Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-09-30)

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

LISTING OF CLAIMS:

1\. (Currently amended) A system configured to dehumidify air within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,a processor configured to:determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
weight the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms where high-humidity events take place,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein the calculating of the total humidity level includes averaging each sensed humidity level in the local environment, and
activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within at least some of the one or more rooms when (i) the total humidity level is above a predetermined threshold, and (ii) it is determined there are no localized,
high humidity events in \[\[in\]\] the local environment.

2\. (Cancelled)

3\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to activate a local exhaust fan in communication with the second room to remove moisture from the second room.

4\. (Cancelled)

5\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to weight the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms where high- humidity events take place according to manually entered user preferences to adjust the weighting of the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms.

6\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that a high-humidity event has occurred in a first room of the structure and adjust the room humidity value of the first room prior to calculating the total humidity level of the local environment.

7\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain outdoor air quality index data and activate the dehumidification device to adjust at least one room humidity value based, at least in part, on the outdoor air quality index data.

8\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1\[\[7\]\], wherein the processor is configured to obtain an outdoor dew point and an indoor dew point and if the outdoor dew point is greater than the \[\[an\]\] indoor dew point , and the indoor dew point is greater than an acceptable, predetermined threshold, the processor is configured to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time.

9\. (Currently amended) A system configured to reduce humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,
a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms, and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level,
   ,
obtain an outdoor dew point ,
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level unless the outdoor dew point is within 10% of the indoor dew point, and
determine to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than an acceptable, predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time,
 .

10\. (Cancelled)

11\. (Cancelled)

12\. (Cancelled)

13\. (Cancelled)

14\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to weight the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms.

15\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 14, wherein weighting the room humidity level includes determining that a first room of the local environment has a first humidity level within an acceptable range and determining that a second room of the local environment has a second humidity level outside of an acceptable range

.

16\. (Cancelled)

17\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 14, user preferences \[\[to\]\] adjust the weighting of the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms.

18\. (Currently amended) The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that a high-humidity event has occurred in a first room of the structure and adjusting the room humidity value of the first room prior to calculating the total humidity level of the local environment.

19\. (Cancelled)

20\. (Cancelled)

21\. (Currently amended) A system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level,
,
obtain an outdoor dew point ,
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, unless the indoor dew point is less than the outdoor dew point, and
determine whether to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than an acceptable, predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time- .

