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 .
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.
Acknowledged Receipt
This office action is responsive to amendment filed on 23 June 2026.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 23 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
With respect to independent Claim(s) 1, 10 and 19: In response to applicant's argument(s) that the cited reference(s) (Ronning US 2014/0261151 A1) do(es) not disclose the following:
a light source to “rotate at least 360-degrees about a rotational axis” (applicant’s REMARKS, page 9), the examiner disagrees. Ronning does teach a light source (Fig. 7: LEDs 704) to “rotate at least 360-degrees about a rotational axis” since the LEDs are contained on propellers (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]) thus are capable of rotating 360 degrees about a rotational axis;
“one or more sensor signals representative of a position and flight path of one or more birds” (applicant’s REMARKS, page 9), the examiner disagrees. Ronning does teach that the sensors (Fig. 7: sensors 753) can “generate data that can be organized as either 1D, 2D or 3D images that are analyzed to determine the differential motion of an object by comparing temporal differences from sequential images with the file of view” (¶ [0102]) since the data is then representative of a position and flight path of an object being a bird (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0102]);
the function of processing “one or more sensor signals to determine the position and flight path of one or more birds” (applicant’s REMARKS, page 9), the examiner disagrees. Ronning does teach the function of processing since “the microprocessor …can be found in payload bay 701” (Fig. 7: microprocessor in 701) and the processor via the sensors can “generate data that can be organized as either 1D, 2D or 3D images that are analyzed to determine the differential motion of an object by comparing temporal differences from sequential images with the file of view” (¶ [0102]) since the data is then representative of a position and flight path of an object being a bird (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0102]).
“processing system” receives “the anti-bird mode activation signal” (applicant’s REMARKS, page 10), the examiner disagrees. Ronning does teach “a RC (radio controlled aircraft or submersible platform is a cost effective way of implanting an unmanned vehicle with wildlife deterrence capabilities” (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0099]), thus the “processing system” (Fig. 7: microprocessor in payload bay 701 of the aircraft) is capable of receiving the “anti-bird mode activation signal” which is considered the “wildlife deterrent capability”.
Status
A Final Rejection is being issued in this paper with regards to Claim(s) 1-19.
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)(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) 1-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ronning (US 2014/0261151 A1, see reference in its entirety).
With respect to independent Claim 1, Ronning disclose(s): An aircraft lighting system (Fig. 7) comprising:
a light source (Fig. 7: 704) adapted to be rotationally mounted on an external surface of an aircraft (Fig. 7: 703) to rotate at least 360-degrees about a rotational axis (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]), the light source configured, upon being electrically energized, to emit light (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]); and
processing system (Fig. 7: 751) in operable communication with the light source (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]) and coupled to receive (i) an anti-bird mode activation signal and (ii) one or more sensor signals representative of a position and flight path of one or more birds (Fig. 7: 753), the processing system configured, upon receipt of the anti-bird mode activation signal, to:
process the one or more sensor signals to determine the position and flight path of the one or more birds (Fig. 7 and ¶[0099]);
electrically energize the light source to emit light (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]); and
command the light source to rotate in one or more directions so that the emitted light is directed toward the one or more birds (Fig. 7 and ¶[0099] – [0100]).
Regarding Claim 2, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein: the processing system is further configured to electrically energize the light source to emit light with one or more variable characteristics (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]; high brightness is understood to be a variable characteristic).
Regarding Claim 3, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 2.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the one or more variable characteristics include at least one or more of intensity, pulse pattern, and color (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]; high brightness is understood to be a variable characteristic of intensity).
Regarding Claim 4, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising one or more avionics systems in operable communication with the processing system and configured to supply the anti-bird mode activation signal and the one or more sensor signals (Fig. 7: 701).
Regarding Claim 5, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 4.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the one or more avionics systems include one or more of an onboard radar system, an onboard camera, an onboard reporting system, and an onboard communication system, wherein the onboard communication system receives information regarding one or more birds from a ground-based system (Fig. 7: 701; avionic system 701 includes an onboard camera).
Regarding Claim 6, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising: a user interface configured to receive input from a user and, in response to receiving the input from the user, to supply the anti-bird mode activation signal (Fig. 6 and ¶ [0109]: a controller is understood to be a user interface).
Regarding Claim 7, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the processing system is further configured to selectively generate and supply one or more alert signals (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]: sound producer 754 is understood to be an alert signal).
