DETAILED ACTION
This is the First Office Action on the Merits and is directed towards claims 1-15 as preliminarily amended and filed on 06/20/2025.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
Priority is claimed as set forth below, accordingly the earliest effective filing date is December 21, 2022 (20221221).
The present application, effectively filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
This application is the U.S. National Phase Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2023/085315, filed December 12, 2023, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102023203599.5, filed April 19, 2023, and German Patent Application No. 102022214171.7, filed December 21, 2022 (20221221).
Information Disclosure Statement
As required by M.P.E.P. 609 [R-07.2015], Applicant's submission(s) of Information Disclosure Statement(s) is/are acknowledged by the Examiner and the reference(s) cited therein has/have been considered in the examination of the claim(s) now pending. A copy of the submitted PTOL-1449(s) initialed and dated by the Examiner is/are attached to the instant Office action.
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 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.
Claims 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 20190176729 A1 to LINK; Bernhard et al. (Link).
Regarding claim 1 Link teaches in for example the Figure(s) reproduced immediately below:
PNG
media_image1.png
530
464
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
542
478
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
538
471
media_image3.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image4.png
540
467
media_image4.png
Greyscale
and associated descriptive texts a distribution device for a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle (in the figures above as explained in for example para:
“[0030] FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 each show a schematic illustration of an onboard network 10 of a motor vehicle with an HV battery arrangement 12 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this case, the HV battery arrangement 12 has a first HV battery unit 14 as well as a second HV battery unit 16. Both HV battery units 14, 16 can be arranged here in a common battery housing 18. The respective HV battery units 14, 16 in this case have a plurality of battery cells 20. These battery cells can be arranged here in series connections and/or in parallel connections. Also conceivable are diverse combinations of series and parallel connections of the individual battery cells 20. These battery cells 20 can be designed, for example, as lithium ion cells, as a result of which the respective HV battery units 14, 16 are provided as lithium ion batteries. Furthermore, a particular one of the HV battery units 14, 16 has a plus pole HV+ as well as a minus pole HV−. Between these two poles HV+, HV−, it is possible to tap a total voltage of 400 volts, for example, in each case. Furthermore, the onboard network 12 has a first HV onboard network part 22 and a second HV onboard network part 24. In this case, the first HV onboard network part 22 can be supplied with energy by the first HV battery unit 14 and the second HV onboard network part 24 can be supplied with energy by the second HV battery unit 16. In this case, the first and second HV onboard network parts 22, 24 can have respective HV consuming devices. Here, by way of example, the first HV onboard network part 22 has, as such an HV consuming device, at least one first power electronics unit LE1 for a power supply of a drive unit, which is not illustrated here and is preferably designed as an electric motor. Furthermore, the second HV onboard network part 24 has, as an HV consuming device, at least one second power electronics unit LE2 for the power supply of a second drive unit of the motor vehicle, which likewise is not illustrated here and which preferably likewise is designed as a second electric motor. In this case, the two electric motors can each be designed for driving the wheels at a front axle as well as the wheels of a rear axle of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the first HV battery unit 14 has two first connectors A1+ and A1−, with it being possible to connect one of these two connectors A1+ to the plus pole HV+ of the first HV battery unit 14 and to connect the second of the first connectors A1− to the minus pole HV− of the first HV battery unit 14. Arranged between these first connectors A1+ and A1− and the respective poles HV+, HV− of the first HV battery unit 14 are, in