DETAILED 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 .
This Office Action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed 04/30/2026. Claims 24-29 and 32-47 are currently pending in this application. Of the pending claims, claims 26, 39, and 42 are withdrawn from consideration.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are 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 ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 24-25, 27-29, 32, 40-41, and 43-47 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi et al. (U.S. 2016/0303698 A1) in view of Katoh et al. (U.S. 6,601,484 B1).
Claim 24, Takahashi teaches:
A sensor system (Takahashi, Figs. 1 and 2) comprising:
a base comprising a first cutting tool (Takahashi, Fig. 2: 200, The cutting tool 200 represents a base to which the plurality of measurement units 101 are attached.), the base being configured to rotate around a rotation axis (Takahashi, Fig. 2: C1, Paragraph [0040], A rotative force is transmitted from the machine tool to the holder 201 so that the cutting tool 200 rotates around the center axis C1.);
a first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 101) attached to the base (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0039], [0043], and [0047],The AD converter 103, the processing section 104, the wireless communication section 105, and the antenna 106 are mounted on the circuit board 206, which is attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors 102X, 102Y, and 102Z are attached to each blade portion 202, which are also attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors are then connected to circuit board 206 via respective cables (see Takahashi, Paragraphs [0044-0046]). Each temperature sensor 102T is attached to a surface of each blade portion 202.); and
a wireless communication apparatus (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 120) configured to perform first wireless communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], The monitor device 120 receives real time data from the plurality of sensors 102X, 102Y, 102Z, and 102T of each measurement unit 101.), wherein the first wireless communicator comprises
a first sensor (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 102X, 102Y, 102Z, 102T) configured to detect information for identifying a position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.), an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis (Takahashi, Fig. 6, Paragraph [0050], As shown in Fig. 6, graphs 601 and 603 represent pulsing waveforms wherein the amplitude increases when the blade portion 202 comes into contact with the workpiece W and the amplitude decreases when the blade portion 202 moves away from the workpiece W. Therefore, the position and orientation of the measurement units 101, with respect to the workpiece W, includes an orientation wherein the measurement units 101 are perpendicular to the center axis C1. As shown in Fig. 2, as the plurality of blade portions 202 rotate about center axis C1 and move towards and away, respectively, from a workpiece W, the orientation of the face of the cutting tool 200, represented by the blade portions 202 surrounding space portion 205, is perpendicular to the center axis C1.),
a first wireless communication module (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 105) configured to perform the first wireless communication (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], Each wireless communication section 105 modulates the acquired transmission data and outputs the modulated transmission data to antenna 106 to be transmitted to monitor device 120.), and
a first controller (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 104) configured to control the first wireless communication module (Takahashi, Paragraph [0023], The processing section 104 receives the digital measurement value resulting from the AD conversion and adds identification information to be transmitted by the wireless communication section 105.),
the first controller is configured to change a status of the first wireless communication from a first state to a second state, in response to the identified position of the first wireless communicator satisfying a first predetermined condition (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state. An example of a position of the measurement unit 101 satisfies a predetermined condition includes when the distortion sensors sense that the blade portion engages with a workpiece, which is represented by a peak in amplitude (see Takahashi, Fig. 6).),
the first cutting tool is positioned at a location at which the first cutting tool is used for cutting in the second state (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When the tool 200 is operational, data from the sensors 102X to 102Z, indicative of the operation of corresponding blade portions 202 (see Takahashi, Paragraph [0020]), are AD converted and output by wireless communication section 105. For example, when the tool 200 engages with a workpiece W, the generated data can be represented by Fig. 6.), and
an electric power consumption of the first wireless communication module in the second state is greater than in the first state (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state.).
Takahashi does not explicitly teach:
The first sensor configured to detect an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis; and
the first cutting tool is positioned at a location at which the first cutting tool is not used for cutting in the first state.
However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the wireless communication section 105 to refrain from transmitting when the tool 200 is not operational, e.g. when the tool 200 is off and located away from workpiece W. Therefore, the processing section 104 would not acquire data to be AD converted, which subsequently would not require the need for wireless communication section 105 to transmit (see Takahashi, Paragraph [0023]). Such a modification would not change the principal operation of the system, as a whole, and would yield predictable results, e.g. power saving when the tool 200 is not operational.
Katoh teaches:
A sensor configured to detect an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis (Katoh, Fig. 1: 15, Col. 4, Lines 47-67, The rotary encoder 15 detects the rotating angle of the cutting tool 50. The cutting tool 50 rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the workpiece W.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, to modify the system in Takahashi by integrating the teaching of detecting the rotating angle of the cutting tool, as taught by Katoh.
