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 .
The amendment filed on June 2, 2026 has been considered.
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 1-18, 20, and 21 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.
Claims 1, 17, and 21, “amplify a specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal” is indefinite, since “amplifying a … frequency range” is indefinite. Examiner interprets the limitation to read – amplify the frequency-domain vibration signal in a specific frequency range – (see paragraph 0058, lines 11-12).
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.
Claims 1, 2, 15-17, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mutoh et al. (WO/202234704).
Examiner’s Note: Mutoh et al. (US 2024/0159623) is used as an English translation for WO/202234704.
Regarding claim 1, Mutoh et al. discloses a system to convert vibration to a sound signal (100, Fig. 1), comprising:
a vibration sensing device (20), disposed on a surface of a device under test (DUT) (11, Fig. 1), configured to detect a time-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0055) when the DUT is in operation (paragraph 0075, lines 4-7);
a control device (HPF 27), configured to receive the time-domain vibration signal (HPF 27 receives time-domain vibration signal from 21), and convert the time-domain vibration signal into a frequency-domain vibration signal (HPF 27 converts the time-domain vibration signal into frequency-domain signal and extracts a waveform in a predetermined frequency band, paragraph 0008, lines 7-9), perform signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal to generate a characteristic signal (paragraph 0008, lines 10-11), and convert the characteristic signal (spectral signal, paragraph 0008, line 12) into a characteristic sound signal (paragraph 0040, lines 7-8);
wherein the sound signal is loaded in a computer playable audio file (reproduction (replay) of the sound based on various data received from the vibration diagnosis device 20, paragraph 0040, lines 8-10); and
wherein the control device is configured to amplify a specific frequency range of
the frequency-domain vibration signal (28 amplifies high pass frequency signal, Fig. 1) to obtain the characteristic signal (spectral signal, paragraph 0008, line 12), and convert the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain (vibration spectral signal from 23 to 43 is converted into sound waves from speaker 46, where the sound waves are represented as pressure variation over time).
Regarding claim 2, Mutoh et al. discloses the vibration detected by the vibration sensing device is physical vibration of an object instead of air vibration (vibration of bearing 11; vibration of target, Abstract, lines 1-2).
Regarding claim 15, Mutoh et al. discloses the bearing is selected from one or more of a motor bearing (paragraph 0122).
It is noted that the bearing is selected from one or more of an intermediate bearing, and a bottom bearing is an alternative limitation because it is recited in a Markush format.
Regarding claim 16, Mutoh et al. discloses a sampling rate of the sensor is equal to a characteristic frequency of inner and outer rings of a motor shaft of the DUT (determines bearing damage via frequency derived from bearing 11, paragraph 0013, bearing includes inner/outer rings of motor shat, paragraph 0031).
It is noted that a sampling rate of the sensor is equal to (rpm/60)*N*n; wherein N is a value not less than 5, rpm is a rotation speed of a motor of the DUT, and n is the number of shaft blades of the motor is an alternative limitation because it is recited in the alternative form.
Regarding claim 17, Mutoh et al. discloses a signal processing method, applicable to an electronic device (100, Fig. 1) comprising a vibration sensing device (20) and a control device (40), comprising:
detecting a time-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0055) when a device under test (DUT) (11) is in operation (paragraph 0075, lines 4-7);
converting the time-domain vibration signal into a frequency-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0008, lines 5-9);
performing signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal to generate a characteristic signal (paragraph 0008, lines 9-11); and
converting the characteristic signal into a characteristic sound signal (paragraph 0040, lines 4-8);
wherein the characteristic sound signal is loaded in a computer playable audio file (reproduction (replay) of the sound based on various data received from the vibration diagnosis device 20, paragraph 0040, lines 8-10), and
wherein the step of performing signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal (via HPF 27, Fig. 7) comprises:
amplifying the specific frequency range of the frequency domain vibration signal to obtain the characteristic signal (via amplifier 28, amplifying high pass frequency signal to obtain vibration spectral, paragraph 0008, lines 10-12); and
converting the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain (vibration spectral signal from 23 to 43 is converted into sound waves from speaker 46, where the sound waves are represented as pressure variation over time).
