehicle (paragraphs 0002 – 0004), an energy storage unit (162, 232) and/or energy sink which supplies the at least one electrical machine with electrical energy during engine operation and is charged by means of electrical energy recuperated during generator operation of the at least one electrical machine and/or further enables recuperative braking (paragraphs 0022, 0029), a recuperation braking system (Figs 1 – 2, paragraphs 0002 – 004) for carrying out the recuperative braking, comprising the at least one electric machine and the energy storage unit and/or energy sink, and a friction brake system (118) with a friction brake device comprising a wheel brake actuator, characterized in that a request signal for a deceleration torque generated by an accelerator pedal (292) of the vehicle and/or by at least one assistance function of the vehicle is processed in a control unit (12) not belonging to the friction brake system, wherein it is checked whether a current state of the recuperation braking system permits recuperative braking, and the vehicle is braked recuperatively in accordance with the requested deceleration torque completely or to the extent to which the current state of the recuperation braking system permits recuperative braking (Step 601 and paragraph 0085, and see also paragraphs 0002 – 004).
Regarding Claim 12:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that, if the current state of the recuperation braking system does not permit or does not completely permit recuperative braking in accordance with the requested deceleration torque, a remaining portion of the requested deceleration torque, which cannot be achieved by recuperative braking, is forwarded to a brake control system of the friction braking system and the vehicle is braked in accordance with this remaining portion of the requested deceleration torque by means of the friction braking system (paragraph 0029).
Regarding Claim 13:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that a request signal for a deceleration torque generated by a brake pedal of the vehicle is processed in the brake control system of the friction brake system, wherein it is checked whether the current state of the recuperation brake system permits recuperative braking, and the requested deceleration torque is forwarded to the control unit not belonging to the friction brake system to the extent to which the current state of the recuperation brake system permits recuperative braking, and the vehicle is braked recuperatively accordingly, and the vehicle is braked by means of the friction brake system in accordance with a remaining portion of the requested deceleration torque (via 256, paragraphs 0002 – 0005).
Regarding Claim 14:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the current state of the recuperation brake system is determined by the control unit, which is not part of the friction brake system, and is forwarded to the brake control system (paragraphs 0002 – 0004).
Regarding Claim 15:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the deceleration torque for the recuperative braking is forwarded by the control unit not belonging to the friction brake system as an electric setpoint braking torque to a powertrain control unit of an electric powertrain of the vehicle comprising the at least one electric machine (Figs 1 – 2, paragraph 0022).
Regarding Claim 16:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that a driving dynamics control unit transmits a minimum drive speed for the electric machine to the drive train control unit and the drive train control unit carries out the recuperative braking by activating the at least one electric machine in accordance with the electrical setpoint braking torque, but only until the minimum drive speed is reached, the powertrain control unit transmitting a remaining deceleration torque, which cannot be achieved by recuperative braking, to the vehicle dynamics control unit when the minimum drive speed is reached (paragraph 0029).
Regarding Claim 17:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the deceleration torque for the friction braking is transmitted from the brake control system to the friction braking device as a friction target braking torque (paragraph 0029).
Regarding Claim 18:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the vehicle dynamics control transmits a minimum wheel speed to the friction brake device and the friction brake device carries out the friction braking by actuating a friction brake actuator in accordance with the friction target braking torque, but only until the minimum wheel speed is reached, wherein the friction brake device transmits a remaining deceleration torque, which cannot be achieved by friction braking, to the vehicle dynamics control when the minimum wheel speed is reached (paragraph 0034).
Regarding Claim 19:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the vehicle dynamics control for stabilizing the vehicle transmits a settable electrical deceleration torque to the control unit not belonging to the friction brake system and/or to the brake control system of the friction brake system and the vehicle is braked recuperatively and/or friction-braked accordingly (paragraphs 0002 – 0005).
Regarding Claim 20:
Loveall et al. teaches characterized in that the vehicle dynamics control transmits a braking force distribution specification to the control unit not belonging to the friction brake system and/or to the brake control system of the friction brake system (paragraphs 0002 – 0005).
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 LONG T TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1899. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:00 - 5:00.
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, Logan Kraft can be reached at 571-270-5065. 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.
/LONG T TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Prosecution Insights