Appeal No. 1997-3670
Application No. 08/541,799
The invention is directed to a system and method for controlling strain in a
foundation member using a pre-formed modular control patch assembly having sensor and
actuator piezoelectric elements. A programmed digital compensator stabilizes operation
of the assembly and the foundation member to which it is applied.
Representative independent claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. A control unit for controlling strain in a foundation member, the control unit
comprising an assembly being a pre-formed patch containing a base, a
piezoelectric sensor and a piezoelectric actuator located in operative
relative relationship, means for placing the assembly in operative
relationship with the foundation member whereby the sensor detects a strain
in the foundation member and whereby the actuator imparts a strain-inducing
force to the foundation member, means for connecting control electronics in
operative relationship with the assembly, and the control electronics
including a programmable digital compensator, the compensator having
means for periodically storing and updating an input list of most recent input
values and an output list of most recent output values, and means for
determining a new output value as a weighted algebraic sum of selected
ones of the input and output values of the input and output lists.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Lazarus et al. (Lazarus) 5,374,011 Dec. 20, 1994
(filed Nov. 13, 1991)
Mendenhall et al. (Mendenhall) 5,424,596 Jun. 13, 1995
(filed Oct. 05, 1992)
Barrett 5,440,193 Aug. 08, 1995
(filed Apr. 07, 1993)1
Claims 1-38 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph as relying on a
1The filing date may go back as far as Feb. 27, 1990, depending on the new matter introduced by
its continuation-in-part parent application but there is no argument or issue as to the availability of Barrett
as a prior art reference.
2
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