Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/116,162

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SENSING OF GASES USING A CONFIGURABLE DYNAMIC RANGE OF A SENSOR

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Mar 01, 2023
Examiner
HUANG, DAVID Z
Art Unit
2855
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
General Electric Company
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
564 granted / 703 resolved
+12.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
720
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
69.9%
+29.9% vs TC avg
§102
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
§112
19.6%
-20.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 703 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 . Claim Objections Claims 3, 18-23, and 28 are objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 3, line 2, “wherein a sensing material is” should be changed to --wherein a sensing material is one of-- or similar language. Regarding claim 18, the claim should be dependent on claim 17 instead of 16. Regarding claim 19, the claim should be dependent on claim 18 instead of 16. Regarding claim 20, the claim should be dependent on claim 19 instead of 18. It is noted that claim 20 recites both “first and second range of gas concentrations” and “the metal oxide semiconductor sensing material”, which leads to the conclusion that claim 20 should depend on both claims 18 and 19, thus why claim 19 should be dependent on claim 18. Regarding claim 21, the claim should be dependent on claim 20 instead of 19. Regarding claim 22, the claim should be dependent on claim 17 instead of 16. Regarding claim 23, the claim should be dependent on claim 17 instead of 16. Regarding claim 28, the claim should be dependent on claim 24 instead of 23. 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. 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. Claims 1, 3, 6-11, 17-20, and 22-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Potyrailo (US 2021/0109049 A1) (hereinafter Potyrailo) in view of Potyrailo et al. (US 2017/0138922 A1) (hereinafter Potyrailo 2017). Regarding claim 1, Potyrailo teaches a gas sensor system providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations [gas sensing assembly] (see Abstract), the gas sensor comprising: a gas sensor [gas sensor 114] comprising: a gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes [sensing electrodes 310, 312], a dielectric substrate [substrate 302], and a sensing material coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas [sensing material 308] (Para [0046], see Fig. 4); at least one heating element [heating elements 304] coupled to the sensing material, and the dielectric substrate and configured to heat the gas sensing element to an operation temperature based on a selected operation voltage [voltage to heating elements 304 to control a temperature] (Para [0046-0047], see Fig. 4); at least one impedance detector configured to operate at two or more frequencies [first impedance system 314, second impedance system 316; at one or more different frequencies or frequency ranges] (Para [0051, 0053], see Fig. 4); and control circuitry configured to: control a power supply of the at least one heating element, wherein the power supply is configured to select an operation voltage with which to heat the at least one heating element to reach an operation temperature based on the selected operation voltage [heater controller 306; conducts heater voltage to control a temperature of the substrate and sensing film] (Para [0047]); adjust the two or more frequencies of the at least one impedance detector, wherein an alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element is provided at the two or more frequencies [one or more processors to apply an electric field to the sensing material via the electrodes at an alternating current frequency range] (Para [0053-0055, 0061]). Potyrailo additionally teaches wherein the sensor comprises an LCR resonator (Para [0029]). Potyrailo fails to teach one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage. Potyrailo 2017 teaches a resonant sensor comprising one or more pairs of electrodes and one or more tuning elements, e.g. a capacitor, to form an LCR resonant circuit operated at one or more resonant frequencies (Para [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to modify Potyrailo with Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor further comprises one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry is further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage, in order to operate the LCR resonator of the gas sensor at a chosen resonant frequency. Regarding claim 3, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein a sensing material is one of a metal oxide semiconductor material, dielectric polymer, conducting polymer, nanotube material, metal organic frameworks material, graphene, supramolecular compound material, two-dimensional transition metal carbide, and nitride material (Potyrailo Para [0035]). Regarding claim 6, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the two or more operation frequencies of the impedance detector are at a shoulder of a dielectric relaxation region of an impedance spectrum of the sensing material (Potyrailo Para [0060]). Regarding claim 7, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is a wearable device worn by an operator (Potyrailo Para [0044]). Regarding claim 8, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor has a response speed [inherent property of a sensor]. Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 fails to teach wherein the response speed is one second at most; however, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 to design a response speed, such as one second at most, in order to accurately monitor a gas concentration in real time. It has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233 (CCPA 1955). Regarding claim 9, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, except for wherein the gas sensor is communicatively coupled to an alarm configured to provide an alert in response to the gas sensor detecting a concentration of gas exceeding a threshold. Potyrailo 2017 additionally teaches wherein the sensor system is communicatively coupled to an alarm configured to provide an alert in response to a determined value exceeding a threshold (Para [0272]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor is communicatively coupled to an alarm configured to provide an alert, in order to alert a user when an undesired concentration is reached. Regarding claims 10-11, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 9 above teaches the claimed invention, except for wherein the gas sensor is configured to implement a