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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 10/23/2025, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-2 and 17-20 under 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground of rejection is made below.
If further efforts are made to clarify and fully define the invention, Applicant is advised to consider referencing specific paragraphs, column and line numbers, and/or figures from the cited prior art. While the citations provided are representative and mapped to individual claim limitations, other portions of the references may also be relevant. Incorporating such disclosures may assist the Applicant in preparing a more complete response to this Office Action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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, 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.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Irci et al. (US 20140361932; hereinafter Irci) in view of Ouyang et al. (US 20170110787; hereinafter Ouyang)
Regarding claim 1:
Irci discloses (in Figs. 1-2 and 4-10) a laptop computer (10) comprising: a lower housing (12B) that includes a conductive wall (defined by 12B; Para. 0033, Lines 4-5) and a keyboard (16) at the conductive wall (defined by 12B; Para. 0028, Lines 1-2); an upper housing (12A) coupled to the lower housing (12B) by a hinge (56), the upper housing (12A) being rotatable (along 22) relative to the lower housing (12B) about a hinge axis (24) of the hinge (56); a dielectric window (26) in the conductive wall (defined by 12B); and antennas (40) in the lower housing (12B) and overlapping the dielectric window (26), wherein the antennas (40) are arranged along a linear axis (along 20) orthogonal to the hinge axis (24).
Irci is silent on that the antennas form a phased antenna array.
Ouyang et al. disclose (in Fig. 34) the antennas (130) form a phased antenna array (Para. 0042, Lines 13-14).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the antennas forming a phased antenna array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-15).
Regarding claim 2:
Irci is silent on that the phased antenna array is a uniform linear array (ULA).
Ouyang et al. disclose the phased antenna array (130/170) is a uniform linear array (ULA) (in Figs. 34 and 40).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the phased antenna array is a uniform linear array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-150).
Regarding claim 17:
Irci discloses (in Figs. 1-2 and 4-10) a laptop computer (10) comprising: a lower housing (12B) that includes a keyboard (16); an upper housing (12A) that includes a display (14), the upper housing (12A) being coupled to the lower housing (12B) by a hinge (56); a phased antenna array (defined by 40) in the lower housing (12B) and configured to convey radio-frequency signals (Para. 0026, Lines 3-5); a sensor (42) configured to detect a position of the upper housing (12A) relative to the lower housing (12B); and one or more processors (28) configured to adjust the antenna array (defined by 40) based on the position detected by the sensor (42).
Irci is silent on that the antennas form a phased antenna array.
Ouyang et al. disclose (in Fig. 34) the antennas (130) form a phased antenna array (Para. 0042, Lines 13-14).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the antennas forming a phased antenna array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-15).
Regarding claim 18:
Irci discloses the antenna array (defined by 40) is configured to convey the radio-frequency signals using a set of signal beams formable by the phased antenna array (defined by 40), the one or more processors (28) being configured to adjust a size of the set of signal beams formable by the phased antenna array (defined by 40) based on the position detected by the sensor (42; Para. 0037, Lines 1-24; Para. 0038, Lines 1-15; Para. 0059, Lines 9-12).
Irci is silent on that the antennas form a phased antenna array.
Ouyang et al. disclose (in Fig. 34) the antennas (130) form a phased antenna array (Para. 0042, Lines 13-14).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the antennas forming a phased antenna array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-15).
Regarding claim 19:
Irci discloses the antenna array (defined by 40) is configured to convey the radio-frequency signals within a signal beam, the one or more processors (28) being configured to adjust an orientation of the signal beam based on the position detected by the sensor (Para. 0037, Lines 1-24; Para. 0038, Lines 1-15).
Irci is silent on that the antennas form a phased antenna array.
Ouyang et al. disclose (in Fig. 34) the antennas (130) form a phased antenna array (Para. 0042, Lines 13-14).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the antennas forming a phased antenna array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-15).
Regarding claim 20:
Irci discloses the antenna array (defined by 40) is configured to convey the radio-frequency signals within a signal beam, the one or more processors (28) being configured to adjust a width of the signal beam based on the position detected by the sensor (Para. 0037, Lines 1-24; Para. 0038, Lines 1-15).
Irci is silent on that the antennas form a phased antenna array.