22\. (Currently amended) A system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
weight the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms,
determine whether to activate a local exhaust fan in communication with a second room of the local environment to remove moisture from the second room when (i) a first room of the local environment has a first humidity level within an acceptable range and (ii) the second room has a second humidity level outside of the acceptable range,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein calculating the total humidity level includes averaging each sensed humidity level in the local environment, and
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, and activating the dehumidification device only when the total humidity level is above the predetermined threshold and it is determined that there are no localized, high humidity events in \[\[in\]\] the local environment.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
In an Amendment filed on September 3, 2025, claims 1, 3, 5-9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, and 22 were amended.
Claims 1, 3, 5-9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, and 22 are pending, of which claims 1, 9, 21, and 22 are independent claims.
Information Disclosure Statement
The references cited in the information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on September 8, 2025 has been considered by the examiner.
Examiner's Amendment
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Mr. Matthew E. Leno on September 15, 2025.
Claims 1, 8, 9, 15, 21, and 22 are amended as follows:
IN THE CLAIMS
1. (Currently amended) A system configured to dehumidify air within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising:
a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,
a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
assign a weight to the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms where high-humidity events take place,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein the calculating of the total humidity level includes averaging the weighted room humidity level in the local environment, and
activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within at least some of the one or more rooms when (i) the total humidity level is above a predetermined threshold, and (ii) it is determined there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment.
8. (Currently amended) The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to obtain an outdoor dew point and an indoor dew point and if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point, and the indoor dew point is greater than a predetermined threshold, the processor is configured to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time.
9. (Currently amended) A system configured to reduce humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising:
a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,
a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms, and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level,
obtain an outdoor dew point,
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, unless the outdoor dew point is within 10% of the indoor dew point, and
determine to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than a predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time[[,]].
15. (Currently amended) The system of claim 14, wherein weighting the room humidity level includes determining that a first room of the local environment has a first humidity level within a range and determining that a second room of the local environment has a second humidity level outside of the range.
21. (Currently amended) A system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising:
a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,
a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms
with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level[[,]],
obtain an outdoor dew point,
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, if the indoor dew point is less than the outdoor dew point, and
determine whether to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than a predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time.
22. (Currently amended) A system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising:
a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms,
a processor configured to:
determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms,
assign a weight to the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms,
determine whether to activate a local exhaust fan in communication with a second room of the local environment to remove moisture from the second room when (i) a first room of the local environment has a first humidity level withina range and (ii) the second room has a second humidity level outside of the
calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein calculating the total humidity level includes averaging the weighted room humidity level in the local environment, and
determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, and activating the dehumidification device only when the total humidity level is above the predetermined threshold and it is determined that there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment.
Response to Arguments
The new title is acceptable.
In view of the amendments to the claims, the objections to these claims is withdrawn.
The claim amendments presented in the Amendment and in the Examiner’s Amendment have overcome the indefiniteness rejection under 35 USC 112(b) and the non-statutory subject matter rejection under 35 USC 101 previously presented.
In view of the substantive amendments made to the claims, Applicant’s arguments presented over the prior art rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive.  As noted below, the case is in condition for allowance.
Relevant Art Cited by Examiner
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is cited to establish the level of skill in the applicant’s art and those arts considered reasonably pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure. See MPEP 707.05(c).
