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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/829,532
`
`03/25/2020
`
`Shin Nanba
`
`P200227US00
`
`4387
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`BUCK, LINDSEY A
`
`1726
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`08/14/2023
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`Thetime 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):
`
`patentmail @ whda.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)M The drawing(s) filed on 3/25/2020 is/are: a)¥) accepted or b)C) objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)[¥] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) All
`1.4] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`3/25/2020;2/14/2023;7/17/2023.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) (J Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20230801
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/829 532
`Nanba, Shin
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`LINDSEY A BUCK
`1726
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 4/21/2023.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-8 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 7 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`[) Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-6and8is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`“If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`2.
`
`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-AlA) for the rejection will
`
`not be considered a new groundof rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale
`
`supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
`
`Election/Restrictions
`
`3.
`
`Applicant’s election of Species A, claims 1-6 and 8,in the reply filed on
`
`4/21/2023 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point
`
`out any supposederrors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as
`
`an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
`
`4.
`
`Claim 7 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as
`
`being drawn to anonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
`
`Election was made withouttraverse in the reply filed on 4/21/2023.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly
`pointing out and distinctlyclaiming the subject matter which the inventor ora jointinventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 3
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph:
`The specifications hall conclude with one or more claims particulary pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards ashis invention.
`
`6.
`
`Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second
`
`paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the
`
`subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-
`
`AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
`
`Claim 6 contain the limitations “the first solar cell module according to claim 1”
`
`and “the second solar cell module according to claim 1” which do not have proper
`
`antecedent basis. For the purpose of this Office Action, claim 6 will be treated asifit
`
`reads “a first solar cell module and a second solarcell module, wherein thefirst and
`
`second solar cell modules are solar cell modules according to claim 1”.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`7.
`
`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 ina printed publication, orin public use,
`on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`8.
`
`Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Avrutsky
`
`(US 2011/0079263).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 4
`
`Regarding claim 8, Avrutsky discloses a solar cell module in Figure 1 comprising:
`
`a first solar cell subgroup (Groups of cells 112 and 114) electrically connecting
`
`two first solar cell strings in series (Strings 112 and 114 are connectedin series, [20]);
`
`a secondsolar cell subgroup (Group of cells 116 and 118) electrically connecting
`
`two second solar cell strings in series (Strings 116 and 118 are connectedin series,
`
`[20});
`
`a first bypass diode part including one or morefirst bypass diodes (bypass
`
`diodes 124 and 122) electrically connectedin parallel to the first solar cell subgroup
`
`(Groups 112 and 114) ([20]); and
`
`a second bypass diode part including one or more second bypass diodes
`
`(bypass diodes 126 and 128) electrically connected in parallel to the second solarcell
`
`subgroup (Groups 116 and 118) ([20]),
`
`wherein a positive terminal of one first solar cell string included in the twofirst
`
`solar cell strings, a negative terminal of another first solar cell string included in the two
`
`first solar cell strings, a positive terminal of one second solar cell string included in the
`
`two second solarcell strings, and a negative terminal of another second solar cell string
`
`included in the two secondsolarcell strings are electrically connected to one another
`
`(Strings 112, 114, 116 and 118 are all electrically connected in series such thatall of the
`
`terminals of the cells are electrically connected to one another between the positive and
`
`negative string terminals, [20)).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 5
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`9.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis forall
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`Apatent for a claimed invention maynotbe obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identicallydisclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences betweenthe
`claimed invention and the prior artare such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having
`ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentabilityshall notbe
`negated by the manner in whichthe invention was made.
`
`10.=‘The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized asfollows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence presentin the application indicating
`
`obviousness or nonobviousness.
`
`11.