Ouyang et al. disclose (in Fig. 34) the antennas (130) form a phased antenna array (Para. 0042, Lines 13-14).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the antennas forming a phased antenna array as taught by Ouyang et al. into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving antenna arrays used in beam steering techniques to help enhance antenna performance (Para. 0042, Lines 13-15).
Claims 3, 6, 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Irci et al. (US 20140361932; hereinafter Irci) in view of Ouyang et al. (US 20170110787; hereinafter Ouyang) as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Nath et al. (US 20190257933; hereinafter Nath).
Regarding claim 3:
Irci as modified is silent on that the phased antenna array is configured to form a set of signal beams through the dielectric window, each signal beam in the set of signal beams being oriented at a different respective angle along the linear axis.
Nath discloses (in Figs. 5, 10 and 11) the phased antenna array (124) is configured to form a set of signal beams (126 and 128) through the dielectric window (202), each signal beam in the set of signal beams (126 and 128) being oriented at a different respective angle along the linear axis (See Fig. 5).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to configure the phased antenna array configured to form a set of signal beams through the dielectric window and each signal beam in the set of signal beams being oriented at a different respective angle along the linear axis as taught by Nath into the device of Irci for the benefit of achieving beam steering to allow the phased antenna array to cover all angles within its field of view for increased antenna gain (Para. 0057, Lines 13-16).
Regarding claim 6:
Irci discloses a finger scoop (18) in the lower housing (12B).
Irci as modified by Nath is silent an additional dielectric window in the finger scoop; and an additional phased antenna array overlapping the additional dielectric window in the finger scoop.
However, it would have been an obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention and a matter of design consideration to incorporate an additional dielectric window in the finger scoop; and an additional phased antenna array overlapping the additional dielectric window in the finger scoop to accommodate multiple antennas for diversity and MIMO operations. Furthermore, it has been held that duplication of parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced. In re Harza, 274 F.2d 669, 124 USPQ 378 (CCPA 1960).
Regarding claim 7:
Irci as modified is silent on that the phased antenna array is configured to convey a signal beam of radio-frequency signals at a frequency greater than 10 GHz through the dielectric window.
Nath discloses (in Figs. 10 and 11) the phased antenna array (40M) is configured to convey a signal beam of radio-frequency signals at a frequency greater than 10 GHz through the dielectric window (202; See Abstract; Para. 0005, Lines 2-5).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed inventio to configure the phased antenna array to convey a signal beam of radio-frequency signals at a frequency greater than 10 GHz through the dielectric window as taught Nath into the device of Irci for the benefit of operating in millimeter wave communications bands and/or centimeter wave communications bands to detect or estimate a range between device and external objects in the surroundings of device (Para. 0038, Lines 1-13).
Regarding claim 8:
Irci as modified discloses the phased antenna array (40) is configured to adjust the signal beam based on a position (using 42) of the upper housing (12A) relative to the lower housing (12B) about the hinge axis (24).
Claims 4 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Irci et al. (US 20140361932; hereinafter Irci) in view of Ouyang et al. (US 20170110787; hereinafter Ouyang) as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Kim et al. (US 20210242565; hereinafter Kim).
Regarding claims 4 and 5:
Irci discloses the lower housing (12B) has a left edge, a right edge opposite the left edge, a rear edge at the hinge (56), and a front edge opposite the rear edge (See Fig. 1).
Irci as modified is silent on that the dielectric window being laterally interposed between the keyboard and the left edge as required by claim 4; and the dielectric window being laterally interposed between the keyboard and the right edge as required by claim 5.
Kim discloses (in Figs. 3A-3D) the dielectric window (310) being laterally interposed between the keyboard (112) and the left edge (See Fig. 3A); the dielectric window (310) being laterally interposed between the keyboard (112) and the right edge (See Fig. 3A).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the dielectric window being laterally interposed between the keyboard and the left edge and the right edge as taught by Kim into the device of Irci for the benefit of allowing millimeter wave RF EM transmissions may pass therethrough (Para. 0068, Lines 5-6; Lines 14-17) to meet the increasing wireless operation demands needed while also providing for efficient use of space to accommodate plural antenna systems (Para. 0017, Lines 5-7).
Claims 9-14 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guterman et al. (US 20170212554; hereinafter Guterman) in view of Ouyang et al. (US 20170110787; hereinafter Ouyang).
