DETAILED ACTION
Abstract
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it is unclear due to apparent editorial/administrative errors. Going forward with examination, the abstract is interpreted to be (Note that in applicant’s response, where a change is requested in the abstract, a separate page of the abstract containing the change will be needed):
--A single body multi-mode mechanical resonator includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more coupling springs. The coupling springs couple the motion between the two or more lumped masses. The parallel plate electrodes apply forces to an in-phase mode that yields equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of an anti-phase mode. The shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancel[[s]] first-order displacement effects. The drive combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode, with a frequency selective excitation. The sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.--
Correction is required. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Specification
The disclosure (specification) is objected to because it is unclear due to apparent editorial/administrative errors. Going forward with examination, the following specification paragraphs are interpreted to be (Note that in applicant’s response, where a change is requested in the specification, an entire paragraph of the specification containing the change will be needed):
--[0015] The single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator herein includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The two or more spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more coupling springs. The one or more coupling springs are attached to each lumped mass and couple the motion between the two or more lumped masses. The phase 1 parallel plate electrode and the phase 2 parallel plate electrode apply forces to an in-phase mode that yield, in the presence of acceleration, equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of an anti-phase mode. The plurality of interdigitated shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancel[[s]] first-order displacement effects of the plurality of interdigitated shaped combs. The plurality of interdigitated drive combs are aligned to resonate the anti-phase mode that has a frequency selective excitation. The plurality of interdigitated sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.--
--[0021] Referring back to FIG. 1, the single body multi-mode mechanical resonator 100 further includes a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs 112. The plurality of interdigitated shaped combs 112 is attached to each lumped mass as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The plurality of interdigitated shaped combs 112 compensate[[s]] for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancel[[s]] first-order displacement effects of the plurality of interdigitated shaped combs. In an example, frequency drift refers to undesirable effects, such as a change in frequency due to temperature variations. The profile of the plurality of interdigitated shaped combs 112 is designed such that the force produced is linearly related to the displacement. The plurality of interdigitated shaped combs 112 have a stationary finger and a moving finger that produce the force. The force between the stationary finger and the moving finger can be represented by the following equation (III):
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where F(x) the amount of force generated between a pair of a stationary finger and a moving finger, ϵ0 is the permittivity of free space, t is the thickness of the stationary finger and a moving finger, V is the voltage difference between the stationary finger and moving finger, and h(x) is size of the gap between a stationary finger and a moving finger.--
--[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3, an example of a method 300 for real-time frequency modulated bias calibration of short-term drift in the single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer is shown. In the method 300, an extracted accelerometer output is measured 302 where the extracted accelerometer output drifts over time, thereby causing an inaccurate extracted accelerometer output. The drift occurs because effects that cause the frequency of the anti-phase mode to drift, for example temperature variations, cannot be separated from acceleration from linear motion that also causes the frequency of the anti-phase mode to shift. In an example, the extracted output of the accelerometer is obtained by measuring the output of an interface electronic circuit that corresponds to a displacement of two or more spring-mass devices 102 in an anti-phase mode, a differential charge produced by motion of two or more spring-mass devices 102 in the anti-phase mode, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the measurement may be further processed to obtain the final extracted output of the accelerometer prior to using an autoregressive filter.--
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
Claims 1, 3-5 and 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) as based on a disclosure which is not enabling. The claims do not enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention by failing to define what “an autoregressive filter” is (as recited in independent claims 1 and 8), which is/are critical or essential to the practice of the invention but not included in the claim(s). See In re Mayhew, 527 F.2d 1229, 188 USPQ 356 (CCPA 1976). The specification describes how an autoregressive filtering can be performed by applying equation V below (but nothing else broader), which needs to be included in independent claims 1 and 8 to enable the claims:
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where t is time, δ0 is linear offset, δ1 is linear trend with time, p is an autoregressive model order, ϕk is an autoregressive model parameter, yt-k is a model value at discrete time (t-k), k is a k-th term of the summation, and ϵt is uncorrelated noise process at discrete time t.
Furthermore, independent claim 8 requires only one of the two recited operations to be performed, but dependent claims 9-10 require both operations to be performed, thereby causing contradiction.
Claim 8 recites “a method for real-time frequency modulated bias calibration of short-term drift and long-term drift in a single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer.” The method therefore appears to include both operations to be performed.
