Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/061,325

OBJECT DETECTION SENSOR AND AUTOMATIC DOOR SYSTEM

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Dec 02, 2022
Priority
Dec 23, 2021 — JP 2021-209449
Examiner
XIA, XUYANG
Art Unit
2143
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Optex Co. Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
334 granted / 467 resolved
+16.5% vs TC avg
Strong +53% interview lift
Without
With
+53.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
507
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
95.4%
+55.4% vs TC avg
§102
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§112
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 467 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 4/8/2026 has been entered. Claim interpretation regarding to claim 9 is withdrawn. Claim Objections Claims 1, 9 are objected to because of the following informalities: minor typo. Claim 1 and 9 recite “test equipment…” “input equipment” seem “a test equipment”, “an input equipment”, etc. Appropriate correction is required. 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. Claims 1-7, 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu et al. (Wu) US 2022/0026530 in view of Dahlgren et al. (Dahlgren) US 2022/0294971 and Guru et al. (Guru) US 8571904 In regard to claim 1, Wu disclose An object detection sensor configured to detect that a target object acts on to-be-detected rays between a plurality of elements or to detect to-be- detected rays from a target object to output a predetermined detection signal, the object detection sensor configured to output the predetermined detection signal toward an external object detection device existing outside the object detection sensor to detect the target object, the object detection sensor comprising: (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person, and output the raw signal to gait cube extraction module of the human recognition system which impacted by the person walking in a venue and recognize the identity of the person, remote sensor device is external to 120/130) a sensor configured to detect that the target object acts on to-be- detected rays between a plurality of elements or to detect to-be-detected rays from the target object to output a sensing signal, and (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person, and output the raw signal to gait cube extraction module of the human recognition system which impacted by the person walking in a venue) a processor, the processor configured to: (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] processor of type1/typ2 device) output the predetermined detection signal in response to input of the sensing signal, (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] processor of type1/typ2 device command output the raw signal in response to receive the radar signal 110) and the processor further configured to: start a learning mode, ([0168] [0186]-[0187] The training or learning can be started based on a threshold to events, conditions, states, etc. which according to some criteria) determine a state of the test signal in the learning mode, ([0096] [0110]-[0133] [0136][0146][0148] [0175] [0276]-[0277] determine a state of the test signal, such as steady state, characteristics/states, etc. Note: please further define, there are many possibilities.) estimate a characteristic of the test signal from the state determined of the test signal in the learning mode, ([0096] [0110]-[0133] [0136][0146][0148] [0157] [0197]-[0202] [0244] estimate a characteristic (statistical distribution, etc. ) of the signal from the determined state in the learning mode) and verify whether the characteristic estimated of the test signal is included in the test signal received in the learning mode. ([0096] [0110]-[0133] [0136][0146][0148] [0157] [0173]-[0178] [0197]-[0202] [0244] [0306]-[0337] verify the validity of the estimation of the characteristic (such as a speed, the speed based on the trace, etc. ) from the signal received in the learning mode. Note: please further define how to verify the characteristic estimated, based on what rule, policy, etc. to help move forward the prosecution, call to discuss if necessary.) But Wu fail to explicitly disclose “receive a test signal from a diagnosis processing unit in the external object detection device toward the object detection sensor which serves as input equipment, and output a test response signal from the object detection sensor to the diagnosis processing unit in the external object detection device in response to reception of the test signal,” Dahlgren disclose receive a test signal from a diagnosis processing unit in the external object detection device toward the object detection sensor which serves as input equipment, (Fig. 2, [0036]-[0049] receive a signal from 214/215+216 together in 210 to the 204 which as an input device, the remote device 210 may require the near sensor object detector 204 for examining a specific part of the video, etc. detect moving objects and the near sensor object detector 204 as an input device and update the remote device of the detected moving objects in response to the request) and output a test response signal from the object detection sensor to the diagnosis processing unit in the external object detection device in response to reception of the test signal, (Fig. 2, [0036]-[0049] the near sensor object detector 204 output to 214/215+216 in 210 and update the remote device 210 of the detected moving objects in response to receive the request) It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made to incorporate Dahlgren‘s collaborative object detection into Wu’s invention as they are related to the same field endeavor of human recognition. The motivation to combine these arts, as proposed above, at least because Dahlgren‘s collaborative object detection would help to provide object detection request into Wu’s system. Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made that providing object detection request would help to improve user experience using the device. But Wu and Dahlgren fail to explicitly disclose “the diagnosis processing unit which serves as test equipment in a Safety Standard, including International Standardization Organization (ISO) 13849-1, the object detection sensor which serves as the input equipment as specified in the Safety Standard, thereby to perform monitoring between the test equipment and the input equipment as specified in the Safety Standard,” Guru disclose the diagnosis processing unit which serves as test equipment in a Safety Standard, including International Standardization Organization (ISO) 13849-1, (Fig. 2, col. 3, line 28-col. 4, line 16, col. 13, line 12-col. 16, line 58. 230 as a test equipment based on ISO 13849-1, claim 1) the object detection sensor which serves as the input equipment as specified in the Safety Standard, thereby to perform monitoring between the test equipment and the input equipment as specified in the Safety Standard, (Fig. 2, col. 3, line 28-col. 4, line 16, col. 13, line 12-col. 16, line 58, col. 19, line 57-col. 20, line 8, sensors server as input device as ISO 13849-1 and perform monitoring between the devices based on sensed information, claim 1) It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made to incorporate Guru‘s self sensing component interface system into Dahlgren and Wu’s invention as they are related to the same field endeavor of object recognition. The motivation to combine these arts, as proposed above, at least because Guru‘s performing monitoring between the systems based on the ISO standard would help to provide object detection specification requirement into Dahlgren and Wu’s system. Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made that providing object detection specification requirement with ISO standard would help to improve object detection accuracy to meet the business objective. In regard to claim 2, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose wherein the predetermined detection signal and the test response signal are outputted through a same signal line. (Fig. 1, [0215]-[0217] the sensor device maybe a transceiver) In regard to claim 3, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose wherein the processor is configured to execute instead of the learning mode, a manual setting mode in which a characteristic of the test signal is manually set. ([0101] [0110]-[0136] [0139]-[0142] [0187] the characteristic change can be automatic or manual) In regard to claim 4, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose further comprising at least one of a switch installed in the object detection sensor, ([0071][0090] [0163] switch in the sensor) a wireless reception unit configured to receive a radio signal from a predetermined wireless device, ([0066]-[0075] receive radio signal from the wireless device) a network reception unit configured to receive a transmission signal from a predetermined network device, and the sensor configured to detect a predetermined motion of a human body. ([0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] network to receive the tx signal from a network device and sensor to detect the motion of the human body) In regard to claim 5, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose wherein the processor is configured to, when the processor fails to receive the test signal, or when the processor verifies or determines that the estimated characteristic of the test signal is not included in the test signal received, an abnormal state is determined, and provide an output indicating abnormality. ([0187]-[0197] error can be identified based on the signal quality condition, object, object characteristics, object movement/location, etc. signal received and a error condition can be identified) In regard to claim 6, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose wherein the test signal is a pulse wave signal. ([071] [0219] [0234]-[0247] pulse wave signal) In regard to claim 7, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose The object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, Wu disclose wherein the characteristic of the test signal estimated is stored in a memory in the object detection sensor. ([0096] [0110]-[0133] [0136]-[0138] [0146][0148] [0157] [0197]-[0202] estimate a characteristic (statistical distribution, etc. is stored at the memory of the sensor device) In regard to claim 9, Wu disclose An object detection sensor configured to detect that a target object acts on to-be-detected rays between a plurality of elements or to detect to-be- detected rays from a target object to output a predetermined detection signal, the object detection sensor configured to output the predetermined detection signal toward an external object detection device existing outside the object detection sensor to detect the target object, the object detection sensor comprising: (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person, and output the raw signal to gait cube extraction module of the human recognition system which impacted by the person walking in a venue and recognize the identity of the person, remote sensor device is external to 120/130) a sensor configured to detect that the target object acts on to-be- detected rays between a plurality of elements or to detect to-be-detected rays from the target object to output a sensing signal, (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person, and output the raw signal to gait cube extraction module of the human recognition system which impacted by the person walking in a venue) a processor configured to: command output of the predetermined detection signal in response to input of the sensing signal, (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] processor of type1/typ2 device command output the raw signal in response to receive the radar signal 110) output the predetermined detection signal