Regarding claim 9:
Guterman discloses (in Figs. 1, 12, 13 and 15) a laptop computer (10) comprising: a lower housing (12B) having an upper metal wall (12B-1), a lower metal wall (12B-2) opposite the upper metal wall (12B-1), and an angled metal wall (defined by the 106; See Fig. 15) that extends from the upper metal wall (12B-1) towards the lower metal wall (12B-2) at an angle that is non-parallel and non-perpendicular with respect to the upper metal wall (12B-1); a keyboard (16) on the upper metal wall (12B-1); an upper housing (12A) coupled to the lower housing (12B) by a hinge (26); wherein the hinge (26) is coupled to a first side (the hinged side of 12B along 22) of the lower housing (12B) and the angled metal wall (defined by the 106 between 12B-1 and 12B-2 along 30L) is at a second side (30) of the lower housing (12B) opposite the first side (the hinged side of 12B along 22); a display (14) on the upper housing (12A).
Guterman is silent on that a dielectric window in the angled metal wall; and a phased antenna array in the lower housing and overlapping the dielectric window.
Ouyang discloses (in Fig. 41) a dielectric window (114) in an angled metal wall (defined by 12R and 12W); and a phased antenna array (170) in the lower housing (12R) and overlapping the dielectric window (114).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the dielectric window in the angled metal wall and a phased antenna array in the lower housing and overlapping the dielectric window as taught by Ouyang into the device of Guterman for the benefit of transmitting and receiving signals through the window (See Abstract; Para. 0008, Lines 2-5) such that the dielectric window may be used in configurations in which it is desired to form a housing structure that prevents intrusion of environmental contaminants such as dust and moisture (Para. 061, Lines 4-7).
Regarding claim 10:
Guterman discloses (in Fig. 15) the angled metal wall (defined by the 106) is planar (See Fig.).
Regarding claim 11:
Guterman discloses (in Fig. 15) that the angled metal wall (106) is curved (along 106P).
Regarding claim 12:
Guterman discloses the hinge (26) has a hinge axis (22) and the phased antenna array (40) is a linear array having antennas (40) arranged along a linear axis (along 22) parallel to the hinge axis (22).
Regarding claims 13 and 14:
Guterman discloses the lower housing (12B) has a left edge, a right edge opposite the left edge, a rear edge at the hinge (26), and a front edge opposite the rear edge (See Fig. 1).
Guterman is silent on that the angled metal wall being at the left edge or the right edge; and the angled metal wall being at the front edge.
However, Ouyang discloses an antenna array can be located on different sides of the lower housing (Figs. 3-8).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to apply the teachings of Ouyang and make Guterman's device with the angled metal wall being at the left edge or the right edge; and the angled metal wall being at the front edge for the benefit of achieving a type of arrangement with unblocked phased antenna array that may be switched into use and, once switched into use, the phased antenna array may use beam steering to optimize wireless performance (Para. 0059, Lines 7-9).
Regarding claim 16:
Guterman as modified disclose an angle however does not specifically disclose the angle is between 20 degrees and 60 degrees with respect to the upper metal wall.
However, one of ordinary skill in the art would reasonably select an angle in that range based on design choice an in order to have the same shape as the external housing wall to fit the form factor of the device.
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guterman et al. (US 20170212554; hereinafter Guterman) in view of Ouyang et al. (US 20170110787; hereinafter Ouyang) as applied to claim 9 and further in view of Vier et al. (US Pat. 8138978; hereinafter Vier).
Regarding claim 15:
Guterman as modified discloses the claimed feature except that the lower housing comprises a finger scoop and the finger scoop comprises the metal angled.
Vier discloses (in Figs. 1 and 2) a lower housing (20) comprises a finger scoop (26).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to apply the teachings of Ouyang and Guterman's device with lower housing comprising a finger scoop further comprising angled metal wall as both elements are commonly placed near the periphery of the lid and bottom housing and for the benefit of achieving a type of arrangement with unblocked phased antenna array that may be switched into use and, once switched into use, the phased antenna array may use beam steering to optimize wireless performance (Para. 0059, Lines 7-9).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BAMIDELE A. IMMANUEL whose telephone number is (571)272-9988. The examiner can normally be reached General IFP Schedule: Mon.-Fri. 8AM - 7PM (Hoteling).
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/BAMIDELE A IMMANUEL/Examiner, Art Unit 2845
/DIMARY S LOPEZ CRUZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845