Enphase Energy, Inc.

Patent Trials and Appeals Board

Aug 19, 2021

2020005433 (P.T.A.B. Aug. 19, 2021)

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
www.uspto.gov
APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO.
15/335,060 10/26/2016 Patrick L. Chapman EES1210 7944
54698 7590 08/19/2021
MOSER TABOADA
1030 BROAD STREET
SUITE 203
SHREWSBURY, NJ 07702
EXAMINER
BAKHTIARI, NIKI
ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER
1726
NOTIFICATION DATE DELIVERY MODE
08/19/2021 ELECTRONIC
Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
following e-mail address(es):
docketing@mtiplaw.com
llinardakis@mtiplaw.com
PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
Ex parte PATRICK L. CHAPMAN
Appeal 2020-005433
Application 15/335,060
Technology Center 1700
Before MICHAEL P. COLAIANNI, DEBRA L. DENNETT, and
SHELDON M. MCGEE, Administrative Patent Judges.

MCGEE, Administrative Patent Judge.
DECISION ON APPEAL
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 134(a), Appellant1 appeals from the
Examiner’s decision to reject claims 1–20. We have jurisdiction.
35 U.S.C. § 6(b).
We reverse.

1 We use the word Appellant to refer to “applicant” as defined in 37 C.F.R.
§ 1.42. Appellant identifies the real party in interest as Enphase Energy, Inc.
Appeal Br. 3.
Appeal 2020-005433
Application 15/335,060

2
CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER
The claims are directed to alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV)
modules. Typical PV modules may generate direct current (DC) power
based on received solar energy. Spec. ¶ 1. The Specification discloses that
the DC power generated by a PV module may be converted to AC power
through the use of a power inverter. Id. In an ACPV module, the power
inverter may be electrically coupled to an output of the PV module. Id.
The Specification discloses that one of the primary causes of failure in
solar electronics is the ingress of atmospheric moisture into the electronic
enclosure. Spec. ¶ 26. Some approaches to protect electronic components
from moisture damage include encapsulating the electronic circuitry inside
the enclosure with a potting material, such as polyurethanes and silicones.
Id. However, small voids in the potting can trap moisture and ultimately
lead to corrosion or other issues. Id. ¶ 27.
For PV systems comprising electronic component assemblies,
humidity may be prevented from exceeding a value that may cause
condensation within the electronic component assembly. Spec. ¶ 29. The
Specification describes that a humidity-controlled electronic component
assembly can be operated so as to periodically remove moisture from the
potting material of an electronic component assembly. Id. ¶ 30.
Claim 17, reproduced below, is illustrative of the claimed subject
matter, with key limitations on appeal italicized for emphasis:
17. An electronic component assembly for coupling to
a PV module, the electronic component assembly comprising:
an enclosure defining an interior region;
a power conditioning circuit within the interior region of
the enclosure, the power conditioning circuit comprising an
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Application 15/335,060

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electronic component for conditioning power generated by the
plurality of solar cells;
[a] first electrical conduit for inputting direct current
generated by the plurality of solar cells to the power conditioning
circuit;
a second electrical conduit for outputting conditioned
power from the power conditioning circuit;
a humidity control circuit within the enclosure for
performing a dehumidification operation, the humidity control
circuit comprising a first heating component;
wherein the humidity control circuit regulates a humidity
level within the interior region of the enclosure by applying an
amount of actuation, of a plurality of amounts of actuation, to
the first heating component.
REJECTIONS
The Examiner maintains the following rejections on appeal:
I. Claims 17 and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as anticipated by
Andrae;2
II. Claims 1–3 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Kim,3
Andrae, and Fornage;4
III. Claims 4, 5, and 7–15 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable
over Kim and Andrae;
IV. Claim 6 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Kim,
Andrae, and Fornage;
V. Claim 16 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Kim,
Andrae, and Tiittanen;5

2 US 2014/0166635 A1, published June 19, 2014.
3 US 2012/0127770 A1, published May 24, 2012.
4 US 2009/0084426 A1, published Apr. 2, 2009.
5 US 2012/0192921 A1, published Aug. 2, 2012.
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Application 15/335,060

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VI. Claim 18 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Andrae
and Erickson, Jr.;6 and
VII. Claim 19 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Andrae
and Kiik.7
OPINION
Rejection I
The Examiner finds that Andrae discloses every element recited in
independent claim 17, including the “humidity control circuit . . . comprising
a first heating component.” Final Act. 3–5. Figure 1 of Andrae, as
annotated by the Examiner, is reproduced below:

Annotated Figure 1 of Andrae, reproduced above, illustrates the
Examiner’s mapping of the claimed “power conditioning circuit”—i.e., DC

