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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 04/25/2024 and 01/27/2025 have been considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Para. 0061, the applicant claims an “EC film”, however, the specification does not describe what the abbreviation “EC” means. For purposes of expediting prosecution, the Examiner interprets the abbreviation “EC” to mean --electrochromic--.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claims 21, 29-30 and 40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dao (US 2003/0210355).
Regarding claim 21, Dao discloses, a vehicle sunlight shading device (Fig. 4), comprising:
a sunlight shade (66) included in a vehicle (Para. 0027), the sunlight shade configured such that transmittance (52) of the sunlight shade is adjustable (Para. 0027);
an illuminance sensor (54) configured to measure illuminance around the vehicle; and
a controller (58, 62, 64) configured to control the sunlight shade to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the illuminance measured (60) around the vehicle by the illuminance sensor (Para. 0027).
Regarding claim 29, Dao discloses, a mode switch for selecting one of a plurality of adjustment modes (see 52 specifically “OFF”, “AUTO” and “MANUAL” of Fig. 4 and associated text) corresponding to a plurality of correlations between the illuminance around the vehicle and the transmittance of the sunlight shade which are set to be different from each other for adjusting the transmittance of the sunlight shade (Para. 0027), respectively, wherein the controller is configured to store the plurality of adjustment modes (Para. 0027), and control the sunlight shade to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade according to one of the plurality of the correlations between the illuminance around the vehicle and the transmittance of the sunlight shade corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of adjustment modes selected through the mode switch (Para. 0027 and see 52).
Regarding claim 30, Dao discloses, a method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle (Fig. 4), the method comprising:
measuring, by an illuminance sensor (54), illuminance around the vehicle (Para. 0027); and
controlling, by a controller (58, 62, 64), the sunlight shade (66) configured such that transmittance of the sunlight shade is adjustable (Para. 0027), wherein the controlling of the sunlight shade comprises controlling the sunlight shade to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the illuminance around the vehicle (60) measured by the illuminance sensor (Para. 0027).
Regarding claim 40, Dao discloses, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (58, 62, 64) configured to store instructions (Fig. 4), that when executed by a processor (58, 62, 64), cause the processor to perform operations (Fig. 4) comprising:
measuring, by an illuminance sensor (54), illuminance around the vehicle (Para. 0027); and
controlling, by a controller (58, 62, 64), the sunlight shade (66) configured such that transmittance of the sunlight shade is adjustable (Para. 0027), wherein the controlling of the sunlight shade comprises controlling the sunlight shade to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the illuminance around the vehicle (60) measured by the illuminance sensor (Para. 0027).
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 22-24 and 31-33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Dao (US 2003/0210355) as applied to claims 21 and 30 above, in view of Peso et al. (US 2021/0271124).
Dao remains as applied to claims 21 and 30 above.
Dao does not disclose a tilt sensor configured to measure a tilt of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade of the vehicle based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor and the tilt of the vehicle measured by the tilt sensor.
Peso teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to include a tilt sensor configured to measure a tilt of the vehicle (Para. 0137 and 0147), wherein the controller is configured to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade of the vehicle based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor and the tilt of the vehicle measured by the tilt sensor (Para. 0137 and 0147).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include a tilt sensor configured to measure a tilt of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade of the vehicle based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor and the tilt of the vehicle measured by the tilt sensor as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading device and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Peso in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade of Dao since Peso teaches it is known to include these features in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with reduced user disorientation and discomfort.
Regarding claims 23 and 32, Dao in view of Peso discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Peso further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to make the controller is configured to, when the vehicle is on an uphill slope according to the tilt of the vehicle measured by the tilt sensor, control the sunlight shade to lower the transmittance of the sunlight shade than when the vehicle is on a flat surface (Para. 0137 and 0147).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading device and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Peso in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade of Dao since Peso teaches it is known to include these features in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with reduced user disorientation and discomfort.
Regarding claims 24 and 33, Dao in view of Peso discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Peso further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to make the controller is configured to, when the vehicle is on a downhill slope according to the tilt of the vehicle measured by the tilt sensor, control the sunlight shade to increase the transmittance of the sunlight shade than when the vehicle is on a flat surface (Para. 0137 and 0156-0159).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading device and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Peso in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade of Dao since Peso teaches it is known to include these features in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with reduced user disorientation and discomfort.
Claims 25-28 and 34-39 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Dao (US 2003/0210355) as applied to claims 21 and 30 above, in view of Choi et al. (US 2018/0079284).
Dao remains as applied to claims 21 and 30 above.
Dao does not disclose a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the speed of the vehicle measured by the speed sensor.
Choi teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to include a speed sensor (320, 330 of Fig. 2) configured to measure a speed of the vehicle (Para. 0016-0017), wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the speed of the vehicle measured by the speed sensor (Para. 0016-0017).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the speed of the vehicle measured by the speed sensor as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Regarding claims 26 and 35, Dao in view of Choi discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Choi further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to make the controller is configured to increase the speed of the change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade in proportion to the speed of the vehicle measured by the speed sensor (Para. 0016-0017).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Regarding claims 27 and 36, Dao in view of Choi discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Choi further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to include a rainwater sensor (870 of Fig. 8) configured to detect rainwater (Para. 0271 and 0334-0335), wherein the controller is configured to control the sunlight shade to reduce a speed of change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade when the rainwater is detected by the rainwater sensor (Para. 0271 and 0334-0335).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Regarding claims 28 and 38, Dao in view of Choi discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Choi further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to make the controller is configured to control the sunlight shade to constantly maintain the transmittance of the sunlight shade when a number of times of changes in the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor by a set magnitude or more within a predetermined period is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (Para. 0293-0294 and 0296-0297).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Regarding claim 37, Dao in view of Choi discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Choi further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to make the adjusting of the speed of the change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the rainwater detection information comprises reducing the speed of the change in the transmittance of the sunlight shade when the rainwater is detected according to the rainwater detection information (Para. 0016-0017 and see 320, 330 of Fig. 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Regarding claim 39, Dao in view of Choi discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Choi further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that it would have been desirable to include constantly maintaining the transmittance of the sunlight shade when the number of times of the changes in the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor by the set magnitude or more within the predetermined period is greater than or equal to the predetermined number (Para. 0293-0294 and 0296-0297).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Choi in the vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle of Dao since Choi teaches it is known to include this feature in a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle for the purpose of providing a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle with optimized user safety and convenience.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Albahri (US2009/0027759), Li (US 2022/0413326) and Momot (US 9,511,650) discloses a vehicle sunlight shading member and method for controlling a sunlight shade included in a vehicle that includes a sunlight shade, an illuminance sensor and a controller configured to control the sunlight shade to adjust the transmittance of the sunlight shade based on the illuminance measured around the vehicle by the illuminance sensor.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAWAYNE A PINKNEY whose telephone number is (571)270-1305. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00 PM.
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/DAWAYNE PINKNEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872 02/18/2026