Going forward with examination, claims 1-2 and 8 are interpreted to be:
--1. A method for real-time frequency modulated bias calibration of short-term drift in a single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer, comprising:
measuring an extracted accelerometer output, wherein the extracted accelerometer output drifts over time, thereby causing an inaccurate extracted accelerometer output;
applying an autoregressive filter to the extracted accelerometer output, thereby removing short-term noise, wherein the autoregressive filter is applied using the equation (V):
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where t is time, δ0 is linear offset, δ1 is linear trend with time, p is an autoregressive model order, ϕk is an autoregressive model parameter, yt-k is a model value at discrete time (t-k), k is a k-th term of the summation, and ϵt is uncorrelated noise process at discrete time t; and
calculating a corrected accelerometer output, thereby determining an acceleration.--
--2.
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--8. A method for real-time frequency modulated bias calibration of short-term drift and long-term drift in a single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer, comprising:
measuring an extracted accelerometer output, wherein the extracted accelerometer output drifts over time, thereby causing an inaccurate extracted accelerometer output;
performing
determining a corrected short-term accelerometer output by:
applying an autoregressive filter to the extracted accelerometer output, thereby removing short-term noise, wherein the autoregressive filter is applied using the equation (V):
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where t is time, δ0 is linear offset, δ1 is linear trend with time, p is an autoregressive model order, ϕk is an autoregressive model parameter, yt-k is a model value at discrete time (t-k), k is a k-th term of the summation, and ϵt is uncorrelated noise process at discrete time; and
calculating the corrected short-term accelerometer output, thereby determining a short-term acceleration; and
determining a corrected long-term accelerometer output by:
measuring the frequency of the single body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer, thereby obtaining frequency data to extract a mean value;
adjusting a voltage applied to a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs using the mean value and a control algorithm, thereby forming a control voltage to maintain a constant mean frequency value;
determining an amount of drift in the accelerometer using the control voltage; and
calculating the corrected long-term accelerometer output, thereby determining a long-term acceleration.--
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-7 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
With respect to independent claim 6, prior art of record doesn’t teach, suggest, or render obvious the total combination of the recited features, including the following allowable subject matter:
“…adjusting a voltage applied to a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs using the mean value and a PID controller, thereby forming a control voltage to maintain a constant mean frequency value;
determining an amount of drift in the accelerometer using the control voltage; and
calculating a corrected accelerometer output using the amount of drift, thereby determining an acceleration.”
(Claim 7 is dependent on claim 6.)
Claims 1-5 and 8-10 would be allowed if the above objections and rejections were overcome (as suggested above). The following would be an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
With respect to independent claims 1 and 8, prior art of record doesn’t teach, suggest, or render obvious the total combination of the recited features, including the following allowable subject matter (or an equivalent):
“…wherein the autoregressive filter is applied using the equation (V):
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where t is time, δ0 is linear offset, δ1 is linear trend with time, p is an autoregressive model order, ϕk is an autoregressive model parameter, yt-k is a model value at discrete time (t-k), k is a k-th term of the summation, and ϵt is uncorrelated noise process at discrete time t.”
(Remaining claims are dependent on claim 1 or claim 8.)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record below and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure/invention.
US 2019/0064205 A1 to Tocchio et al. discloses a method for real-time frequency modulated bias calibration of drift in a single-body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer (1). The method comprises essentially all the features recited in independent claim 6, except for the allowable subject matter.
As shown in fig. 1A (reproduced below), the method comprises:
measuring an extracted accelerometer output (from sense electrodes 16a, 16b and 20a, 20b), wherein the extracted accelerometer output drifts over time, thereby causing an inaccurate extracted accelerometer output;
measuring the frequency of the single body multi-mode mechanical resonator accelerometer (1), thereby obtaining frequency data to extract a mean value (Abstract; Pars. 0038, 0044);
adjusting a voltage applied to a plurality of tuning electrodes (22, 23, 24, 25) thereby forming a control voltage to maintain a constant mean frequency value (Par. 0079);
determining an amount of drift in the accelerometer using the control voltage (Par. 0092); and
calculating a corrected accelerometer output using the amount of drift, thereby determining an acceleration (0086).
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Nguyen (Wyn) Q. Ha whose telephone number is (571) 272-2863, email: nguyenq.ha@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm (Eastern Time).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Stephen Meier can be reached at (571) 272-2149. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Nguyen Q. Ha/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853 August 29, 2026
