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 .
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed 12/12/2025 has been entered. Claims 1-39 are pending in the application. Claims 1, 3, 5-7, 19-23 are amended, claims 2, 13, 17 and 24-39 are cancelled.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to independent claim 1 are moot based on new grounds of rejection where Ostadrahimi (US20140218230A1) still discloses the claimed features of the independent claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(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) 1, 3-5, 7-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated Ostadrahimi (US20140218230A1).
Regarding claim 1 Ostadrahimi discloses: An electromagnetic aerial interface adapted to transmit and receive Radio Frequency (RF) (Para. [0002]: “The present disclosure pertains generally to imaging systems and imaging methods, e.g., microwave and millimeter wave energy based imaging, using probes.”), the electromagnetic aerial interface comprising: a plurality of conductors (Para. [0013]: “In one or more exemplary methods and systems, each probe of the one or more probes of the plurality of antenna assemblies conductive segments may include a plurality of conductive segments and a plurality of switchable segments coupling the conductive segments.”); a dielectric base having a side that accommodates said plurality of conductors (Para. [0109]:’ An exemplary dual-polarized imaging setup 250 including a plurality of antenna assemblies 252 utilizing horn antennas 254 is depicted in FIG. 7. The system may include a measurement chamber 260, which may be a metallic chamber and may be filled with high permittivity materials such as water for imaging of biological tissues. In at least one embodiment, the measurement chamber 260 may include nonconductive material such as, e.g., PLEXIGLASS.”), wherein the side is configured to face a surveyed media (Para. [0052]: “An exemplary imaging setup 50, or configuration, is depicted in FIG. 1. The imaging setup 50 includes a plurality antenna assemblies 52 positioned about an object of interest 10. For example, the plurality of antenna assemblies 52 may be positioned completely around the object of interest 10. Further, for example, the plurality of antenna assemblies 52 may be positioned partially around the object of interest 10 such as one quarter around the OI 10, halfway around the OI 10, three quarters around the OI 10, etc..”), and said plurality of conductors transmit RF signals to the surveyed media and receive RF signals reflected by the surveyed media (Para [0015]: “Exemplary imaging systems and methods described herein may provide an imaging modality that illuminates an object of interest (0I) by microwave or millimeter wave electromagnetic energy with multiple polarizations simultaneously. A multitude of antennas (e.g., collecting or receiving antennas, transmitting antennas, etc.) and probes may be introduced, which may be distributed at different spatial locations around the OI.”); an adapter designed to control said plurality of conductors and conduct current to and from said plurality of conductors (Para. [0125]: “A 2 to 24 port RF electromechanical multiplexer (e.g., an Agilent 85070A) may be used to switch to a chosen active transmitting or receiving antenna. The isolation between ports may be 95 dB. The multiplexer may be connected to 2 ports of an Agilent 5071C VNA. The multiplexer and the VNA may be both controlled by the data acquisition program via the controller computer unit. Their connection may be established through a General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB).”); and wherein said adapter is configured to assign conductors of said plurality of conductors to be used as a transmitter conductor or as a receiver conductor (Para. [0127]: “A data acquisition program running on a controller computer may control all the instruments of the exemplary system. The controller computer may be directly connected to the probe driver circuit module via a USB connection. The multiplexer and the VNA may be connected through a GPIB-Ethernet hub. For collecting each dataset, a transmitting antenna may be chosen by switching it to one of the VNA ports. For each transmitting antenna, the other 23 receiving antennas may be switched sequentially to the second port of the VNA resulting in 24.times.23=552 measurements at each frequency. Each collector, or receiving antenna, may be configured to collect two measurements: one with the nearest probe (e.g., the closely coupled antenna) closed and another with the nearest probe (e.g., the closely coupled antenna) opened”), and wherein conductors of said plurality of conductors are spaced apart from one another to avoid coupling between conductors assigned as transmitters and conductors assigned as receivers (Figure 4a, Para, [0123]:” The plurality of antennas may include 24 DLVAs mounted on a measurement chamber, which is a Plexiglas cylinder, 50.8 centimeters (cm) tall, with equal angular spacing of 15. degree.. Each DLVA may be designed for an ultra-wideband frequency range of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, and may include two layers held together by 7 Nylon screws. “; [Examiner’s interpretation: The spacing (15 degrees) between antennas prevents coupling between transmit and receive antennas]), and to ensure radio tomography focusing by a focusing technique selected from a group consisting of inverse focusing, single focusing, two-step focusing, group focusing, double focusing, and any combination thereof (Para 0078: “ For example, processing programs or routines 126 may include programs or routines for performing computational mathematics, matrix mathematics, compression algorithms (e.g., data compression algorithms), calibration algorithms, image construction algorithms, inversion algorithms, signal processing algorithms, standardization algorithms, comparison algorithms, vector mathematics, or any other processing required to implement one or more embodiments as described herein.”)