particular, two first switching elements H1+, H1−, each of which is designed as a contactor. By opening these contactors H1+, H1−, the battery cells 20 of the first HV battery unit 14 can be disconnected from the rest of the onboard network 10. Furthermore, the first HV battery unit 14 also has two second connectors A2+, A2−, which, in turn, can be coupled to respective poles HV+, HV− of the first HV battery unit 14. This coupling can be severed, in particular, by way of two second switching elements D1+, D1−, which, in turn, are preferably designed as respective contactors and are arranged between the respective poles HV+, HV− of the first HV battery unit 14 and the respective second connectors A2+, A2−. These second connectors A2+, A2− are connected to a charging socket 26 of the motor vehicle, in particular, to a respective first charging socket connector 26a and to a second charging socket connector 26b. At this charging socket 26, it is possible, in particular, to connect a direct current power source external to the vehicle for charging the HV battery arrangement 12. Such an external power source can be provided, for example, by a charging column.”),
wherein the high-voltage system has a first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system (given the BRI (Broadest Reasonable Interpretation) a Person of Ordinary Skill In The Art (POSITA) would have understood that “HV battery units 14, 16 “ connote the claimed “first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system” as explained in para [0030] above)
and the distribution device has:
a first supply line having a first line section (given the BRI connotes portion D2+ in the figures above),
a second line section (given the BRI connotes the portion below D2+ in the figures above)
and a controllable second switchgear unit (given the BRI connotes D2+ in the figures above),
wherein the second switchgear unit connects the first line section and second line section in a closed state and decouples the first line section and second line section in an open state (as shown in the figures above),
a second supply line having a third line section (given the BRI connotes the portion below D1- in the figures above),
a fourth line section and a controllable fifth switchgear unit (given the BRI connotes the portion above D1- and D1- in the figures above),
wherein the fifth switchgear unit connects the third line section and fourth line section in a closed state and decouples the third line section and fourth line section in an open state (as shown in the figures above),
a third supply line having a controllable third switchgear unit (given the BRI connotes “S” in Figure 1 above),
wherein the third switchgear unit connects the second line section of the first supply line and third line section of the second supply line (as shown by the figures above),
wherein the first line section of the first supply line is designed for connecting to a first terminal of a first energy source (given the BRI connotes the HV battery on the LEFT in fig. 1 above and the HV+ terminal),
to a first terminal of a first electrical machine (given the BRI connotes LE1 in Fig. 1 and para [0030] above),
to a first terminal of a charging unit (see 26a in Fig. 1),
to a first terminal of a first DC/DC converter (see item 32 in Fig. 1)
and to a first terminal of at least one further high-voltage load (in para [0030] “In this case, the first and second HV onboard network parts 22, 24 can have respective HV consuming devices”),
the second line section of the first supply line is designed for connecting to a first terminal of a second energy source (see Fig. 1, HV+)
and to a first terminal of a second DC/DC converter (see item 34 in Fig. 1),
the third line section of the second supply line is designed for connecting to a second terminal of the first energy source (given the BRI connotes left HV battery in Fig. 1 HV-)
and to a second terminal of the first DC/DC converter (as shown in Fig. 1),
the fourth line section of the second supply line is designed for connecting to a second terminal of the second energy source (given the BRI connotes the tight HV battery in Fig. 1, and HV-),
to a second terminal of the second electrical machine (see LE2 in Fig. 1),
to a second terminal of a second DC/DC converter (see item 34 in Fig. 1)
and to a second terminal of a charging unit (given the BRI connotes item 28b in Fig. 1 above).
Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are NOT imported into the claims. The Examiner must give the claim language the Broadest Reasonable Interpretation (BRI) the claims allow.
