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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 6-16, and 20-29 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 and its dependents are allowed because the closest prior art either alone or in combination, fail to anticipated or render obvious, the claimed limitations of “wherein the processing subsystem is configured to selectively apply an attenuation function to the input audio signal to attenuate a signal component of the input audio signal at a frequency that causes mechanical rattle in the computer; and an analyser subsystem configured to receive the input audio signal and to output a control signal to the processing subsystem to control application of the attenuation function to the input audio signal by the processing subsystem based on a spectral content of the received input audio signal” in combination with all other limitations in the claims as defined by Applicant.
The prior art discloses mitigating mechanical rattle arising due to a mechanical coupling of an audio output transducer to a part of the computer device but does not teach or suggest subsystem configured to receive the input audio signal and to output a control signal to the processing subsystem to control application of the attenuation function to the input audio signal by the processing subsystem based on a spectral content of the received input audio signal.
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) 35 and 38-41 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by Centen et al. (US Patent Application, Pub. No.: US 2019/0059761 A1).
In regards to claim 35, Centen discloses a system for mitigating mechanical rattle in a computer arising due to a mechanical coupling of an audio transducer to a part of the computer (See [0070]), the system comprising: a classifier subsystem configured to classify the audio input signal (i.e., noise) into one or more of a plurality of classes (i.e., type of noise/noise source; mechanical or vibrational) (See [0070]); and a processing block configured to selectively apply an attenuation function to the input signal to attenuate a signal component of the input audio signal according to the classification of the audio input signal (See [0071] – [0072]).
In regards to claim 38, Centen discloses a system for mitigating mechanical resonance in a host device arising due to a mechanical coupling of an audio output transducer to a part of the host device (See [0070]), the system comprising: a processing subsystem configured to receive an input audio signal and to output a drive signal for driving the audio output transducer to produce a transducer output (See [0030]; [0070]; and [0076]), wherein the processing subsystem is configured to selectively apply an attenuation function to the input audio signal to attenuate a signal component of the input audio signal at a frequency that causes mechanical resonance in the host device (See [0071] – [0072] and [0031]).
In regards to claim 39, Centen discloses an integrated circuit implementing the system (See [0052] and [0069]).
In regards to claim 40, Centen discloses the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a smart amplifier integrated circuit (See [0032]).
In regards to claim 41, Centen discloses a host device comprising the system, wherein the host device comprises a laptop, notebook, netbook or tablet computer, an all-in-one computer, a gaming device, a games console, a controller or a games console, a virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) device, a mobile telephone, a portable audio player, a portable device, an accessory device for use with a laptop, notebook, netbook or tablet computer, a gaming device, a games console a VR or AR device, a mobile telephone, a portable audio player or other portable device, or a vehicle (See [0032]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Sun (US Patent Application, Pub. No.: US 2011/0103615 A1) teaches wind noise suppression.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THJUAN KNOWLIN ADDY whose telephone number is (571)272-7486. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM - 5:00PM Mon-Fri.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached at (571) 272-7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THJUAN K ADDY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693
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