DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 10/12/2025 has been entered. Claim(s) 1-3, 6, 7, 9-14 is/are now pending in the application. Applicant's amendments have addressed all informalities as previously set forth in the non-final action mailed on 05/05/2025.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6, 7, 9-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more (See 2019 Update: Eligibility Guidance).
Independent Claim(s) 1 recites
extract and classify an instant range of change (IROC) feature from inputs of an asynchronous pulse coding in the time domain,
wherein
the inputs of the asynchronous pulse coding comprise
a pulse request signal and
a pulse direction signal;
wherein
each feature extracting unit has threeways input signals and twoways output signals;
wherein
the threeways input signals comprise:
a time-domain quantized and coded pulse request signal,
a time-domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal, and
a bias voltage signal
for adjusting a time threshold and
the twoways output signals are configured to
represent a classification result of the instant range of change feature has been completely extracted;
detects a time interval of the input time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal, and
compares the time interval with a configured time threshold to
determine whether the instant range of change of the signal is within a configured range, and
then
determine a positive or negative sign of the instant range of change by the time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal;
the instant range of change has a positive sign if a time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs and has a negative sign if no time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs.
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation].
In combination with Independent Claim(s) 1, Claim(s) 2, 3, 6, 7, 9-14 recite(s)
wherein
when the number of feature extracting units is multiple, the feature extracting units are connected in parallel,
each feature extracting unit is configured to
extract an instant range of change feature of the pulse request signal satisfying the time interval of adjacent pulses in the pulse request signal is within the preset time interval,
different feature extracting units correspond to different preset time intervals and the time interval of adjacent pulses in the pulse request signal represents an elapsed duration
PNG
media_image1.png
22
36
media_image1.png
Greyscale
since the analog signal is changed by a fixed amplitude LSB.
wherein
the instant range of change feature is obtained by
calculating the differential of the signal variation amplitude to time.
wherein
each feature extracting unit comprises
a pulse-shaping module,
two duration detection modules,
an adder,
a sign detection module and
two pulse counters in which,
the pulse-shaping module is configured to
convert the pulse request signal into two ways complementary wide pulse signals and a width of every wide pulse in each way wide pulse signal represents an elapsed time
PNG
media_image1.png
22
36
media_image1.png
Greyscale
since the analog signal is changed by a fixed amplitude LSB,
the two duration detection modules are configured to screen wide pulses in the two ways wide pulse signals output by the pulse-shaping module according to the preset time interval and output count pulses if the pulse width Atreq of the wide pulse is within the preset time interval,
the adder is configured to
combine the two ways count pulse signals output by the duration detection module into a count pulse signal,
the sign detection module is configured to
assign, to the two pulse counters, a corresponding pulse in one way count pulse signal combined by the adder according to the pulse direction signal, and
the two pulse counter are configured to
count the number of instant range of change features +LSB/
PNG
media_image1.png
22
36
media_image1.png
Greyscale
and -LSB/
PNG
media_image1.png
22
36
media_image1.png
Greyscale
that satisfy the preset time interval conditions within a period according to the number of pulses output by the sign detection module, respectively.
wherein
the pulse-shaping module has one way input signal and two ways output signals,
one way input signal is the time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal and the two ways output signals are connected to inputs of the two duration detection module,
correspondingly, the inputs of the duration detection module further comprise
a bias voltage signal for adjusting the time threshold value,
the two outputs of the duration detection module are connected to the input of the adder, and
the output of the adder is connected to the input of the sign detection module,
the input of the sign detection module further comprises the time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal of the analog signal, and
two way outputs of the sign detection module are connected to inputs of the two pulse counters correspondingly.
wherein
a plurality of feature extracting units connected in parallel are configured to
process time-domain pulse signals at the same time,
divide values of the instant range of change of the analog signal into N types, and
divide the direction of the analog signal into two types,
the instant range of change features are divided into 2N types and output, in which, N is the number of feature extracting units connected in parallel and is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2
wherein
the configured time threshold is controlled by a biased voltage signal or by a digital signal method.
determines a preset time interval for extracting the instant range of change feature according to the time threshold.