See MPEP 2111.01 Plain Meaning [R-10.2024], which states
II. IT IS IMPROPER TO IMPORT CLAIM LIMITATIONS FROM THE SPECIFICATION
"Though understanding the claim language may be aided by explanations contained in the written description, it is important not to import into a claim limitations that are not part of the claim. For example, a particular embodiment appearing in the written description may not be read into a claim when the claim language is broader than the embodiment." Superguide Corp. v. DirecTV Enterprises, Inc., 358 F.3d 870, 875, 69 USPQ2d 1865, 1868 (Fed. Cir. 2004). See also Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 906, 69 USPQ2d 1801, 1807 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (discussing recent cases wherein the court expressly rejected the contention that if a patent describes only a single embodiment, the claims of the patent must be construed as being limited to that embodiment); E-Pass Techs., Inc. v. 3Com Corp., 343 F.3d 1364, 1369, 67 USPQ2d 1947, 1950 (Fed. Cir. 2003) ("Inter US-20100280751-A1 1pretation of descriptive statements in a patent’s written description is a difficult task, as an inherent tension exists as to whether a statement is a clear lexicographic definition or a description of a preferred embodiment. The problem is to interpret claims ‘in view of the specification’ without unnecessarily importing limitations from the specification into the claims."); Altiris Inc. v. Symantec Corp., 318 F.3d 1363, 1371, 65 USPQ2d 1865, 1869-70 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (Although the specification discussed only a single embodiment, the court held that it was improper to read a specific order of steps into method claims where, as a matter of logic or grammar, the language of the method claims did not impose a specific order on the performance of the method steps, and the specification did not directly or implicitly require a particular order). See also subsection IV., below. When an element is claimed using language falling under the scope of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 6th paragraph (often broadly referred to as means- (or step-) plus- function language), the specification must be consulted to determine the structure, material, or acts corresponding to the function recited in the claim, and the claimed element is construed as limited to the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. In re Donaldson, 16 F.3d 1189, 29 USPQ2d 1845 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (see MPEP § 2181- MPEP § 2186).
In Zletz, supra, the examiner and the Board had interpreted claims reading "normally solid polypropylene" and "normally solid polypropylene having a crystalline polypropylene content" as being limited to "normally solid linear high homopolymers of propylene which have a crystalline polypropylene content." The court ruled that limitations, not present in the claims, were improperly imported from the specification. See also In re Marosi, 710 F.2d 799, 802, 218 USPQ 289, 292 (Fed. Cir. 1983) ("'[C]laims are not to be read in a vacuum, and limitations therein are to be interpreted in light of the specification in giving them their ‘broadest reasonable interpretation.'" (quoting In re Okuzawa, 537 F.2d 545, 548, 190 USPQ 464, 466 (CCPA 1976)). The court looked to the specification to construe "essentially free of alkali metal" as including unavoidable levels of impurities but no more.).”
See also MPEP section 2141.03 Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art [R-01.2024].
Regarding claim 2 and the limitation the distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second line section of the first supply line is designed for connecting to a first terminal of the second electrical machine,
the third line section of the second supply line is designed for connecting to a second terminal of the first electrical machine and to a second terminal of the at least one further high-voltage load (see Fig. 1 above and see the rejection of corresponding parts of claim 1 above incorporated herein by reference).
Regarding claim 3 and the limitation the distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first supply line has a switchable first switchgear unit which is arranged in the first line section and divides the first line section into a fifth line section and sixth line section, so that the fifth line section of the first supply line is designed for connecting to the first terminal of the first energy source , to the first terminal of the first electrical machine, to a first terminal of the first DC/DC converter and to the first terminal of the at least one further high-voltage load, and the sixth line section of the first supply line is designed for connecting to the first terminal of the charging unit and the first terminal of the second electrical machine, and the fourth line section of the second supply line is designed for connecting to a second terminal of the at least one high-voltage load and to a second terminal of the first electrical machine (wherein it is understood that given the BRI the first switching unit connotes D1+ in Fig. 1 and para [0030] above).
Regarding claim 4 and the limitation the distribution device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third switchgear unit is designed to control opening of the third switchgear unit automatically and/or the second switchgear unit is designed to control opening of the second switchgear unit automatically (see paras:
“[0034] This is the case, in particular, in normal drive operation, such as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, the switching device S is correspondingly opened. As a result, during drive operation, two completely independent entities are provided by the first and second HV battery units 14, 16. Accordingly, a failure in one of these entities cannot affect the other of these two entities. The other entity can thus remain available without interruption. Therefore, if, for any reason, one of these two HV battery units 14, 16 fails, a power supply of the corresponding HV onboard network part 22, 24 and thus of at least one of the two electric motors continues to be provided by the other of these two HV battery units 14, 16, thereby ensuring further travel of the motor vehicle even in the event of a failure of one of the two HV batteries units 14, 16.