`
`Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Avrutsky (US 2011/0079263) in view of Horioka et al. (US 2005/0061360).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Avrutsky discloses a solar cell module in Figure 1 comprising:
`
`a first solar cell subgroup (Groups of cells 112 and 114) including twofirst solar
`
`cell strings connected in series (Strings 112 and 114 are connectedin series, [20]) in
`
`which each of the first solar cell strings includes a plurality of solar cells (Figure 1, [3]
`
`and [20]);
`
`a secondsolar cell subgroup (Group of cells 116 and 118) including two second
`
`solar cell strings connected in series (Strings 116 and 118 are connectedin series,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 6
`
`[20]), in which each of the secondsolar cell strings includes a plurality of solar cells
`
`(Figure 1, [3] and [20]);
`
`a first bypass diode part that is connected in parallel to the first solar cell
`
`subgroup (Groups 112 and 114) and includes onefirst bypass diode or a plurality offirst
`
`bypass diodes connected in series (bypass diodes 124 and 122) (Figure 1 and [20]);
`
`and
`
`a second bypass diode part that is connected in parallel to the second solarcell
`
`subgroup (Groups 116 and 118) and includes one second bypassdiodeora plurality of
`
`second bypass diodes connected in series (bypass diodes 126 and 128) (Figure 1 and
`
`[20});
`
`
`
`whereinafirst portion having the highest potential in a low-potential side first
`
`solar cell string having lower potential out of the twofirst solar cell strings and a second
`
`portion having the highest potential
`
`in a low-potential side second solarcell string
`
`having lower potential out of the two secondsolar cell strings are electrically connected
`
`to each other (Strings 112, 114, 116 and 118 are all electrically connected in series
`
`such that all of the terminals and portions of the strings are electrically connected to one
`
`another between the positive and negative string terminals, [20]).
`
`Avrutsky disclosesa first and second external wire to supply electric power to the
`
`outside (string terminals 104 and 106, [20]), but Avrutsky does not disclose a pair offirst
`
`external wires used to supply electric power to outside and a pair of second external
`
`wires used to supply electric power to the outside.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 7
`
`Horioka discloses a solar cell module in Figures 1A and B comprising a pair of
`
`first external wires (bifurcated wires 4a) used to supply electric power to outside ([49]);
`
`and a pair of second external wires (bifurcated wires 4b) used to supply electric power
`
`to the outside ([49]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention wasfiled to modify the device of Avrutsky to have a pair of first external wires
`
`used to supply electric power to outside and a pair of second external wires used to
`
`supply electric powerto the outside, as taught by Horioka,
`
`in order to simplify the
`
`design of wiring connections of the photovoltaic solar cell module andfacilitate the
`
`installation and electrical connection of the solar module (Horioka, [12]-[13]).
`
`Regarding claim 2, modified Avrutsky disclosesall of the claim limitations as set
`
`forth above. Avrutsky additionally disclosesa first wiring for electrically connecting the
`
`first portion and the second portion; a second wire for electrically connecting a third
`
`portion and a fourth portion, the third portion having the lowest potential
`
`in a high-
`
`potential side first solar cell string having higher potential out of the twofirst solar cell
`
`strings, the fourth portion having the lowest potential
`
`in a high-potential side second
`
`solar cell string having higher potential out of the two secondsolarcell strings; and a
`
`third wire for electrically connecting the first wire and the second wire (See wires
`
`connecting the strings 112, 114, 116 and 118 in series, it is noted that the terms “first
`n
`tt
`portion”,
`
`“second portion”, “third portion’ and “fourth portion” are broad.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 8
`
`Modified Avrutsky does not disclose that a cross-sectional area of the third wire
`
`is larger than that of the wire memberfor electrically connecting between the solar cells
`
`that are adjacent to each other in the first solar cell strings. However,
`
`it would have
`
`been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention wasfiled to
`
`change the cross-sectional area of the third wire, since such a modification would have
`
`involved a mere changein the size (or dimension) of acomponent. A changein size
`
`(dimension) is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art.