Regarding claim 3 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein each conductor of said plurality of conductors is configured to transmit and receive RF signals ranging from hundreds to thousands of Megahertz (MHz) at a variable power range and in different phases (Para [0123]: “The plurality of antennas may include 24 DLVAs mounted on a measurement chamber, which is a Plexiglas cylinder, 50.8 centimeters (cm) tall, with equal angular spacing of 15.degree.. Each DLVA may be designed for an ultra-wideband frequency range of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, and may include two layers held together by 7 Nylon screws. “).
Regarding claim 4 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 3. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said plurality of conductors are used for transmitting Extremely-Short-Pulses (ESP) and continuous RF signals in an Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB) frequency range (Para [0123]: “The plurality of antennas may include 24 DLVAs mounted on a measurement chamber, which is a Plexiglas cylinder, 50.8 centimeters (cm) tall, with equal angular spacing of 15.degree.. Each DLVA may be designed for an ultra-wideband frequency range of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, and may include two layers held together by 7 Nylon screws. “).
Regarding claim 5 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein each conductor of said plurality of conductors comprises a conductive alloy and has a size that ranges from a few millimeters to 30 millimeters (Para [0098]: “The antenna 154 may include a first planar substrate 170 and a second planar substrate 172 coupled to or adjacent each other. As shown, the first substrate 170 is coupled to the second substrate 172 using plastic rivets 174. Each substrate includes conductive portions 176 and nonconductive portions 178. The conductive portions 176 may be configured to receive (e.g., sample or measured) electromagnetic energy when being used as a collector antenna and to deliver electromagnetic energy of a particular polarity when being used as a transmitter antenna. The conductive portions 176 may include one or more conductive materials such as, e.g., copper, aluminum, silver, brass, gold, gold laminated copper, etc. In at least one embodiment, the conductive portions 176 include copper material.”)
Regarding claim 7 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein the side of said dielectric base has a geometric profile selected from the group consisting of flat, concave, convex, parabolic, and any combination thereof (Figure 4A).
Regarding claim 8 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said adapter switches said plurality of conductors from transmission to reception and vice versa (Para. [0013]:” The method of claim 1, wherein each probe of the one or more probes of the plurality of antenna assemblies conductive segments comprises: a plurality of conductive segments, and a plurality of switchable segments coupling the conductive segments, wherein the switchable segments are configurable between a conducting configuration and a non-conducting configuration, wherein the plurality of conductive segments are electrically coupled via the switchable segments when the switchable segments are configured in the conducting configuration, wherein the plurality of conductive segments are electrically isolated from one another when the switchable segments are configured in the non-conducting configuration, wherein the switchable segments are configured in the conducting configuration when the probe is in the active configuration, wherein the switchable segments are configured in the non-conducting configuration when the probe is in the inactive configuration.”)
Regarding claim 9 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said adapter assigns a portion of conductors as transmitting conductors and another portion as receiving conductors, and wherein the transmitting conductors and the receiving conductors are enabled simultaneously or alternately (Para. [0099]: “The probe 156 may include conductive segments 159 and switchable segments 164. The conductive segments 159 may include one or more conductive materials such as, e.g., copper, aluminum, silver, gold, brass, etc. In at least one embodiment, the conductive segments 159 include copper. The probe 156 may be modulated (e.g., activated, inactivated, etc.) through the use of the switchable segments 164 (e.g., switches, embedded PIN diodes). More specifically, to increase the sensitivity of probe 156, five equally spaced switching PIN diodes may be used to implement the switchable segments 164 (e.g., the PIN diodes may be embedded on the probe 156 in series between the conductive segments 159). During modulation, or activation, of the probe, the diodes may be biased from reversed bias state, "off," to a forward bias state, "on." When the PIN diodes are in the reverse bias state, or "off," the probe 156 is invisible to electromagnetic fields (e.g., the scattered field). When the PIN diodes are in the forward bias state, or "on," the probe 156 is capable of interacting with electromagnetic fields parallel to its axis (or electromagnetic fields of the selected polarization).”).