A spiking neural network, comprising the extracting features
according to any one of claims 1.
the extracting features
according to any one of claims 1.
wherein
the digital signal comprises
a digitized voice, human biological signals, environmental monitoring signals, security signals and/or human-computer interaction signals.
[Mathematical Concepts – mathematical relationships; mathematical formulas or equations or mathematical calculation].
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Limitations that are not indicative of integration into a practical application:
Adding the words “apply it” (or an equivalent) with the judicial exception, or mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, or merely uses a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea (see MPEP § 2106.05(f)) (i.e. one or more feature extracting units, configured to; A digital signal processing system, comprising the circuit for; a plurality of feature extracting units connected in parallel are configured to);
Adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (see MPEP § 2106.05(g)) (i.e. obtained by performing ADC based on a Level Crossing sampling mode on an analog signal); or
Generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use (MPEP § 2106.05(h)) (i.e. wherein the digital signal comprises a digitized voice, human biological signals, environmental monitoring signals, security signals and/or human-computer interaction signals).
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because looking at the additional elements as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when looking at the elements taken individually. There is no indication that the combination of elements improves the functioning of a computer or improves any other technology. The additional elements simply append well-understood, routine, conventional activities previously known to the industry, specified at a high level of generality, to the judicial exception, e.g., a claim to an abstract idea requiring no more than a generic computer to perform generic computer functions that are well-understood, routine and conventional activities previously known to the industry, as discussed in Alice Corp., 134 S. Ct. at 2359-60, 110 USPQ2d at 1984 (see MPEP § 2106.05(d)) (i.e. See Alice Corp. and cited reference for evidence of generic computer structure capable of being programmed for processing signal input and feature extraction).
Allowable Subject Matter (Prior Art)
The independent claim(s) have been amended to incorporate the previously identified allowable subject matter over prior art.
See prior OA, mailed 05/05/2025, for the statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter over prior art.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s amendments, filed on 10/12/2025, have been entered and fully considered. In light of the applicant’s amendments changing the scope of the claimed invention, the rejection(s) have been withdrawn or updated. However, upon further consideration, a new or updated ground(s) of rejection(s) have been made, and applicant's argument(s)/remark(s) pertaining to the amended language have been rendered moot.
Applicant's argument(s)/remark(s), see page(s) 1-2, filed 10/12/2025, with respect to the 101 rejection(s) has/have been fully considered.
-Applicant states
“Claim Rejection(s)Under 35 U.S.C. 101 for Claim(s) 1-14
According to paragraph [0004]–[0005] and [0010] in the specification of the present invention, the circuit for directly extracting features in the time domain, configured to asynchronous data processing methods in an electronic device chip, the circuit is one (a machine) of the four statutory categories, and the claims directs to a practical application of an electronic device chip, which directly extracting features in the time domain, configured to asynchronous data processing methods. And one or more feature extracting units, configured to extract and classify an instant range of change feature from inputs of an asynchronous pulse coding in the time domain, wherein the inputs of the asynchronous pulse coding comprise a pulse request signal and a pulse direction signal obtained by performing ADC based on a Level Crossing sampling mode. LC-ADC only performs sampling when the signal changes. The more drastic the signal change, the higher the sampling frequency, and the ADC has a very low sampling frequency to maintain ultra-low power consumption when the signal is smooth. Therefore, the ADC based on an event-driven adaptive sampling mode has ultra-low power advantages in applications. But the output of LC-ADC only comprises two asynchronous pulse signals, it is necessary to extract feature information which is drastic the signal change or smooth, contained in the two asynchronous pulse signals. So one or more feature extracting units preform the function.
And each feature extracting unit detects a time interval of the pulse request signal, and compares the time interval with a configured time threshold to determine whether the instant range of change of the signal is within a configured range, and then determine a positive or negative sign of the instant range of change by the pulse direction signal. Finally, the feature information is extracted to a configured range. If the circuit comprises several feature extracting units, the feature information can be classified according to time interval of the pulse request signal and pulse direction signal. Whether a single feature extracting unit or several feature extracting units, according to limitations of claims, it is enough to indication that combination of elements improves power consumption of asynchronous data processing methods in an electronic device chip, comparing to data processing method used in the traditional chip, and the circuits of the claims are lower power consumption. And detecting a time interval, comparing the time interval and determining a positive or negative sign are also achieved by DSP or FPGA or specific circuits (claims 6-7, fig.3). So the claims are not abstract ideas, and the claims are not “directed to” a judicial exception, and thus are patent eligible.”.