Turney et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2019/0338974 A1) (“Turney”) describes in Paragraph [0002] (“The present disclosure relates generally to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a building and more particularly to an HVAC system that uses artificial intelligence to determine comfort ranges for the building.”) Turney provides in Paragraph [0019] (“Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method for maintaining occupant comfort in a space of a building, according to some embodiments.”) Turney explains in Paragraph [0104] (“…system management controller 902 may determine that dehumidification is required to maintain comfort within conditioned space 916 and can provide control signals to HVAC equipment 904 to achieve the required dehumidification in conditioned space 916.”)  Turney also describes in Paragraph [0101] “Conditioned space 916 may be, for example, a room in building 10, a zone of building 10, or any other area in building 10 that requires an appropriate comfort level to be maintained.”) And Paragraph [0052] provides that (“HVAC system 100 can include a plurality of HVAC devices (e.g., heaters, chillers, air handling units, pumps, fans, thermal energy storage, etc.) configured to provide heating, cooling, ventilation, or other services for building 10.”) Turney describes in Paragraph [0108] (“Conditioned space 916 is shown to include a thermostat 906. Thermostat 906 can provide various information regarding conditioned space 916 to system management controller 902. Thermostat 906 is shown to include a temperature sensor 910. In some embodiments, temperature sensor 910 is configured to measure and provide a temperature value Tspace of conditioned space 916 to system management controller 902. Thermostat 906 is also shown to include a humidity sensor 912. In some embodiments, humidity sensor 912 is configured to measure and provide a humidity value of conditioned space 916 to system management controller 902. Thermostat 906 is also shown to include an air quality sensor 914. In some embodiments, air quality sensor 914 is configured to measure and provide an air quality value of conditioned space 916 to system management controller 902.”) Turney also describes in Paragraph [0117] (“Still referring to FIG. 10, memory 1006 is shown to include a data collector 1010. Data collector 1010 can be configured to collect and compile any and/or all data provided to system management controller 902. For example, data collector 1010 can aggregate conditions of conditioned space 916 as measured and provided by temperature sensor 910, humidity sensor 912, air quality sensor 914, etc.”)
US Patent Publication No. 2015/0345819 A1 to Ostrovsky et al. describes a control 10 configured or operable such that the sensitivity level input by the user via the selectable sensitivity input mechanism 26 is “dynamic” such that the input relative humidity sensitivity level corresponds to a range of sensitivity values. The control 10 may be configured or operable such that the control 10 utilizes a sensitivity level within the range of sensitivity values that, based on relatively recent sensor readings, e.g., temperatures humidity levels etc. sensed by the atmospheric sensor 20, increases the likelihood that a) high humidity events will trigger or result in automatic activation of the ventilation mechanism 12; and b) only high humidity events trigger or result in automatic activation of the ventilation mechanism 12 (i.e., environmental conditions do not trigger automatic activation).
US Patent Publication No. 2003/0188638 A1 to Zhang describes that in order to make gases highly humidified, the flow rate of gases should be low enough, or the residence time in water should be long enough. Also, the distribution of gases in the liquid water has a large influence on the final humidity of gases. A bubbling-type humidifier should also avoid leaving water droplets to be carried out by the gas stream, even when flow rate is relatively low because there is no typically gas-water separation function in such a humidifier. This method of humidification has the advantage of being very simple and inexpensive. However, typical bubbling-type humidifiers cannot deliver 100% relative humidity to gases and only allow relatively low gas flow rate for a certain cross area of humidifier. Another disadvantage of this method is its uncertainty as to just how much humidity has been imparted to gases as the gases leave the outlet of the humidifier. Many factors, including water temperature, flow rate, gas distribution, inlet gas temperature and humidity, physical structure and condition of the humidifier, affect humidity at outlet.
US Patent Publication No. 2023/0332788 A1 to Ajax et al. describes a method for recommending filter types to be used in an HVAC system of a building. The method includes obtaining a measurement of air quality within the building using one or more sensors. The method further includes calculating a current air quality metric based on the measurement. The method further includes calculating an average air quality metric based on the current air quality metric and a set of previous air quality metrics. The method further includes generating an air filter type recommendation based on the average air quality metric.
However, the description of the cited prior art of record, individually or combined, would not be combinable with the cited art of record, as it is not teaching the combined recitations providing “activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within at least some of the one or more rooms when (i) the total humidity level is above a predetermined threshold, and (ii) it is determined there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment”, as recited in independent claim 1; “determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, unless the outdoor dew point is within 10% of the indoor dew point; as recited in independent claim 9; “determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, if the indoor dew point is less than the outdoor dew point”, as recited in independent claim 21; and “determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, and activating the dehumidification device only when the total humidity level is above the predetermined threshold and it is determined that there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment”, as recited in independent claim 22.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claim 1
The reasons for allowance of Claim 1 are that the prior art of record, including the reference(s) cited below, neither anticipates, nor renders obvious the recited combination as a whole; including the limitations of a system configured to dehumidify air within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms, a processor configured to: determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms, assign a weight to the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms where high-humidity events take place, calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein the calculating of the total humidity level includes averaging the weighted room humidity level in the local environment, and activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within at least some of the one or more rooms when (i) the total humidity level is above a predetermined threshold, and (ii) it is determined there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment.
Claim 9
The reasons for allowance of Claim 9 are that the prior art of record, including the reference(s) cited below, neither anticipates, nor renders obvious the recited combination as a whole; including the limitations of a system configured to reduce humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms, a processor configured to: determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms, calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms, and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level, obtain an outdoor dew point, determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, unless the outdoor dew point is within 10% of the indoor dew point, and determine to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than a predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time.
Claim 21
The reasons for allowance of Claim 21 are that the prior art of record, including the reference(s) cited below, neither anticipates, nor renders obvious the recited combination as a whole; including the limitations of a system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms, a processor configured to: determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms, calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity level of each of the one or more rooms and calculate an indoor dew point from the total humidity level, obtain an outdoor dew point, determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, if the indoor dew point is less than the outdoor dew point, and determine whether to activate an exhaust fan and a supply fan together with the dehumidification device (i) if the outdoor dew point is greater than the indoor dew point and (ii) the indoor dew point is greater than a predetermined threshold, to remove indoor pollutants and decrease humidity within the indoor environment at the same time.
Claim 22
The reasons for allowance of Claim 22 are that the prior art of record, including the reference(s) cited below, neither anticipates, nor renders obvious the recited combination as a whole; including the limitations of a system configured to improve humidity levels within a local environment of a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in the local environment of the structure comprised of one or more rooms of the structure, each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices configured to be located in one of the one or more rooms, a processor configured to: determine a room humidity level for each of the one or more rooms with the monitoring device located in the corresponding one of the one or more rooms, assign a weight to the room humidity level determined for each of the one or more rooms, determine whether to activate a local exhaust fan in communication with a second room of the local environment to remove moisture from the second room when (i) a first room of the local environment has a first humidity level within a range and (ii) the second room has a second humidity level outside of the range, calculate a total humidity level of the local environment based on the room humidity levels of each of the one or more rooms, wherein calculating the total humidity level includes averaging the weighted room humidity level in the local environment, and determine whether to activate a dehumidification device to remove moisture from the air within one or more of the one or more rooms based on the total humidity level, and activating the dehumidification device only when the total humidity level is above the predetermined threshold and it is determined that there are no localized, high humidity events in the local environment.
As dependent claims 3, 5-8, 14, 15, 17, and 18 depend from an allowable base claim; they are at least allowable for the same reasons as noted supra.  Support for the above noted limitations can be found, at least, in FIGS. 1-4B and corresponding description.
The prior art made of record include Turney et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2019/0338974 A1); Ostrovsky et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2015/0345819 A1); Wan et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2020/0011559 A1); Kumari, S. and Jain, M.K., 2018. A critical review on air quality index. Environmental Pollution: Select Proceedings of ICWEES-2016, pp.87-102.; Duan, Z., 2011. Investigation of a novel dew point indirect evaporative air conditioning system for buildings (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nottingham).; Emmons et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2015/0032264 A1); Cherewatti et al. (US Patent Publication No. 2009/0057430 A1); US Patent Publication No. 2023/0332788 A1 to Ajax et al.; and US Patent Publication No. 2003/0188638 A1 to Zhang.
Conclusion
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, any comments should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1, 3, 5-9, 14-15, 17-18 and 21-22 are pending. All claims are amended by this paper. No new matter is added by this paper.
Title
Please amend the title of the application to "SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING HUMIDITY LEVELS WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT".
Claim Objections