Regarding claim 10 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said adapter assigns a plurality of segments each comprising at least one conductor designated as a transmitting conductor and at least one conductor designated as a receiving conductor (Para [0058]: “Each exemplary antenna assembly 52 may include an antenna 54 and one or more probes 56 associated with each antenna 54 (e.g., the one or more probes 56 associated with an antenna 54 may be in the vicinity of such antenna 54). Each antenna assembly 52 may further include a waveguide 55 configured to collect and direct electromagnetic energy towards the antenna 54. Each antenna 54 may be used as a transmitter of electromagnetic energy (e.g., microwave energy) and/or a receiver of electromagnetic energy (e.g., scattered microwave energy). Each probe 56 may be configured to interact with a selected polarity of electromagnetic energy.”), wherein the segments are activated, by said adapter, in queues so that each segment project RF signals and receive reflected RF signals from a different angle (Para [0127]: “A data acquisition program running on a controller computer may control all the instruments of the exemplary system. The controller computer may be directly connected to the probe driver circuit module via a USB connection. The multiplexer and the VNA may be connected through a GPIB-Ethernet hub. For collecting each dataset, a transmitting antenna may be chosen by switching it to one of the VNA ports. For each transmitting antenna, the other 23 receiving antennas may be switched sequentially to the second port of the VNA resulting in 24.times.23=552 measurements at each frequency. Each collector, or receiving antenna, may be configured to collect two measurements: one with the nearest probe (e.g., the closely coupled antenna) closed and another with the nearest probe (e.g., the closely coupled antenna) opened. More specifically, when the probe is closed (e.g., active and affecting the scattered electromagnetic field), the collector may measure the resultant scattered field that is affected by the probe, and when the probe is open (e.g., inactive and invisible to the scattered electromagnetic field), the collector may measure the resultant scattered field that is unaffected by the probe. By comparing these two measurements, the scattered field at the probe may be determined.”).
Regarding claim 11 Ostadrahimi discloses: A Radio-Frequency (RF) tomograph utilizing RF signals to determine objects present in and beyond a cluttered surveyed media, the RF tomograph comprising (Abstract: “Methods and systems may image an object of interest using one or more probes. More specifically, such exemplary methods and systems may deliver electromagnetic energy (e.g., microwave energy) using a transmitting antenna to the object while activating a probe to interact with the scattered field and sampling the resulting scattered field using one or more receiving antennas. The sampled electromagnetic energy may then be used to reconstruct an image of the object.”): at least one electromagnetic aerial interface of Claim 1; an apparatus configured to produce RF-transmission-signals and process RF-signals and generate images depicting the objects (Para [0006]:” A direct system 20 is illustrated in FIG. 15. As shown, an OI 10 is surrounded by a plurality of transmitting and receiving antennas 22. To image the OI, an antenna 22 (the leftmost antenna as shown) may deliver electromagnetic energy 12 (e.g., microwaves) having a selected polarization to the OI 10. The scattered field resulting from the electromagnetic energy impinging on the OI 10 may be collected by one or more of the antennas 22 that are not delivering electromagnetic energy to the OI 10 (e.g., all the antennas 22 except for the leftmost antenna, etc.). The signals received by the antennas 22 may be used to reconstruct an image of the OI within a pre-defined imaging domain 32.”); a display configured to display the images and information associated with the images (Figures 6A and 6B); and wherein said apparatus uses said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface for transmitting RF-transmission-signals to the surveyed media and receiving RF-signals reflected from the surveyed media (Para [0003]: “In the art of microwave tomography (MWT), an object of interest (0I) is illuminated by microwave energy and the scattered fields are collected outside the OI. The collected scattered fields may then be used to reconstruct qualitative, and possibly quantitative images, or interior maps, of the OI that include its location, geometry, shape, and dielectric properties.”).