in response to the command, (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] sensor output the raw signal in response to the command) … In regard to claim 9, claim 9 is a sensor claim corresponding to the sensor claim 1 above and, therefore, is rejected for the same reasons set forth in the rejections of claim 1. (Note: It seems claim 1 and claim 9 are almost the same, maybe consider to change it as a medium or method claim) Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu et al. (Wu) US 2022/0026530, Dahlgren et al. (Dahlgren) US 2022/0294971 and Guru et al. (Guru) US 8571904 as applied to claim 1, further n view of SÖDERQVIST US 2021/0180384 In regard to claim 8, Wu and Dahlgren, Guru disclose An automatic door system comprising: the object detection sensor as claimed in claim 1, (Fig. 1, [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person, and output the raw signal to gait cube extraction module of the human recognition system, access control of the automatic door) an automatic door control device which is the external object detection device configured to detect a human body which is the target object in response to input of the predetermined detection signal from the object detection sensor, (Fig. 1, [0042] [0055]-[0082][0137] [0147][0159]-[0162] [0241]-[0246] remote sensor device detect user events and receive radar signal of a person to detect the person, remote sensor device is external to 120/130 for access control of the automatic door) But Wu and Dahlgren, Guru fail to explicitly disclose “and an automatic door including a door leaf configured to open and close automatically and a door engine configured to cause the door leaf to open and close, wherein the automatic door control device controls the door engine on the basis of a result of detection of the human body.” SÖDERQVIST disclose and an automatic door including a door leaf configured to open and close automatically and a door engine configured to cause the door leaf to open and close, wherein the automatic door control device controls the door engine on the basis of a result of detection of the human body. ([013]-[0020] [0045]-[0057] the door include door leaf to open and close automatically and control to cause the door leaf to open and close based on the detection result of the human body) It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made to incorporate SÖDERQVIST‘s automatic door control system into Guru, Dahlgren and Wu’s invention as they are related to the same field endeavor of human recognition. The motivation to combine these arts, as proposed above, at least because SÖDERQVIST‘s automatic door control system would help to provide more application scenarios into Guru, Dahlgren and Wu’s system. Therefore it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention was made that providing more application scenarios would help to improve user experience using the device. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-9 filed on 4/8/2026 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the current rejection. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. PATENT PUB. # PUB. DATE INVENTOR(S) TITLE US 20130264890 A1 2013-10-10 LE et al. SAFETY SWITCHING DEVICE FOR THE FAILSAFE SHUTDOWN OF AN ELECTRICAL LOAD LE et al. disclose A safety switching device for the failsafe shutdown of an electrical load has at least one input circuit for receiving an input signal from a signaling device which signals a safety-related state, an evaluation and control unit for evaluating the input signal, and at least one output circuit for outputting an output signal. The safety switching device further has at least one switching element for interrupting a current supply path to the load in dependence on the input signal. The input circuit and the output circuit are joined at a device connector so that the device connector can selectively be used as an input for receiving the input signal or as an output for outputting the output signal. The input circuit has a test switch which is coupled to the evaluation and control unit which is designed for selectively suppressing the input signal using the test switch… see abstract. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XUYANG XIA whose telephone number is (571)270-3045. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. 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, Jennifer Welch can be reached at 571-272-7212. 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. XUYANG XIA Primary Examiner Art Unit 2143 /XUYANG XIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2143
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Sep 11, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 11, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 16, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 08, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 11, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 16, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
May 28, 2026
Final Rejection (signed) — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12626132
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING NEURAL NETWORK MODEL BY USING DEVICE CHARACTERISTICS
3y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12613841
APPLICATION PERFORMANCE DATA PROCESSING
4y 8m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12609977
DETERMINING AND MANAGING SOCIAL INTERACTION OPTIONS IN SOCIAL NETWORKING ENVIRONMENTS
2y 11m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12596962
DATA TRANSMISSION USING DATA PRIORITIZATION
3y 8m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12586180
ASSESSMENT OF IMAGE QUALITY FOR A MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS DEVICE
3y 9m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
72%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+53.4%)
3y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 467 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month