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 Objections
Claims 13 and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities: the acronym ePTFE should be defined within the claim when first introduced. Then the acronym can be used alone thereafter. Appropriate correction is required.
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 – 20 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 1 recites the limitation "the radar system" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
As to claim 1, applicant is claiming “a vent that allows for movement of air into and out of the housing of the radar system by way of the connector opening while preventing moisture from moving into the housing”. It is unclear how the moisture is prevented from moving into the housing. It is unclear how the structural parts cooperate and how the recited result is achieved. It appears that applicant attempts to claim the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved, without providing the technical features necessary for achieving this result.
As to claim 2, applicant is claiming “the membrane is configured to allow for the movement of air into and out of the housing by way of the connector opening of the housing of the sensor system while preventing moisture from moving into the housing of the sensor system”. It is unclear how the moisture is prevented from moving into the housing. It is unclear how the structural parts cooperate and how the recited result is achieved. It appears that applicant attempts to claim the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved, without providing the technical features or steps necessary for achieving this result.
As to claim 3, it is unclear what is meant by the phrase “comprises a per-”.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the computing system" in lines 2 and 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
As to claim 8, applicant is claiming “a second vent that allows for movement of air into and out of the housing via the connector opening while preventing moisture from moving into the housing”. It is unclear how the moisture is prevented from moving into the housing. It is unclear how the structural parts cooperate and how the recited result is achieved. It appears that applicant attempts to claim the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved, without providing the technical features necessary for achieving this result.
As to claim 11, applicant is claiming “a membrane covering the vent opening, wherein the membrane allows for movement of air through the vent opening and prevents moisture from moving through the vent opening”. It is unclear how the moisture is prevented from moving through the vent opening. It is unclear how the structural parts cooperate and how the recited result is achieved. It appears that applicant attempts to claim the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved, without providing the technical features or steps necessary for achieving this result.
As to claim 17, applicant is claiming “a vent that allows air to move into and out of the housing of the sensor system by way of electrical connector and that prevents moisture from moving into the housing”. It is unclear how the moisture is prevented from moving into the housing. It is unclear how the structural parts cooperate and how the recited result is achieved. It appears that applicant attempts to claim the subject matter in terms of the result to be achieved, without providing the technical features or steps necessary for achieving this result.
Claims 2 - 10 are rejected by virtue of the dependency on claim 1.
Claims 12 - 16 are rejected by virtue of the dependency on claim 11.
Claims 18 - 20 are rejected by virtue of the dependency on claim 17.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1 and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KR20220041175 (hereinafter ‘KR175).
As to claim 1, ‘KR175 discloses a sensor an electrical component; a sensor system, comprising: a housing (7) having a connector opening (31, 7; 14, 11); and circuitry disposed within the housing (5, Fig. 3); and a connector (1, 11) disposed within the connector opening of the housing of the sensor system (14, 11; 31, 7), wherein the connector (1) electrically connects the electrical component to the circuitry of the sensor system (5, 13), and wherein the connector (1, 11) comprises a vent (124, 1241) that allows for movement of air into and out of the housing of the radar system by way of the connector opening while preventing moisture from moving into the housing of the sensor system ([0034], Fig. 1, 4).
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As to claim 17, ‘KR175 discloses a sensor an electrical component; a sensor system, comprising: providing the electrical component; providing the sensor system (14, 11; 31, 7), where the sensor system (14, 11; 31, 7) includes a housing (7) and circuitry disposed within the housing (7); and electrically connecting the circuitry of the sensor system (14, 11; 31, 7) to the electrical component by way of an electrical connector (1, 11), wherein the electrical connector (1, 11) has a vent (124, 1241) that allows air to move into and out of the housing of the sensor system by way of the electrical connector and that prevents moisture from moving into the housing of the sensor system ([0034], Fig. 1, 4).
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE102012201018 (hereinafter ‘DE018).
As to claim 11, ‘DE018 discloses a measuring device with air passage on the housing comprising a connector housing (4) having a first portion (top part of 4b, 4c, Fig. 1, 2) and a second portion (Bottom part of 4b, 4c), the first portion for connecting to one or more electrical wires, the second portion for connecting to the sensor system; a vent opening (10) extending through a surface of the connector housing (4); and a membrane (20) covering the vent opening, wherein the membrane allows for movement of air through the vent opening and prevents moisture from moving through the vent opening (20) (Fig. 1 - 3).
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Prior Art of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant s disclosure.
Grossman et al. (11,852,753) is cited for its disclosure of laminate structures for maintaining clear apertures.
PHAM et al. (2020/0178411) is cited for its disclosure of a sealing structure and electronic device including the same.
DIETERLE et al. (2021/0318159) is cited for its disclosure of la radar sensor for object detection.
KIM et al. (2018/0284047) is cited for its disclosure of an electronic device and method for sensing moisture in an electronic device.
Diehl et al. (2020/0387174) is cited for its disclosure of a system and method for regulating a sensor enclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to REENA AURORA whose telephone number is (571)272-2263. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8:00AM-5:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Lee Rodak can be reached at 5712705628. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/REENA AURORA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858