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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on January 24, 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In the specification, on page 4, line 10, it appears that “…in a axial direction…” should be --…in an axial direction…--.
The specification is objected to in that it fails to contain the appropriate sub-titles (i.e., “Background of the Invention”, “Brief Description of the Drawings”, etc.)
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 6, 8 and 12 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.
In claim 6, line 5, “the output signal” appears to lack proper antecedent basis. Note: Claim 6 depends from claim 1, yet “an output signal” is first mentioned in claim 2.
In claim 8, line 2, “the control unit” appears to lack proper antecedent basis. Note: Claim 8 depends from claims 7 and 1, yet “a control unit” is first mentioned in claim 3.
In claim 12, line 1, applicant employs the phrase “in particular”. The phrase "in particular" renders the claim indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitation following the phrase are part of the claimed invention.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7, 9-11 and 13-15 are allowed.
Claims 6, 8 and 12 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include 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: The prior art does not disclose or reasonably suggest a method and system for a sensor based monitoring of a harvesting operation wherein the system comprises a header having a frame and a reel rotatably supported relative to the frame; at least one optical sensor configured to capture optical data within a field of view of the at least one optical sensor, wherein the reel is partially arranged within or movable through the field of view of the at least one optical senso.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Hunt et al. (USP 10,595,462) discloses a harvester having a header with a position adjustable reel assembly.
Diekhans et al. (USP 6,389,785) discloses a harvesting assembly employing sensors capable of scanning head to determine distance and contour of the field to be worked.
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/ROBERT E PEZZUTO/Examiner, Art Unit 3671