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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 8-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 8, it is unclear what it means for “the pixel detector being configured tp evaluate the at least two macropixel arrays at each of its measuring points.” First, the pixel detector is simply a detector, it is unclear how it “evaluates” anything. Second, it is unclear what it means to “evaluate” pixel arrays at measuring points. Third, it is unclear how macropixel arrays have “measuring points” or what “measuring points” are.
Regarding claim 10, “the at least two evaluated macropixel arrays” lacks proper antecedent basis. It is unclear how many macropixel arrays are in the invention.
Regarding claim 15, “the at least two evaluated macropixel arrays” lacks proper antecedent basis. It is unclear how many macropixel arrays are in the invention.
Claims 9, 11-14 are indefinite based on their dependencies.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 8-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a2 as being anticipated by Sakimura et al. (U.S. PGPUB 2022/0413108).
Regarding claims 8-15, Sakimura et al. disclose (Figs. 1-6) a LiDAR sensor, comprising: a laser source (2) configured to emit a laser signal in a transmission path; and a pixel detector (11) including at least two macropixel arrays (MP1, MP2 for each RL/SL), which is configured to detect a reflected laser signal in a receiving path, the pixel detector being configured to evaluate (13, 14) the at least two macropixel arrays at each of its measuring points. Sakimura et al. further disclose (Figs. 5, 6) different widths matched to the reflected laser signal (RL). Furthermore, as understood, since the structure of the apparatus is the same, the detection is in a plateau of the reflected laser signal or measurement data is output in parallel in a point cloud or is output according to predefined conditions.
Claim(s) 8, 9, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a2 as being anticipated by Sakaguchi et al. (U.S. PGPUB 2020/0348416).
Regarding claims 8, 9, 15, Sakaguchi et al. disclose (Figs.) a LiDAR sensor, comprising: a laser source (13) configured to emit a laser signal in a transmission path; and a pixel detector (14) including at least two macropixel arrays (31), which is configured to detect a reflected laser signal in a receiving path, the pixel detector being configured to evaluate (Fig. 5) the at least two macropixel arrays at each of its measuring points. Furthermore, as understood, since the structure of the apparatus is the same, the sensor is a vertical flash LIDAR sensor or measurement data is output in parallel in a point cloud or is output according to predefined conditions as claimed.
Claim(s) 8, 9, 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a2 as being anticipated by Song (U.S. PGPUB 2021/0208257).
Regarding claims 8, 9, 15, Song discloses (Figs.) a LiDAR sensor, comprising: a laser source (104) configured to emit a laser signal in a transmission path; and a pixel detector (117) including at least two macropixel arrays (220, 222, etc.), which is configured to detect a reflected laser signal in a receiving path, the pixel detector being configured to evaluate (213, 215, 217; 107) the at least two macropixel arrays at each of its measuring points. Furthermore, as understood, since the structure of the apparatus is the same, the sensor is a vertical flash LIDAR sensor or measurement data is output in parallel in a point cloud or is output according to predefined conditions ([0038]-[0039]) as claimed.
Conclusion
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/THANH LUU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2878