The motivation would be to effectively guide a workpiece to be cut by the cutting tool (see Katoh, Col. 4, Lines 47-67).
Claim 25, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24, wherein
the first sensor to detect the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator at intervals of a first period (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals.).
Takahashi in view of Katoh does not specifically teach:
The first controller is configured to cause the first sensor.
However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, to modify the processing section 104 to control the plurality of sensors 102X-1027 and 102T. Such a modification would not change the principal operation and would ensure that the system functions according to its intended function. For example, values are received from the sensors at a predetermined sampling rate, however, a plurality of sampling rates are disclosed (see Takahashi, Paragraph [0022]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the processing section 104 to be capable of communicating with the sensors 102X-102Z and 102T in order to receive and process values at a different sampling rate.
Claim 27, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24.
Takahashi in view of Katoh does not specifically teach:
Wherein the first controller is configured to stop detection of the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator in response to the status of the first wireless communication changing from the first state to the second state.
However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the processing section 104 to temporarily stop or pause reception of data during periods in which data cannot be transmitted due to the plurality of data from the plurality of other measurement units 101 (see Takahashi, Paragraph [0027]). Such a modification would ensure the reduction of data collisions and would also yield the benefit of energy saving.
Claim 28, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 25, wherein
the first wireless communicator further comprises a state sensor (Takahashi, Paragraph [0020], The distortion sensors may be piezo-type, which are functionally equivalent to acceleration sensors, which is equivalent to a state sensor.), and
the first controller is configured to cause the state sensor to detect a state of the base at intervals of a second period different from the first period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0022], The distortion gauge and/or piezo-type sensors are capable of detecting a vibration state, and the values received may be received at a second sampling rate different than the first sampling rate, i.e. at different time periods.).
Claim 29, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 28, wherein
the state sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an angular velocity sensor, an acoustic emission sensor, a temperature sensor, a stress strain sensor and combinations thereof (Takahashi, Paragraph [0020], The distortion sensors may be piezo-type, which are functionally equivalent to acceleration sensors.).
Claim 32, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24, further comprising:
a second wireless communicator (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 101) attached to the base (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0039], [0043], and [0047],The AD converter 103, the processing section 104, the wireless communication section 105, and the antenna 106 are mounted on the circuit board 206, which is attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors 102X, 102Y, and 102Z are attached to each blade portion 202, which are also attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors are then connected to circuit board 206 via respective cables (see Takahashi, Paragraphs [0044-0046]). Each temperature sensor 102T is attached to a surface of each blade portion 202. As can be seen in Fig. 1, there are a plurality of measurement units 101 implemented, i.e. a first and second.), and configured to perform second wireless communication between the wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], The monitor device 120 receives real time data from the plurality of sensors 102X, 102Y, 102Z, and 102T of each measurement unit 101.), wherein
the second wireless communicator comprises:
a second sensor (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 102X, 102Y, 102Z, 102T) configured to detect information for identifying a position of the second wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.), the position of the second wireless communicator being an orientation of the second wireless communicator in the plan orthogonal to the rotation axis (Katoh, Fig. 1: 15, Col. 4, Lines 47-67, The rotary encoder 15 detects the rotating angle of the cutting tool 50. The cutting tool 50 rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the workpiece W. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, to duplicate the rotary encoder 15, as a matter of engineering choice. Such a modification would not render the invention inoperable for its intended purpose and would yield predictable results. See MPEP 2144.04.),
a second wireless communication module (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 105) configured to perform the second wireless communication (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], Each wireless communication section 105 modulates the acquired transmission data and outputs the modulated transmission data to antenna 106 to be transmitted to monitor device 120.), and
a second controller (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 104) configured to control the second wireless communication module (Takahashi, Paragraph [0023], The processing section 104 receives the digital measurement value resulting from the AD conversion and adds identification information to be transmitted by the wireless communication section 105.), the second controller is configured to change a status of the second wireless communication from a third state to a fourth state, in response to the position of the second wireless communicator satisfying a second predetermined condition (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a third state to a fourth state, wherein the third state and the fourth state only occur for a subsequent measurement unit 101. An example of a position of the measurement unit 101 satisfies a predetermined condition includes when the distortion sensors sense that the blade portion engages with a workpiece, which is represented by a peak in amplitude (see Takahashi, Fig. 6).), and
an electric power consumption of the second wireless communication module in the fourth state is greater than in the third state (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state.).
