DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 5-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Narasimhan (U.S. Pat. No. 11,052,940).
Regarding claim 1, Narasimhan discloses a method to control a steer-by-wire steering system (fig. 4b) for a road vehicle, the steer-by-wire steering system including
a steering wheel (141), a road wheel actuator (154) to actuate road wheels (191), and a feedback actuator (144) to apply a feedback torque to the steering wheel, the method comprising:
if an ingress situation is detected (820), switching on the feedback actuator and providing a resistance torque against rotation of the steering wheel in an ingress mode (830); and if a normal steering system shut down procedure is finished, activating an egress mode of the feedback actuator and providing the resistance torque against rotation of the steering wheel (the system monitors “vehicle being turned off” disclosed in col. 18, lines 47-50. Regardless of whether the system has a “normal” shutdown or not it provides the torque when detecting ingres or egress which includes after a “normal” shutdown.),
wherein the resistance torque is provided in a position control mode of the feedback actuator, the position control mode maintaining an initial position of the steering wheel by resisting against rotation of the steering wheel (col. 19, lines 4-20) when the ingress mode or the egress mode is activated (the 830 mode maintains the position by providing resistance torque);
the ingress mode and/or egress mode is terminated due to a detection of a decrease in grid voltage below a certain value (No electronic device operates below its operational voltage and certainly not at zero disclosed in col. 9, lines 26-39. The system does monitor voltages outside of the operation range disclosed in col 21, lines 50-55. Also the system is able to terminate its process as shown in 194 in figure 8b, and col. 19, lines 21-23).
Regarding claim 5 which depends from claim 1, Narasimhan discloses wherein the feedback actuator is shut down when the egress mode is terminated (shown in fig. 8).
Regarding claim 6 which depends from claim 1, Narasimhan discloses wherein the normal operation mode of the feedback actuator is started or the feedback torque actuation is ended when the ingress mode is terminated (col. 19, lines 21-30).
Regarding claim 7 which depends from claim 1, Narasimhan discloses wherein the ingress situation is detected based on:
signals from a vehicle communication module (810);
a steering angle signal; and/or a steering torque signal (“other” option addressed); and/or other signals which represent a hands-on situation on the steering wheel (col. 19, lines 5-9).
Regarding claim 8 which depends from claim 1, Narasimhan discloses a steer-by-wire steering system for a road vehicle configured to perform the method according to claim 1 (fig. 8).
Regarding claim 9 which depends from claim 1, Narasimhan discloses wherein the position control mode maintains the steering wheel at a fixed angular position corresponding to a steering wheel position when the ingress mode or the egress mode is activated, and wherein the resistance torque is sufficient to prevent rotation of the steering wheel when the steering wheel is used as a handle during vehicle entry or exit (col. 19, lines 15-20 discloses providing resistive torque sufficient for support).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 11/21/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues on pages 4-7 for the amendments made to the claims which have been addressed above.
Applicant argues on page 6 that the system does not monitor for a steering system shutdown to finish. The system does monitor for shutting down the vehicle disclosed in col. 18, lines 47-50.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GONZALO LAGUARDA whose telephone number is (571)272-5920. The examiner can normally be reached 8-5 M-Th Alt. F.
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, Logan Kraft can be reached at (571) 270-5065. 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.
GONZALO LAGUARDA
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3747 email: gonzalo.laguarda@uspto.gov
/GONZALO LAGUARDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Prosecution Insights