DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1, 8, 11 and 15 are amended. Claims 2-7, 9-10 and 12-14 are cancelled. Claims 16 and 17 are added. Claims 1, 8, 11 and 15-17 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1, 8, 11 and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Stafford (US 20130257751).
As per claim 1, Stafford discloses a method of obtaining a control signal by identifying a shear stress pattern in a region where two inputters contact each other (Abstract; [0026]), the method comprising:
obtaining, through a camera (Fig. 1, #110), an input image of a region in which a first inputter (#106) and a second inputter (i.e., surface) contact each other, wherein the first inputter is a body part ([0028]; [0032]-[0033]);
identifying a strength and a direction of shear stress in the region in which the first inputter (Fig. 3A, #306) and the second inputter (i.e., surface) contact each other based on a degree of color change of a surface of the first inputter and a degree of shape deformation of the surface of the first inputter ([0040]-[0041]; [0043]-[0046]; [0048]-[0049]; [0051]; where pressure is related to shear stress); and
obtaining a control signal corresponding to the identified strength and direction of the shear stress ([0033]-[0034]; [0039]-[0041]; [0085]-[0087]).
As per claims 8 and 16-17, Stafford discloses the method (electronic device) (non-transitory computer-readable recording medium) of claim 1 (claim 11) (claim 15), wherein (when executed by the computer, performs the method further comprising) the at least one processor is further configured to execute the at least one instruction to:
identify(ing) at least one of a location where the first inputter and the second inputter contact each other or a magnitude of a normal force ([0032]; [0046]; [0048]-[0049]; [0051]-[0056]); and
obtain(ing) the control signal based on the at least one of the location where the first inputter and the second inputter contact each other or the magnitude of the normal force ([0033]-[0034]; [0039]-[0041]; [0051]-[0052]).
As per claim 11, Stafford discloses an electronic device for obtaining a control signal by identifying a shear stress pattern in a region where two inputters contact each other (Abstract), the electronic device comprising:
a camera (Fig. 1, #110) configured to obtain an input image ([0028]);
a memory (Fig. 12, #734) configured to store a program including at least one instruction ([0114]); and
at least one processor (#732) configured to execute the at least one instruction stored in the memory ([0114]) to:
obtain, through the camera (#110), the input image of a region in which a first inputter (#106) and a second inputter (i.e., surface) contact each other, wherein the first inputter is a body part ([0028]; [0032]-[0033]);
identify a strength and a direction of shear stress in the region in which the first inputter (Fig. 3A, #306) and the second inputter (i.e., surface) contact each other based on a degree of color change of a surface of the first inputter and a degree of shape deformation of the surface of the first inputter ([0040]-[0041]; [0043]-[0046]; [0048]-[0049]; [0051]; where pressure is related to shear stress); and
obtain a control signal corresponding to the identified strength and direction of the shear stress ([0033]-[0034]; [0039]-[0041]; [0085]-[0087]).
As per claim 15, Stafford discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program, which, when executed by a computer (Abstract; [0114]), performs a method comprising:
obtaining, through a camera (Fig. 1, #110), an input image of a region in which a first inputter (#106) and a second inputter (i.e., flat surface) contact each other, wherein the first inputter is a body part ([0028]; [0032]-[0033]);
identifying a strength and a direction of shear stress in the region in which the first inputter (Fig. 3A, #306) and the second inputter (i.e., surface) contact each other based on a degree of color change of a surface of the first inputter and a degree of shape deformation of the surface of the first inputter ([0040]-[0041]; [0043]-[0046]; [0048]-[0049]; [0051]; where pressure is related to shear stress); and
obtaining a control signal corresponding to the identified strength and direction of the shear stress ([0033]-[0034]; [0039]-[0041]; [0085]-[0087]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 11 and 15 have been considered but are moot because of the new grounds of rejection as presented above.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 Nelson Lam whose telephone number is (571)272-8044. The examiner can normally be reached 1pm-9pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ke Xiao can be reached on 571 272-7776. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Nelson Lam/Examiner, Art Unit 2627
/KE XIAO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2627
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