The claim objections on page 3 of the Office Action are obviated by the amendments herein.
Claim Rejections -
§
Various claims are rejected based on an assertion that certain terminology is unclear and/or when given an ordinary and customary meaning, the specification does not provide sufficient explanation. As a result, the limitations including this terminology have been disregarded for examination. For the reasons indicated below, the claim terminology is clear and supported and the limitations including the claim terminology must be considered for purposes of examination.
Weighting
Claims 1, 5, 14, 15 and 22 recite the term "weighting". The Office Action states that it is unclear what is meant by "weighting" and poses several questions.
The specification teaches what is meant by the term "weighting". First, the specification introduces a concept of collecting and averaging air quality readings from monitoring devices including sensors to determine an overall level of each pollutant throughout a structure as a whole. [Par. 0020] As discussed elsewhere in the specification, the average(s) can be used for various purposes. At Paragraphs 0020-0022, the specification discusses the concept of "weighting" some data in the averaging of air quality readings. The concept of weighting data to obtain a weighted average is a concept well understood by the person having ordinary skill in the art to increase or decrease the importance of each piece of data contributing to the average.
Nonetheless, the specification provides several examples of how this weighting can be carried out.
In a first nonlimiting example, certain contaminants of concern can be weighted heavier than other contaminants in order to give preference to those contaminants of concern and address them first. [Par. 0020] The contaminants of concern can be identified by, for example, user inputs. [Par. 0020] In one example, a user might have an allergy to a particular contaminant and want to weight that contaminant higher than others in order to have those contaminants addressed before others.
In a second nonlimiting example, the specification indicates that certain contaminants may be weighted based on health hazards. [Par. 0020] For example, carbon monoxide (CO) is known to be a health hazard and could be weighted more heavily than other contaminants so that it is addressed before other contaminants. As a safety precaution, contaminants that are health hazards could be automatically part of the system regardless of user preferences. [Par. 0020]
In a third nonlimiting example, the specification recognizes that different rooms in a
multiroom structure may have different volumes. [Par. 0020] In such circumstances, weighting can be based on the volume of air in a room. [Par. 0020] For example, a contaminant may take longer to remediate from a room with a larger volume of air than from a room with a smaller volume of air. Thus, weighting could elevate the sensor readings in larger rooms in order to give those rooms preference.
In a fourth nonlimiting example, the specification recognizes in Paragraph 0021 that
some rooms in a multiroom structure may experience short term high-humidity events that can throw off an average humidity reading for the entire structure and trigger dehumidification across the entire structure when dehumidification is unwarranted anywhere except the room(s) with the short term high-humidity event. [Par. 0021] The weighting of these short term high- humidity levels can be reduced to lower their impact on the overall humidity average of the structure or outright ignored to eliminate their impact on the overall humidity average of the structure. [Par. 0021] When ignored, "the dehumidification unit 128 is not activated during some short, localized, high-humidity events even if the total humidity value of the environment 98 calculated by the local database/server 110 is above the threshold." [Par. 0021]
Further elaborating on specific applications of the fourth nonlimiting example, the
specification discusses in Paragraph 0022 that short term high-humidity events can be identified by determining the rate of change of humidity in each room. [Par. 0022] The specification then goes on to identify several different rates of change that could be appropriate to identify a short term high-humidity event. [Par. 0022]
Below, Applicant addresses specific questions posed in the Office Action:
e  "If there is only one room...with a high-humidity event, then how is the humidity
level of such room "weighted"?"
o In one example, discussed above, that reading could be weighted down if the high-humidity event is determined to be short termed. In other examples, that high-humidity event could be elevated if humidity has been determined to be a health hazard (e.g. fostering mold or mildew) or identified by the user to be addressed ahead of others. " "The Specification does not offer a particular meaning to the term "weighted". So,
taking the ordinary and customary meaning, weighting is known to be scaling, ranking, or indexing. If such is the case, the claim does not explain how is such scaling, ranking, or indexing is [sic] done? For instance, how is a humidity level
of a room scaled, ranked, indexed, or weighted"?
o As discussed above, the person having ordinary skill in the art would understand from the specification that weighting increases or decreases the importance of one or more pieces of data contributing to the average. One example, as discussed above, would ignore a short term high-humidity event. In that example, the humidity reading from the room experiencing the short term high-humidity event could be weighted as zero. e "How is the determination of the second room being outside an acceptable range
being "weighted" with respect to the first room being within the acceptable level?"
o The question based on a situation not in the claim language. The question asks how two determinations of a room being within or outside of an acceptable range are weighted, but the claim language indicates that room
humidity levels are weighted. Accordingly, Applicant cannot answer this question.
e "It is unclear how the weighting can include the determination of the first room of