decision-making purpose in response to the concentration of gas exceeding the threshold, wherein the purpose includes activation of an emergency response, activation of a particular treatment, decontamination of the subject having the gas sensor, optimization of logistics steps after the knowledge about the detected concentration of the gas, or minimization of logistics steps after the knowledge about the detected concentration of gas. Potyrailo 2017 additionally teaches wherein the sensor is configured to implement a decision-making purpose in response to the determined value exceeding the threshold, wherein the purpose includes scheduling maintenance (Para [0272]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor is configured to implement a decision-making purpose in response to the concentration of gas exceeding the threshold, wherein the purpose includes activation of an emergency response, activation of a particular treatment, decontamination of the subject having the gas sensor, optimization of logistics steps after the knowledge about the detected concentration of the gas, or minimization of logistics steps after the knowledge about the detected concentration of gas, in order to automate a response to reaching an undesired gas concentration. Regarding claim 17, Potyrailo teaches a gas sensor providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations [gas sensing assembly] (see Abstract), comprising: a gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes [sensing electrodes 310, 312], a dielectric substrate [substrate 302], and a sensing material coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas [sensing material 308] (Para [0046], see Fig. 4); at least one heating element [heating elements 304] coupled to the sensing material, and the dielectric substrate and configured to heat the gas sensing element to an operation temperature based on a selected operation voltage [voltage to heating elements 304 to control a temperature] (Para [0046-0047], see Fig. 4); at least one impedance detector configured to operate at two or more frequencies [first impedance system 314, second impedance system 316; at one or more different frequencies or frequency ranges] (Para [0051, 0053], see Fig. 4); and control circuitry comprising: a controller of a power supply of the at least one heating element, wherein the power supply is configured to select an operation voltage with which to heat the at least one heating element to reach an operation temperature based on the selected operation voltage [heater controller 306; conducts heater voltage to control a temperature of the substrate and sensing film] (Para [0047]); a controller of the at least one impedance detector configured to adjust the two or more frequencies of the at least one impedance detector, wherein an alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element is provided at the two or more frequencies [one or more processors to apply an electric field to the sensing material via the electrodes at an alternating current frequency range] (Para [0053-0055, 0061]). Potyrailo additionally teaches wherein the sensor comprises an LCR resonator (Para [0029]). Potyrailo fails to teach one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage. Potyrailo 2017 teaches a resonant sensor comprising one or more pairs of electrodes and one or more tuning elements, e.g. a capacitor, to form an LCR resonant circuit operated at one or more resonant frequencies (Para [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to modify Potyrailo with Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor further comprises one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry is further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage, in order to operate the LCR resonator of the gas sensor at a chosen resonant frequency. Regarding claim 18, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 17 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein a sensing material comprises metal oxide semiconductor material (Potyrailo Para [0035]). Regarding claim 19, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 17 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a first range of gas concentrations corresponding to a first value of the one or more tuning capacitors, a first value of the selected operation voltage, and a first value of the selected operation frequency; and a second range of gas concentrations corresponding to a second value of the one or more tuning capacitors, a second value of the selected operation voltage, and a second value of the selected operation frequency [gas sensor configuration is capable of detecting a range of gas concentrations at chosen operating parameters, such as tuning capacitor value (which changes the resonant frequency), operation voltage (operating temperature) and operation frequency] (Potyrailo Para [0053]). Regarding claim 20, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 19 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect the first and second range of gas concentrations via the at least one impedance detector operating at the two or more operation frequencies, wherein the at least one impedance detector detects one or more dielectric excitation response of the gas sensing element, and wherein the two or more frequencies are at a shoulder of a dielectric relaxation region of an impedance spectrum of the metal oxide semiconductor sensing material (Potyrailo Para [0031]). Regarding the limitation “to provide at least eight orders of magnitude of gas concentrations of the dynamic range of the gas sensor”, Potyrailo is silent as to the orders of magnitude provided; however, Potyrailo teaches that the gas sensor is configured to detect gas concentrations in the same manner claimed (Para [0031]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor is configured to provide a chosen order of magnitude of gas concentrations, such as at least eight orders of magnitude, in order to accurately monitor a gas concentration in real time. It has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233 (CCPA 1955). Regarding claim 22, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 17 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein a sensing material comprises semiconductor material (Potyrailo Para [0035]). Regarding claim 23, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 17 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is a wearable device worn by an operator (Potyrailo Para [0044]). Regarding claim 24, Potyrailo teaches a gas sensor system providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations [gas sensing assembly] (see Abstract), the gas sensor comprising: a gas sensor [gas sensor 114] comprising: a gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes [sensing electrodes 310, 312], a dielectric substrate [substrate 302], and a sensing material coupled to the at least two electrodes and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas [sensing material 308] (Para [0046], see Fig. 4); at least one energy-delivering element [heating elements 304] coupled to the sensing material, and the dielectric substrate and configured to deliver energy to the gas sensing element to an operation energy level based on a selected energy level [voltage to heating elements 304 to control a temperature] (Para [0046-0047], see Fig. 4); at least one impedance detector configured to operate at two or more frequencies [first impedance system 314, second impedance system 316; at one or more different frequencies or frequency ranges] (Para [0051, 0053], see Fig. 4); and control circuitry configured to: control an energy source of the at least one energy-delivering element, wherein the energy source is configured to select an energy level with which to heat the at least one energy source element to reach an operation energy level based on the selected operation energy level [heater controller 306; conducts heater voltage to control a temperature of the substrate and sensing film] (Para [0047]); adjust the two or more frequencies of the at least one impedance detector, wherein an alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element is provided at the two or more frequencies [one or more processors to apply an electric field to the sensing material via the electrodes at an alternating current frequency range] (Para [0053-0055, 0061]). Potyrailo additionally teaches wherein the sensor comprises an LCR resonator (Para [0029]). Potyrailo fails to teach one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage. Potyrailo 2017 teaches a resonant sensor comprising one or more pairs of electrodes and one or more tuning elements, e.g. a capacitor, to form an LCR resonant circuit operated at one or more resonant frequencies (Para [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to modify Potyrailo with Potyrailo 2017 such that the gas sensor further comprises one or more tuning capacitors located in an electric circuit of the gas sensor system and parallel with the gas sensing element; and the control circuitry is further configured to select the one or more tuning capacitors based on, at least in part, the selected operation voltage, in order to operate the LCR resonator of the gas sensor at a chosen resonant frequency. Regarding claim 25, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 24 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the energy source produces at least one of a combination of thermal, radiant, or acoustic types of energy [heating element] (Potyrailo Para [0046]). Claims 2, 4-5, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017, as applied to claims 1 and 20 above, and further in view of Sundaresan et al. (US 2017/0187541 A1) (hereinafter Sundaresan). Regarding claim 2, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 1 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to comprising data acquisition circuitry configured to: receive one or more response signals from the gas sensing element upon the alternating current excitation of the gas sensing element (see Potyrailo Abstract). Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 fails to teach the data acquisition circuitry configured to compare the one or more response signals with values stored in a look-up table to determine a concentration of the analyte in an environment at a given time or over time. Sundaresan teaches a gas sensor system wherein an impedance response from a gas sensor is compared to a known impedance of the sensor in order to determine a concentration of gas of interest around the sensor (Para [0042]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 with Sundaresan such that the data acquisition circuitry is further configured to compare the one or more response signals with values stored in a look-up table to determine a concentration of the analyte in an environment at a given time or over time, in order to accurately determine a concentration of gas of interest in the environment around the sensor. Regarding claim 4, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan as applied to claim 2 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a first range of gas concentrations via measuring the one or more response signals upon dielectric excitation of the gas sensing element at a first value of the one or more tuning capacitors and at a first value of the selected operation voltage [concentration determined at chosen operating parameters] (Potyrailo Para [0053]). Regarding claim 5, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan as applied to claim 2 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect a second range of gas concentrations via measuring the one or more response signals upon dielectric excitation of the gas sensing element at a second value of the one or more tuning capacitors and at a second value of the selected operation voltage [concentration determined at chosen operating parameters] (Potyrailo Para [0053]). Regarding claim 21, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 as applied to claim 20 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the gas sensor is configured to detect the first and second range of gas concentrations via a processor configured to receive the detected one or more dielectric excitation responses of the gas sensing element (Potyrailo Para [0031]). Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 fails to teach the comparing the responses with values stored in a look-up table. Sundaresan teaches a gas sensor system wherein an impedance response from a gas sensor is compared to a known impedance of the sensor in order to determine a concentration of gas of interest around the sensor (Para [0042]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 with Sundaresan such that the gas sensor is further configured to compare the responses with values stored in a look-up table to determine a concentration of the analyte in an environment at a given time or over time, in order to accurately determine a concentration of gas of interest in the environment around the sensor. Claims 12-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan. Regarding claim 12, Potyrailo teaches a method of operating a gas sensor system providing extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations [gas sensing assembly] (see Abstract), comprising: applying contextual inputs for selection of application scenarios with an extended dynamic range of measurements of gas concentrations [I/O interfaces for inputting configuration information] (Para [0043]); preselecting operation parameters of