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 § 101
Rejection withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0187037 to Eubelen, supplied by applicant.
1. A method for operating a door actuator of a door system, with at least one movable door leaf and with a control device configured to control a drive of the door leaf, and with a sensor unit with which data of at least one object is recorded in a detection region in front of the door system and at least one item of information about the object is transmitted to the control device (Figs. 1-2, paragraphs 29-40), the method including at least the following steps, in the order listed:
a) recording object data of the object, b) processing the recorded object data, c) evaluating the processed object data (paragraphs 29-46),
d) subdividing the detection region into a first partial region and into at least one second partial region, e) identifying a desire to enter of the object depending on the partial region in which the object data was recorded (Figure 1 illustrates a first sub-region (20) and a second sub-region (22); Figure 2 illustrates that the desire to visit is determined based on the sub-region in which the object data were captured. This is described in paragraphs [0029]–[0045], particularly in paragraphs [0029], [0030], [0033], and [0040].), and
f) opening the door leaf only in the case of an identified desire to enter (paragraphs 23, 32-34).
13. The method according to claim 1, further including the step or steps, following step e): if the door leaf is located in a closed position: moving the door leaf into an open position only in the case of the identified desire to enter, and/or if the door leaf is located in an open position: at least temporarily preventing the movement of the door leaf into the closed position or reversing the movement into the closed position and moving the door leaf into the open position only in the case of the identified desire to enter (paragraphs 36; Additionally, claim scope is not limited by claim language that suggests or makes optional but does not require steps to be performed (MPEP 2111.04). The claimed condition of “if…” is made optional by the terminology used in the claim because the claim does not require the condition to occur or any limitation based on the condition occurring).
14. A door actuator for a door system which has at least one door leaf, for carrying out a method according to claim 13 (paragraphs 34, 37, 40, 42).
15. A computer program product for carrying out a method according to claim 13 and/or for implementation in the control device and/or the computer unit and/or the sensor unit of a door actuator for a door system which has at least one door leaf (paragraphs 34, 37, 40, 42).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object data is recorded in step a) as two-dimensional data of the object and/or in that the object data in step b) is processed as or into two-dimensional data the object (Fig. 2, paragraphs 40-46).
3. The method according to claim 1, whereby step b) and/or step c) are carried out in a computer unit, wherein the computer unit is designed as part of the sensor unit or as part of the control unit (element 14, paragraphs 34, 37, 40, 42).
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object data is assigned to a specific object in step b), before step c), such that the object data of a first object is distinguished from the object data of a second object (Fig. 2, paragraphs 40-46).
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object data is processed into object vectors in step b), before step c), and the object data is evaluated as object vectors in step c) (Fig. 2, paragraph 30).
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the object vectors are determined with a position of the object in the detection region in front of the door system, with a movement direction and with a speed of the object (Fig. 2, paragraphs 40-46).
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object data of the object has points recorded by sensor, wherein object vectors are determined for each object from two object positions of the object data, wherein the determination of the object vectors from the object data is carried out by the computer unit (paragraphs 29, 40).
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the at least one door leaf, is carried out by control parameters comprising an opening speed and/or an opening width and/or an opening time and/or a closing time after a hold-open time (paragraphs 23, 32-34).
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the first partial region and the second partial region are determined and/or adapted by an artificial intelligence system, wherein the artificial intelligence system is connected to the computer unit and/or to the sensor unit or is part thereof (paragraphs 35-36).
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the artificial intelligence system is provided with at least the following data: object data, and/or event as to whether the object to which the object data was assigned actually passed through the door system and/or environmental conditions, including outside temperature and/or inside temperature and/or time and/or break time and/or season and/or place of use of the door system (paragraphs 36, 40).
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein deactivation data for deactivating the detection of at least one defined region of the detection region is provided to the sensor unit by the control device and/or the control device filters out, deletes the object data of the sensor unit in a defined region of the detection region and/or hides a hidden region (Fig. 2, paragraphs 40-46).
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is provided comprising at least one radar sensor or as a radar sensor (paragraphs 12, 16-23, 37,39-46 microwave).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 7/8/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues Eubelen fails to teach recording object data of the object. The examiner disagrees. Eubelen teaches the detection/sensor is programmed, and therefore the object data to be processed must be stored at least temporarily in ram for the program to process the data (paragraphs 29-46).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 SEAN P SHECHTMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-3754. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30am-6:00pm, M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, William Kraig can be reached at 571-272-8660. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Sean Shechtman/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2896
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