the local environment having the first humidity level within an acceptable range and the second room of the local environment has a second humidity level outside
of the acceptable range."
o  The claim language that is the source of this question has been removed from the claim.
Avera
ging
The Office Action states that it is unclear what is meant by "averaging" in claims 1 and 22. The specification makes clear that different sensors within the monitored environment take IAQ readings and that contemporaneous readings taken from the various sensors are averaged to obtain a total humidity level. The term "averaging" as used in this application to obtain a total humidity level does not refer to averaging multiple readings from the same sensor.
Obtaining dew point from A
QI
data
The Office Action objects to claims 9 and 21 for reciting the step of "obtaining an outdoor dew point from the outdoor air quality index data". The language objected to by the Office Action has been removed from these claims.
Claim Rejections -
§
Abstract Idea
Independent claims 9 and 21, as well as some claims depending from claim 9, are
rejected as reciting an abstract idea. Claims 9 and 21 have each been amended to overcome the recited abstract idea rejections.
Contingent Limitations
Claims 1 and 22 recite the term "when" and claims 9 and 21 recite the term "if". The Office Action states that the terms "when" and "if' create contingent limitations that must be ignored. Claims 1, 9, 21 and 22 have been amended to obviate the basis of the Office Action ignoring these limitations.
Claim Rejections -
§
§
Claims 1, 7 and 22 are rejected as anticipated by US 2019/0338974 ("Turney").
Although Turney fails to teach weighting of humidity levels and/or averaging of room humidity levels to achieve a total humidity level of a local environment, the rejections expressly disregard all limitations requiring weighting and averaging of room humidity levels based on the indefiniteness rejections. First, an Office Action should not disregard a claim term simply because of an indefiniteness rejection. Second, neither the weighting limitations nor the averaging limitations are indefinite for the reasons discussed above. Applicant requests consideration of these terms and reversal of these rejections.
These rejections also ignore the limitations comprising the terms "when" because those terms were contingent limitations. The claims have been amended to remove the basis for considering those terms contingent and should therefore be considered. Applicant requests consideration of these limitations and reversal of these rejections.
Furthermore, these rejections contend that Turney teaches calculating a total humidity level as recited in the claims. More specifically, the Office Action contends that Turney's discussion of aggregating data in Paragraph 0117 teaches calculating a total humidity level. Aggregation of data is not the same as calculating a total humidity. Indeed, aggregation is nothing more than collecting and summarizing data.
Claims 3, 5 and 6 are rejected as obvious over Turney in view of US 2015/0345819
("Ostrovsky"). The Office Action does not indicate that the addition of Ostrovsky overcomes the ignored "weighting", "averaging" or contingent limitations of claim 1, discussed above. With consideration of those claims now required, Applicant requests reconsideration of these rejections.
In the rejection of claims 5 and 6, the Office Action addresses the substance of claim limitations requiring identification and weighting of rooms having high-humidity events. A similar claim limitation is present in claim 1, but was ignored because it was part of an ignored clause. In rejecting claims 5 and 6, the Office Action contends that Ostrovsky teaches identifying high-humidity levels in a room, adjusting weighting of room humidity levels and adjusting a room humidity reading prior to calculating a total humidity for an environment.
Ostrovsky teaches none of these. Rather, Ostrovsky teaches allowing a user to simply select a humidity sensitivity level for a room. Nothing in the portions of Ostrovsky cited by the Office Action teach that Ostrovsky identifies a high-humidity level or adjusts the reading corresponding to that level to calculate a total humidity for the environment. Indeed, as discussed above, Ostrovsky does not teach the calculation of any total humidity, let alone one that weights or adjusts for a high-humidity event.
Claims 9 and 21 are rejected as obvious over Turney in view of US 2020/0011559
("Wan"). These rejections ignore the limitations comprising the terms "if' in claim 9 and 21 because that term was a contingent limitation. The claims have been amended to remove the basis for considering those terms contingent and should therefore be considered. Applicant requests consideration of these limitations and reversal of these rejections.
Additionally, these rejections contend that Turney teaches calculating a total humidity level as recited in the claims. More specifically, the Office Action contends that Turney's discussion of aggregating data in Paragraph 0117 teaches calculating a total humidity level. Aggregation of data is not the same as calculating a total humidity. Indeed, aggregation is nothing more than collecting and summarizing data.
Dependent claims 15, 17 and 18 are rejected as obvious over Turney in view of Wan and Ostrovsky. These claims are patentable for the same reasons as claim 9 from which they all ultimately depend.
Under the rejection of claims 15, 17 and 18, the Office Action addresses claim 14 from which claims 15 and 17 depend. In addressing claim 14, the Office Action disregards the limitation requiring weighting of room humidity levels for the reasons discussed above. Applicant believes the weighting limitation should be considered for the same reasons as provided in the response, above, regarding the weighting limitation of claim 1.
The rejection of claim 18 is based, in part, on the contention that Ostrovsky teaches identifying high-humidity levels in a room, adjusting weighting of room humidity levels and adjusting a room humidity reading prior to calculating a total humidity for an environment. As discussed with respect to claims 5 and 6, above, Ostrovsky teaches none of these.
For all of the reasons above, the outstanding rejections should be withdrawn.
CONCLUSION


