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 .
2. This communication is responsive to application no. 18/701,991 filed on 09/23/2024.
3. Claims 1-20 are currently pending and have been examined.
Information Disclosure Statement
4. IDSs are considered.
5. The drawings filed on 04/17//2024 are noted.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-8, and 14 are 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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
7. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
8. Claim limitation “unit” has been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because they use a generic placeholders “unit” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Furthermore, the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier.
Since the claim limitation(s) invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claims 1, 20, and all dependent claims have been interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in a software that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification provides no descriptive definitions or details that separate the claimed “unit” described in the claim from functioning as a software.
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding software, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not intend to have the claim limitation(s) treated under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112 , sixth paragraph, applicant may amend the claim(s) so that it/they will clearly not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, or present a sufficient showing that the claim recites/recite sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function to preclude application of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
For more information, see MPEP § 2173 et seq. and Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
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.
Claims 1, 9-13, and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Rihn, Williams et al. (US PG PUB 2018/0369691).
As per claims 1, 9-13, and 15-18, Rihn discloses a device, such as a handheld controller having a plurality of segments for outputting a rotational haptic effect (abstract), comprising:
A first member (such a controller, 100A, Figs 1A-7) provided with a first movable par (first movable part or first segment 104A or B); a second member (such as controller 100B, Figs 1A-7) connected to the first member; a signal acquisition unit that acquires a first control signal for controlling a position (position or rotational axis 110, Figs 1A-2B) of the first movable part; and a position control unit (see., Figs 1A-7, item 203) that controls the position of the first movable part in accordance with the first control signal (see., paragraphs 0054 and 0055-0082, Figs 1A-7).
As per claim 19, Rihn discloses a device, such as a handheld controller having a plurality of segments for outputting a rotational haptic effect (abstract), comprising:
Acquiring a first control signal for controlling a position of a first movable part provided in a first member connected to a second member; and controlling, by a processor, the position of the first movable part in accordance with the first control signal (see., paragraphs 0054 and 0055-0082, Figs 1A-7).
As per claim 20, Rihn discloses a device, such as a handheld controller having a plurality of segments for outputting a rotational haptic effect (abstract), comprising:
A computer to function as an information processing apparatus comprising:
A signal acquisition unit that acquires a first control signal for controlling a position of a first movable part provided in a first member connected to a second member; and a position control unit (see., item 203, paragraph 0065) that controls the position (see., paragraph 0055, item 110, rotational axis) of the first movable part in accordance with the control signal (see., paragraphs 0054 and 0055-0082, Figs 1A-7).
Conclusion
11. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the Examiner should be directed to PIERRE E ELISCA whose telephone number is (571) 272-6706. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday -Thursday; 6:30AM- 5:30PM. Hoteler.
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, Hu Kang can be reached on 571 270 1344. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PIERRE E ELISCA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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