`
`In re Rose, 220 F.2d 459, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
`
`Regarding claim 3, modified Avrutsky disclosesall of the claim limitations as set
`
`forth above. Avrutsky additionally discloses that one skilled in the art wil recognize that
`
`the number of elements and/or components used in the embodiments is meant only to
`
`illustrate and is not to be taken aslimiting. For instance, instead of four groups of solar
`
`cells 112, 114, 116, 118, each with a bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 and a bypass
`
`switch 142, 144, 146, 148 connected in parallel, there could be two, three, five or any
`
`number of groups of solar cells 112, 114, 116, 118 along with their respective bypass
`
`diodes 122, 124, 126, 128 and bypass switches 142, 144, 146, 148. There can also be
`
`more than one bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 for each group of solar cells 112, 114,
`
`116, 118. There can be more than one bypass switch 142, 144, 146, 148 for each group
`
`of solar cells 112, 114, 116, 118. There can also be systems where one bypass switch
`
`142, 144, 146, 148 is connected in parallel with more than one group of solar cells 112,
`
`114, 116, 118 and more than one bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 ([28]), but Avrutsky
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 9
`
`does not explicitly disclose an embodiment including twothird solar cell strings that are
`
`connected in parallel to the first bypass diode part and are connected in series; and two
`
`fourth solar cell strings that are connected in parallel to the second bypass diode part
`
`and are connectedin series.
`
`However, adding twothird solar cell strings that are connectedin parallel to the
`
`first bypass diode part and are connected in series; and adding twofourth solar cell
`
`strings that are connectedin parallel to the second bypass diode part and are
`
`connected in series, would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time the invention wasfiled since it would be a mere duplication of parts. Mere
`
`duplication of parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result
`
`is produced.
`
`/n re Harza, 124 USPQ 378, 380 (CCPA 1960). Further, it has been held
`
`that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill
`
`in the art. St. Regis Paper Co. v. Bemis Co., 193 USPQ 8.
`
`Regarding claim 4, modified Avrutsky disclosesall of the claim limitations as set
`
`forth above. Avrutsky additionally discloses that the first bypass diode part includes the
`
`twofirst bypass diodes connected in series (bypass diodes 122 and 124) and the
`
`second bypass diode part includes the two second bypass diodes connected in series
`
`(bypass diodes 126 and 128) (Figure 1 and [9]), the solar cell module further
`
`comprising:
`
`a first divided wire (wire between strings 112 and 114) for electrically connecting
`
`a first string connection wire (string connection wire connecting strings 112 and 114)
`
`and a first diode connection wire (diode connection wire connecting diodes 122 and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 10
`
`124), the first string connection wire electrically connecting the twofirst solar cell strings,
`
`the first diode connection wire electrically connecting the twofirst bypass diodes (Figure
`
`1);
`
`a seconddivided wiring (wire between strings 116 and 118) for electrically
`
`connecting a second string connection wire (string connection wire connecting strings
`
`116 and 118) and a second diode connection wire (wire connecting diodes 126 and
`
`128), the second string connection wire electrically connecting the two secondsolarcell
`
`strings, the second diode connection wire electrically connecting the two second bypass
`
`diodes (Figure 1).
`
`Avrutsky does not explicitly disclose a third divided wiring for electrically
`
`connecting the first diode connection wire andathird string connection wire electrically
`
`connecting the twothird solar cell strings; and a fourth divided wire for electrically
`
`connecting the second diode connection wire and a fourth string connection wire
`
`electrically connecting the two fourth solar cell strings. However, adding a third divided
`
`wiring for electrically connecting the first diode connection wire and a third string
`
`connection wire electrically connecting the twothird solar cell strings; and adding a
`
`fourth divided wire for electrically connecting the second diode connection wire and a
`
`fourth string connection wire electrically connecting the two fourth solar cell strings
`
`would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
`
`wasfiled and would be a mere duplication of parts. Mere duplication of parts has no
`
`patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced.
`
`/n re Harza,
`
`124 USPQ 378, 380 (CCPA 1960). Further,
`
`it has been held that mere duplication of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 11
`
`the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. St Regis
`
`Paper Co. v. Bemis Co., 193 USPQ 8.