[0035] In contrast, in a charging situation in which the HV battery arrangement 12 is being charged by an external power source, these switching devices S can be closed, as needed, in order to provide advantageous adjustment possibilities for different charging situations. The actuation of the respective switching elements H1+, H1−, D1+, D1−, H2+, H2−, D2+, D2− and the switching devices S is assumed in this case by a control unit 30 of the HV battery arrangement 12.
[0036] In normal drive operation, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, therefore, the switching device S between the two HV battery units 14, 16 is opened, as described. Furthermore, the second switching elements D1+, D1− of the first HV battery unit 14 as well as the fourth switching elements D2+, D2− of the second HV battery unit 16 are also opened, because, in this situation, no charging by an external power source takes place. For operation of the respective drive devices in normal drive operation, the first switching elements H1+, H1− and the third switching elements H2+, H2− are correspondingly closed.“.
Regarding claim 5 and the limitation the distribution device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third switchgear unit has a controllable disconnector and a monitoring unit,
wherein the monitoring unit is arranged in the third switchgear unit and is designed to detect a current which is flowing in the third switchgear unit and/or a voltage which is applied at the third switchgear unit, and to transition the controllable disconnector to an open state if a magnitude of the current or the voltage exceeds a specified first value or falls below a specified second value,
or the second switchgear unit has a controllable disconnector and a monitoring unit, wherein the monitoring unit is arranged in the second switchgear unit and is designed to detect a current which is flowing in the second switchgear unit and/or a voltage which is applied at the second switchgear unit, and to transition the controllable disconnector to an open state if a magnitude of the current or the voltage exceeds a specified first value or falls below a specified second value (given the BRI a POSITA would understand that once the battery is charged to the desired level the charger will be disconnected in the manner claimed as explained in for example paras:
“[0035] In contrast, in a charging situation in which the HV battery arrangement 12 is being charged by an external power source, these switching devices S can be closed, as needed, in order to provide advantageous adjustment possibilities for different charging situations. The actuation of the respective switching elements H1+, H1−, D1+, D1−, H2+, H2−, D2+, D2− and the switching devices S is assumed in this case by a control unit 30 of the HV battery arrangement 12.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows the corresponding situation in a first charging mode of the HV battery arrangement 12, in which the HV battery arrangement 12 is being charged by an external power source, which is coupled to the charging socket 26 and, in this example, supplies a direct current voltage of approximately 400 volts. In this case, the switching device S remains opened, whereas all other switching elements H1+, H1−, H2+, H2−, D1+, D1−, D2+, D2− are closed. In other words, the two HV battery units 14, 16 are connected in parallel to each other for charging with a direct current voltage of 400 volts. However, there are also external power sources, in particular charging columns that do not supply a 400-volt direct current voltage, but instead supply an 800-volt direct current voltage. This second charging mode is illustrated in FIG. 3.”).
Regarding claim 6 and the limitation the distribution device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the respective controllable disconnector can additionally be activated by means of the control unit (see paras [0030-39] with regard to charging the battery).
