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 § 102
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 4 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Frederick et al. (US 10,766,430).
The Frederick et al. reference discloses a sensor assembly for the roof of a vehicle 3 comprising a bracket (see Fig. 2C) having cantilevered portions (17A,17B) and a sensor 5 mounted thereto.
In regard to claim 4, see Figures 1A and 1B.
In regard to claim 8, see col. 1, lines 38-47.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The Ohmoto reference pertains to a vehicle with a cantilevered sensor arrangement disposed distal to the front end thereof.
The Burnette et al. reference pertains to a vehicle with a cantilevered sensor arrangement disposed out the side thereof.
The Helm et al. reference pertains to a vehicle with sensor arrangements disposed in the front and rear thereof.
The Yabe et al. reference pertains to a vehicle with a sensor arrangement mounted internally to the frame or chassis thereof.
Claims 2, 3, 5-7 and 9-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art of record, with the applied Frederick et al. reference being the closest prior art device, alone or in combination, teach Applicant’s invention of a sensor assembly for the roof a vehicle with a sensor cantilevered a forward most point thereof and inclusive at least of details regarding a reinforcing beam, specific combined resonance frequency, specific gap and panel spacing dimensions, or specific sensor displacement dimensions and angles, as claimed. To modify the closest prior art device to have such limitations would require critical teachings gleaned on from the instant application for patent.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN O DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)272-4885. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 5:30-4:00 EST.
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/STEVEN O DOUGLAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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