Examiner respectfully disagrees with the underlined argument(s)/remark(s).
Examiner’s BRI: the claimed invention is directed towards generic computer structure (e.g., a circuit) programmed as a tool to perform a mathematical signal analysis/process/algorithm with a plurality of input signals to extract and classify a mathematical parameter (e.g., instant range of change).
The input signals used in the mathematical process/algorithm are conventionally obtained by conventional means of a level-crossing ADC. It is conventionally known that utilizing this method to sample an analog signal is power-efficient. The claim language does not appear to be directed towards improving the conventional function of a level-crossing analog-to-digital converter. The claim language merely utilizes the level-crossing ADC as a tool to generically acquire the input signal needed for the mathematical signal analysis/process/algorithm. Therefore, the claim language generically acquires the input signals utilizing conventional structure/means. Generically acquiring data to fulfill the abstract idea is interpreted as being insignificant extract solution activity, therefore not a practical application.
It is unclear how extracting and classifying this mathematical parameter improves any particular technology. The claim language currently monopolizes all technologies.
Applicant's argument(s)/remark(s), see page(s) 2-3, filed 10/12/2025, with respect to the art rejection(s) has/have been fully considered.
-Applicant states
“Claim Rejection(s)Under 35 U.S.C. §103 for Claim(s)1-3 and 11-14
1. Independent Claim 1
This rejection is respectfully traversed on the grounds that CRUZ- ALBRECHT in view of GONZALEZ SANTOS fails to disclose or suggest each and every limitation as recited claim 1. The specific reasons are as following.
CRUZ- ALBRECHT discloses a neural network for signal processing, which has an array of interconnected processors, each processor operating the pulse domain or spike domain, but he/she did not disclose the inputs of the asynchronous pulse coding comprise a pulse request signal and a pulse direction signal obtained by performing ADC based on a Level Crossing sampling mode, and not disclose how to directly extract features in the time domain according to the pulse request signal and a pulse direction signal. So CRUZ- ALBRECHT fails to discloses “each feature extracting unit detects a time interval of the input time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal, and compares the time interval with a configured time threshold to determine whether the instant range of change of the signal is within a configured range, and then determine a positive or negative sign of the instant range of change by the time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal; the instant range of change has a positive sign if a time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs and has a negative sign if no time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs”. GONZALEZ SANTOS discloses a circuit for an estimation of instantaneous power of a signal, and discloses a first signal indicating a change has occurred and a second signal indicating a direction of the change, but he/she did not disclose how to directly extract features in the time domain according to the first signal and second signal. So GONZALEZ SANTOS also fails to discloses ““each feature extracting unit detects a time interval of the input time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal, and compares the time interval with a configured time threshold to determine whether the instant range of change of the signal is within a configured range, and then determine a positive or negative sign of the instant range of change by the time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal; the instant range of change has a positive sign if a time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs and has a negative sign if no time domain quantized and coded pulse direction signal pulse occurs while a time domain quantized and coded pulse request signal pulse occurs”.
Therefore, claim 1 is patentable over CRUZ-ALBRECHT and GONZALEZ SANTOS, taken alone or in combination.
2. Similarly, claims 2-3, 6-7 and 9-11, which depends from claim 1, is not anticipated by CRUZ-ALBRECHT in view of GONZALEZ SANTOS for at least the same reasons discussed above.
3. Based on the same reason discussed above, claims 12-14, are not anticipated by CRUZ- ALBRECHT in view of GONZALEZ SANTOS.”.
Examiner agrees with the underlined argument(s)/remark(s).
Said rejection(s) has/have been withdrawn.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 extension fee 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 RAYMOND NIMOX whose telephone number is (469)295-9226. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thu 10am-8pm CT.
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, ANDREW SCHECHTER can be reached at (571) 272-2302. 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.
RAYMOND NIMOX
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2857
/RAYMOND L NIMOX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit