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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8 to 20 are allowed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-3,5-7 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.
As to claim 1, the method calls for “the system” (italics added, line 2 from last), but no system was introduced into the method claim. What structure is to be associated with this “system” that generates perimeter data, if any? Claims 8-20 provide for different systems.
Prior Art Not Applied
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Reference Hendrickson 20200221635 teaches (Figure 10) a system for measuring stalks on a row unit comprising:
a sensor assembly 836 (Para 27,60; Figure 10) disposed on the row unit below stripper plates 980 of the row unit, the sensor assembly comprising at least one stalk measuring sensor 836 configured to generate width (diameter) measurements as a stalk traverses the sensor assembly; and
a processor 30 in operative communication with the sensor assembly, the processor configured to process data generated by the sensor assembly to estimate a stalk
Reference Zentner 2015/0082760 teaches a system for measuring stalks on a row unit comprising:
a sensor assembly 27 (Figures 3, 5 or 6) disposed on the row unit 1 stripper plates 5,6 of the row unit, the sensor assembly comprising at least one stalk measuring sensor configured to generate width measurements as a stalk traverses the sensor assembly; and
a processor 23 in operative communication with the sensor assembly, the processor configured to process data generated by the sensor assembly to estimate a stalk
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.
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/ROBERT R RAEVIS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
1 The limitation “below” cannot be determined from either the specification, drawings or combination of both of the Reference.
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