Claim 40, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24.
Takahashi in view of Katoh does not explicitly teach:
Wherein the first controller is configured to start detection of the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator by the first sensor, in response to the status of the first wireless communication changing from the second state to the first state.
However, Takashi teaches the sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals (see Takahashi, Paragraph [0022]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the measurement units 101 to collect data during periods in which the wireless communication section 105 is not transmitting, i.e. in a first state. The second time would be the time between last transmission and the time to receive additional data.
Claim 41, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 25, wherein
the first wireless communicator further comprises a state sensor (Takahashi, Paragraph [0020], The distortion sensors may be piezo-type, which are functionally equivalent to acceleration sensors, which is equivalent to a state sensor.),
the first controller is configured to cause the state sensor to detect a value of a physical quantity of the base (Takahashi, Paragraph [0020], An example of a physical quantity is the distortion of the blades attached to the base. Additionally, the distortion is used to determine the location of the base relative to a workpiece, which is also a value of a physical quantity of the base.), and the first controller is configured to change the status of the first wireless communication from the second state to the first state (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], One example end condition is the end of the gathered data to be transmitted during a period of time.), in response to the value of a physical quantity of the base being lower than or equal to a predetermined value for a fourth predetermined period longer than the first period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. Thus, a predetermined value may be set at a distortion level at the midpoint or higher (see Takahashi, Fig. 6), wherein the fourth period may be a period of time, following the initial measurement, where the amplitudes fall below the midpoint or higher, wherein the length of the period of time is longer than the measurement period, i.e. the first period.).
Claim 43, Takahashi teaches:
A wireless terminal (Takahashi, Figs. 1 and 2) comprising:
a base (Takahashi, Fig. 2: 200, The cutting tool 200 represents a base to which the plurality of measurement units 101 are attached.) configured to rotate around a rotation axis (Takahashi, Fig. 2: C1, Paragraph [0040], A rotative force is transmitted from the machine tool to the holder 201 so that the cutting tool 200 rotates around the center axis C1.); and
a first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 101) attached to the base (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0039], [0043], and [0047],The AD converter 103, the processing section 104, the wireless communication section 105, and the antenna 106 are mounted on the circuit board 206, which is attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors 102X, 102Y, and 102Z are attached to each blade portion 202, which are also attached to cutting tool 200. The distortion sensors are then connected to circuit board 206 via respective cables (see Takahashi, Paragraphs [0044-0046]). Each temperature sensor 102T is attached to a surface of each blade portion 202.);
wherein the first wireless communicator comprises a first sensor (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 102X, 102Y, 102Z, 102T) configured to detect information for identifying a position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.), an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis (Takahashi, Fig. 6, Paragraph [0050], As shown in Fig. 6, graphs 601 and 603 represent pulsing waveforms wherein the amplitude increases when the blade portion 202 comes into contact with the workpiece W and the amplitude decreases when the blade portion 202 moves away from the workpiece W. Therefore, the position and orientation of the measurement units 101, with respect to the workpiece W, includes an orientation wherein the measurement units 101 are perpendicular to the center axis C1. As shown in Fig. 2, as the plurality of blade portions 202 rotate about center axis C1 and move towards and away, respectively, from a workpiece W, the orientation of the face of the cutting tool 200, represented by the blade portions 202 surrounding space portion 205, is perpendicular to the center axis C1.),
a first wireless communication module (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 105) configured to perform first wireless communication between an external apparatus and the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], Each wireless communication section 105 modulates the acquired transmission data and outputs the modulated transmission data to antenna 106 to be transmitted to monitor device 120.), and
a first controller (Takahashi, Fig. 1: 104) configured to control the first wireless communication module (Takahashi, Paragraph [0023], The processing section 104 receives the digital measurement value resulting from the AD conversion and adds identification information to be transmitted by the wireless communication section 105.),
the first controller is configured to change a status of the first wireless communication from a first state to a second state, in response to the position of the first wireless communicator satisfying a first predetermined condition (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state. An example of a position of the measurement unit 101 satisfies a predetermined condition includes when the distortion sensors sense that the blade portion engages with a workpiece, which is represented by a peak in amplitude (see Takahashi, Fig. 6).), and
an electric power consumption of the first wireless communication module in the second state is greater than in the first state (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state.).
Takahashi does not specifically teach:
The first sensor configured to detect an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis.
