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 .
Drawings
Figure 1 and 2 should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g). Corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The replacement sheet(s) should be labeled “Replacement Sheet” in the page header (as per 37 CFR 1.84(c)) so as not to obstruct any portion of the drawing figures. If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because a program by itself is not a product having physical or tangible form. MPEP 2106.03
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. The program of claim 15 removes the steps of claim 1. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 16 is 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.
As to claim 16, it’s not clear what a “module” might be. There is no provided definition for such in the specification. Both the specification and claims employ the term “device”, so how is the term “module” different from a device (or vice versa)?
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1-3,6-7,11-12,15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Dixon UK 2593477 (1449).
As to claims 1,11,12, Dixon teaches a method for processing an electrical signal for an
ultrasonic transmitting device, said method comprising:
generating an electrical signal defining ultrasonic waves (by way of controller18 per Figure 6), the periodicity of the electrical signal being modified by modulation of the phase of the signal (Figure 1, bottom)
“Figure 1 illustrates a pulse, a pulse sequence and first and second pulses where the second pulse is in anti-phase with the first pulse”
“ The electrical signal that is used to excite the transmitting transducer will herein be or described as comprising electrical pulses which are modulated, sinusoidal signals with no discontinuities in phase. The resulting far-field pressure produced by the transmitting transducer when excited by one or more of these electrical pulses will be referred to as the pressure wave, pressure pulse or similar. The amplified electrical signal produced by the receiving transducer when excited by the pressure waveform outputted by the transmitting transducer will be referred to as the electrical response of the receiving transducer.”
“Referring to Figure 1, examples of an electrical pulse, electrical pulse sequence and first and second pulses, where the first and second pulses are in anti-phase are shown” in Figure 1.”; and
supplying the electrical signal to the ultrasonic transmitting device 8 (Figure 6)
to cause the ultrasonic waves to be emitted (as an “emitted pulse”, 97).
As to claims 2,3, delay is visible in bottom wave of Figure 1.
As to claims 6,7, shift is visible in bottom wave of Figure 1.
As to claim 15, the controller 18 provides a signal to the driver 15, the controller operating per a program.
“According to a fourth aspect of the present invention is provided a computer program comprising instructions for performing the method.”
As to claim 15, Freer expresses carrying such out via “computer program comprising instructions” (Para 18).
As to claim 16, Figures 1 illustrates a generator 102 and schematic signal line from the generator 102 to the probe. Also, such elements are either as much modules as claimed, or one of ordinary skill would recognize that separate elements (ex. 102,106,104) may be individual/separate components before subsequent connection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1,6,11-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Freear et al 2015/0348531 (1449).
As to claims 1,6,11,12, Freear et al 2015/0348531 teach (Para 97) a method for processing an electrical signal for an
ultrasonic transmitting device, said method comprising:
generating an electrical signal defining ultrasonic waves (“drive signal”, Paragraph 97 of Pub), the periodicity of the electrical signal being modified by modulation of the phase of the signal (“phase modulation”); and
supplying the electrical signal to the ultrasonic transmitting device
to cause the ultrasonic waves to be emitted (as an “emitted pulse”, 97).
As to claim 13, Freear’s waves are pressure waves (Para 2), and such waves passing through materials of different densities change the compression mode, such as depicted in Paragraph 2.
As to claim 14, Freer is directed to medical imagine (Para 2).
As to claim 15, Freer expresses carrying such out via “computer program comprising instructions” (Para 18).
As to claim 16, Figures 1 illustrates a generator 102 and schematic signal line from the generator 102 to the probe. Also, such either those elements are as much modules as claimed, or one of ordinary skill would recognize that separate elements (ex. 102,106,104) may be individual/separate components before subsequent connection, and allow for replacement as modules.
Prior Art cited; not applied
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wu CN 114720563 (and Bo et al CN 1137586117) each teaches a method for processing an electrical signal for an ultrasonic transmitting device 7, said method comprising:
generating an electrical signal defining ultrasonic waves (via generator 5),
the periodicity of the electrical signal being modified by modulation of
supplying the electrical signal to the ultrasonic transmitting device
to cause the ultrasonic waves to be emitted.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-5,8-10 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.
Copy of Foreign Priority Document not received
An attempt by the Office to electronically retrieve, under the priority document exchange program FAILED on 12/30/24.
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Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT R RAEVIS whose telephone number is (571)272-2204. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina DeHerrera, can be reached at telephone number 303-297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT R RAEVIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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