DETAILED ACTION
The present office action is in response to claims filed on 04/10/2023. Claims 1 – 13 are pending in the application.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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 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.
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 of this title, 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rice (U.S. Patent No. 10,220,817) in view of Tanaka et al. (U.S. Patent No. 9,180,840).
Regarding Claim 1, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
A sensor cleaning device (200), the device comprising:
a chamber portion (250) configured to be disposed on (via 210, as illustrated in Figures 2C, 2D, 2E) an outer circumferential surface (292) of a sensor (290) and having an air passage (air passage through 250) and a discharge port (240) formed therein (as illustrated in Figure 2E), wherein
air (as described in Col. 7, lines 20-29) is injected into the chamber (250).
However, Rice lacks showing a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened.
In the same field of endeavor of vehicle sensor cleaning devices, Tanaka shows (Figures 1, 2, 3A, and 3B):
It is known in the sensor cleaning device (device illustrated in Figure 1) art for the device to include a chamber (12) having a passage (18b), wherein
a blocking portion (the door portion of 12) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) to shield (the position illustrated in Figure 3A) the discharge port (11b) and configured to selectively open (the position illustrated in Figure 3B) the discharge port (11b) by an injection pressure (as illustrated in Figure 3B, 12 opens in the direction of the injection pressure, therefore, the injection pressure acts on 12 to open) of the injected fluid (fluid in 18b), and
a holder portion (the pivot portion of 12 is a holder that is coupled to 12, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) while covering (as illustrated in Figure 3A, the pivot portion of 12 covers the left end of the door portion of 12) the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) and configured to control (as illustrated between Figures 3A and 3B) an opening displacement (from a horizontal position to a mostly vertical position) of the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) when the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) is opened (the position illustrated in Figure 3B).
Further, “this control…. Prevents wash water (the fluid) from being injected from the nozzle 13 after completion of the process”, Col. 7, lines 36-39.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the chamber shown by Rice to include a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of the injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened, as taught by Tanaka, to prevent the air from being injected from the discharge port after completion of the process. This also provides the benefit of preventing backflow through the chamber after completion of the process.
Regarding Claim 2, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
A lower chamber (270) having a plurality of mounting members (mounting members of 210, as illustrated in Figure 2D) configured to fix the device (200) at a position (as illustrated in Figure 2E) where the device (200) is disposed on the outer circumferential surface (292) of the sensor (290) and having an air inlet port (the inlet into 270, as illustrated in Figure 2B), and
an upper chamber (250) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 2B) the lower chamber (270) to form the air passage (air passage through 270 and 250) therein and having the discharge port (240) formed therein (as illustrated in Figure 2B) connected to the air passage (air passage through 270 and 250).
Regarding Claim 3, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
The lower chamber (270) comprises an inclined member (as illustrated in Figure 2B, the sidewalls of 270 are inclined upward) defining an inner side (the inner side of 270) of the air passage (air passage through 270 and 250) and
the upper chamber (250) comprises a guide member (the upper casing of 250, as illustrated in Figure 2B) defining an outer side (the exterior side of 270 and 250) of the air passage (air passage through 270 and 250), the air passage (air passage through 270 and 250) being formed therein inclined upwards from (as illustrated in Figure 2B, the air passage through 250 and 270 inclines upward from the inlet to 270) the air inlet port (the inlet into 270, as illustrated in Figure 2B).
Regarding Claim 4, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
The lower chamber (270) protrudes in a direction (as illustrated in Figure 2B, 270 protrudes in an upward direction toward 250) to be coupled to the upper chamber (250) and comprises a pair of fixation members (as illustrated in Figure 2E, 210 is formed by an upper housing and a lower housing that defines and fixes 270 to 250) configured to fix the lower chamber (270) at a position (as illustrated in Figure 2B) at which the lower chamber (270) is coupled to the upper chamber (250).
Regarding Claim 5, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
The chamber portion (250) has a curved shape (as illustrated in Figure 2E, 250 has a curved shape) and is provided in multiple parts (as illustrated in Figure 2E, 250 is formed of an upper housing part and a lower housing part coupled together to form 250) coupled to one another (as illustrated in Figure 2E) to correspond to a shape of the outer circumferential surface (292) of the sensor (290).
Regarding Claim 11, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
A sensor cleaning device (200), the device comprising:
a chamber portion (270, 250) configured to be disposed on (via 210, as illustrated in Figures 2C, 2D, 2E) an outer circumferential surface (292) of a sensor (290), forming an air passage (air passage through 270 and 250) defined by a lower chamber (270) and an upper chamber (250) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 2B), and having a discharge port (240) formed therein (as illustrated in Figure 2E) connected to (as illustrated in Figure 2B) the air passage (270, 250), wherein
air (as described in Col. 7, lines 20-29) is injected into the chamber (250).
However, Rice lacks showing a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened.