Regarding claim 7 and the limitation A method for operating a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, wherein the high-voltage system has a first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system and also a distribution device as claimed in claim 3, and the method comprises the following steps:
receiving monitoring data or monitoring signals from the monitoring unit of the third switchgear unit by means of the control unit, wherein the monitoring data or the monitoring signals are formed to signal to the control unit that opening of the third switchgear unit has been triggered and a short circuit has been detected,
in response to the receipt of the monitoring data or the monitoring signals, generating and sending a first control signal to the first switchgear unit by means of the control unit, wherein the first control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the first switchgear unit to assume an open state,
sending diagnostic data to central computing unit by means of the control unit to ascertain which type of short circuit fault exists, wherein the diagnostic data at least specify that the third switchgear unit has been transitioned to an open state or a short circuit has been detected,
in response to the sending of the diagnostic data to the central computing unit, receiving a control command from the central computing unit by means of the control unit, wherein
a) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit exists in the first high-voltage electrical system and the second high-voltage electrical system,
the control command includes no instruction that causes the control unit to reconnect one of the high-voltage electrical systems,
b) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the first high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a second control signal to the second switchgear unit, wherein the second control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the second switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state,
c) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the second high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a third control signal to the fifth switchgear unit,
wherein the third control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the fifth switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state,
d) if the central computing unit ascertains that no short circuit exists, the control command includes an instruction to send a fourth control signal to the first switchgear unit and third switchgear unit, wherein the fourth control signal is formed to cause the respective disconnector of the first switchgear unit and the third switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state,
executing the control command by means of the control unit (see the rejection of corresponding parts of claim 3 above incorporated herein by reference wherein given the BRI a POSITA would understand that see the teachings of para [0003] wherein it is expressly taught “the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”:
“[0003] Under consideration for achieving this goal is to make available at least a partial voltage in the event of a failure, by way of, for example, a tap in the middle of the HV battery. However, in the case of a failure, there are undefined voltage fluctuations and, in the event of a short circuit, the high currents can damage all HV contactors present in the current path, so that, even against the backdrop of a conventional failure response, switching the HV battery back on after the failure generally contradicts the safety strategy. In a similar way, DE 10 2011 011 799 A1 describes an energy storage system that has a plurality of energy storage strands connected in parallel, wherein each of the strands comprises at least one energy storage cell. When the operating state of an energy storage cell is registered as being faulty, only a part of the energy storage strands that include a faulty energy storage strand, said part comprising the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”).
Regarding claim 8 and the limitation the method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in case b) and c), the method further comprises the following further steps comprising:
receiving up-to-date measurement data from the monitoring unit of the third switchgear unit and forwarding the measurement data to the central computing unit by means of the control unit,
wherein the measurement data are representative for one or more voltages that have been detected following the opening of the first switchgear unit in the first high-voltage electrical system and/or the second high-voltage electrical system,
in response to the forwarding of the measurement data, receiving a further control command from the central computing unit by means of the control unit, wherein the further control command includes an instruction to send a fifth control signal to the second switchgear unit in case b) and to the fifth switchgear unit in case c),
wherein the fifth control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the second switchgear unit or the fifth switchgear unit to be transitioned to an open state, and to send a sixth control signal to the first switchgear unit and third switchgear unit, wherein the sixth control signal is formed to cause the respective disconnector of the first switchgear unit and the third switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state (see the rejection of corresponding parts of claim 3 above incorporated herein by reference wherein given the BRI a POSITA would understand that see the teachings of para [0003] wherein it is expressly taught “the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”:
“[0003] Under consideration for achieving this goal is to make available at least a partial voltage in the event of a failure, by way of, for example, a tap in the middle of the HV battery. However, in the case of a failure, there are undefined voltage fluctuations and, in the event of a short circuit, the high currents can damage all HV contactors present in the current path, so that, even against the backdrop of a conventional failure response, switching the HV battery back on after the failure generally contradicts the safety strategy. In a similar way, DE 10 2011 011 799 A1 describes an energy storage system that has a plurality of energy storage strands connected in parallel, wherein each of the strands comprises at least one energy storage cell. When the operating state of an energy storage cell is registered as being faulty, only a part of the energy storage strands that include a faulty energy storage strand, said part comprising the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”).
