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 .
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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hamaguchi et al. (hereinafter Hamaguchi, US 2011/0135415 A1) in view of Luo et al. (hereinafter Luo, US 2019/0120726 A1).
For claim 1, Hamaguchi discloses a display control device for controlling display of a state of a machine tool (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses a display control device 9 for controlling display of a state of a machine tool 1 – see Hamaguchi, Fig. 1, paragraph [0002] and [0040], lines 1-4) which includes (i) an attachment portion to which a tool is attachable (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses an attachment portion 3 to which a tool is attachable – see Hamaguchi, Fig. 1, paragraph [0040], lines 1-4), (ii) a numerical control unit for controlling a rotating speed of the tool in accordance with a machining program (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses a numerical control unit 7 for controlling a rotating speed of the tool 1 in accordance with a machining program – See Hamaguchi, Fig. 1, paragraphs [0042], lines 8-14), and (iii) a detection unit for detecting at least one of a vibration of the tool and a load applied to the tool (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses a detection unit 2a-2c for detecting at least one of a vibration of the tool 1 and a load applied to the tool – see Hamaguchi, Figs. 1-3, paragraph [0041]), the display control device (see Hamaguchi, Fig. 1, display control device 9) comprising:
a display control unit (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses a display control unit 5) for controlling display of time-series data indicating a change in a detected value detected by the detection unit in a process of execution of the machining program (Fig. 1 of Hamaguchi discloses a display control unit 5 for controlling display of time-series data indicating a change in a detected value detected by the detection unit 2a-2c in a process of execution of the machining program – see Hamaguchi, Figs. 1 and 5-6, paragraphs [0042], [0044]-[0046], [0049], and [0061-[0062]); and a receiving unit for receiving a predetermined input for taking a measure against a chatter vibration based on the timeseries data (Figs. 1,4 and 9 of Hamaguchi disclose a receiving unit 8 for receiving a predetermined input for taking a measure against a chatter vibration based on the timeseries data – see Hamaguchi, Figs. 1,4 and 9, paragraphs [0053]-[0054] and [0056]-[0057]).
Hamaguchi discloses the display control unit which is silent for disclosing (a) a program name, and (b) at least one of a block number and a program line of the machining program associated with the predetermined input received by the receiving unit.
However, Luo discloses a display control device comprising a display control unit which discloses (a) a program name, and (b) at least one of a block number and a program line of the machining program associated with the predetermined input received by the receiving unit (Figs. 1 and 3-5 of Luo discloses a display control device 1 comprising a display control unit 10, wherein the display control unit 10 discloses controls display of (a) a program name, and (b) at least one of a block number and a program line of the machining program associated with the predetermined input received by the receiving unit 14, 16 – see Luo, Figs. 1 and 5, paragraphs [0032], [0036]-[0037] and [0040]-[0042]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify teaching of Hamaguchi to incorporate teaching of Luo for purpose of controlling tool accurately.
For claim 2, Hamaguchi in view of Luo disclose the display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a region associated with the block number as being superimposed on display of the time-series data (Figs. 1 and 6-7 of Luo disclose the display control unit 10 which displays a region associated with the block number as being superimposed on display of the time-series data – see Luo, Figs. 6-7, paragraphs [0011], [0043] and [0047]).
For claim 3, Hamaguchi in view of Luo disclose the display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a region associated with the program line as being superimposed on display of the time-series data (Figs. 1 and 7 of Luo disclose the display control unit 10 which displays a region associated with the program line as being superimposed on display of the time-series data – see Luo, Figs. 1 and 7, paragraphs [001] and [0047]-[0049]).
For claim 4, Hamaguchi in view of Luo disclose a display control device for controlling display of a state of a machine tool which includes (i) an attachment portion to which a tool is attachable, (ii) a numerical control unit for controlling a rotating speed of the tool in accordance with a machining program, and (iii) a detection unit for detecting at least one of a vibration of the tool and a load applied to the tool, the display control device (similar as claim 1 above, explanation is omitted) comprising:
a display control unit for controlling display of time-series data indicating a change in a detected value detected by the detection unit in a process of execution of the machining program; and a receiving unit for receiving a predetermined input based on the timeseries data (similar as claim 1 above, explanation is omitted),
wherein the display control unit controls display of the time-series data indicating the change in the detected value detected by the detection unit (Ando disclose the display control unit 13, 16 which controls display of the time-series data indicating the change in the detected value detected by the detection unit 7a-7c – see Ando, Figs. 1, paragraphs [0029], [0031]-[0032] and [0034]), and (a) a program name (similar as claim 1 above, explanation is omitted) and (b) at least one of a block number and a program line of the machining program associated with the predetermined input received by the receiving unit (similar as claim 1 above, explanation is omitted).
Claim 5 is "an apparatus/machine tool" claim which is similar to that of the "an apparatus/a display control device" claim 1. Explanation is omitted.
For claims 6-8, Hamaguchi in view of Luo disclose the display control device according to claim 1, 4, and 5, respectively, wherein the display control unit displays a marker indicating a timing of the predetermined input as being superimposed on the time-series data (Figs. 1, 7 and 9-10 of Hamaguchi disclose the display control unit 5 which displays a marker indicating a timing of the predetermined input as being superimposed on the time-series data – see Hamaguchi, Figs. 1, 7 and 9-10, paragraphs [0046] and [0056]-[0058]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/18/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s Argument:
In Remarks, page 8, lines 5-7, applicant argues that “Ando completely fails to disclose an operator making a dynamic input for taking a measure against an occurring chatter vibration (e.g., instructing a change in spindle rotation speed to suppress the vibration) based on the observed time-series data”.
Examiner’s response:
As explanation in claim 1 above, Figs. 1, 4 and 9 of Hamaguchi disclose an operator making a dynamic input for taking a measure against an occurring chatter vibration based on the observed time-series data – see Hamaguchi, Figs. 1,4 and 9, paragraphs [0053]-[0054] and [0056]-[0057].
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THAI T DINH whose telephone number is (571)270-3852. The examiner can normally be reached (571)270-3852.
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/THAI T DINH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Sep 5, 2026
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