`
`Regarding claim 5, modified Avrutsky disclosesall of the claim limitations as set
`
`forth above. Avrutsky additionally discloses that the first bypass diode part includes the
`
`twofirst bypass diodes connectedin series (bypass diodes 122 and 124) (Figure 1 and
`
`[9]) comprising: a first diode connection wire for electrically connecting the twofirst
`
`bypass diodes (Figure 1); a first string connection wire for electrically connecting the two
`
`first solar cell strings (wire connecting strings 112 and 114, Figure 1); a first divided wire
`
`(wire between strings 112 and 114) for electrically connecting the first diode connection
`
`wire and the first string connection wire (Figure 1);
`
`and the solar cell module in which the second bypass diode part includes the two
`
`second bypass diodes connected in series (bypass diodes 126 and 128) (Figure 1 and
`
`[9]), comprising: a second diode connection wire for electrically connecting the two
`
`second bypass diodes (Figure 1); a second string connection wire for electrically
`
`connecting the two secondsolarcell strings (wire connecting strings 116 and 118); a
`
`second divided wire (wire between strings 116 and 118) for electrically connecting the
`
`second diode connection wire and the secondstring connection wire (Figure 1).
`
`Avrutsky additionally discloses that one skilled in the art will recognize that the
`
`number of elements and/or components used in the embodiments is meant only to
`
`illustrate and is not to be taken aslimiting. For instance, instead of four groups of solar
`
`cells 112, 114, 116, 118, each with a bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 and a bypass
`
`switch 142, 144, 146, 148 connected in parallel, there could be two, three, five or any
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 12
`
`number of groups of solar cells 112, 114, 116, 118 along with their respective bypass
`
`diodes 122, 124, 126, 128 and bypass switches 142, 144, 146, 148. There can also be
`
`more than one bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 for each group of solar cells 112, 114,
`
`116, 118. There can be more than one bypass switch 142, 144, 146, 148 for each group
`
`of solar cells 112, 114, 116, 118. There can also be systems where one bypass switch
`
`142, 144, 146, 148 is connected in parallel with more than one group of solar cells 112,
`
`114, 116, 118 and more than one bypass diode 122, 124, 126, 128 ([28]), but Avrutsky
`
`does not explicitly disclose a third solar cell string in whichafifth portion having the
`
`highest potential is electrically connected to a sixth portion having the lowest potential in
`
`a low-potential side first solar cell string having lower potential out of the twofirst solar
`
`cell strings; a fourth solar cell string in which a seventh portion having the lowest
`
`potential
`
`is electrically connected to an eighth portion having the highest potential
`
`in a
`
`high-potential side first solar cell string having higher potential out of the twofirst solar
`
`cell strings; a third bypass diode in which a low potential side is electrically connected to
`
`a ninth portion having the lowest potential
`
`in the third solar cell string, whereas a high
`
`potential side is electrically connected to a tenth portion on a low potential side of a low-
`
`potential side first bypass diode having lower potential out of the twofirst bypass
`
`diodes; and a fourth bypass diode in which a high potential side is electrically connected
`
`to an eleventh portion having the highest potential
`
`in the fourth solar cell string, whereas
`
`a low potential side is electrically connected to a twelfth portion on a high potential side
`
`of a high-potential side first bypass diode having higher potential out of the twofirst
`
`bypass diodes, andafifth solar cell string in which a thirteenth portion having the
`
`highest potential is electrically connected to a fourteenth portion having the lowest
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 13
`
`potential
`
`in a low-potential side second solar cell string having lower potential out of the
`
`two second solar cell strings; a sixth solar cell string in which a fifteenth portion having
`
`the lowest potential
`
`is electrically connected to a sixteenth portion having the highest
`
`potential
`
`in a high-potential side second solar cell string having higher potential out of
`
`the two secondsolarcell strings; a fifth bypass diode in which a low potential side is
`
`electrically connected to a seventeenth portion having the lowest potential
`
`in the fifth
`
`solar cell string, whereas a high potential side is electrically connected to an eighteenth
`
`portion on a low potential side of a low-potential side second bypass diode having lower
`
`potential out of the two second bypass diodes; and a sixth bypass diode in which a high
`
`potential side is electrically connected to a nineteenth portion having the highest
`
`potential
`
`in the sixth solar cell string, whereas a low potential side is electrically
`
`connected to a twentieth portion on a high potential side of a high-potential side second
`
`bypass diode having higher potential out of the two second bypass diodes.
