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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on: 9-22-2023, 7-9-2024, and 1-22-2025 are considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-10 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
It is not clear if ‘an estimated echo function’ in line 5 of claim 1 is the same as ‘a function
representing the estimated echo’ in line 18 of claim 1. Appropriate action is required.
It is not clear if ‘a function representing the estimated echo’ in lines 3-4 of claim 2 is the same as ‘an estimated echo function’ in line 5 of claim 1. Appropriate action is required.
It is not clear if ‘a function representing the estimated echo’ in line 3 of claim 8 is the same as ‘an estimated echo function’ in line 5 of claim 1. Appropriate action is required.
It is not clear if ‘a function representing the estimated echo’ in line 3 of claim 9 is the same as ‘an estimated echo function’ in line 5 of claim 1. Appropriate action is required.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in line 18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 12 recites the limitation "the estimated echo" in lines 8-9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, and 12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claims 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are objected to as being dependent upon 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.
The prior art of EP 3633865A1 by Transtron Inc and WO 2019/239977A1 by Transtron Inc cited in the IDS filed on 7-9-2024 by Applicant do not disclose the claimed limitations in claims 1, 10, and 12.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 Form.
Any response to this action should be mailed to:
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Or faxed to:
(571) 273-8300 (for formal communications intended for entry)
Or call:
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LISA HASHEM whose telephone number is 571-272-7542. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Carolyn Edwards can be reached on 571-270-7136.
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/LISA HASHEM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2692
/CAROLYN R EDWARDS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2692