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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claim 8 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected group II, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 03/18/2026.
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 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Conrard CN 212785052 and in view of Chen CN 217511147
Claim 1: The Conrard reference provides a teaching of A racing simulation device based on a high precision and high response torque closed loop comprising:
a motor module (see abstract “motor installed between an upper and lower shell), a sensing module and a sleeve, wherein one end of the motor module is connected to the sensing module, and the sensing module is disposed inside the sleeve (see page 2 paragraph 5 “sensor plate fixed on the rotation shaft”); a connecting seat is disposed at one end of the sleeve, one end of the connecting seat is connected to the sleeve (see page 5 paragraph 5).
While the Conrard reference discloses an interface with a steering wheel; it silent on the teaching of quick release module and the other end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the quick release module; and one end of the quick release module is connected to a steering wheel.
However, the Chen reference provides a teaching of quick release module (see page 3 “fast assembling sleeve” 41) and the other end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the quick release module (see FIG. 6 item 43 “fixed connecting seat”); and one end of the quick release module is connected to a steering wheel (see FIG. 6 the quick release module 41 is connected to the steering wheel).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard reference with the feature of a steering wheel; it silent on the teaching of quick release module and the other end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the quick release module; and one end of the quick release module is connected to a steering wheel; as taught by the Chen reference; in order to provide convenient way for the user to switch the steering wheel.
Claim 2: The Conrard reference is silent on the teaching of wherein the quick release module comprises a fixed seat, an outer cover and a quick release control panel; one end of the fixed seat is connected to the steering wheel, and one end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the fixed seat; the outer cover is disposed on the fixed seat in a sleeving manner, and the quick release control panel is disposed inside the fixed seat; and the steering wheel is internally provided with a steering wheel control panel, and the quick release control panel is electrically connected to the steering wheel control panel.
However, the Chen reference provides a teaching of wherein the quick release module comprises a fixed seat, an outer cover and a quick release control panel (see page 4 line 3-6 connecting seat 43); one end of the fixed seat is connected to the steering wheel, and one end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the fixed seat; the outer cover is disposed on the fixed seat in a sleeving manner, and the quick release control panel is disposed inside the fixed seat (); and the steering wheel is internally provided with a steering wheel control panel, and the quick release control panel is electrically connected to the steering wheel control panel (see page 5 paragraph 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard reference with the feature of wherein the quick release module comprises a fixed seat, an outer cover and a quick release control panel; one end of the fixed seat is connected to the steering wheel, and one end of the connecting seat is disposed inside the fixed seat; the outer cover is disposed on the fixed seat in a sleeving manner, and the quick release control panel is disposed inside the fixed seat; and the steering wheel is internally provided with a steering wheel control panel, and the quick release control panel is electrically connected to the steering wheel control panel; as taught by the Chen reference, provide convenient way for the user to switch the steering wheel.
Claim 3: The Conrard reference provides a teaching of wherein the motor module comprises a motor body (see FIG. 2 rectangular object in between item 16 and 7), and two ends of the motor body are respectively provided with a front cover and a rear cover (see FIG. 1 item 1 and 12 respectively); the motor body is internally provided with a motor shaft; and one end of the motor shaft passes through the motor body, is disposed inside the sleeve ((see FIG. 5 item 5 “rotating shaft”), and is connected to the sensing module (see page 5 first complete paragraph sensor plate 13 connected to shaft).
Claim(s) 4-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Conrard CN 212785052 and in view of Chen CN 217511147 and further in view of Behr US 4,660,671
Claim 4: The Conrard reference is silent on the teaching of an expansion sleeve and an adapter sleeve; the expansion sleeve is disposed on the motor shaft in a sleeving manner, and the adapter sleeve is disposed on the expansion sleeve in a sleeving manner;
However, the Chen reference an expansion sleeve (see page 5 paragraph 1 “fast assembling sleeve 41” ) and an adapter sleeve (see page 5 paragraph 1 matching device 4); the expansion sleeve is disposed on the motor shaft in a sleeving manner (see FIG. 4 showing the expansion sleeve 41 disposed on the motor in a sleeving manner), and the adapter sleeve is disposed on the expansion sleeve in a sleeving manner (see FIG. 6 showing the adapter sleeve 4 disposed on the expansion sleeve 41in a sleeving manner).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrad reference with the feature of expansion sleeve and an adapter sleeve; the expansion sleeve is disposed on the motor shaft in a sleeving manner, and the adapter sleeve is disposed on the expansion sleeve in a sleeving manner, as taught by the Chen reference, in order to provide convenient way for the user to switch the steering wheel.