Regarding claim 12 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 11. Ostadrahimi further teaches:, wherein said apparatus is a computerized system comprising: a processor; an RF transmitter (Figure 1); an RF receiver (Figure 1); and a memory unit (Para [0080]: “In one or more embodiments, the system 120 may be implemented using one or more computer programs executed on programmable computers, such as computers that include, for example, processing capabilities, data storage (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), input devices, and output devices. Program code and/or logic described herein may be applied to input data to perform functionality described herein and generate desired output information.”), wherein said RF transmitter is configured to shape RF-transmission-signals produced by said processor and transmit them by said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface and control said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface (Para [0006]: “A direct system 20 is illustrated in FIG. 15. As shown, an OI 10 is surrounded by a plurality of transmitting and receiving antennas 22. To image the OI, an antenna 22 (the leftmost antenna as shown) may deliver electromagnetic energy 12 (e.g., microwaves) having a selected polarization to the OI 10. The scattered field resulting from the electromagnetic energy impinging on the OI 10 may be collected by one or more of the antennas 22 that are not delivering electromagnetic energy to the OI 10 (e.g., all the antennas 22 except for the leftmost antenna, etc.). The signals received by the antennas 22 may be used to reconstruct an image of the OI within a pre-defined imaging domain 32.”).
Regarding claim 14 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 12. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said RF receiver is configured to receive and preprocess RF-signals from said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface followed by converting them into digital raw data and storing the raw data in said memory unit (Para. [0077]: “Further, the processing apparatus 122 includes data storage 124. Data storage 124 allows for access to processing programs or routines 126 and one or more other types of data 128 that may be employed to carry out the exemplary imaging methods (e.g., one which is shown generally in the block diagram of FIG. 2).”).
Regarding claim 15 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 14. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said processor is also configured to reconstruct images from the raw data (Para [0070]: “Using the exemplary method 70 depicted in FIG. 2, many scattered field data sets, or imaging data sets, may be gathered for each probe from multiple different angles. Such data sets may be used to reconstruct an image of the object.”).
Regarding claim 18 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 11. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said display is adapted to support graphic user interface functionalities to enable users of the RF tomograph to input information and instructions to said apparatus (Para. [0080]: “n one or more embodiments, the system 120 may be implemented using one or more computer programs executed on programmable computers, such as computers that include, for example, processing capabilities, data storage (e.g., volatile or non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), input devices, and output devices. Program code and/or logic described herein may be applied to input data to perform functionality described herein and generate desired output information. The output information may be applied as input to one or more other devices and/or processes as described herein or as would be applied in a known fashion.”), and wherein said display is an integral part of said apparatus or connected to said apparatus as an external display selected from the group consisting of a touchscreen; a notepad; a laptop; a smartphone; a workstation (Figure 6A; Para. [0107]: “Using the exemplary methods and systems described herein, reconstructed images of the relative permittivity of OIs may be quantitatively reconstructed. Due to the wide frequency band of the antennas (e.g., DLVAs), multiple frequency inversion may also be achieved with this exemplary system. To test the exemplary system's imaging ability, a complicated object with relative complex permittivity of 2.3+j0 as depicted in FIG. 6A (dimensions are in centimeters) was imaged. The reconstructed quantitative image for the real part of the OI's permittivity is shown in FIG. 6B and the reconstructed quantitative image for the imaginary part of the OI's permittivity is shown in FIG. 6C.”); and any combination thereof.
Regarding claim 19 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 11. Ostadrahimi further teaches: configured to operate in transmission applications, wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is comprised of one electromagnetic aerial interface configured as a receiving antenna and a second electromagnetic aerial interface configured as a transmitting antenna (Para [0058]: “Each exemplary antenna assembly 52 may include an antenna 54 and one or more probes 56 associated with each antenna 54 (e.g., the one or more probes 56 associated with an antenna 54 may be in the vicinity of such antenna 54). Each antenna assembly 52 may further include a waveguide 55 configured to collect and direct electromagnetic energy towards the antenna 54. Each antenna 54 may be used as a transmitter of electromagnetic energy (e.g., microwave energy) and/or a receiver of electromagnetic energy (e.g., scattered microwave energy). Each probe 56 may be configured to interact with a selected polarity of electromagnetic energy.”), wherein the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are facing opposite ends of the surveyed media (Figure 1, element 10), and wherein the RF tomograph moves the surveyed media between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna.
