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 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 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 22-25, 26, 32, 33, 37-39 and 52 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.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the circuitry" in lines 2 and 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 5 recites the limitations "the first input" in line 3, and “the output of the first power source” in lines 4 and 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 6 recites the limitations "the second input" in line 3, and “the output of the second power source” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the circuitry" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the circuitry" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 12 recites the limitations "the first subsection" in line 3, and “the second subsection” in lines 3-4 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 22 recites the limitation "the vehicle module" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 25 recites “one of the claims 16 to 24”, which is indefinite because the limitation follows “according to claim 16”. Correction is required.
Claim 26 recites the limitations "the first status" in line 2, and “the first switch” in lines 2, and “the second status” in line 4 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 32 recites the limitation "said secondary fold gear" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 33 recites the limitation "the gear assembly" in lines 1-2 and “the secondary fold gear” in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 37 recites the limitation "the rearview assembly" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 38 recites the limitation "said rearview head" in line 4, “the first direction” in line 4, “said rearview base” in line 5, “the second direction” in line 5, “the third direction” in line 8, and “the fourth direction” in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 39 recites the limitation "said rearview head" in line 9, “said fold drive” in line 4, “said tilt drive” in line 9, “said first direction” in line 4, “said second direction” in lines 6-7, and “said third direction” in line 9. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 52 recites the limitation "the rearview head" in line 2, “the first direction” in line 4, “said tilt drive” in line 3, “the second direction” in line 4, “the third direction” in line 4, and “the fourth direction” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19-21, 27-31, 34, 35, and 40-51 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Independent claims 1 and 15 are allowed because no prior art was found to teach or suggest the combination of claimed elements (method of claim 1 and circuitry of claim 15).
Claims 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 22-25, 26, 32, 33, 37-39 and 52 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUIS A GONZALEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-3094. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-5:30pm.
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, Michael McCullough can be reached at 571-272-7805. 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.
/LUIS A GONZALEZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653