DETAILED ACTION
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
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species I, readable in claims 1-12 and 25-29 in the reply filed on 6/24/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 13-24 and 30-38 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 6/24/2026.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 7/31/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: In the Abstract, lines 5-6, the following expression:
Npp2 = 4*m*npp2, m is an integer, and m>=1
The expression doesn’t appear to correct. For example, equating m to the integer 1, yields the expression 1 = 4.
Likewise, in the body of the Specification, the expression above is present in multiple paragraphs, including:
- Paragraph 0002, line 6,
- Paragraph 0003, line 6
- Paragraph 0004, last line
- Paragraph 0005, last line
- Paragraph 0006, last line
- Paragraph 00078, last two lines.
However, in presenting a preferred example, paragraph 00033 describes equation (1) as:
Npp2 = 4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m>=1.
Thus, it appears that the expression: Npp2 = 4*m*npp2, contains a typographical error, and that the body of the Specification was intended to present the expression:
Npp2 = 4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m>=1
Clarification is requested. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-12 objected to because of the following informalities:
- In claim 1, line 8, the recitation “first and second magnetic field sensor”, should be corrected to “first and second magnetic field sensors”.
Claims 2-12 are also objected as they inherit the deficiencies noted above.
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 1-12 and 25-29 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 claims 1 and 25, the claims include the expression:
- Npp2 = 4*m*npp2, m is an integer, and m>=1
As explained above with reference to the Objection to Specification, the expression is false since an instance where m=1, yields 1=4.
It appears the claims were intended to recite: Npp2 = 4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m>=1. See for example, Specification paragraph 0033 line 4, equation (1). For the purpose of examination, the claims will be interpreted as reciting: Npp2 = 4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m>=1.
Claims 2-12 and 26-29 are also rejected as they inherit the deficiencies listed above.
Correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 and 25-29 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.
Regarding claim 1, the prior art of record doesn’t teach alone or in combination, a system comprising a second ring magnet that is coupled to a second portion of a mechanical element, the second portion extending in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the second ring magnet having npp2 pole pairs, where npp2=4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m≥1, and first and second magnetic field sensor disposed at an angle of approximately 90/npp1 degrees relative to each other; and third and fourth magnetic field sensors, the third and fourth magnetic field sensors being disposed at an angle of approximately 180 degrees relative to each other, in combination with all other elements recited.
As to claims 2-12, the claims would be allowable as they incorporate the allowable subject matter in claim 1 noted above.
Regarding claim 25, the prior art of record doesn’t teach alone or in combination, a method comprising the steps of calculating a first angle value based on signals Bx1, Bx2, By1, By2, and a count npp1 of pole pairs in first ring magnet; calculating a second angle value based on signals Bx3, Bx4, By3, By4, and a count npp2 of pole pairs in the second ring magnet; and
calculating an indication of torque based on the first angle value and the second angle value,
wherein npp1≥3, npp1 is an odd integer, npp2=4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m≥1, in combination with all other elements recited.
As to claims 26-29, the claims would be allowed as they incorporate the allowable subject matter in claim 25 noted above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
- The US Patent Application Publication PGPub 2015/0130446 by Granig et al., directed to magnetic position detectors including a ring magnet (404a in Fig. 4A) that is coupled to a first portion of a mechanical element (406), the first portion extending in a first direction (positive z-axis direction), the first ring magnet having npp1 pole pairs (n pole pairs, see paragraph 0036); a second ring magnet (404b in Fig. 4B) that is coupled to a second portion of a mechanical element (406), the second portion extending in a second direction (negative z-axis direction) that is opposite to the first direction, the second ring magnet having npp2 pole pairs (n+1 pole pairs);
first and second magnetic field sensor (408a and 408b, see paragraph 0037), the first and second magnetic field sensors being disposed at an angle; and a third magnetic field sensor (408c). However, neither Granig alone nor in combination teaches the a ring magnet having npp1 pole pairs, where npp1 is an odd integer, and npp1≥3; the second ring magnet having npp2 pole pairs, where npp2=4*m*npp1, m is an integer, and m≥1; or the first and second magnetic field sensors disposed at an angle of approximately 90/npp1 degrees relative to each other. See Figures below:
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- The US Patent US 8,085,036 B2 by Ausserlechner, directed to magnetic field sensors included on a shaft and a first code ring including a first number of pole pairs. The apparatus includes a second code ring including a second number of pole pairs different from the first number. The second code ring is attached to the shaft and spaced apart from the first code ring. The apparatus includes a first magnetic field sensor between the first code ring and the second code ring for sensing a first superposition of magnetic fields provided by the first code ring and the second code ring. See figure below:
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- The US Patent Application Publication PGPub 2019/0195713 A1 by Mochizuki et al., directed to torque sensors for power steering apparatus that use a dual plate arrangement of magnetized elements positioned along edges of the plates and magnetic sensors that interpret a movement/torque based on changes of magnetic field. See figure below:
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- The Japanese Publication JP 2013024638A by Kuwabara et al., directed to relative angle detectors and torque detectors that use multi-magnetic pole rings and sensors that output signals related to relative angle between an input shaft and the output shaft. Angle is detected from a square value addition value Z obtained by adding square values of signals related to the pole rings. See figure below:
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- The US Patent Application Publication PGPub 2011/0309824 A1 by Takahashi et al., directed to rotation detecting devices, including magnetic encoders arranged coaxially with different number of magnetic poles as well as magnetic sensors that detect magnetic fields of those encoders. Each of the magnetic sensors can detect the encoders within each magnetic pole, and includes sensor elements as well as a phase detector that determines the phase of the sensor element in reference to a detected magnetic field signal and then outputs an ABZ phase signal. See figure below:
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- The US Patent US 7,170,279 B2 by Haas et al., directed to angle measurement devices comprising a transducer wheel and a sensor cooperating with the transducer wheel to obtain an averaged sine-wave signal and averaged cosine-wave signal, and an arc tangent signal from the respective averaged or unaveraged sine-wave signals or cosine-wave signals. Processing of said signals produces an indication of rotational displacement/position.
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- The US Patent US 5,019,776 A by Kawamata et al., directed to a device for position detection on a rotation shaft that uses a multiplicity of magnetic poles arranged at a predetermined pitch on separate tracks. The magnetic poles are shifted with respect to the magnetic poles in the other track. The magnetic sensor substrate includes a plurality of magnetoresistive elements corresponding to any one of the tracks. See figure below:
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/RICHARD ISLA/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2858 August 6, 2026
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