Regarding claim 21 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 11. Ostadrahimi further teaches: wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is an antenna selected from the group consisting of: a parabolic antenna, a Rupor antenna, a Yagi antenna, an array antenna, and any combination thereof ((Figures 4A-4B, antennas constitute an array).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Ostadrahimi (US20140218230A1) in view of Hiramatsu (US6832081B1).
Regarding 6 claim Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 1. Ostadrahimi does not teach “wherein conductors of said plurality of conductors are spaced apart from one another by a length smaller than 1.5 times an average wavelength of transmitting and receiving frequencies to ensure the radio tomography focusing“.
However, Hiramatsu in the analogous arts teaches: wherein conductors of said plurality of conductors are spaced apart from one another by a length smaller than 1.5 times an average wavelength of transmitting and receiving frequencies to ensure the radio tomography focusing (Para. [0051]: “According to another aspect of the invention, a millimeter wave transmitting/receiving apparatus comprises: a pair of parallel plate conductors opposed to each other at a spacing equal to or shorter than half the wavelength of a high-frequency signal to be transmitted; a circulator made of two ferromagnetic plates provided between the pair of parallel plate conductors and opposed to each other in the same direction as the pair of parallel plate conductors are spaced apart; a first dielectric strip arranged between the pair of parallel plate conductors; a millimeter wave signal oscillator provided at one end of the first dielectric strip for outputting a millimeter wave signal to be transmitted; a second dielectric strip connected with the one end of the first dielectric strip and radially arranged with respect to the circulator between the pair of parallel plate conductors; a third dielectric strip radially arranged with respect to the circulator between the pair of parallel plate conductors and having a transmitting/receiving antenna at its leading end; a fourth dielectric strip radially arranged with respect to the circulator between the pair of parallel plate conductors; first, second, third and fourth mode suppressors arranged between the one end of the first dielectric strip and the millimeter wave signal oscillator and between the second,”).
It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Hiramatsu to incorporate the feature of: wherein conductors of said plurality of conductors are spaced apart from one another by a length smaller than 1.5 times an average wavelength of transmitting and receiving frequencies to ensure a radio tomography focusing. Ostadrahimi and Hiramatsu are all considered analogous arts as they all disclose the use of radar technology to detect objects. However, Ostadrahimi fails to disclose a feature of spacing of antenna conductors. This feature is disclosed by Hiramatsu. It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Hiramatsu to incorporate the feature of: wherein conductors of said plurality of conductors are spaced apart from one another by a length smaller than 1.5 times an average wavelength of transmitting and receiving frequencies to ensure a radio tomography focusing as such a feature would increase the signal quality and efficiency of the system.
Claims 16, 20 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Ostadrahimi (US20140218230A1) in view of Beckner (US20070132630A1).
Regarding claim 16 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 15. Ostadrahimi does not teach “wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary input amplifier configured to assist said RF-receiver in amplifying RF; and an auxiliary output amplifier configured to assist said RF transmitter in boosting up RF-transmission-signals “.
However, Beckner in the analogous art teaches: wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary input amplifier configured to assist said RF-receiver in amplifying RF- signals (Para. [0026]: “The return flight of an echo signal 124 will experience a similar propagation time delay. So it will not arrive as frequency fl until a time t3 at a pair of receiving antennas 126 and 128. After being selected by matrix 112, the received signals are amplified by a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 130. A Q-sampler 131 provides a quadrature local oscillator (LO) demodulation reference for a Q-mixer 132. An I-sampler 133 provides an in-phase local oscillator (LO) demodulation reference for an I-mixer 134. These analog signals are digitally sampled by analog-to-digital converters (ADC) 136 and 138.”); and an auxiliary output amplifier configured to assist said RF transmitter in boosting up RF-transmission-signals (Para. [0023]: “The radar system 100 comprises a frequency modulator (FM) 102 that causes a continuous wave (CW) generator 104 to linearly sweep through a band of frequencies. For example, at a time-1 (t1) the transmitter frequency from CW generator 104 will be frequency-1 (f1). At a time-2 (t2), the transmitter frequency will slew up to a frequency-2 (f2). And at a time-3 (t3), the transmitter frequency will slew further to a frequency-3 (f3). An in-phase (I) unit 106 digitally produces an I-signal, and a quadrature-phase (Q) unit 108 digitally produces a Q-signal 90-degrees shifted in phase. The I-signal is amplified by a power amplifier 110 before being selectively switched through an antenna matrix 112 to a rotating antenna array 114.”).
