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 .
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities, and should be:
“A gas detection device, comprising:
“a housing including an upper housing and a lower housing, wherein a plurality of vents are arranged on an side edge of the lower housing, a lug hole is arranged on a lower side of the lower housing, and a recessed groove is formed on a bottom surface of the lower housing;
“an external connector pivotally connected to the lower housing, wherein when not in use, [[it]] the external connector is folded and hidden in the recessed groove without protruding, and when in use, [[it]] the external connector is rotated out the recessed groove to be exposed out of the lower case, and connected to an external power supply;
“a power converter electrically connected to the external connector, and configured to convert
“a control processing board electrically connected to the power converter for providing an activation power supply, and configured to receive process the data information into a communication information;
“a networking module disposed on a side of the upper housing, and integrally packaged on the control processing board to form an integrated circuit, and configured to receive output
“a particle detection module disposed and positioned on an other side of the bottom surface of the lower housing, and also adjacent to an opposite side of the networking module packaged on the control processing board, wherein the particle detection module is electrically connected to the control processing board through a first flexible band to detect gas and acquire the data information of the gas, transmits the data information to the control processing board to convert the data information into the communication information, and outputs the communication information through the networking module; and
“a temperature and humidity sensor disposed on a side of the lower housing, and electrically connected to the control processing board through a second flexible band for detecting temperature and humidity, and acquiring the data information into the communication information, and the communication information is outputted through the networking module.”
(and see the 112 rejection below for a further suggested amendment of claim 1)
Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities, and should begin with:
“The gas detection device according to claim 1, wherein the particle detection module detects the gas introduced from the plurality of vents of the housing…”
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 1-15 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.
Regarding claim 1, the limitation that the particle detection module is “adjacent to an opposite side of the networking module packaged on the control processing board” is indefinite because “an opposite side of the networking module” lacks a reference and is therefore unclear what the side is opposite to (and the relationship between the claimed elements is therefore unclear). Based on the Spec and Drawings of the current application, the examiner suggests the following amendment:
“…a particle detection module disposed and positioned on an other side of the bottom surface of the lower housing, and also arranged on the control processing board on an opposite side of the control processing board from the networking module…”
Regarding claim 4, the limitations “resulting to receive or send communication signals conveniently, but to be shielded by the control processing board and cause interference to the communication signals difficultly” are confusingly worded and the scope/metes and bounds of these limitations are unclear. The examiner suggests the following amendment:
“…the networking module is a cloud computing service wireless network communication module, and is disposed on the side of the upper housing, which is exposed outside the gas detection device so that the networking module can receive or send communication signals while being shielded by the control processing board, which prevents interference to the communication signals.”
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter. The prior art of record does not show or suggest:
“…a networking module disposed on a side of the upper housing, and integrally packaged on the control processing board form an integrated circuit…” and
“…a particle detection module disposed and positioned on an other side of the bottom surface of the lower housing, and also arranged on the control processing board on an opposite side of the control processing board from the networking module, wherein the particle detection module is electrically connected to the control processing board through a first flexible band…” and
“…a temperature and humidity sensor disposed on a side of the lower housing, and electrically connected to the control processing board through a second flexible band…”
(as in claim 1, incorporating the examiner’s suggestion for overcoming the 112 rejection)
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Feng et al. (U.S. Pub. 2019/0178775) discloses a miniature optical PM sensor with a laser component as the PM sensor.
Mou et al. (U.S. Pub. 2019/01877035) discloses a transmission module (51’’ – Fig. 11) disposed in the upper housing, but not on the opposite side of the processing board from the gas sensor.
Ventimiglia et al. (U.S. Pub. 2021/0190516) discloses a gas/PM sensor, a housing with upper and lower portions and vents, a temperature and humidity sensor, a flexible connector, and networking circuitry, but does not disclose that the networking module is on the opposite side of the processing board from the gas sensor.
Pariseau et al. (U.S. Pub. 2022/0003654) discloses a particle sensor with a variety of features on the processing board, including a power supply/converter, sensor, and communication interface, but not disclose that the networking module is on the opposite side of the processing board from the gas sensor.
Tan et al. (WO 2022/117511 – copy attached) discloses an air quality sensor with a cloud computing service communications module.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Benjamin Schmitt, whose telephone number is (571) 270-7930. The examiner can normally be reached M-F | 8:30-5:00.
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, Walter Lindsay can be reached at (571) 272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/BENJAMIN R SCHMITT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852