6 US 2010/0206378 A1, published Aug. 19, 2010.
7 US 2014/0260001 A1, published Sept. 18, 2014.
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generator 30, converter 160, AC connected power grid 150—and the
claimed “humidity control circuit”—i.e., elements 110, 120, 130, and 140.
Final Act. 4; Andrae ¶ 31. Figure 1 of Andrae also illustrates moisture
sensor 110, which communicates a measured moisture value inside housing
20 to control unit 120. Andrae ¶ 31. Based on the measured value, control
unit 120 may control converter 160, such that the power transmitted to
heating element 130 can be controlled by the control unit 120. Id. The
Examiner maps heating element 130 to the claimed “first heating
component.” Final Act. 3.
The Examiner finds Andrae teaches that the inverter’s operation
method involves determining whether the measured moisture value falls
above or below a threshold value. Id. at 4. The Examiner finds Andrae
teaches that if the measured moisture value exceeds the threshold value, the
inverter’s interior is heated until the moisture sensor 110 determines a
moisture value “that lies below the non-critical limit value” for normal
inverter startup operation. Id. at 3–4 (citing Andrae ¶ 40).
The Examiner finds that paragraph 41 of Andrae discloses the claimed
humidity control circuit’s regulation of the humidity level within an
enclosure’s interior region. Final Act 4. Paragraph 41 of Andrae is
reproduced below:
In a first variant of the operating method, the electrical power for
the preheating of the inverter . . . is generated by the DC voltage
generator 30. . . . In this case, the voltage is set by the inverter,
for example by a corresponding driving of the converter unit 160
by the control unit 120. At the same time, by means of a suitable
driving of the switches of the converter unit 160 as described
above, at least part of the power generated by the DC voltage
generator, for heating the inverter 10, can also be converted into
heat by the converter 160, while the rest of the power can be fed
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to a further heating element. In this case, it is likewise possible
to choose a variable value instead of a fixed upper limit value for
the generator [30] voltage, the variable value being determined
based on the measured moisture value.
Andrae ¶ 41 (emphasis added). According to the Examiner, “it is apparent
from this teaching that the humidity control circuit of Andrae regulates a
humidity level within the interior region of the enclosure by applying an
amount of actuation, of a plurality of [amounts of] actuation to the first
heating component” 130. Final Act. 17–18 (citing Andrae ¶ 41) (emphasis
added).
Appellant amended claim 17 to recite the italicized limitation quoted
above.8 Amendment 6.9 With that amendment, Appellant argued that the
amended claims are distinguished from the applied prior art because
“Andrae utilizes a simple on/off control for his humidity control circuit,”
whereas “the claimed humidity control circuit can utilize various degrees of
heating to dry the enclosure.” Id. at 8.
On appeal, Appellant argues, inter alia, that Andrae fails to disclose
“whether the amount of power fed to the heating element [130] changes
based on” the varying voltage for the DC voltage generator 30. Appeal Br.
10. Appellant contends that Andrae does not disclose that the amount power
fed to heating element 130 is “one of a plurality of amounts.” Id. at 10–11.
In the Answer, the Examiner determines that in the event Andrae’s
measured moisture value exceeds the threshold value, “more power should

8 We refer to the Amendment dated May 24, 2019.
9 We note that Appellant also amended independent claims 1 and 4, which
are subject to the Examiner’s Rejections II and III, respectively, to recite
substantially similar limitations. Amendment 3, 4.
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be fed to the heating element(s) to decrease the interior moisture below the
threshold.” Ans. 18 (citing Andrae Fig. 4). According to the Examiner,
because Andrae teaches that moisture values are repeatedly measured until
the threshold value is no longer exceeded, “such requirement implies [a]
different amount of power being fed to the heating element.” Ans. 18 (citing
Andrae claim 26).
In the Reply Brief, Appellant argues that Andrae’s disclosure does not
foreclose the possibility that DC voltage generator 30 feeds a constant
amount of power to heating element 130 while the amount of DC power
converted into heat by switches of the converter unit 160 varies. Reply Br.
2.
We are persuaded that Appellant has identified reversible error.
“[A]n invention is anticipated if the same device, including all the
claim limitations, is shown in a single prior art reference. Every element of
the claimed invention must be literally present.” Richardson v. Suzuki
Motor Co., Ltd., 868 F.2d 1226, 1236 (Fed. Cir. 1989). Here, we agree with
Appellant that the Examiner has not pointed to any support in Andrae to
demonstrate that DC voltage generator 30 necessarily feeds varied amounts
of power to heating element 130. Appeal Br. 10–11; Reply Br. 2–3.
The Examiner provides no basis in fact and/or technical reasoning to
reasonably support the inherency of the claimed humidity control regulation
“by applying an amount of actuation, of a plurality of amounts of actuation,
to the first heating component.” Appeal Br. 24 (Claims App.). Rather, the
Examiner asserts that the particular humidity control step is inherent and
merely concludes Andrae: (i) discloses that “more power should be fed to
the heating element(s)” and (ii) “implies [a] different amount of power being
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fed to the heating element.” Ans. 18 (emphasis added). Such conclusory
assertions do not evince that the recited humidity control step is inherent in
Andrae’s disclosure. On this record, the Examiner fails to explain how
Andrae discloses every element of claim 17.
We, therefore, reverse the Examiner’s anticipation rejection.
Rejections II–VII
Because each of these rejections relies on an erroneous finding that
Andrae discloses the recited humidity level regulation “by applying an
amount of actuation, of a plurality of amounts of actuation, to the first
heating component” (independent claims 1 and 4), we reverse these
rejections for the same reasons identified with respect to claim 17. Appeal
Br. 19–20, 21 (Claims App.).
CONCLUSION
Rejections I–VII are reversed.
DECISION SUMMARY
Claim(s)
Rejected
35 U.S.C. § Reference(s)/Basis Affirmed Reversed
17, 20 102(a)(1) Andrae 17, 20
1–3 103 Kim, Andrae, Fornage 1–3
4, 5, 7–15 103 Kim, Andrae, 4, 5, 7–15
6 103 Kim, Andrae, Fornage 6
16 103 Kim, Andrae, Tiittanen 16
18 103 Andrae, Erickson, Jr. 18
19 103 Andrae, Kiik 19
Overall
Outcome
1–20

REVERSED