Regarding claim 21, Mutoh et al. discloses a control device (40), comprising:
a transmission interface (42a), configured to receive a time-domain vibration signal from a vibration sensing device (paragraph 0040, lines 3-5); and
a processing unit (HPF 27), configured to read the time-domain vibration signal (HPF 27 reads from the vibration sensor 21, Fig. 1), and convert the time-domain vibration signal into a sound signal (paragraph 0040, lines 4-8);
wherein the sound signal is loaded in a computer playable audio file (reproduction (replay) of the sound based on various data received from the vibration diagnosis device 20, paragraph 0040, lines 8-10), and
wherein the processing unit (HPF 27) is configured to amplify a specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal (28 amplifies high pass frequency signal, Fig. 1) to obtain the characteristic signal (spectral signal, paragraph 0008, line 12), and convert the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain domain (vibration spectral signal from 23 to 43 is converted into sound waves from speaker 46, where the sound waves are represented as pressure variation over time).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 3-13, 18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mutoh et al..
Regarding claim 3, Mutoh et al. discloses
a first transmission interface (26a), configured to receive a control instruction from a control device (paragraph 0038, lines 3-5);
a first register, configured to store the time-domain vibration signal (data storage stores vibration and time-and-waveform domain analysis, paragraph 0056, lines 1-4).
While Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose a control unit being configured to output an enable signal according to the control instruction, Mutoh et al. discloses a control unit (23), the vibration detection is automatically performed according to the control instruction (paragraph 00110, lines 9-12); the control instruction is received via 26 (paragraph 0038, lines 3-5). Thus, it would have been obvious to configure the control unit to output an enable signal according to the control instruction for automatically performing vibration detection.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Mutoh et al. with configuring the control unit to output an enable signal according to the control instruction for the purpose of automatically performing vibration detection.
While Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose a sensor, configured to receive the enable signal and start to detect the time-domain vibration signal when the DUT is in operation, Mutoh et al. discloses a sensor (21) for vibration detection, control instruction is received via 26 (paragraph 0038, lines 3-5), the vibration detection is automatically performed according to the control instruction (paragraph 00110, lines 9-12). Thus, it would have been obvious to configure the vibration sensor to output an enable signal according to the control instruction for automatically performing vibration detection.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Mutoh et al. with configuring the vibration sensor to output an enable signal according to the control instruction for the purpose of automatically performing vibration detection.
While Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose sending the time-domain vibration signal to the first transmission interface, so that the time-domain vibration signal is output to a control device, Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses sending the time-domain vibration signal to the first transmission interface (26a) (communications from 20 and 40 are through 26a/42a), so that the time-domain vibration signal is output to the control device (paragraph 0097, lines 3-6) for (11) (paragraph 0097, lines 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with sending the time-domain vibration signal to the first transmission interface, so that the time-domain vibration signal is output to the control device as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Regarding claim 4, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the control device comprises:
a second transmission interface, configured to receive the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device;
a second register, configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the second transmission interface, and output the time-domain vibration signal; and
a memory, configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the second register.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses a control device (40a, Fig. 6) comprises:
a second transmission interface (42a), configured to receive the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device (communications from 20 and 40 are through 26a/42a);
a second register (42), configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the second transmission interface (Fig. 6), and output the time-domain vibration signal (42 outputs to 44, Fig. 6); and
a memory (44), configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the second register (paragraph 0103, lines 4-6).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with the control device as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Regarding claim 5, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the control device further comprises:
a processing unit, configured to read the time-domain vibration signal from the second register or the memory, convert the time-domain vibration signal into a frequency-domain vibration signal, perform signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal, and convert the frequency-domain vibration signal into a characteristic sound signal in time-domain.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (40a, Fig. 6) further comprises:
a processing unit (43), configured to read the time-domain vibration signal from the second register (42) or the memory (44), convert the time-domain vibration signal into a frequency-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15), perform signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15), and convert the frequency-domain vibration signal into a characteristic sound signal in time-domain (sound reproduction, paragraph 0099, lines 1-7; paragraph 0097, lines 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with reading the time-domain vibration signal as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Regarding claim 6, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the control device generates the computer playable audio file based on the sound signal, and stores the computer playable audio file into the memory.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (40a) generate the computer playable audio file based on the sound signal (paragraph 0097, lines 1-3), and stores the computer playable audio file into the memory (reproduction of the sound from data stored in memory, paragraph 0104, lines 8-11).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with generating/storing the computer playable audio file as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of generating the computer playable audio file.
