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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 06/02/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 15 and 17-35 have been considered but are moot because the new grounds of rejection to include new references.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 15, 17-19 and 33-34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura (US Pub. No. 2007/0230946) in view of Yasutake (US Pub. No. 2022/0197118), and further in view of Blackshear (US Patent No. 4,945,367).
Regarding claims 15 and 17-19, Kimura teaches a stand for an image recording device, wherein the stand comprises:
a fastening unit (para. 140) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface;
a rotary plate (18) which is rotatable about a rotation axis;
a rotary drive (22) for rotating the rotary plate about the rotation axis;
a base (13) which is fastened to the rotary plate so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis ;
a pivot drive (22) for pivoting the base;
a coupling unit (16-17) which is fastened to the base for detachably fastening the image recording device;
a housing (11) wherein said coupling unit is provided outside of the housing;
a power source which is connected to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive (para. 64);
wherein the base (13) is attached to the rotary plate (18) so as to be pivotable about a rolling axis (Fig. 1) [claim 18];
wherein at least one of the rotary drive and the pivot drive is designed as an electric motor (para. 74) [claim 19].
Kimura does not specifically teach the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening, wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; wherein the fastening unit has several fastening elements [claim 17].
Yasutake teaches a stand comprises a fastening unit (410) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface, wherein the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening; wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; wherein the fastening unit has several fastening elements (para. 51).
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a fastening unit as taught by Yasutake within Kimura’s support base in order to securely fasten said stand to a surface.
Kimura, as modified by Yasutake, does not specifically teach an open-loop/closed-loop control unit which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control; a remote control means (42) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit.
Blackshear teaches a stand for an image recording device comprises: an open-loop/closed-loop control unit (61) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control, a remote control means (42) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit.
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate an open-loop/close loop control unit as taught by Blackshear within said stand in order enable a remote control of the pan/tilt functions of the stand.
Regarding claims 33-34, Kimura teaches a stand for an image recording device, wherein the stand comprises:
a fastening unit (para. 14) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface;
a rotary plate (18) which is rotatable about a rotation axis;
a rotary drive (22) for rotating the rotary plate about the rotation axis;
a base (13) which is fastened to the rotary plate so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis ;
a pivot drive (22) for pivoting the base;
a coupling unit (16-17) which is fastened to the base for detachably fastening the image recording device;
a housing (11) wherein said coupling unit is provided outside of the housing;
a power source which is connected to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive (para. 64);
Kimura does not specifically teach a fastening unit for detachably fastening the stand to a surface, the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening, wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; wherein the fastening unit has several fastening elements [claim 34]; and the power source is arranged in the housing.
Yasutake teaches a stand comprises a fastening unit (410) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface, wherein the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening; wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; wherein the fastening unit has several fastening elements (para. 51); and the power source is arranged in the housing (para. 49).
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a fastening unit and a power source as taught by Yasutake within Kimura’s support base in order to securely fasten said stand to a surface and provide power to the stand.
Kimura, as modified by Yasutake, does not specifically teach an open-loop/closed-loop control unit which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control; a remote control means (42) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit; and wherein the remote control means is in wireless signal connection with the open loop/closed loop control unit [claim 20].
Blackshear teaches a stand for an image recording device comprises: an open-loop/closed-loop control unit (61) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control, a remote control means (42) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit.
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate an open-loop/close loop control unit as taught by Blackshear within said stand in order enable a remote control of the pan/tilt functions of the stand.
Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Ozawa et al. (US Pub. No. 2018/0249085).
Regarding claim 20, Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for the remote control means is in wireless signal connection with the open- loop/closed loop control unit. Ozawa teaches a system comprises a remote control means (10) is in wireless signal connection with the open-loop/closed loop control unit 310 (para. 71-72). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date
Claim(s) 21-24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Bei et al. (US Pub. No. 2019/0185182).
Regarding claims 21-24, Kimura, in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for a position sensor and a distance sensor arranged in the housing. Bei teaches a stand comprising a position sensor and a distance sensor arranged in the housing (para. 67). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a position sensor and a distance sensor in order to detect movement of various components of the stand.
Claim(s) 25-27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Kashihara et al. (US Patent No. 4,423,940).