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20230332788A1: Claims:
A heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system within a building comprising: a sensor configured to measure air quality within the building; and a control device configured to: generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality.
a sensor configured to measure air quality within the building; and
a control device configured to: generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality.
generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the control device is a thermostat.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and a pollen sensor.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is provided by: comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a low threshold value; and when the air quality metric is less than the low threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a less restrictive filter.
comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a low threshold value; and
when the air quality metric is less than the low threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a less restrictive filter.
The system of claim 4 , wherein the less restrictive filter is configured to reduce energy consumption of the HVAC system.
The system of claim 5 , wherein the less restrictive filter is one of a fiberglass filter or a similar pleated filter.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is provided by: comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a high threshold value; and when the air quality metric is greater than the high threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a more restrictive filter.
comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a high threshold value; and
when the air quality metric is greater than the high threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a more restrictive filter.
The system of claim 7 , wherein the more restrictive filter is configured to improve the air quality in the building.
The system of claim 8 , wherein the more restrictive filter is one of a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, or another similar filter.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is provided by: comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a low threshold value and a high threshold value; and when the air quality metric is between the low threshold value and the high threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a similar type of air filter as is currently installed in the HVAC device.
comparing an air quality metric generated from the air quality to a low threshold value and a high threshold value; and
when the air quality metric is between the low threshold value and the high threshold value, generating an air filter type recommendation corresponding to a similar type of air filter as is currently installed in the HVAC device.
A method for recommending filter types to be used in a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building comprising: obtaining, by one or more sensors, a measurement of air quality within the building; calculating, by a control device, an air quality metric based on the measurement; and generating, by the control device, an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality metric.
obtaining, by one or more sensors, a measurement of air quality within the building;
calculating, by a control device, an air quality metric based on the measurement; and
generating, by the control device, an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality metric.
The method of claim 11 , further comprising comparing, by the control device, the air quality metric to a low threshold value.
The method of claim 12 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a less restrictive filter configured to reduce energy consumption of the HVAC system if the air quality metric is less than the low threshold value.
The method of claim 13 , wherein the less restrictive filter is one of a fiberglass filter or a similar pleated filter.
The method of claim 12 , further comprising comparing, by the control device, the air quality metric to a high threshold value.
The method of claim 15 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a more restrictive filter configured to improve air quality within the building if the air quality metric is greater than the high threshold value.
The method of claim 16 , wherein the more restrictive filter is one of a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, or another similar filter.
The method of claim 15 , wherein the air filter type recommendation is for a similar type of filter as is currently installed if the air quality metric is less than the high threshold value and greater than the low threshold value.
A heating, ventilating, or air conditioning (HVAC) system within a building, comprising: a sensor configured to measure air quality within the building; and a control device configured to: determine an air quality metric based on measurements from the sensor; and generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality metric.
a control device configured to: determine an air quality metric based on measurements from the sensor; and generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality metric.
determine an air quality metric based on measurements from the sensor; and
generate an air filter type recommendation based on the air quality metric.
The HVAC system of claim 19 , wherein the air quality metric is based upon an average.
Ref US20030188638A1: Claims:
A gas humidifier comprising: a. a sealed vessel defining a vessel top, a vessel bottom, and a vessel side, the vessel adapted to retain a quantity of bulk water at a water level; b. a pre-humidifier comprising a vertically oriented tube with the vessel and having an open pre-humidifier top; c. a gas inlet adapted to convey gas into the pre-humidifier; d. a boiler within the vessel, the boiler having a heating element therein and further having an open boiler top; e. a mixing chamber above the pre-humidifier top and the boiler top; and f. an outlet adapted to convey humidified gas from the vessel.
a. a sealed vessel defining a vessel top, a vessel bottom, and a vessel side, the vessel adapted to retain a quantity of bulk water at a water level;
b. a pre-humidifier comprising a vertically oriented tube with the vessel and having an open pre-humidifier top;
c. a gas inlet adapted to convey gas into the pre-humidifier;
d. a boiler within the vessel, the boiler having a heating element therein and further having an open boiler top;
e. a mixing chamber above the pre-humidifier top and the boiler top; and
f. an outlet adapted to convey humidified gas from the vessel.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the pre-humidifier receives dry gas from the gas inlet and creates gas bubbles to humidify the gas bubbles at below saturation, thereby discharging a pre-humidified gas.
