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.
Claims 9-10 are 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.
Regarding claim 9, claim 9 is a method claim which depend on claim 1 is an apparatus claim renders scope indefinite.
Regarding claim 10, claim 10 is a method claim which depend on claim 1 is an apparatus claim renders scope indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, none of the prior art of record teaches or suggests the walking mechanism (11) comprises a mounting platform (111), two servo motors (112) are fixedly mounted at two ends inside the mounting platform (111), a track wheel (113) is mounted at an output end of each of the servo motors (112), and a walking track (114) is sleeved on two track wheels (113) located on a same side; the vision sensing system (12) comprises a supporting frame (121) mounted at the top of one end of the mounting platform (111), and a vision sensing camera (122) and a radar sensor (123) are arranged on one side of the top of the supporting frame (121); the drilling mechanism (13) comprises a U-shaped base (131) mounted at the top of the mounting platform (111), an interior of one end of the U-shaped base (131) is hinged with a first supporting arm (132), the top of the first supporting arm (132) is hinged with a second supporting arm (133), a telescopic arm (134) is sleeved inside the second supporting arm (133), a rotating base (1341) is rotatably mounted at one end of the telescopic arm (134), and a drilling machine (135) is mounted on one side of the rotating base (1341); and the negative-pressure suction mechanism (14) comprises a U-shaped box (141) mounted at a top end of a middle part of the mounting platform (111), a vacuum cleaner (142) is mounted inside the U-shaped box (141), a dust outlet of the vacuum cleaner (142) is connected to a sample collecting box (143), and a feeding port of the vacuum cleaner (142) is connected to a sample collecting pipe (145) through a pipeline (144). It is these limitations as they are claimed in the combination with other limitations of claim, which have not been found, taught or suggested in the prior art of record, that make these claims allowable over the prior art.
Claims 2-8 are considered allowable based on their respective dependence on allowed claim 1.
Goldenberg et al. (WO 2011085498 A1) discloses a mobile robot including a chassis, a pair of drive systems, a manipulator arm with a turret. The pair of drive systems are operably connected to opposed sides of the chassis. The turret is rotationally attached to the chassis. The first link of the manipulator arm is attached to the turret at a first joint. The manipulator arm has at least a first link, and the first link is adapted to function as a traction device. The first link may include a flipper track whereby the flipper track functions as the traction device. The first link is generally triangular in shape and the flipper track is positioned along one side of the triangle and the first link can be positioned such that the flipper track extends outwardly from the chassis. The drive system may be one of a track drive system and a wheel drive system. However, Goldenberg et al. fail to disclose the above features of claim 1.
Ozick et al. (US Patent 8,417,383) disclose a coverage robot includes a drive configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller, a stasis indication wheel rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to a direction of forward travel, and a suspension supporting the wheel. The stasis indication wheel defines a first reflective portion and a second reflective portion. The second reflective portion is substantially less reflective than the first reflective portion. The suspension permits movement of the wheel in a direction other than rotation about the first axis. A signal emitter is disposed remotely from the wheel and positioned to direct a signal that sequentially is intercepted by the first and second reflective portions of the wheel. A signal receiver is positioned to receive the reflected signal by the rotating wheel. Communication between the emitter and the receiver is affected by rolling transitions between the first and second reflective portions during permitted movement of the wheel. The coverage robot may be used to clean a work surface, such as a floor or wall by vacuuming debris brushed from the work surface. The robot includes an optical sensor having a field of vision (i.e. a field of view if the optical sensor depends on ambient light; or both a field of view and field of emission if the optical sensor includes an illuminating emitter) trained on the stasis wheel. The optical sensor includes a laser-based or mouse-like optical camera (which may have a resolution of about pixels, for example) in which the focal length of the camera is selected to span from substantially ground level to the camera, with a depth of field within a limited range of travel or the full range the robot suspension. However, Ozick et al. fail to disclose the above features of claim 1.
Li et al. (US Patent 9,096,281) disclose a dual mode mobile robot includes a platform and a pair of track-wheel driving modules. The pair of track-wheel driving modules are attached to opposing sides of the platform. Each of the track-wheel driving modules has a track assembly; and a wheel assembly. Each of the track-wheel drive modules is moveable from a track position to a wheel position.
The track assembly may include a track positioned around a drive pulley and an idler pulley and a track drive operably attached to the drive pulley. The wheel assembly may have a rear wheel operably attached at one end of the track assembly and a swing arm operably pivotally attached to the track assembly and spaced from the rear wheel and the swing arm may have a front wheel operably attached thereto. The swing arm may include a front roller rotatably attached to the distal end of the swing arm. The track assembly may include a tensioning mechanism operably connected to the track. The rear wheel may be operably connected to a rear wheel drive. The rear wheel may be a hubless rear wheel. However, Li et al. fail to disclose the above features of claim 1.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN H LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2275. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 7:00am – 3:30pm Eastern Time.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shelby A. Turner can be reached on (571) 272-6334. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOHN H LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857