Regarding claim 9 and the limitation A control unit for operating a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle,
wherein the high-voltage system has a first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system and also a distribution device as claimed in claim 3,
and the control unit is designed to execute a method comprising:
receiving monitoring data or monitoring signals from the monitoring unit of the third switchgear unit by the control unit, wherein the monitoring data or the monitoring signals are formed to signal to the control unit that opening of the third switchgear unit has been triggered and a short circuit has been detected, in response to the receipt of the monitoring data or the monitoring signals, generating and sending a first control signal to the first switchgear unit by the control unit, wherein the first control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the first switchgear unit to assume an open state, sending diagnostic data to central computing unit by the control unit to ascertain which type of short circuit fault exists, wherein the diagnostic data at least specify that the third switchgear unit has been transitioned to an open state or a short circuit has been detected, in response to the sending of the diagnostic data to the central computing unit, receiving a control command from the central computing unit by the control unit, wherein a) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit exists in the first high-voltage electrical system and the second high-voltage electrical system, the control command includes no instruction that causes the control unit to reconnect one of the high-voltage electrical systems, b) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the first high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a second control signal to the second switchgear unit, wherein the second control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the second switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state, c) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the second high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a third control signal to the fifth switchgear unit, wherein the third control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the fifth switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state, d) if the central computing unit ascertains that no short circuit exists, the control command includes an instruction to send a fourth control signal to the first switchgear unit and third switchgear unit, wherein the fourth control signal is formed to cause the respective disconnector of the first switchgear unit and the third switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state, and executing the control command by the control unit (see the rejection of corresponding parts of claim 3 above incorporated herein by reference wherein given the BRI a POSITA would understand that see the teachings of para [0003] wherein it is expressly taught “the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”:
“[0003] Under consideration for achieving this goal is to make available at least a partial voltage in the event of a failure, by way of, for example, a tap in the middle of the HV battery. However, in the case of a failure, there are undefined voltage fluctuations and, in the event of a short circuit, the high currents can damage all HV contactors present in the current path, so that, even against the backdrop of a conventional failure response, switching the HV battery back on after the failure generally contradicts the safety strategy. In a similar way, DE 10 2011 011 799 A1 describes an energy storage system that has a plurality of energy storage strands connected in parallel, wherein each of the strands comprises at least one energy storage cell. When the operating state of an energy storage cell is registered as being faulty, only a part of the energy storage strands that include a faulty energy storage strand, said part comprising the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”).
Regarding claim 10 and the limitation the A distribution system having a distribution device as claimed in claim 3 and a control unit for operating a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, wherein the high-voltage system has a first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system, the control unit is designed to execute a method comprising: receiving monitoring data or monitoring signals from the monitoring unit of the third switchgear unit by the control unit, wherein the monitoring data or the monitoring signals are formed to signal to the control unit that opening of the third switchgear unit has been triggered and a short circuit has been detected, in response to the receipt of the monitoring data or the monitoring signals, generating and sending a first control signal to the first switchgear unit by the control unit, wherein the first control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the first switchgear unit to assume an open state, sending diagnostic data to central computing unit by the control unit to ascertain which type of short circuit fault exists, wherein the diagnostic data at least specify that the third switchgear unit has been transitioned to an open state or a short circuit has been detected, in response to the sending of the diagnostic data to the central computing unit, receiving a control command from the central computing unit by the control unit, wherein
a) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit exists in the first high-voltage electrical system and the second high-voltage electrical system, the control command includes no instruction that causes the control unit to reconnect one of the high-voltage electrical systems,
b) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the first high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a second control signal to the second switchgear unit, wherein the second control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the second switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state,
c) if the central computing unit ascertains that a short circuit only exists in the second high- voltage electrical system, the control command includes an instruction to send a third control signal to the fifth switchgear unit, wherein the third control signal is formed to cause the disconnector of the fifth switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state,
d) if the central computing unit ascertains that no short circuit exists, the control command includes an instruction to send a fourth control signal to the first switchgear unit and third switchgear unit, wherein the fourth control signal is formed to cause the respective disconnector of the first switchgear unit and the third switchgear unit to be transitioned to a closed state, and executing the control command by the control unit (see the rejection of corresponding parts of claim 3 above incorporated herein by reference wherein given the BRI a POSITA would understand that see the teachings of para [0003] wherein it is expressly taught “the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”:
“[0003] Under consideration for achieving this goal is to make available at least a partial voltage in the event of a failure, by way of, for example, a tap in the middle of the HV battery. However, in the case of a failure, there are undefined voltage fluctuations and, in the event of a short circuit, the high currents can damage all HV contactors present in the current path, so that, even against the backdrop of a conventional failure response, switching the HV battery back on after the failure generally contradicts the safety strategy. In a similar way, DE 10 2011 011 799 A1 describes an energy storage system that has a plurality of energy storage strands connected in parallel, wherein each of the strands comprises at least one energy storage cell. When the operating state of an energy storage cell is registered as being faulty, only a part of the energy storage strands that include a faulty energy storage strand, said part comprising the energy storage cell with the faulty operating state, is switched off.”).
