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 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.
DETAILED ACTION
Claims status
Claims 1-16 are pending as the applicant filed on 04/08/2024.
Citation of Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. See MPEP 707.05. Although the prior art discloses several unclaimed, some claimed limitation. The closest Prior Art of record are considered to be defined by:
Bajaj (US 11132062 B2) described a multi-actuator vibration device, comprising: a mounting platform; a plurality of linear resonant actuators (LRAs) attached to the mounting platform, each of the plurality of linear resonant actuators having a moveable mass and an axis of vibration in accordance with a direction of movement of the moveable mass, the axes of vibration of the plurality of actuators being arranged in a same direction; and a controller coupled to each of the plurality of linear resonant actuators, the controller being configured to: convert a representation of an input waveform to a combined output waveform on the mounting platform, by: (a) determining a common forcing frequency, f0; (b) controlling each actuator in the plurality to impart a periodic vibration force of frequency, f0, onto the mounting platform; (c) varying a relative phase angle between at least one pair of the plurality of linear resonant actuators to control, in whole or in part, the combined output waveform; and (d) when seeking to produce an optimized transient performance outcome, switching from a first relative phase angle to a second relative phase angle between at least one pair of the plurality of linear resonant actuators with a specific timing; wherein the multi-actuator vibration device has one or more properties including: a faster amplitude response than any one of the plurality of linear resonant actuators, a larger amplitude response than any one of the plurality of linear resonant actuators, or a capability to temporarily conserve energy in the plurality of linear resonant actuators while a sum of the vibration waveforms of the plurality of linear resonant actuators is zero.
Houston (US 10421100 B2) described a differential haptic guidance system, comprising: a haptic display device configured to present haptic stimuli to a person; means for determining a physical position of the haptic display device; means for designating a target; means for tracking the physical position of the haptic display device relative to the designated target; and one or more processor devices configured to obtain the physical positions of the haptic display device and the designated target, and to generate the haptic stimuli for presentation to the person using the haptic display device, wherein the one or more processor devices are configured to sequentially vary at least one parameter of the haptic stimuli for perception by the person in order to enable the person to navigate to the designated target, means for designating at least one obstacle related to the designated target; and means for tracking the physical position of the haptic display device relative to the at least one obstacle; wherein the means for tracking the physical position of the haptic display device is configured to track the physical position of the haptic display device relative to the at least one obstacle; and wherein the one or more processor devices are further configured to obtain a position of the at least one obstacle, and are configured to sequentially vary the at least one parameter of the haptic stimuli for perception by the person in order to enable the person to navigate to the designated target while avoiding the at least one obstacle.
Berwanger (US 2003/0042083 A1) described a multi-disk brake and wheel assembly, comprising: a cantilevered wheel axle; a wheel journalled for rotation about the axle; a plurality of brake disks radially surrounding the wheel axle, alternate ones of the brake disks radially fixed to the wheel for rotation wherewith; an end disk at one axial end of the brake disks; a pressure plate at the opposite axial end of the brake disks; an axially asymmetrical torque tube radially surrounding the axle and axially spanning the brake disks, intervening ones of the brake disks angularly fixed to the torque tube, the torque tube fixed at one end and having the end disk fixed thereto at the other end thereby axially sandwiching the brake disks between the end disk and pressure plate; and a brake actuating mechanism operable upon command to axially force the pressure plate toward the end plate compressing the brake disks therebetween.
RINKIÖ (US 2016/0187137 A1) described a method of manufacturing a microelectromechanical gyroscope structure, the structure comprising a seismic mass and a primary spring structure suspending the seismic mass to a body element with a suspension structure to allow a primary oscillation motion where at least part of the seismic mass rotary oscillates in a first direction about a primary axis that is aligned with the plane of the seismic mass and a secondary oscillation where at least part of the seismic mass moves in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the manufacturing method comprising: creating the primary spring structure that is attached to the seismic mass on the opposite sides of the suspension structure, wherein said primary spring structure is configured for torsional motion about the primary axis that is common with the primary oscillation motion.
Berwanger (US 6752248 B2) described a multi-disk brake and wheel assembly, comprising: a cantilevered wheel axle; a wheel rim journalled for rotation about the wheel axle; a plurality of brake disks radially surrounding the wheel axle, alternate ones of the brake disks radially fixed to the wheel rim for rotation therewith; an end disk at one axial end of the plurality of brake disks; a pressure plate at the opposite axial end of the plurality of brake disks; an axially asymmetrical torque tube radially surrounding the wheel axle and axially spanning the plurality of brake disks, intervening ones of the plurality of brake disks being angularly fixed to the torque tube, the torque tube being fixed at one end to a braking structure and having the end disk fixed thereto at the other end thereby axially sandwiching the plurality of brake disks between the end disk and the pressure plate, and the torque tube including an annular radially inwardly extending support flange axially intermediate the torque tube ends for supportingly engaging the wheel axle, the support flange including a plurality of holes, at least two of said holes have different areas, thereby imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube; and a brake actuating mechanism operable upon command to axially force the pressure plate toward the end disk compressing the plurality of brake disks therebetween.
Delson (US 2012/0232780 A1) described a vibration device, comprising: a mounting platform; and a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators being configured to build up an amplitude of that actuator's force output over successive cycles of operation; wherein each of the plurality of actuators is attached to the mounting platform so the force outputs of the plurality of actuators are superimposed onto the mounting platform, and the plurality of actuators is configured to simultaneously generate force waveforms, corresponding to the force outputs, for at least two different harmonics of a desired force output waveform such that each actuator generates a single harmonic of the desired output waveform.
