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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 5/4/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) under John have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejections are made as set forth below.
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.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gazdzinski (20150208907).
Regarding claim 1, Gazdzinski (20150208907) shows a sensing device, comprising:
a wireless receiver configured to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal; (RFID Tag in figure 17)
one or more wireless transmitters, wherein at least one wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a second RF signal, and wherein the first RF signal and the second RF signal have different frequencies [0201]; and
[0201] The process of "reading" and communicating with an RFID tag such as that used in the probe 1700 of FIG. 17 comprises bringing a RFID tag within proximity to an RFID sensor ("reader") 1750 which emanates a radio frequency wake-up field having a limited range. The RFID tag 1702 detects the presence of the wakeup field of the sensor 1750, and subsequently various forms or protocols of handshake occur between the tag 1702 and the sensor 1750 in order to exchange data. All of this communication between the tag and the sensor is performed using RF carriers of one or more prescribed frequencies. As is well known in the art, so-called "low-frequency" systems operate in the kHz to low-MHz range (unlicensed). Low frequency systems are generally low cost and complexity and have comparatively limited range, but are attractive since the low frequency energy tends to suffer low losses from materials like metal, polymers, tissue, and the like. High-frequency systems operate in the low-MHz to GHz range (often licensed). High-frequency systems in general have greater range, but are more directional. Additionally, the performance of these high frequency tags may be adversely affected by electromagnetic radiation or proximate metallic objects.
a processing circuitry (520), comprising:
a power harvesting circuit configured to harvest energy from the first RF signal (passive tags harvest energy from the rf signal);
a clock recovery circuit configured to extract a clock signal from the first RF signal (740, [0148]);
[0148] Similarly, it will be noted that the method of clocking signal recovery described in the above-referenced patent may be utilized in the present invention to obviate the clock 524 of FIG. 6. Specifically, the ac waveform transferred from the MCD remote unit 802 can be used to generate a clock signal prior to rectification by the diode stage 720 using a clock recovery circuit 740. This clock signal may then be used to drive those components requiring a clock signal, such as the CCD array 402, ADC 512, etc.
at least one sensing electrode configured to record an electric signal as at least one selected from the group consisting of a voltage, a current, and an electric charge The sensing device measures voltage in order to determine pressure [337] and also measures current in order to determine the presence of target molecules [0372]; and
an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) communicatively coupled to the clock recovery circuit, (ADC 512 and 3310)
wherein the ADC is configured to convert the electric signal into a digital signal, [148]
wherein the clock signal is used to synchronize at least one wireless transmitter with the conversion of the electric signal into the digital signal, and
wherein output from the ADC is serialized and transmitted, by a transmitter using packetizing (figure 35b), to an external hub (804).
[0202] Additionally, RFID tags are generally categorized as being "active" (i.e., carry an associated power source for operation of the on-tag integrated circuit, and are capable of spontaneous transmission after reader interrogation), or "passive" which utilizes incident RF energy (from the reader, for example) to generate electrical energy for use by the IC, and transmission. Passive tags are highly energy efficient, and require only a small amount of electrical power to function.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gazdzinski (20150208907) as applied to claim 1 above with additional explanation herein.
Regarding claim 7, Gazdzinski (20150208907) does not discuss the particular frequencies being used as claimed, but Gazdzinski (20150208907) does discuss using multiple frequencies, and explains advantages and disadvantages of LF and HF options. discuss using multiple frequencies, and explains advantages and disadvantages of LF and HF options. See paragraph [0201].
[0201] The process of "reading" and communicating with an RFID tag such as that used in the probe 1700 of FIG. 17 comprises bringing a RFID tag within proximity to an RFID sensor ("reader") 1750 which emanates a radio frequency wake-up field having a limited range. The RFID tag 1702 detects the presence of the wakeup field of the sensor 1750, and subsequently various forms or protocols of handshake occur between the tag 1702 and the sensor 1750 in order to exchange data. All of this communication between the tag and the sensor is performed using RF carriers of one or more prescribed frequencies. As is well known in the art, so-called "low-frequency" systems operate in the kHz to low-MHz range (unlicensed). Low frequency systems are generally low cost and complexity and have comparatively limited range, but are attractive since the low frequency energy tends to suffer low losses from materials like metal, polymers, tissue, and the like. High-frequency systems operate in the low-MHz to GHz range (often licensed). High-frequency systems in general have greater range, but are more directional. Additionally, the performance of these high frequency tags may be adversely affected by electromagnetic radiation or proximate metallic objects.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have used the claimed frequencies for the advantages set forth by Gazdzinski (20150208907).
Claim(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gazdzinski as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Paidimarri (10949730).
Regarding claim 9, in an analogous art, Paidimarri (10949730) teaches a multiple stage rectifier. This allows the device to step up input power which would be beneficial for a power harvesting system.