Regarding claim 11 and the limitation A high-voltage system for an electric vehicle, wherein the high-voltage system has a first high-voltage electrical system and a second high-voltage electrical system, and a distribution system as claimed in claim 10 (see Fig. 1 and the rejection of corresponding parts of claims 1 and 10 above incorporated herein by reference).
Regarding claim 12 and the limitation A computer program comprising commands which, when the computer program is executed by a computing unit of a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, cause the computing unit to carry out the steps of the method as claimed in claim 7 (see Fig. 1 and the rejection of corresponding parts of claims 1 and 7 above incorporated herein by reference).
Regarding claim 13 and the limitation A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising commands which, when executed by a computing unit of a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, cause the computing unit to execute the method as claimed in claim 7 (see Fig. 1 and the rejection of corresponding parts of claims 1 and 7 above incorporated herein by reference).
Regarding claim 14 and the limitation A computer program comprising commands which, when the computer program is executed by a computing unit of a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, cause the computing unit to carry out the steps of the method as claimed in claim 8 (see Fig. 1 and the rejection of corresponding parts of claims 1 and 8 above incorporated herein by reference).
Regarding claim 15 and the limitation A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising commands which, when executed by a computing unit of a high-voltage system of an electric vehicle, cause the computing unit to execute the method as claimed in claim 8 (see Fig. 1 and the rejection of corresponding parts of claims 1 and 8 above incorporated herein by reference).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure as teaching, inter alia, the state of the art at the time of the invention. For example:
US 20070200535 A1 to Trainer; David R. et al. teaches, inter alia a Fault current limiting in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“Generators 12a are for a distributed generation system. A control system 32a receives information about network faults 14a. In normal conditions, the control system 32a controls the field current in the field coils of the generator 12a, to maintain generator output voltage at the rated value. At the onset of fault conditions, the control system 32a changes the manner in which field current is controlled, in order to reduce the fault current put onto the network.”.
US 20140015316 A1 to Schoenknecht; Andreas teaches, inter alia a CONTROL UNIT in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“The invention relates to a control unit (40) for driving an electric load, in particular an electric machine, having a first and a second voltage terminal (46, 48) in order to supply the control unit (40) with electrical energy, a capacitor (58), which is connected between the voltage terminals (46, 48), at least one half-bridge (15), which is connected between the voltage terminals (46, 48), wherein the half-bridge (50) has two controllable switches (52, 54), between which there is formed a half-bridge tap (50) for connecting the load, a safety circuit (66), which is designed to close one of the controllable switches (52, 54) of the half-bridge (50) in the event of a fault, a discharge circuit (68), which is designed to connect the voltage terminals (46, 48) electrically in the event of a fault, and having a control circuit (18) which is designed to provide a control signal (78) which triggers the safety circuit (66) and the discharge circuit (68) in the event of the detected fault.”.
US 20200144815 A1 to SCHIERLING; Hubert et al. teaches, inter alia a METHOD FOR OPERATING A DIRECT-CURRENT GRID AND DIRECT-CURRENT GRID in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“A direct-current network has an infeed unit, a plurality of network sections which are each separably inter connected by respective switching elements, and a controllable current-limiting unit, which limits charge-transfer currents that flow between the network sections because of different voltages of the network sections following disconnection of the network sections from the infeed unit and before reconnection of the network sections to the infeed unit.”.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL LAWSON GREENE JR whose telephone number is (571)272-6876. The examiner can normally be reached on MON-THUR 7-5:30PM (EST) or via email at DanielL.GreeneJr@USPTO.GOV under the guidance of MPEP [R-09.2017] Section 502.03 Communications via Internet Electronic Mail (email) [R-07.2015].
Examiner interviews are available via telephone 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, Hunter Lonsberry can be reached on (571) 272-7298. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DANIEL L GREENE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3665 20260808
Prosecution Insights