It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Beckner to incorporate the feature of: wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary input amplifier configured to assist said RF-receiver in amplifying RF; and an auxiliary output amplifier configured to assist said RF transmitter in boosting up RF-transmission-signals. Ostadrahimi and Beckner are all considered analogous arts as they all disclose the use of radar technology to detect objects. However, Ostadrahimi fails to disclose a feature of signal amplification. This feature is disclosed by Beckner. It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Beckner to incorporate the feature of: wherein said apparatus further comprises an auxiliary input amplifier configured to assist said RF-receiver in amplifying RF; and an auxiliary output amplifier configured to assist said RF transmitter in boosting up RF-transmission-signals as such a feature would increase the system’s signal processing efficiency.
Regarding claim 20 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 11. Ostadrahimi further teaches: configured to operate in reflection mode. Ostadrahimi does not teach” wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is mounted on a mobile device configured to move along the surveyed media while said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface transmit RF signals toward the surveyed media and receive reflected RF signals from the surveyed media, and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the mobile device while moving along the surveyed media “
However, Beckner in the analogous arts teaches: wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is mounted on a mobile device configured to move along the surveyed media while said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface transmit RF signals toward the surveyed media and receive reflected RF signals from the surveyed media (Para. [0032]: “FIG. 2B shows radar system 200 from the side with antenna array disc 202 rotating horizontally and normal to the page. The radar-absorbing shroud 204 protects the antennas from emitting or receiving spurious signals from the sides or top. A motor 212 turns the disc 202 within the shroud 204, and can be attached to stationary objects to scan moving targets, or moving objects to scan stationary and moving targets, e.g., a tripod, a wall, a gateway, a roadway, a boom arm, an aircraft, a vehicle, a crane, etc. An encoder 214 reports the shaft angle of axis 210.”), and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the mobile device while moving along the surveyed media (Para. [0033]: “A radar unit 216 rides along on disc 202 with antennas 206 and 208. It wirelessly communicates its measurements to a WiFi receiver 218. For example, a pair of radar targets 220 and 222 echo signals back, and their relative locations are measured by radar unit 216. Over time, many such measurements can be collected as the disc rotates and the geometries change to allow different perspectives. The otherwise one-dimension measurements of the radar echo returns can then be used to paint a high-resolution three-dimensional picture as the antenna positions are correlated to the measurements obtained.”).
It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Beckner to incorporate the feature of: wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is mounted on a mobile device configured to move along the surveyed media while said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface transmit RF signals toward the surveyed media and receive reflected RF signals from the surveyed media, and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the mobile device while moving along the surveyed media. Ostadrahimi and Beckner are all considered analogous arts as they all disclose the use of radar technology to detect objects. However, Ostadrahimi fails to disclose a feature of signal amplification. This feature is disclosed by Beckner. It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Beckner to incorporate the feature of: wherein said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface is mounted on a mobile device configured to move along the surveyed media while said at least one electromagnetic aerial interface transmit RF signals toward the surveyed media and receive reflected RF signals from the surveyed media, and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the mobile device while moving along the surveyed media. as such a feature would increase the efficiency of the system.
Regarding claim 23 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 21. Ostadrahimi does note teach “configured to operate in reflection mode utilizing a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna, wherein the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are mounted on a vehicle configured to move along the surveyed media while transmitting RF-transmission-signals toward the surveyed media and receiving reflected RF-signals from the surveyed media.”), and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the vehicle while moving along the surveyed media “.
However, Beckner in the analogous arts teaches: configured to operate in reflection mode utilizing a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna, wherein the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are mounted on a vehicle configured to move along the surveyed media while transmitting RF-transmission-signals toward the surveyed media and receiving reflected RF-signals from the surveyed media (Para. [0032]: “FIG. 2B shows radar system 200 from the side with antenna array disc 202 rotating horizontally and normal to the page. The radar-absorbing shroud 204 protects the antennas from emitting or receiving spurious signals from the sides or top. A motor 212 turns the disc 202 within the shroud 204, and can be attached to stationary objects to scan moving targets, or moving objects to scan stationary and moving targets, e.g., a tripod, a wall, a gateway, a roadway, a boom arm, an aircraft, a vehicle, a crane, etc. An encoder 214 reports the shaft angle of axis 210.”), and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the vehicle while moving along the surveyed media (Para. [0033]: “A radar unit 216 rides along on disc 202 with antennas 206 and 208. It wirelessly communicates its measurements to a WiFi receiver 218. For example, a pair of radar targets 220 and 222 echo signals back, and their relative locations are measured by radar unit 216. Over time, many such measurements can be collected as the disc rotates and the geometries change to allow different perspectives. The otherwise one-dimension measurements of the radar echo returns can then be used to paint a high-resolution three-dimensional picture as the antenna positions are correlated to the measurements obtained.”).
