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 § 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.
Claims 1-20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Under step 1 of MPEP §2106’s subject matter eligibility guidelines, the claims 1-20 fall within the categories of a process, machine, and article of manufacture.
Under Step 2A, prong 1, the claim(s) recite(s) “(Claim 1) determining a plurality of bodies of the geometric model which intersect with each other; computing, a volume of one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model; determining a trim offset value for at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model based on a minimum gap to be maintained between each pair of intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies; recomputing the volume of the at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model based on the trim offset value; and generating a modified geometric model by performing the trim operation on the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model…(Claim 2) wherein the computing of the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed comprises: identifying the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model; and computing the volume of the identified one or more intersection bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model…(Claim 4) the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies comprises at least one body of newly created bodies and previously created bodies…(Claim 5) computing a distance from a point of an intersection of respective intersecting bodies to a point where the minimum gap is attained between the respective intersecting bodies…(Claim 6) generating the modified geometric model by trimming the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model simultaneously with creation of at least one intersecting body of the plurality of intersecting bodies of the geometric model…(Claim 7) the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies are an integral part of the geometric model…(Claim 8) the geometric model is a sheet metal model…(Claim 9) determine a plurality of intersecting bodies of a geometric model in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment intersecting with each other; compute volume of one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model; determine a trim offset value for at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model based on a minimum gap to be maintained between each pair of intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies; recompute the volume of the at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model based on the trim offset value; and generate a modified geometric model by performing a trim operation on the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model…(Claim 10) identify the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model; and compute the volume of the identified one or more intersection bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model…(Claim 12) compute a distance from a point of an intersection of respective intersecting bodies to a point where a desired gap is attained between the respective intersecting bodies…(Claim 13) generate the modified geometric model by trimming the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies of the geometric model simultaneously with creation of at least one intersecting body of the plurality of intersecting bodies of the geometric model…(Claim 14) the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies are an integral part of the geometric model…(Claim 15) the geometric model is a sheet metal model…(Claim 16) determine a plurality of bodies of a geometric model in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment intersecting with each other; compute volume of one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model; determine a trim offset value for at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model based on a minimum gap to be maintained between each pair of intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies; recompute the volume of the at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model based on the trim offset value; and generate a modified geometric model by performing a trim operation on the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model…(Claim 17) in the computing of the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model, the instructions cause the data processing system to identify the one or more intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model; and compute the volume of the identified one or more intersection bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model…(Claim 19) in the determining of the trim offset value for the at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model, the instructions cause the data processing system to compute a distance from a point of an intersection of respective intersecting bodies to a point where a desired gap is attained between the respective intersecting bodies…(Claim 20) in the generating of the modified geometric model by the performing of the trim operation on the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model, the instructions cause the data processing system to generate the modified geometric model by trimming the volume of the one or more intersecting bodies of the geometric model simultaneously with creation of at least one intersecting body of the plurality of intersecting bodies of the geometric model. These claims fall within the judicial exception of a mental process that be performed in the human mind, or by a human using a pen and paper as articulated in MPEP §2106.04(a)(2)(III).
Further claims 3, 11, and 18 recite computing the volume of the one or more intersection bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies whose portion is to be trimmed from the geometric model using an artificial intelligence algorithm. These claims fall within the judicial exception of mathematical concepts as articulated in MPEP §2106.04(a)(2)(I).
Under Step 2A, prong 2, the claims contain the additional limitations of “a data processing system”, “a processing unit; and an accessible memory operatively coupled to the processing unit”, and a “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium”. Regarding these limitations, “use of a computer or other machinery in its ordinary capacity for economic or other tasks (e.g., to receive, store, or transmit data) or simply adding a general purpose computer or computer components after the fact to an abstract idea (e.g., a fundamental economic practice or mathematical equation) does not integrate a judicial exception into a practical application or provide significantly more.” MPEP §2106.05(f). Accordingly, the claims do not recite additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application.
Under Step 2B, the claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. As stated above in regard to Step 2A, prong 2, the claims recite the additional limitations of “a data processing system”, “a processing unit; and an accessible memory operatively coupled to the processing unit”, and a “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium”. Regarding these limitations, “use of a computer or other machinery in its ordinary capacity for economic or other tasks (e.g., to receive, store, or transmit data) or simply adding a general purpose computer or computer components after the fact to an abstract idea (e.g., a fundamental economic practice or mathematical equation) does not integrate a judicial exception into a practical application or provide significantly more.” MPEP §2106.05(f). Accordingly, the claims do not recite additional elements that amount to significantly more than the judicial exception.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Bouvier (US 2020/0134245) teaches 3D design of B-REP skin including trimming faces on a geometric model.
Rockwood (US 2020/0019651) teaches surface patch techniques for computational geometry including trimming geometric objects.
Baran (US 2020/0004894) teaches a parametric feature-based 3D CAD system with bi-directional editing.
Cline et al. (US 2018/0018420) teaches perforating redundant metal in self-aligned multiple patterning.
EP 1058868 B1 teaches a method and apparatus for designing sheet metal parts, but does not teach determining, by the data processing system, a trim offset value for at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model based on a minimum gap to be maintained between each pair of intersecting bodies of the plurality of intersecting bodies; recomputing, by the data processing system, the volume of the at least one intersecting body of the one or more intersecting bodies in the geometric model to be trimmed from the geometric model based on the trim offset value.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRIAN W WATHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5570. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5:30pm.
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BRIAN W. WATHEN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2151
/BRIAN W WATHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2151
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