Katoh teaches:
A sensor configured to detect an orientation of the first wireless communicator in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis (Katoh, Fig. 1: 15, Col. 4, Lines 47-67, The rotary encoder 15 detects the rotating angle of the cutting tool 50. The cutting tool 50 rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the workpiece W.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, to modify the system in Takahashi by integrating the teaching of detecting the rotating angle of the cutting tool, as taught by Katoh.
The motivation would be to effectively guide a workpiece to be cut by the cutting tool (see Katoh, Col. 4, Lines 47-67).
Claim 44, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24, wherein the first wireless communicator is configured to perform computation to identify the position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. The relative location of the blade portion(s) to the workpiece W is one example of a position.).
Claim 45, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 44, wherein the first wireless communicator is configured to repeat the computation to identify the position of the first wireless communicator in response to the position of the first wireless communicator not satisfying the first predetermined condition (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], As shown in Fig. 6, when the blade portion is moved away from workpiece W, i.e. the position of the first wireless communicator not satisfying the first predetermined condition, the next time the blade portion generates a peak amplitude is measured, and the process is repeated for each peak, represented in Fig. 6 as 601, 602, and 603.).
Claim 46, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 24, further comprising:
a driving source that generates driving force for changing the position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraph [0040], A rotative force is transmitted from the machine tool to rotate the cutting tool 200, having the plurality of measurement units 101 associated with the plurality of blade portions 202, to change positions.); and
a control device configured to control the driving source (Takahashi, Paragraph [0040], It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the machine tool to have a control device for operating the machine tool. Such a modification would not change the principal operation of the machine tool and would yield predictable results.), wherein the control device is configured to control the driving source such that the base is rotated by a predetermined angle that is less than 360 degrees (Takahashi, Paragraph [0040], Prior to a full rotation of the cutting tool 200, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the cutting tool 200 to rotate at an angle less than 360 degrees, e.g. 359 degrees.).
Claim 47, Takahashi in view of Katoh further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 46, wherein
the control device configured to control a driving source such that a base is rotated by a predetermined angle that is less than 360 degrees (Takahashi, Paragraph [0040], Prior to a full rotation of the cutting tool 200, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the cutting tool 200 to rotate at an angle less than 360 degrees, e.g. 359 degrees.), and subsequent to said rotation, to cause the first controller to change a status of a first wireless communication from a first state to a second state, in response to the position of the first wireless communicator satisfying a first predetermined condition (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0023] and [0026], When data is given to the wireless communication section 105 to be transmitted, the wireless communication section 105 effectively changes its status from not transmitting to transmitting, which increases its power consumption, i.e. a first state to a second state. An example of a position of the measurement unit 101 satisfies a predetermined condition includes when the distortion sensors sense that the blade portion engages with a workpiece, which is represented by a peak in amplitude (see Takahashi, Fig. 6).).
Claims 33-38 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takahashi et al. (U.S. 2016/0303698 A1) in view of Katoh et al. (U.S. 6,601,484 B1) in view of McKenna et al. (U.S. 2011/0213216 A1).
Claim 33, Takahashi in view of Katoh teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 32, wherein the status of the first wireless communication is the second state (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], The monitor device 120 receives values from the plurality of measurement units 101 when the measurement units 101 are in a transmitting, i.e. a second, state.).
Takahashi in view of Katoh does not specifically teach:
Wherein the wireless communication apparatus is configured to send first data to the first wireless communicator of which the status of the first wireless communication is the second state, in response to the status of the second wireless communication changing from the third state to the fourth state, and the first data comprises data including an instruction to change the status of the first wireless communication from the second state to the first state.
McKenna teaches:
A monitor (McKenna, Fig. 1: 12, Paragraph [0025]) instructs sensors to stop transmitting in response to all sensors transmitting (McKenna, Paragraph [0077]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, to modify the system in Takahashi in view of Katoh by integrating the teaching of instructions to stop sensor transmissions, as taught by McKenna. Thus, in the combination of Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna, a first sensor would be in a second state, and another sensor would be in a fourth state, i.e. both the first and second sensors would be transmitting.
The motivation would be to reduce the likelihood of wireless interference (see McKenna, Paragraph [0077]).
Claim 34, Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 33, wherein
the first wireless communicator further comprises a state sensor (Takahashi, Paragraph [0020], The distortion sensors may be piezo-type, which are functionally equivalent to acceleration sensors, which is equivalent to a state sensor.),
the first controller is configured to cause the first sensor to detect the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator at intervals of a first period (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals.), and cause the state sensor to detect a state of the base at intervals of a second period different from the first period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0022], The distortion gauge and/or piezo-type sensors are capable of detecting a vibration state, and the values received may be received at a second sampling rate different than the first sampling rate, i.e. at different time periods.),
the first controller is configured to cause the first wireless communication module to send data including a detection result on the state of the base before the status of the first wireless communication becomes the first state (Takahashi, Paragraph [0026], The values are transmitted prior to the measurement units 101 stopping transmission, i.e. the first state.), in response to the first wireless communicator receiving the first data from the wireless communication apparatus (McKenna, Paragraph [0077], Instructions are provided to the sensors to control different aspects of the data collection, e.g. a particular data update rate level (see McKenna, Paragraph [0073]).).
Claim 35, Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 33, wherein
the first controller is configured to start detection of the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator by the first sensor, in response to the status of the first wireless communication changing from the second state to the first state (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the measurement units 101 to collect data during periods in which the wireless communication section 105 is not transmitting, i.e. in a first state. The second time would be the time between last transmission and the time to receive additional data.).
Claim 36, Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 33, wherein
the first controller is configured to start detection of the information for identifying the position of the first wireless communicator by the first sensor at intervals of a first period (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals.),
in response to:
the status of the first wireless communication becoming the first state (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the measurement units 101 to collect data during periods in which the wireless communication section 105 is not transmitting, i.e. in a first state.), and
(ii) a second predetermined period elapsing after the first wireless communication becomes the first state, wherein the first period is less than the second predetermined period (Takahashi, Paragraph [0022], The sensors provide measurement values at specific sampling rates, i.e. intervals. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the first period to be less than a second period, or for the second period to be less than a first period, as a matter of engineering choice. Such a modification would not change the principal operation of the system, as a whole, and would yield predictable results. See MPEP 2144.04.).
Claim 37, Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 33, wherein the first controller is configured to:
identify a first position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.);
identify a second position of the first wireless communicator after a second predetermined period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are measured over time, thus each subsequent measurement is at least a second predetermined period after a first measurement.);
determine whether the first position is equal to the second position (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. Based on the amplitude values, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the positions to potentially be equal when the corresponding amplitudes are the same or similar.); and
repeatedly identify the position of the first wireless communicator at intervals of a first period in response to the first position being different from the second position, wherein the first period is less than the second predetermined period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. For example, if a second period is the time between each successive peak, a first period may be a period of time between a high peak and a low peak, wherein the first period is less than the second period. Thus, each successive change in amplitude represents a change in positioning of each of the distortion sensors and the measurement units 101 relative to a workpiece.).
Claim 38, Takahashi in view of Katoh in view of McKenna further teaches:
The sensor system according to Claim 33, wherein the first controller is configured to:
identify a first position of the first wireless communicator (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.);
identify a second position of the first wireless communicator after a second predetermined period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are measured over time, thus each subsequent measurement is at least a second predetermined period after a first measurement.);
determine whether the first position is equal to the second position (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. Based on the amplitude values, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the positions to potentially be equal when the corresponding amplitudes are the same or similar.); and
repeatedly identify the position of the first wireless communicator at intervals of a first period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W.) in response to:
the first position being different from the second position (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. The amplitudes represent moments when the distortion sensors are engaged with or disengaged with a workpiece, which represents different positions of the distortion sensors. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of filing, for the amplitudes to change as the measurement units 101 are brought closer to the workpiece or brought away from the workpiece.), and
a third predetermined period elapsing after identifying the first position as being different from the second position, wherein the first period is less than both the second predetermined period and the third predetermined period (Takahashi, Paragraphs [0020] and [0043], The distortion sensors 102X-102Z detect the distortion of each blade portion in the respective axes. Additionally, as shown in Fig. 6, the amplitudes are indicative of when a blade portion comes into contact with a workpiece W, wherein the decreases in amplitude are indicative of when the blade portion moves away from the workpiece W. For example, if a second period is the time between each successive peak, a first period may be a period of time between a high peak and a low peak, wherein the first period is less than the second period. Thus, each successive change in amplitude represents a change in positioning of each of the distortion sensors and the measurement units 101 relative to a workpiece. Additionally, a third period may contain multiple first and/or second periods, therefore, the first period is less than the third period. Finally, as the measurement unit 101 is brought closer into or pulled further away from the workpiece, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the amplitude measurements to change, which is functionally equivalent to the positions of the measurement unit 101 being different over different periods of time.).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/30/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection, necessitated by the Applicant’s amendments.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES J YANG whose telephone number is (571)270-5170. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-6:00p M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, BRIAN ZIMMERMAN can be reached at (571) 272-3059. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JAMES J YANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2686
Prosecution Insights