Regarding claims 25-27, Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for at least one light element for illuminating the surroundings, a lens arrangement is attached to the lighting element for variably setting the focal point of the at least one lighting element [claim 26], and the lens arrangement is a controllable lens arrangement [claim 27]. Kashihara teaches a camera system comprises at least one light element (5) for illuminating the surroundings, a lens arrangement (29) is attached to the lighting element for variably setting the focal point of the at least one lighting element, and the lens arrangement is a controllable lens arrangement. It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate at least one light element as taught by Kashihara within said stand in order to illuminate the surroundings and help with a detection of target object.
Claim(s) 28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Reif (US Pub. No. 2019/0020843).
Regarding claim 28, Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for a marking element for optically marking a target object. Reif teaches a system comprises a marking element for optically marking a target object (para. 20). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a marking system as taught by Reif within said stand in order to facilitate the identification of the target object.
Claim(s) 29-30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Roh (US Pub. No. 2022/0017098).
Regarding claims 29-30, Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for the open-loop/closed-loop control unit is designed to operate in search mode, wherein the search mode can be automated [claim 30]. Roh teaches a system comprises an open-loop/closed loop control unit designed to operate in search mode, wherein the search mode can be automated (para. 70). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to configure said control unit to operate in a search mode as taught by Roh in order to facilitate a detection of a target object.
Claim(s) 35 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, and further in view of Bei et al. (US Pub. No. 2019/0185182).
Regarding claims 35, Kimura in view of Yasutake and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for a distance sensor. Bei teaches a stand comprising a distance sensor (para. 67). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a distance sensor within said camera stand assembly in order to detect a distance of an object from said assembly.
Claim(s) 31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake, in view of Pettey (US Pub. No. 2009/0179127), and further in view of Blackshear.
Regarding claim 31, Kimura teaches a system for detecting objects, wherein said system comprises:
a stand for an image recording device, wherein the stand comprises:
aa) a fastening unit (para. 140) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface;
bb) a rotary plate (18) which is rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the fastening unit;
cc) a rotary drive (22) for rotating the rotary plate about the rotation axis;
dd) a base (13) which is fastened to the rotary plate so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis;
ee) a pivot drive (22) for pivoting the base;
ff) a coupling unit (16-17) which is fastened to the base for detachably fastening the image recording device;
gg) a power source which is connected to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive (para. 64);
jj) a housing (11);
an image recording device (12) configured to be releasably coupled to the stand, wherein said image recording device is arranged outside of the housing.
Kimura does not specifically teach, the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening, wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; and the power source is arranged in the housing.
Yasutake teaches a stand comprises a fastening unit (410) for detachably fastening the stand to a surface, wherein the fastening unit comprises at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element comprising at least one of a suction cup, a magnetic element and a screw fastening; wherein the fastening unit is provided outside of the housing and attached to an underside of the housing; and wherein the power source is arranged in the housing (para. 49).
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate a fastening unit and a power source as taught by Yasutake within Kimura’s support base in order to securely fasten said stand to a surface and provide power to the stand.
Kimura, as modified by Yasutake, does not specifically teach the rotary drive and the pivot drive are built as brushless motors or as servomotors.
Pettey teaches a stand for an image recording device comprises: a rotary drive and the pivot drive are built as brushless motors or as servomotors (para. 38).
It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to substitute servomotors as taught by Pettey for said rotary drive and pivot drive in order to obtain a higher precision and accurate driving control for said drives.
Kimura, as modified by Yasutake and Pettey, does not specifically teach the following: hh) an open-loop/closed-loop control unit which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control, ii) a remote control means which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit, which can be detachably fastened to a surface, and c) a display device which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the image recording device.
Blackshear teaches a system for detecting objects, wherein said system comprises: hh) an open-loop/closed-loop control unit (61) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the rotary drive and to the pivot drive for actuating the drives with open-loop and/or closed-loop control, ii) a remote control means (42) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit, which can be detachably fastened to a surface, and c) a display device (34) which is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the image recording device.
It would have obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the functionality of Kimura’s stand with Blackshear in order to facilitate object tracking and/or monitoring.
Claim(s) 32 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kimura in view of Yasutake, Pettey and Blackshear, and further in view of Ozawa et al. (US Pub. No. 2018/0249085).
Regarding claim 32, view of Yasutake, Pettey and Blackshear, teaches all the claimed limitations except for the display device comprising VR glasses, which are connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit for controlling the stand. Ozawa teaches a system comprises a display device comprising VR glasses (20), which are connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the open-loop/closed-loop control unit (310). It would have been obvious to one having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify said display device into a VR glasses in order to obtain a portable, hand-free display.
Conclusion
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MINH Q. PHAN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2852
/MINH Q PHAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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