In the same field of endeavor of vehicle sensor cleaning devices, Tanaka shows (Figures 1, 2, 3A, and 3B):
It is known in the sensor cleaning device (device illustrated in Figure 1) art for the device to include a chamber (12) having a passage (18b), wherein
a blocking portion (the door portion of 12) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) to shield (the position illustrated in Figure 3A) the discharge port (11b) and configured to selectively open (the position illustrated in Figure 3B) the discharge port (11b) by an injection pressure (as illustrated in Figure 3B, 12 opens in the direction of the injection pressure, therefore, the injection pressure acts on 12 to open) of the injected fluid (fluid in 18b), and
a holder portion (the pivot portion of 12 is a holder that is coupled to 12, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) while covering (as illustrated in Figure 3A, the pivot portion of 12 covers the left end of the door portion of 12) the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) and configured to control (as illustrated between Figures 3A and 3B) an opening displacement (from a horizontal position to a mostly vertical position) of the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) when the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) is opened (the position illustrated in Figure 3B).
Further, “this control…. Prevents wash water (the fluid) from being injected from the nozzle 13 after completion of the process”, Col. 7, lines 36-39.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the chamber shown by Rice to include a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of the injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened, as taught by Tanaka, to prevent the air from being injected from the discharge port after completion of the process. This also provides the benefit of preventing backflow through the chamber after completion of the process.
Regarding Claim 12, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
A sensor and cleaning device assembly (assembly illustrated in Figure 2E), the assembly comprising:
a sensor (290) having an outer circumferential surface (292); and
a sensor cleaning device (200) including
a chamber portion (250) disposed on (via 210, as illustrated in Figures 2C, 2D, 2E) the outer circumferential surface (292) of the sensor (290) and having an air passage (air passage through 250) and a discharge port (240) formed therein (as illustrated in Figure 2E), wherein
air (as described in Col. 7, lines 20-29) is injected into the chamber (250).
However, Rice lacks showing the sensor cleaning device further includes a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of the injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened.
In the same field of endeavor of vehicle sensor cleaning devices, Tanaka shows (Figures 1, 2, 3A, and 3B):
It is known in the sensor cleaning device (device illustrated in Figure 1) art for the device to include a chamber (12) having a passage (18b), wherein
a blocking portion (the door portion of 12) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) to shield (the position illustrated in Figure 3A) the discharge port (11b) and configured to selectively open (the position illustrated in Figure 3B) the discharge port (11b) by an injection pressure (as illustrated in Figure 3B, 12 opens in the direction of the injection pressure, therefore, the injection pressure acts on 12 to open) of the injected fluid (fluid in 18b), and
a holder portion (the pivot portion of 12 is a holder that is coupled to 12, as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B) coupled to (as illustrated in Figure 3A) the chamber portion (12) while covering (as illustrated in Figure 3A, the pivot portion of 12 covers the left end of the door portion of 12) the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) and configured to control (as illustrated between Figures 3A and 3B) an opening displacement (from a horizontal position to a mostly vertical position) of the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) when the blocking portion (the door portion of 12) is opened (the position illustrated in Figure 3B).
Further, “this control…. Prevents wash water (the fluid) from being injected from the nozzle 13 after completion of the process”, Col. 7, lines 36-39.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the chamber shown by Rice to include a blocking portion coupled to the chamber portion to shield the discharge port and configured to selectively open the discharge port by an injection pressure of the injected air, and a holder portion coupled to the chamber portion while covering the blocking portion and configured to control an opening displacement of the blocking portion when the blocking portion is opened, as taught by Tanaka, to prevent the air from being injected from the discharge port after completion of the process. This also provides the benefit of preventing backflow through the chamber after completion of the process.
Regarding Claim 13, Rice shows (Figures 2A-2E):
The sensor (290) is a camera.
However, Rice lacks showing the sensor is a lidar sensor.
In a different embodiment, Rice teaches (Figures 3E and 3F):
It is known to use a cleaning assembly (300) with a lidar sensor (392).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the sensor shown by Rice to be a lidar sensor, as taught by a different embodiment of Rice, to increase marketability for the cleaning assembly by using it for cleaning various types of sensors.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are objected to as being dependent on a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding Claim 6, the combination of Rice and Tanaka teaches the claim invention except the blocking portion comprises a fitting member inserted into a fitting groove disposed parallel to the discharge port and a shielding member coupled to the fitting member, extending in a horizontal direction, and configured to shield the discharge port when the fitting member is inserted into the fitting groove.
There is no teaching in the prior art to modify Rice’s blocking portion accordingly.
Claims 7 and 8 depend from Claim 6.
Regarding Claim 9, the combination of Rice and Tanaka teaches the claim invention except the holder portion comprises a pair of coupling members inserted into a part of insertion grooves disposed on a same line as the discharge port and a holder member, interconnecting the coupling members, extending to be inclined upwards toward the blocking portion, and selectively brought into contact with the blocking member when the blocking member is opened.
There is no teaching in the prior art to modify Rice’s holder portion accordingly.
Claim 10 depends from Claim 9.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure and is provided in the Notice of References Cited.
The following prior art teaches related vehicle sensor cleaning devices:
Sakai (U.S. Patent No. 11,912,246): see Figure 6
Giraud et al. (U.S. Patent No. 10,870,415): see Figures 3 and 4
Trebouet et al. (U.S. Patent No. 10,457,253): see Figures 5 and 6
Gokan et al. (U.S. Patent No. 9,796,361): see Figure 3
Niemczyk (U.S. Patent No. 9,783,167): see Figures 1 and 2
Akiyama et al. (U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2009/0250533): see Figures 2 and 5
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/DANA K TIGHE/Examiner, Art Unit 3762
/AVINASH A SAVANI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3762