Regarding claim 7, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the control device outputs the computer playable audio file through the second transmission interface.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (40a) outputs the computer playable audio file through the second transmission interface (paragraph 0101, lines 3-6).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with a second transmission interface as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of sending a computer playable audio file.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose
a user interface, configured to generate the control instruction according to a user's operation;
a processing unit, configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device into the memory; wherein when the system is in an offline mode, after the control device receives the control instruction from the user interface, the processing unit converts the time-domain vibration signal into a sound signal.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (40a) further comprises:
a user interface (45), configured to generate the control instruction according to a user's operation (paragraph 0104, lines 1-3);
a processing unit (43), configured to store the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device into the memory (paragraph 0103, lines 4-6); wherein when the system is in an offline mode (the processing is performed within 40a while not online, paragraph 0104), after the control device (40a) receives the control instruction from the user interface (paragraph 0104, lines 1-5), the processing unit (43) converts the time-domain vibration signal into a sound signal (paragraph 0104, lines 6-8).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with generating a control instruction as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing a sound signal.
Regarding claim 9, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the control device further comprises:
a user interface, configured to generate the control instruction according to a user's operation;
wherein the processing unit stores the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device into the memory; wherein when the system is in an offline mode, after the control device receives the control instruction from the user interface, the processing unit converts the time-domain vibration signal into the frequency-domain vibration signal, performs signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal, and converts the frequency-domain vibration signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (40a) further comprises:
a user interface (45), configured to generate the control instruction according to a user's operation (paragraph 0104, lines 1-3);
wherein the processing unit (43) stores the time-domain vibration signal from the vibration sensing device into the memory (paragraph 0103, lines 4-6); wherein when the system is in an offline mode (the processing is performed within 40a while not online, paragraph 0104), after the control device (40a) receives the control instruction from the user interface (paragraph 0104, lines 1-5), the processing unit (43) converts the time-domain vibration signal into the frequency-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15), performs signal processing on the frequency-domain vibration signal, and converts the frequency-domain vibration signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15, 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with generating a control instruction as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing a sound signal.
Regarding claim 10, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the processing unit receives the control instruction, and sends the control instruction to the vibration sensing device through the second transmission interface.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the processing unit (43) receives the control instruction (paragraph 0104, lines 1-5; Fig. 6), and sends the control instruction to the vibration sensing device (20) through the second transmission interface (42a) (paragraph 0101, lines 3-6).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with receiving/sending a control instruction as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing a sound signal.
Regarding claim 11, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the signal processing comprises:
the processing unit amplifies a specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal to obtain a characteristic signal; and
the processing unit converts the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. does not expressly disclose the signal processing (Fig. 6) comprises:
the processing unit (43) amplifies a specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal to obtain a characteristic signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15); and
the processing unit (43) converts the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15, 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with processing a characteristic signal as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of obtaining a sound signal.
Regarding claim 12, while Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not disclose the control device uses a digital filter to filter the time-domain vibration signal, and converts the time-domain vibration signal into a characteristic sound signal in time-domain, Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses the control device (43) uses a digital filter (49) to filter the time-domain vibration signal (paragraph 0097, lines 8-11), and converts the time-domain vibration signal into a characteristic sound signal in time-domain (paragraph 0097, lines 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with the control device uses a digital filter to filter the time-domain vibration signal, and converts the time-domain vibration signal into a characteristic sound signal in time-domain as suggested by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Regarding claim 13, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not disclose the signal processing comprises:
the processing unit amplifies the specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal to obtain a characteristic signal; and
the processing unit converts the characteristic signal from frequency-domain to time-domain to obtain the characteristic sound signal; and
the processing unit uses a digital filter to filter the characteristic sound signal.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. does not disclose the signal processing comprises:
the processing unit (43) amplifies the specific frequency range of the frequency-domain vibration signal to obtain a characteristic signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15); and
the processing unit converts the characteristic signal from frequency-domain to time-domain to obtain the characteristic sound signal (paragraph 0097, lines 11-15); and
the processing unit uses a digital filter to filter the characteristic sound signal (sound reproduction, paragraph 0099, lines 1-7; paragraph 0097, lines 1-3.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with filtering a characteristic sound signal as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of removing noise from the characteristic sound signal.
