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 .
Detailed Action
Claim Objections
Claims 18, 19, 21, 24, 26-29, 31, 34, 36, and 38 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 18, 27, 28, and 38 refer to “a/the second set of a/the plurality of power cables”, respectively, without previously introducing a “first set of a plurality of power cables”. The term “second” should either be removed altogether (i.e. “a/the set of a plurality of power cables” or amended to read “first” (i.e. “a/the first set of a plurality of power cables”).
Similarly, claims 18, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 34, and 36 refer to “a/the third set of a/the plurality of remote devices”, without previously introducing a “a first set of a plurality of remote devices”. The term “third” should either be removed altogether (i.e. “a/the set of a plurality of remote devices” or amended to read “first” (i.e. “a/the first set of a plurality of remote devices”).
Similarly, claims 18 and 28 refer to “a fourth set of voltage monitoring (VM) devices”, without previously introducing a “a first set of voltage monitoring (VM) devices”. The term “fourth” should either be removed altogether (i.e. “a/the set of a plurality of voltage monitoring devices” or amended to read “first” (i.e. “a/the first set of voltage monitoring devices”).
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Paragraphs [38] and [47] use numerals 231 and 341 when referencing the voltage monitoring (VM) devices. However, Figure 3 only features numeral 341. Numeral 231 should be amended in the Specification to read 341. Appropriate correction is required.
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 obviousness-type 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed, approved immediately upon submission, and reduces waiting time for Terminal Disclaimer to be manually approved. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 18-38 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting over claims 1-6 and 8-16 of U.S. Patent No. 12,379,760 since the claims, if allowed, would improperly extend the “right to exclude” already granted in the patent.
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the subject matter claimed in the instant application is at least fully disclosed in the reference patent. The instant application is directed to “a centralized power supply system”, which was similarly claimed in the reference patent as being part of the “power transmission system”. A mapping of the claims is further detailed below:
U.S. App. No. 19/264,498 - Claim 18
U.S. Patent No. 12,379,760 - Claim 1
A power transmission system, comprising: a centralized power supply system comprising a first set of DC power supply units and a controller coupled to each of the DC power supply units;
A power transmission system, comprising: a centralized power supply system comprising DC power supply units and a controller coupled to the DC power supply units
a second set of a plurality of power cables; a third set of a plurality of remote devices, each remote device coupled, via a respective power cable of the second set of the plurality of power cables, to a respective DC power unit in the first set of DC power supply units, wherein each DC power supply unit of the first set of DC power supply units transmits a power signal to a respective remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices;
remote devices coupled to the centralized power supply system via a power cable, wherein each of the DC power supply units transmit a power signal to respective ones of the remote devices;
and a fourth set of voltage monitoring (VM) devices, wherein each respective remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices is connected to at least one respective VM device of the fourth set of voltage monitoring devices so that the at least one respective VM device measures a respective input voltage value of the respective remote device;
voltage monitoring (VM) devices coupled to the power cable that connects to respective ones of the remote devices, the VM devices measuring an input voltage value of at least a portion of the remote devices
wherein the controller is configured to perform the steps of:
wherein the controller is configured to
modifying an output voltage of a first DC power supply unit of the first set of DC power supply units over a first power cable of the second set of the plurality of power cables;
increase an output voltage of an individual one of the DC power supply units over the power cable;
receiving the respective input voltage value of each remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices;
receive the input voltage value of each of the remote devices;
comparing the input voltage value of each remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices and determining that the first input voltage value of a first remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices differs by more than a predetermined value from the input voltage value of each other remote device of the third set of the plurality of remote devices;
compare the input voltage value of each of the remote devices and determine that a highest input voltage value differs by more than a predetermined value from other ones of the input voltage values
and automatically assigning a correspondence between the first DC power supply unit and the first remote device having the first input voltage value.
automatically assign a correspondence between the individual one of the DC power supply units and a corresponding one of the remote devices having the highest input voltage value.
U.S. App. No. 19/264,498 - Claims
U.S. Patent No. 12,379,760 - Claims
19, 20
17 (RRH and DC-DC converter)
21
2
22
3
23
4
24, 27
5
25
6
26
8
27
1
28
9
29, 30
17 (RRH and DC-DC converter)
31
10
32
11
33
12
34
13
35
14
36
15
37
16
38
9
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 18-38 would be allowable if the Claim Objection(s) and Double Patenting Rejection outlined above are overcome.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Independent claims 18 and 28 are substantially similar to independent claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,379,760, as highlighted above. Therefore, the claims are considered to comprise allowable subject matter for similar reasons as outlined during the Notice of Allowance dated 4/2/2025 of U.S. Application No. 18/170,460. Particularly, no combination of the prior art specifically teaches the steps of receiving the voltage values from the remote devices and comparing each of the received values and determining that a first input voltage value differs by more than a predetermined value of each of the other input voltage values, and then automatically assigning a correspondence (an assignment of a DC power supply to a remote device) between a first power supply and the remote device, when considered in combination with the other existing limitations of the claim.
Claims 19-27 and 29-38 inherit the allowable subject matter of claims 18 and 28, respectively.
As detailed in the Non-Final Rejection, dated 10/21/2024, of parent application no. 18/170,460, U.S. PGPUB No. 2020/0213940 (Gandhi) is the closest related prior art.
- Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Prior Art
The prior art made of record but not relied upon in the Examiner’s rejections is considered pertinent for having been cited during the prosecution of related U.S. Application Numbers: 18/170,460, 19/320,402, and 19/320,420.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN T MISIURA whose telephone number is (571)272-0889 - (Direct Fax: 571-273-0889). The examiner can normally be reached on M-F: 8-4:30PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Andrew Jung can be reached on (571) 272-3779. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Brian T Misiura/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2175