Regarding Claim 8, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the processing system is further configured to generate and transmit one or more alert signals to other aircraft (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]: sound producer 754 is understood to be an alert signal that is transmitted to surrounding area that includes other aircrafts).
Regarding Claim 9, Ronning disclose(s) the system of Claim 1.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising: a sound generator (Fig. 7: 754 ) in operable communication with the processing system (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]) , the sound generator configured, upon receiving one or more commands, to generate one of more audible sounds, wherein the processing system is further configured to supply the one or more commands to the sound generator (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]).
With respect to independent Claim 10, Ronning disclose(s): A method for averting a bird strike for an aircraft (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]), comprising the steps of:
receiving, in a processing system (Fig. 7: 751), one or more sensor signals (Fig. 7: 753) representative of a position and flight path of one or more birds (¶ [0100]),
receiving, in the processing system, an anti-bird mode activation signal (¶ [0100]);
processing the one or more sensor signals, in the processing system, to determine the position and flight path of the one or more birds (¶ [0100]);
electrically energizing a light source to emit light (Fig. 7: 704); and
commanding the light source to rotate in one or more directions (Fig. 7: 703) so that the emitted light is directed toward the one or more birds (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]),
wherein the light source is rotationally mounted on an external surface of the aircraft to rotate at least 360-degrees about a rotational axis (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]).
Regarding Claim 11, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): electrically energizing the light source to emit light with one or more variable characteristics (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]; high brightness is understood to be a variable characteristic).
Regarding Claim 12, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 11.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the one or more variable characteristics include at least one or more of intensity, pulse pattern, and color (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]; high brightness is understood to be a variable characteristic of intensity).
Regarding Claim 13, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): supplying the anti-bird mode activation signal and the one or more sensor signals from one or more avionics systems in operable communication with the processing system (Fig. 7: 701).
Regarding Claim 14, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 13.
Ronning further disclose(s): wherein the one or more avionics systems include one or more of an onboard radar system, an onboard camera, an onboard reporting system, and an onboard communication system, wherein the onboard communication system receives information regarding one or more birds from a ground-based system (Fig. 7: 701; avionic system 701 includes an onboard camera).
Regarding Claim 15, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising supplying the anti-bird mode activation signal from a user interface that is configured to receive input from a user (Fig. 6 and ¶ [0109]: a controller is understood to be a user interface).
Regarding Claim 16, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising selectively generating and supplying one or more alert signals (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]: sound producer 754 is understood to be an alert signal).
Regarding Claim 17, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): further comprising generating and transmitting one or more alert signals to other aircraft (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]: sound producer 754 is understood to be an alert signal that is transmitted to surrounding area that includes other aircrafts).
Regarding Claim 18, Ronning disclose(s) the method of Claim 10.
Ronning further disclose(s): supply one or more commands from the processing system (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]) to a sound generator (Fig. 7: 754 ) and generating, using the sound generator and in response to receiving the one or more commands, one of more audible sounds (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]).
With respect to independent Claim 19, Ronning disclose(s): An aircraft system (Fig. 7 and ¶ [0100]), comprising:
an aircraft (Fig. 7: 700);
a light source (Fig. 7: 704) rotationally mounted on an external surface of the aircraft (Fig. 7: 703) to rotate at least 360-degrees about a rotational axis (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]), the light source configured, upon being electrically energized, to emit light (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]); and
a processing system (Fig. 7: 751) disposed within the aircraft and in operable communication with the light source (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]) , the processing system coupled to receive (i) an anti-bird mode activation signal and (ii) one or more sensor signals representative of a position and flight path of one or more birds (Fig. 7: 753), the processing system configured, upon receipt of the anti-bird mode activation signal, to:
process the one or more sensor signals to determine the position and flight path of the one or more birds (Fig. 7 and ¶[0099]);
electrically energize the light source to emit light (Fig. 7 and ¶[0100]); and
command the light source to rotate in one or more directions so that the emitted light is directed toward the one or more birds (Fig. 7 and ¶[0099] – [0100]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The following reference(s) relate to bird deterrence systems: Agarwal et al. (US 8538669 B2); Donners (US 8541949 B2); Ronning (WO 2017/062771 A1).
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TANIA COURSON whose telephone number is (571)272-2239. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (7am-3:30pm).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina Deherrera can be reached at (303)297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TC/
31 August 2026
/KRISTINA M DEHERRERA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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