Double Patenting
3. The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the "right to exclude" granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and, In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent is shown to be commonly owned with this application. See 37 CFR 1.130(b).
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 1-16 are provisionally rejected under the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-14 of a related Application 17/591,222 now US Patent 11,959,746. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the limitations of the claims in the current application are encompassed in the previous application. The latter pending application encompasses the same process as the pending application and is a different version of the previous application because of rearrangement of the claims language.
Note: The examiner is aware there were a restriction on the 17/591,222 but the restricted claims were different than the current pending claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more.
Claim 1, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a method of controlling precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope, the method implemented by a gyroscopic precession controller and comprising:
detecting a deviation of a center of the oscillation of the gyroscope away from a nominal center appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of controlling a braking system so as to apply an asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? there is no more additional. Step 2B: No. claim 1 not eligible.
Claim 9, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes),
Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a gyroscopic precession controller for controlling precession of a gyroscope that oscillates about a precession axis perpendicular to a spin axis and a roll axis of the gyroscope, the gyroscopic precession controller comprising: detect a deviation of a center of the oscillation of the gyroscope away from a nominal center, wherein the precession appears is an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes.
Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of applying asymmetric amount of braking to the precession when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction relative to when the precession and the deviation are in opposing directions are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application,
Step 2A Prong Two: NO.
Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional elements of processing circuitry and interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 9 not eligible.
Claim 2 related to wherein controlling a braking system so as to apply an asymmetric amount of braking comprises sending a braking control signal to a braking system to cause the braking system to increase dampening when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 2 not eligible.
Claim 3 related to generating the electronic braking control signal based on a target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 3 not eligible.
Claim 4 related to wherein generating the braking control signal based on the target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system comprises: correcting the target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system based on the deviation; combining the corrected target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system with damping feedback from the gyroscopic precession braking system to determine a damping error; and generating the electronic braking control signal such that an amount of damping applied to the gyroscopic precession braking system is adjusted to correct for the damping error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 4 not eligible.
Claim 5 related to generating the electronic braking control signal based on a target amount of precession acceleration, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 5 not eligible.
Claim 6 related to wherein generating the braking control signal based on the target amount of precession acceleration comprises: correcting a target precession rate based on the deviation; determining the target amount of precession acceleration based on the corrected target precession rate; combining the target amount of precession acceleration with precession feedback from a precession sensor to determine a precession acceleration error; and generating the electronic braking control signal such that an amount of precession acceleration permitted by the gyroscopic precession braking system is adjusted to correct for the precession acceleration error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 6 not eligible.
Claim 7 related to generating the electronic braking control signal based on the target amount of precession acceleration further comprises combining the corrected target precession rate with further precession feedback to determine a precession rate error; determining the target amount of precession acceleration based on the corrected target precession rate comprises calculating the target amount of precession acceleration based on the precession rate error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 7 not eligible.
Claim 8 related to calculating an amount of current that, when sent to a hydraulic damping valve of [[a]] the gyroscopic precession braking system, reduces the deviation; and generating the electronic braking control signal, the electronic braking control signal comprising a pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal having a duty cycle that provides the amount of current; wherein sending the electronic braking control signal to reduce reducing the deviation by applying the asymmetric amount of braking comprises sending the PWM control signal to the hydraulic damping valve, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 8 not eligible.
Claim 10 related to wherein the processing circuitry controls a braking system so as to apply an asymmetric amount of braking by sending a braking control signal to a braking system to cause the braking system to increase dampening when the precession and the deviation are in a same direction, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 10 not eligible.
Claim 11 related to configured to generate the electronic braking control signal based on a target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 11 not eligible.
Claim 12 related to wherein to generate the control signal based on the target amount of damping upon the braking system, the processing circuitry is configured to: correct the target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system based on the deviation; combine the corrected target amount of damping upon the gyroscopic precession braking system with damping feedback from the gyroscopic precession braking system to determine a damping error; and generate the electronic braking control signal such that an amount of damping applied to the gyroscopic precession braking system is adjusted to correct for the damping error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 12 not eligible.
Claim 13 related to wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to generate the electronic braking control signal based on a target amount of precession acceleration, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 13 not eligible.
Claim 14 related to wherein to generate the control signal based on the target amount of precession acceleration, the processing circuitry is configured to: correct a target precession rate based on the deviation; determine the target amount of precession acceleration based on the corrected target precession rate; combine the target amount of precession acceleration with precession feedback from a precession sensor to determine a precession acceleration error; and generate the electronic braking control signal such that an amount of precession acceleration permitted by the gyroscopic precession braking system is adjusted to correct for the precession acceleration error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 14 not eligible.
Claim 15 related to generate the electronic braking control signal based on the target amount of precession acceleration, the processing circuitry is further configured to combine the corrected target precession rate with further precession feedback to determine a precession rate error; to determine the target amount of precession acceleration based on the corrected target precession rate, the processing circuitry is configured to calculate the target amount of precession acceleration based on the precession rate error, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 15 not eligible.
Claim 16 related to : calculate an amount of current that, when sent to a hydraulic damping valve of the gyroscopic precession braking system, reduces the deviation; and generate the electronic braking control signal, the electronic braking control signal comprising a pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal having a duty cycle that provides the amount of current; wherein to send the electronic braking control signal to reduce the deviation by applying the asymmetric amount of braking, the processing circuitry is configured to send the PWM control signal to the hydraulic damping valve, its recites further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claim 16 not eligible.
Contact information
5. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tung Lau whose telephone number is (571)272-2274, email is Tungs.lau@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TURNER SHELBY, can be reached on 571-272-6334. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TUNG S LAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
Technology Center 2800
July 23, 2026
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