`
`However, addingathird solar cell string in which a fifth portion having the highest
`
`potential
`
`is electrically connected to a sixth portion having the lowest potential in a low-
`
`potential side first solar cell string having lower potential out of the twofirst solar cell
`
`strings; adding a fourth solar cell string in which a seventh portion having the lowest
`
`potential
`
`is electrically connected to an eighth portion having the highest potential
`
`in a
`
`high-potential side first solar cell string having higher potential out of the twofirst solar
`
`cell strings; a third bypass diode in which a low potential side is electrically connected to
`
`a ninth portion having the lowest potential
`
`in the third solar cell string, whereas a high
`
`potential side is electrically connected to a tenth portion on a low potential side of a low-
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 14
`
`potential side first bypass diode having lower potential out of the twofirst bypass
`
`diodes; and a fourth bypass diode in which a high potential side is electrically connected
`
`to an eleventh portion having the highest potential
`
`in the fourth solar cell string, whereas
`
`a low potential side is electrically connected to a twelfth portion on a high potential side
`
`of a high-potential side first bypass diode having higher potential out of the twofirst
`
`bypass diodes, and addingafifth solar cell string in which a thirteenth portion having
`
`the highest potential is electrically connected to a fourteenth portion having the lowest
`
`potential
`
`in a low-potential side second solar cell string having lower potential out of the
`
`two second solar cell strings; a sixth solar cell string in which a fifteenth portion having
`
`the lowest potential
`
`is electrically connected to a sixteenth portion having the highest
`
`potential
`
`in a high-potential side second solar cell string having higher potential out of
`
`the two secondsolarcell strings; a fifth bypass diode in which a low potential side is
`
`electrically connected to a seventeenth portion having the lowest potential
`
`in the fifth
`
`solar cell string, whereas a high potential side is electrically connected to an eighteenth
`
`portion on a low potential side of a low-potential side second bypass diode having lower
`
`potential out of the two second bypass diodes; and a sixth bypass diode in which a high
`
`potential side is electrically connected to a nineteenth portion having the highest
`
`potential
`
`in the sixth solar cell string, whereas alow potential side is electrically
`
`connected to a twentieth portion on a high potential side of a high-potential side second
`
`bypass diode having higher potential out of the two second bypass diodes would have
`
`been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention wasfiled
`
`and would be a mere duplication of parts. Mere duplication of parts has no patentable
`
`significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced.
`
`/n re Harza, 124 USPQ
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 15
`
`378, 380 (CCPA 1960). Further,
`
`it has been held that mere duplication of the essential
`
`working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. St Regis Paper Co.v.
`
`Bemis Co., 193 USPQ 8.
`
`Regarding claim 6, modified Avrutsky disclosesall of the claim limitations as set
`
`forth above. Modified Avrutsky additionally discloses a solar power system, comprising:
`
`a first solar cell module as set forth above; and a second solar cell module as set forth
`
`above (see string of multiple modules, [20]),
`
`wherein a high-potential side first external wire on a high-potential side out of the
`
`pair offirst external wires in the first solar cell module and a high-potential side second
`
`external wire on a high-potential side out of the pair of second external wiresin the first
`
`solar cell module are electrically connected to each other (modules can be connectedin
`
`parallel or in series, [20]), a low-potential side first external wire on a low-potential side
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`out of the pair of first external wires in the second solar cell module and a low-potential
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`side second external wire on a low-potential side out of the pair of second external wires
`
`in the second solar cell module are electrically connected to each other (modules can
`
`be connectedin parallel or in series, [20]), and the high-potential side first external wire
`
`of the first solar cell module and the low- potential side first external wire of the second
`
`solar cell module are electrically connected to each other(modules can be connectedin
`
`parallel or in series, [20]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/829,532
`Art Unit: 1726
`
`Page 16
`
`Conclusion
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`12.=Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to LLNDSEY A BUCK whose telephone numberis
`
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Centeris
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`visit: httos://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-
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`/LINDSEY A BUCK/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1726
`
`