DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-13 are pending. Claims 1-5 are amended. Claims 6-13 are new.
Information Disclosure Statement
The references listed in the Information Disclosure Statement filed on 06/04/2026 have been considered by the examiner (see attached PTO-1449 forms).
Terminal Disclaimer
The terminal disclaimer filed on 06/08/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of any patent granted on Application Number 18/395,835 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
Note: A new grounds of rejection is made in view of the amendments filed on 06/08/2026.
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
The claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Claim 1 recites a signal processing method executed by a processor, the signal processing method comprising: acquiring, from an i-th sensor, an i-th time waveform related to an i-th physical quantity generated by an external force, a velocity, or a displacement having at least a periodic variation acting on an object for each integer i of 1 or more and N or less with N being a predetermined integer of 2 or more; generating an i-th frequency spectrum for each integer i based on the i-th time waveform; and calculating, for each integer j of 2 or more and N or less, a difference between a phase of a first signal component corresponding to a first peak included in a first frequency spectrum and a phase of a second signal component that corresponds to a second peak included in a j-th frequency spectrum and has the same frequency as a frequency of the first signal component as a state index indicating a state of the object; comparing the state index with a previously obtained state index of the object to obtain a temporal change of the state index; determining, based on the temporal change, a state change of the object or a deterioration condition of a component of the object; and outputting a result of the determination by at least one of displaying the result on a display, storing the result in a memory, and transmitting the result to an external device…
and thus grouped as Mathematical concepts – mathematical relationships, mathematical formulas or equations, mathematical calculations.
These judicial exceptions are not integrated into a practical application because the additional elements, the data gathering step, (claim 1) “a time waveform acquisition step of acquiring, from an i-th sensor, an i-th time waveform related to an i-th physical quantity generated by an external force, a velocity, or a displacement having at least a periodic variation acting on an object for each integer i of 1 or more and N or less with N being a predetermined integer of 2 or more” are mere data gathering that do not add a meaningful limitation to the method as they are insignificant extra-solution activity. Furthermore, the additional elements (claims 1, 4 and 5) the “processor, processing device, non-transitory computer-readable medium” are recited as performing generic computer functions routinely used in computer applications. Generic computer components recited as performing generic computer functions amount to no more than using a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea. Regarding claim 1, the elements, “outputting a result of the determination by at least one of displaying the result on a display, storing the result in a memory, and transmitting the result to an external device,” are considered insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception – see MPEP 2106.05(g)All of which are considered not indicative of integration into a practical application (see MPEP 2106.04(d)).
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements of the data gathering steps are mere data collect steps which fall under insignificant extra solution activity and deemed insufficient to qualify as “significantly more” - see MPEP 2106.05(g). The additional elements of the processing device, circuits and computer are mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, or merely uses a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea and deemed insufficient to qualify as “significantly more” see MPEP 2106.05(f). Regarding claim 1, the elements, “outputting a result of the determination by at least one of displaying the result on a display, storing the result in a memory, and transmitting the result to an external device,” are considered insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception – see MPEP 2106.05(g).
Dependent claims 2, 3, and 6-13 when analyzed as a whole are patent ineligible under 35 U.S.C. §101 because the dependent claims fail to establish that the claims are not directed to an abstract idea as they are directed mathematical concepts and/or mental processes and do not add significantly more to the abstract idea.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 101, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Claim 1 is considered to be allowable over the cited prior art because none of the cited prior art teaches or suggests, in combination with the other claimed limitations, calculating, for each integer j of 2 or more and N or less, a difference between a phase of a first signal component corresponding to a first peak included in a first frequency spectrum and a phase of a second signal component that corresponds to a second peak included in a j-th frequency spectrum and has the same frequency as a frequency of the first signal component as a state index indicating a state of the object.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1-5 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Relevant Prior Art / Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Soma et al. (US Patent Number 6,775,321 B1) discloses an apparatus and method for estimating an instantaneous phase of the signal under measurement from a complex analytic signal.
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 RICKY GO whose telephone number is (571)270-3340. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Arleen M. Vazquez can be reached on (571) 272-2619. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RICKY GO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
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