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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 1 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the sensing modules" in line 5. There is improper antecedent basis for "the sensing modules" in the claim.
Prior Art
The following are the closest prior art:
Aebersold, Hans et al. (US 2013/0120150 A1) teaches, a smoke detector. The detector includes sensing electronics. The detector may be a linear smoke detector. The goal is longer service life and more reliable operation in radioactive environments. [0045] FIG. 2 is block diagram of an example of a further danger detector system with a danger management station and with three addressable danger detectors connected to the danger management station via a common two-wire line, in a nuclear area.
Hennegan, Michael L. (US 2016/0101306 A1) teaches, a fire sprinkler system that uses the same piping both to sample air and to deliver fire-extinguishing fluid. Instead of relying only on separate smoke detectors, the system draws ambient air through openings in the pipe and tests that air for signs of fire. When the detector senses smoke, heat, or another fire-related condition, it opens a valve to let water or another extinguishing fluid enter the pipe. The pipe then becomes pressurized with extinguishing fluid and feeds one or more sprinkler heads. The system can also use special openings or valves that let air in during normal operation but stop fluid from leaking out once the pipe is flooded. In some versions, a suction device or blower continuously moves air through the pipe. In other versions, the sprinkler itself helps draw air for detection. The application also discloses anti-flood devices that protect the detector from water intrusion. Some embodiments monitor airflow changes to identify when a sprinkler has opened or when the piping is damaged. The overall goal is to combine detection and suppression in a simpler, faster, and less costly sprinkler arrangement. [0002]-[0009], [0031]-[0045], [0079]-[0096].
Ribalda Galvez, Miquel et al. (US 2021/0166540 A1) teaches, a smoke detection system that combines a central aspiration smoke detector with one or more smaller local sensors placed closer to the area being monitored. Air is drawn from rooms or other spaces through sampling pipes or inlet pieces and into a central smoke detection unit. The central unit looks for smoke particles in the sampled air. The local sensors measure another property of the air, such as temperature rise, smoke, or carbon dioxide, before the air reaches the central detector. This lets the system react faster to fast-growing fires, because a nearby sensor can notice a sudden change before the smoke sample travels down the pipe. At the same time, the central smoke detector remains useful for slower fires that produce little smoke or heat at first. If multiple local sensors are used, the system can also estimate where the fire is most likely located. In some versions, each inlet has a detachable inlet piece with a sensor, making installation or retrofit easier. The controller receives data from both the central detector and the local sensors. It can raise an alarm when either data source indicates a fire [0008]-[0011], [0046], [0051]-[0055].
Prior art fails to teaches, a linear or interconnected fire detection system comprising:
a cable of a selected length wherein the cable comprises
an air tube for sampling air and
a pair of insulated electrical conducting wires for power and data transmission among the sensing modules and the signal processing unit, and
a linear heat sensor for monitoring heat between the sensing modules;
wherein the air tube has one or more air inlets.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: It would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time of invention (effective filing date for AIA application) to modify the combination of Aebersold-Hennegan-Ribalda and reduce to practice the claimed subject matter; therefore, it is Examiner’s opinion that claim 1 shall be allowed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Omer S. Khan whose telephone number is (571)270-5146. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 am to 8:00 pm EST.
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/Omer S Khan/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2686
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