the gas sensor system [application specific parameters] (Para [0040, 0052]); exposing a gas sensing element of a gas sensor [114] to an environment comprising an analyte gas, wherein in the gas sensing element comprising at least two electrodes [sensing electrodes 310, 312], a dielectric substrate [substrate 302], and a sensing material coupled to the substrate and configured to be exposed to an analyte gas [sensing material 308] (Para [0046], see Fig. 4); heating the sensing material to the preselected operation temperature via a heating element [voltage to heating elements 304 to control a temperature] (Para [0046-0047], see Fig. 4); measuring one or more impedance outputs of the gas sensing element via an impedance detector at the preselected operation parameters [first impedance system 314, second impedance system 316; at one or more different frequencies or frequency ranges] (Para [0051, 0053], see Fig. 4); determining a concentration of the measured gas at a given time or over a period of time (Para [0053]); and displaying the determined concentration of measured gas at a given time or the determined concentrations of measured gas over time via an output device (Para [0075]). Potyrailo additionally teaches wherein the sensor comprises an LCR resonator (Para [0029]). Potyrailo fails to teach providing a tuning capacitor in parallel to the gas sensing element. Potyrailo 2017 teaches a method of operating a resonant sensor comprising one or more pairs of electrodes and one or more tuning elements, e.g. a capacitor, to form an LCR resonant circuit operated at one or more resonant frequencies (Para [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to modify Potyrailo with Potyrailo 2017 such that the method further comprises providing a tuning capacitor in parallel with the gas sensing element, in order to operate the LCR resonator of the gas sensor at a chosen resonant frequency. Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 fails to teach comparing the one or more impedance outputs at the preselected operation parameters to corresponding values stored in a look-up table and determining a concentration of measured gas at a given time or over a period of time based on the look-up table. Sundaresan teaches a method of operating a gas sensor system wherein an impedance response from a gas sensor is compared to a known impedance of the sensor in order to determine a concentration of gas of interest around the sensor (Para [0042]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 with Sundaresan such that the method further comprises comparing the one or more impedance outputs at the preselected operation parameters to corresponding values stored in a look-up table and determining a concentration of measured gas at a given time or over a period of time based on the look-up table, in order to accurately determine a concentration of gas of interest in the environment around the sensor. Regarding claims 13-14, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan as applied to claim 12 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to comprising providing a linearity of sensor response over different ranges of gas concentrations via selection of the preselected operation parameters, wherein the preselected operation parameters comprise an operation frequency [first impedance system 314, second impedance system 316; at one or more different frequencies or frequency ranges] (Para [0051, 0053], see Fig. 4) and an operation voltage when measuring the one or more impedance outputs [voltage to heating elements 304 to control a temperature] (Para [0046-0047], see Fig. 4). Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan fails to teach wherein the preselected operation parameters also comprise a value of a tuning capacitor. Potyrailo 2017 additionally teaches one or more tuning elements, e.g. a capacitor, to form an LCR resonant circuit operated at one or more resonant frequencies (Para [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan such that the preselected operation parameters further comprises a value of a tuning capacitor, in order to control the resonant frequency of the sensor. Regarding claim 15, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan as applied to claim 12 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the preselected operation parameters correspond to detecting a first range of concentrations of gas at a sensitivity [sensor inherently having a sensitivity based on operating parameters]. Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundarsean fails to teach wherein the preselected operation parameters correspond to detecting a first range of concentrations of gas down to 5 ppb. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan such to choose a sensor sensitivity, such as being able to detect concentrations of gas down to 5 ppb, based on desired sensor applications and expected values. It has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233 (CCPA 1955). Regarding claim 16, Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan as applied to claim 12 above teaches the claimed invention, in addition to wherein the preselected operation parameters correspond to detecting a second range of concentrations of gas at a sensitivity [sensor inherently having a sensitivity based on operating parameters]. Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundarsean fails to teach wherein the preselected operation parameters correspond to detecting a second range of concentrations of gas up to 50% by volume. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing of the invention to further modify Potyrailo in view of Potyrailo 2017 and Sundaresan such to choose a sensor sensitivity, such as being able to detect concentrations of gas up to 50% by volume, based on desired sensor applications and expected values. It has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233 (CCPA 1955). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID Z HUANG whose telephone number is (571)270-5360. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST. 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, Kristina Deherrera can be reached at 303-297-4237. 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. /DAVID Z HUANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 01, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 01, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 23, 2025
Interview Requested
Dec 30, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Dec 30, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jan 02, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 16, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 23, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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