[7:22-58] FIG. 4 is another diagram illustrating a tag circuitry in one embodiment. For instance, component 402 may be a specific embodiment of component 304 shown in FIG. 3; component 404 may be a specific embodiment of component 312 shown in FIG. 3. Power connection 418 may be implemented as described above with reference to 318 in FIG. 3. A tag may include multiple RF-to-DC converters (e.g., RF-to-DC converter 1 . . . RF-to-DC converter n) 402, 404. Each RF-to-DC converter has, or is connected, to an antenna interface or antenna 406, 408. Power received from each tag antenna can be combined, for example, directly using rectifiers. In another aspect, power can be combined using additional converter such as a DC-DC power converter. In some embodiments, the RF-to-DC converters 402, 404 are designed to add power and not have any loading when a given frequency is unavailable (for example, if that corresponding reader antenna is off, or if the channel characteristics have a higher loss). In some embodiments, an RF-to-DC converter 402 may include an N-stage rectifier 410. An example schematic of 1-stage of a multi-stage rectifier is shown in FIG. 8A, 802. In one aspect, an N-stage rectifier 410 has an open circuit voltage of N*Vin (input voltage), and an actual voltage is a function of parasitics and the loading from subsequent circuits. For instance, provided that an output voltage is less than N*Vin, an N-stage rectifier 410 can provide power in a system implementing the rectifiers (tag). “N” may be an integer greater than zero. For instance, if N=1, a one-stage rectifier circuit, e.g., shown in FIG. 8B at 804, can be used for the N-stage rectifier block 410, and if N>1, a multi-stage rectifier circuit can be used. An example of a 1-stage of a multi-stage rectifier circuit is shown in FIG. 8A, 802.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have a 5 (five) state passive rectifier in the Gazdzinski system in order to step up the harvested power.
Claim(s) 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gazdzinski as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Fabre (7034685).
Regarding claim 11, in an analogous art, Fabre teaches an Interrogator mounted in a wearable device. Figure 2 and [1:57-65]. This provides portability for the interrogator.
[1:57-65] These objects are attained by an interrogator device for identifying articles each provided with a transponder, comprising a radio-frequency (RF) interrogation system for obtaining identifying information on each of the articles. The RF interrogation system includes an RF antenna coupled to an electronic module for processing the identifying information from the transponders. The RF antenna is incorporated on two opposite ends of a garment wearable by an agent in charge of collecting loose articles arranged in a storage area, and connected to a electronic module wearable by the agent by communication lines incorporated in the garment. The electronic module includes a discrimination device for determining pertinent identifying information from the plurality of identifying information obtained from the transponders through said RF antenna.
Therefore, it would have been obvious so one of ordinary skill in the art to have the interrogator in the Gazdzinski system be mounted on a wearable device in order to increase portability of the interrogator.
Claim(s) 14,15,16,17,18,21,23,24,25,27,28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gazdzinski as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of John (10348136).
Regarding claim 14: wherein an adjustable parameter of the device is selected from the group consisting of its frequency of operation, power consumption, number of bits, and duty-cycle (col. 7, lines 3-29 of John described various power conversion process that includes bits and duty-cycle for the AC/DC conversion). This allows flexibility in the system so the user can ‘dial’ into the best solution for the RFID interrogator.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have adjusted the parameters of Gazdzinski to achieve the best solution for any particular application.
Regarding claim 15: wherein the output from the ADC is serialized through
parallel-to-serial (P2S) logic are considered as obvious inherent features of analog to
digital power conversion).
Regarding claim 16: further comprising a direct power oscillator and an LC
oscillator (col. 26, lines 10-26 of John where John describes power conversion that
includes oscillators).
Regarding claim 17: as shown in figures 8a-8b of John further comprising: a
power management unit (PMU) configured to set an operating mode and maintain a
minimum voltage; and a receiver circuitry block configured to provide energy from the
first RF signal to the power harvesting circuit (see associated descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 18: as shown in element 224 of John wherein
the wireless transmitter comprises a data modulator circuit, the data modulator circuit
configured to generate the second RF signal using DC voltage received from the PMU .
Regarding claim 21: as shown in element 28 of John wherein the PMU is
configured to control the wireless transmitter to operate on a duty cycle based upon a
current amount of energy stored in a storage capacitor (see associated descriptions for
details).
Regarding claim 23: as shown in figures 12b-12d of John wherein
the clock extraction comprises: demodulating, the first RF signal to obtain an
envelope signal, wherein the demodulation is performed using at least one of an
envelope detector and a self-mixing principle; filtering, using a low pass filter, the
envelope signal; recovering, using a comparator, one or more crossing points between
the filtered envelope signal and a reference signal; and generating, using the
comparator, a clock signal from the crossing points (see associated descriptions for
details).
Regarding claim 24: as shown in figure 12a of John wherein the clock extraction
further comprises removing noise from the clock signal with a Schmitt trigger (see
associated descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 25: as shown in element 272 of figure 8b of John wherein
the clock signal is used to set rates for at least one of acquiring signal samples and
wirelessly receiving data transmissions (see associated descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 27: wherein the transmitter using packetizing is configured
to transmit data with an 8-bit preamble indicating a starting point of the data (col. 10,
lines 28-36 of John).
Regarding claim 28: wherein operating modes are selected based on the
first RF signal (col. 10, lines 22-26 of John).
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gazdzinski and John as applied to claims 1 and 17 above, and further in view of Theus (5285169).
Regarding claim 19, in an analogous art, Theus (5285169) teaches an N-well N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor.
[4:36-54] To avoid the undesired increases of the threshold voltages of the p-channel transistors t1 and t2 commonly associated with the usual connection of the n-wells of such transistors to the positive supply potential V, the n-wells of such transistors are instead tied to the common source potential of the transistors t1 and t2. This alternative connection for providing potential to the n-wells of the transistors also keeps the transconductance of the first transconductance amplifier tv independent of the DC level at the two inputs ip' and in'. For identical reasons, the n-wells of the p-channel transistors t16 and t7 are similarly connected to the common source potential of the transistors t16 and t7. This alternative connection is however only applicable if the paralleling stage p is activated as has been thus far described.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have the claimed N-Well NMOS transistor in the above modified system, to avoid undesired increases of the threshold voltages as taught by Theus.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-5 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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/BRIAN A ZIMMERMAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2686
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