Regarding claim 18, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. discloses
receiving a control instruction from the control device (receiving instruction, paragraph 0110, lines 9-12, via 26, Fig. 1; paragraph 0038, lines 3-5);
outputting an enable signal according to the control instruction (vibration detection is enabled to be performed, paragraph 0110, lines 9-10);
starting to detect the time-domain vibration signal (via 21) according to the enable signal when the DUT is in operation (when vibration detection is enabled to be performed, paragraph 0110, lines 9-10);
storing the time-domain vibration signal (data storage stores vibration and time-and-waveform domain analysis, paragraph 0056, lines 1-4).
However, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not disclose sending the time-domain vibration signal to the control device.
However, Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses sending the time-domain vibration signal to the control device (paragraph 0097, lines 3-6) for producing sound of a bearing (11) (paragraph 0097, lines 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1of Mutoh et al. with sending the time-domain vibration signal to the control device as disclosed by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Regarding claim 20, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. discloses the characteristic signal is in the frequency-domain (paragraph 0036) and converting the characteristic signal into the characteristic sound signal in time-domain (replay sound, paragraph 0040, lines 4-9).
However, Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. does not disclose using a digital filter to filter the characteristic signal after the characteristic signal is converted from frequency-domain to time-domain.
Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. discloses using a digital filter (49) to filter the characteristic signal in time-domain (paragraph 0097, lines 8-11) for producing sound of bearing (paragraph 0097, lines 1-3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Fig. 1 of Mutoh et al. with a digital filter to filter the characteristic signal after the characteristic signal is converted from frequency-domain to time-domain as suggested by Fig. 6 of Mutoh et al. for the purpose of producing sound of a bearing.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mutoh et al. as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of Admitted Prior Art (APA).
Regarding claim 14, Mutoh et al. discloses the vibration sensing device is disposed on a surface of a bearing of the DUT (vibration sensing device 20 is disposed on a surface of a bearing 11, Fig. 1).
Mutoh et al. as modified does not disclose the DUT is a high-pressure reactor in petrochemical industry.
APA discloses that it is known to monitor a DUT being a high-pressure reactor in petrochemical industry for determining failure of the DUT (specification, related art, paragraph 0003).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide Mutoh et al. as modified with monitoring a DUT being a high-pressure reactor in petrochemical industry as suggested by APA for the purpose of determining failure of the DUT.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on June 2, 2026 have been fully considered.
Applicant’s arguments and amendment with respect to the drawing objection have been fully considered and are persuasive. The drawing objection has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments and amendment with respect to the claim objections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The claim objections have been withdrawn.
With respect to the rejections under 35 USC 102/103, Applicants argue “[i]ndependent claims 1, 17, and 21 patently define over Mutoh for at least the reason that the cited references fail to disclose at least the feature emphasized below. Mutoh fails to disclose that amplifying the specific frequency range of the frequency- domain vibration signal to obtain the characteristic signal.”
Examiner position is that Mutoh discloses amplifying the specific frequency range of the frequency domain vibration signal to obtain the characteristic signal (via amplifier 28, amplifying high pass frequency signal to obtain vibration spectral, paragraph 0008, lines 10-12), as discussed above.
Applicants further argue “Applicant considers that FIG. 1 in Mutoh discloses "amplifier 28", and "amplifier 28" amplifies the time-domain signal from vibration sensor 21. However, Mutoh does not disclose amplifying a frequency-domain signal in a specific frequency range.”
Examiner’s position is that the HPF 27 converts the time-domain signal from vibration sensor 21 into high pass frequency signal (paragraph 0008, lines 10-12).
Applicant’s remaining arguments have been considered but are traversed in view of the discussions and grounds of rejection discussed above.
Conclusion
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.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael Nghiem whose telephone number is (571) 272-2277. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Andrew Schechter can be reached at (571) 272-2302. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300.
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/MICHAEL P NGHIEM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857 August 4, 2026
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