While the Conrad reference provides a teaching of sensing module, it is silent if the sensing module comprises a torsion sensor; the torsion sensor is disposed in a sleeving manner, and is connected to the adapter sleeve, and the sleeve and the torsion sensor is disposed on the adapter sleeve in a sleeving manner, and is connected to the adapter sleeve and the sleeve, respectively.
However, the Behr reference provides a teaching of the sensing module comprises a torsion sensor; the torsion sensor is disposed in a sleeving manner (see col. 5:65-6:5), and is connected to the adapter sleeve, and the sleeve (see col. 6:60-67) and the torsion sensor is disposed on the adapter sleeve in a sleeving manner, and is connected to the adapter sleeve and the sleeve, respectively (see col. 7:20-35).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard reference with the feature of the sensing module comprises a torsion sensor; the torsion sensor is disposed in a sleeving manner, and is connected to the adapter sleeve, and the sleeve and the torsion sensor is disposed on the adapter sleeve in a sleeving manner, and is connected to the adapter sleeve and the sleeve, respectively; as taught by the Behr reference, in order to mimic the driving feel of the simulator.
Claim 5: The Conrard reference is silent on the teaching of the other end of the signal amplifier is connected to the quick release control panel.
However, the Chen reference provides a teaching of the other end of the signal amplifier is connected to the quick release control panel (see page 5 paragraph 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard reference with the feature of the other end of the signal amplifier is connected to the quick release control panel, as taught by the Chen reference, in order to provide convenient way for the user to switch the steering wheel.
The Conrad reference is silent on the teaching of wherein the sensing module further comprises a signal amplifier, and the signal amplifier is disposed at one side of the torsion sensor; and one end of the signal amplifier is connected to the torsion sensor.
However, the Behr reference provides a teaching of wherein the sensing module further comprises a signal amplifier, and the signal amplifier is disposed at one side of the torsion sensor (see col. 11:40-47); and one end of the signal amplifier is connected to the torsion sensor (see also col. FIG 11 torsion sensor 39 is connected to the signal amplifier 300).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard reference with the feature of wherein the sensing module further comprises a signal amplifier, and the signal amplifier is disposed at one side of the torsion sensor (see col. 11:40-47); and one end of the signal amplifier is connected to the torsion sensor, as taught by the Behr reference, in order to mimic the driving feel of the simulator.
Claim 6: The Conrard reference provides a wherein a slip ring is further provided on one side of the motor
body, and the slip ring is connected to the motor body (see FIG. 2 item 8 slip ring) ; the slip ring comprises a stator and a rotor, and the stator is disposed on the rotor in a sleeving manner; the stator is connected to the motor body, and the rotor is connected to the motor shaft (see page 5 paragraph 5); and the rotor is provided with a slip ring signal line, and the slip ring signal line passes through the motor shaft and the connecting seat (see page 2 paragraph 3 and 5).
The Conrard reference is silent on the teaching of connected to the quick release control panel. However, the Chen reference provides a teaching of connected to the quick release control panel (see page 5 line 1-9).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the Conrard with the feature of connected to the quick release control panel, as taught by the Chen reference, in order to provide convenient way for the user to switch the steering wheel.
Claim 7: The Conrard reference provides a teaching of wherein the slip ring further comprises a slip ring head (see FIG. 2 item 8), and one end of the slip ring head is connected to the rotor (see page 4 first full paragraph 1); a motor control panel located inside the rear cover is disposed at one side of the motor body (see FIG. 1 motor control panel item 11 disposed on one side of the motor body); and an encoder is disposed on the motor control panel (see page 5 paragraph 5), and the slip ring head is positioned corresponding to the encoder (see page 5 first full paragraph).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Xu CN-116365318-A
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT J UTAMA whose telephone number is (571)272-1676. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 - 17:30 Monday - Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kang Hu can be reached at (571)270-1344. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT J UTAMA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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