The gas humidifier of claim 2 , wherein the boiler develops steam vapor to mix with the pre-humidified gas from the pre-humidifier.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the pre-humidifier further develops pre-humidified gas with water in liquid form entrained therein.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber defines an open bottom container having a bottom edge above the level of the bulk water and below the top of the pre-humidifier and above the top of the boiler.
The gas humidifier of claim 5 , wherein the bottom edge of the mixing chamber defines a moisture separation region having a “Y”-shaped cross section.
The gas humidifier of claim 5 , wherein the bottom edge of the mixing chamber forms a moisture separation region having a downward gas-water mixture path, an upward gas path, and a water collector below the bottom edge.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber is formed of an insulating material.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating layer around the boiler.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid opening along the bottom of the vessel between the pre-humidifier and the quantity of bulk water.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid opening along the bottom of the vessel between the boiler and the quantity of bulk water.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber defines a flow path for the flow of a mixture of steam and pre-humidified gas and to separate condensation from saturated steam.
The gas humidifier of claim 12 , wherein the flow path extends downward around the pre-humidifier and the boiler and above the level of the bulk water.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising: a. a water jacket around the vessel; and b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the water jacket.
a. a water jacket around the vessel; and
b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the water jacket.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor at the outlet of the vessel.
The gas humidifier of claim 15 , wherein the temperature sensor develops a temperature signal, and further comprising a temperature controller to receive the temperature signal and in response control the heater element.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the boiler develops vapor steam which exits the open top of the boiler, the pre-humidifier develops pre-humidified gas which exits the open top of the pre-humidifier, and the mixing chamber mixes the vapor steam and the pre-humidified gas, causing condensation of the vapor steam in the mixing chamber.
The gas humidifier of claim 17 , wherein the condensation falls by gravity and inertia into the bulk water.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the gas exiting the vessel is at 100% relative humidity.
The gas humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a gas conduit in communication with the out of the vessel.
The gas humidifier of claim 20 , further comprising a gas heater element in the gas conduit.
The gas humidifier of claim 21 , further comprising: a. a gas conduit outlet from the gas conduit; and b. a gas temperature sensor at the gas conduit outlet.
a. a gas conduit outlet from the gas conduit; and
b. a gas temperature sensor at the gas conduit outlet.
The gas humidifier of claim 22 , wherein the gas temperature sensor develops a gas temperature signal, and further comprising a gas heater controller to control the gas heater element in response to the gas temperature signal.
The gas humidifier of claim 20 , further comprising a humidity sensor in the gas conduit.
The gas humidifier of claim 20 , further comprising: a. a gas conduit water jacket around the gas conduit; and b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the gas conduit water jacket.
a. a gas conduit water jacket around the gas conduit; and
b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the gas conduit water jacket.
The gas humidifier of claim 20 , further comprising: a. a vessel water jacket around the vessel; b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the vessel water jacket; c. a vessel water jacket outlet from the vessel water jacket; d. a gas conduit water jacket around the gas conduit; and e. a water line to convey circulating water from the vessel water jacket outlet to the gas conduit water jacket.
a. a vessel water jacket around the vessel;
b. a source of circulating water in fluid communication with the vessel water jacket;
c. a vessel water jacket outlet from the vessel water jacket;
d. a gas conduit water jacket around the gas conduit; and
e. a water line to convey circulating water from the vessel water jacket outlet to the gas conduit water jacket.
A gas conditioning system comprising: a. a gas stream humidifier adapted to develop a humidified gas; b. a gas heater line to receive humidified gas from the humidifier, the gas heater line having a gas heating element therein; c. a first chill water jacket around the humidifier, the chill water jacket having a first chill water inlet and a first chill water outlet; and d. a second chill water jacket around the gas heater line adjacent the gas heating element, the second chill water jacket having a second chill water inlet in fluid communication with the first chill water outlet, the second chill water jacket further having a second chill water outlet.
a. a gas stream humidifier adapted to develop a humidified gas;
b. a gas heater line to receive humidified gas from the humidifier, the gas heater line having a gas heating element therein;
c. a first chill water jacket around the humidifier, the chill water jacket having a first chill water inlet and a first chill water outlet; and
d. a second chill water jacket around the gas heater line adjacent the gas heating element, the second chill water jacket having a second chill water inlet in fluid communication with the first chill water outlet, the second chill water jacket further having a second chill water outlet.
The system of claim 27 , further comprising a check valve within the gas heater line.
The system of claim 28 , further comprising a humidity sensor in the gas heater line in parallel with the check valve.
The system of claim 28 , further comprising a third chill water jacket around the humidity sensor and having a third chill water inlet in fluid communication with the second chill water outlet, the third chill water jacket having a third chill water outlet.
The system of claim 30 , further comprising a fourth chill water jacket around the gas heater line a spaced apart distance from the gas heater element, the fourth chill water jacket having a fourth chill water inlet in fluid communication with the third chill water outlet, the fourth chill water jacket further having a fourth chill water outlet.
The system of claim 27 , wherein the gas heater line comprises jacketed tubing for gas transportation and gas temperature tracing along the gas heater line.
The system of claim 29 , wherein the humidity sensor provides a control signal to maintain temperature within the gas heater line such that humidified gas within the gas heater line remains close to the dew point temperature.