The motivation to modify Ostadrahimi with Beckner is the same as one given in claim 20 above.
Claim 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Ostadrahimi (US20140218230A1) in view of Peschmann (US20090041187A1) and further in view of Pilipovic (Pilipovic, I. Kastelan and M. Leporis, "A real-time projection system based on object motion detection and tracking using optical camera," 2011 18th International Conference on Systems, Signals and Image Processing, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2011, pp. 1-4.).
Regarding claim 22 Ostadrahimi discloses all the limitations of claim 21. Ostadrahimi does not teach “configured to operate in reflection application that utilizes the antenna in stationary position, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit RF-transmission-signals adapted to penetrate a barrier and receive RF- signals reflected back, through the barrier from at least one entity moving behind the barrier “.
However, Peschmann in the analogous arts teaches: configured to operate in reflection application that utilizes the antenna in stationary position, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit RF-transmission-signals adapted to penetrate a barrier and receive RF- signals reflected back, through the barrier from at least one entity moving behind the barrier (Para. [0183]: “Transmit/receive pairs are arranged in a linear array. The object to be scanned passes through such transmit/receive pairs (for example, by means of a conveyor belt), creating a two-dimensional image of conductive items concealed within an object under inspection. By repeating this process for each dimension (in a three dimensional structure, the dimensions run along each of an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis, whereby the conveyor belt runs along the x-axis and image patterns are obtained in the y and z-axes), it becomes possible to estimate the volume of conductive items/objects. An appropriate design of antenna rays enables the measurement of the metallic or conductive content of items concealed within a three-dimensional object, in each physical dimension, while the object under examination moves in only one direction (for example, along the x-axis, as on a conveyor belt).”). Ostadrahimi does not teach “wherein said apparatus further comprises a camera configured to determine coordinates of at least one entity moving behind the barrier“.
However, Pilipovic in the analogous arts teaches: wherein said apparatus further comprises a camera configured to determine coordinates of at least one entity moving behind the barrier (Section III: “In our solution the object of interest is marked in the first frame, and afterwards its movement is tracked in limited area of the picture thus decreasing the processing time. A limited area size is adaptively re-adjusted according to predicted object ROI movement between two frames as proposed in [8]. If the marker within the currently processed frame is not found, a position of the previously found marker is used, thus providing a continuous projection. In section III a solution for measuring model distance from the camera i.e. projector is described. Based on the detected marker's position in the frame, model height and width expressed in pixels, model proportions obtained during calibration process and the distance from the camera/projector [cm] it is possible to convert the dimensions of the ROI expressed in pixels into dimensions of the ROI expressed in cm.“), and wherein said apparatus synchronizes the signals with coordinates of the at least one entity moving behind the barrier.
It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Pilipovic to incorporate the feature of: wherein said apparatus further comprises a camera configured to determine coordinates of at least one entity moving behind the barrier. Ostadrahimi and Pilipovic are all considered analogous arts as they all disclose the use of sensor technology to detect objects. However, Ostadrahimi fails to disclose a feature of using camera to track the position of a target. This feature is disclosed by Pilipovic. It would have been obvious to someone in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ostadrahimi with Pilipovic to incorporate the feature of: wherein said apparatus further comprises a camera configured to determine coordinates of at least one entity moving behind the barrier as such a feature because adding camera data makes the system multimodal which has high efficiency compared to radar only systems.
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 Bongani J. Mashele whose telephone number is (703)756-5861. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (8 AM - 4:30 PM).
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, Robert W. Hodge can be reached on 571-272-2097. 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.
/BONGANI JABULANI MASHELE/Examiner, Art Unit 3645
/ROBERT W HODGE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3645
Prosecution Insights