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 Objections
Claims 4, 5 and 8 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 4, “laser interferometry detection module” should read “laser interferometry measurement module” as that is how it was previously presented in the claim;
Claim 5, “laser interferometry detection module” should read “laser interferometry measurement module” as that is how it was previously presented in the claim; and
Claim 8, “second precision and parameters second compensation parameters” should read “second precision parameters and second compensation parameters” as confirmed by claim 9.
Appropriate corrections are required.
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 1-9 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.
The claim limitations “trigger acquisition module” and “data analysis and compensation module”, in claim 1, invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. However, the written description fails to disclose the corresponding structure, material, or acts for performing the entire claimed function and to clearly link the structure, material, or acts to the function. The term “moule” is considered a generic placeholder (nonce term) that is coupled with functional language, and the claim does not recite sufficient structure for performing the claimed functions.
Further, the specification does not disclose adequate corresponding structure or a sufficient algorithm for generating the machine tool operation code and measurement preparation signal, or for analyzing the error, environmental, and expansion compensation data to obtain the claimed precision and compensation parameters. Instead, the specification substantially restates the desired functions and provides only partial compensation calculations. Accordingly, the specification does not disclose adequate structure that is capable of performing the claimed functions or features as claimed.
Therefore, the claim is indefinite and is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph.
Applicant may:
(a) Amend the claim so that the claim limitation will no longer be interpreted as a limitation under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph;
(b) Amend the written description of the specification such that it expressly recites what structure, material, or acts perform the entire claimed function, without introducing any new matter (35 U.S.C. 132(a)); or
(c) Amend the written description of the specification such that it clearly links the structure, material, or acts disclosed therein to the function recited in the claim, without introducing any new matter (35 U.S.C. 132(a)).
If applicant is of the opinion that the written description of the specification already implicitly or inherently discloses the corresponding structure, material, or acts and clearly links them to the function so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize what structure, material, or acts perform the claimed function, applicant should clarify the record by either:
(a) Amending the written description of the specification such that it expressly recites the corresponding structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function and clearly links or associates the structure, material, or acts to the claimed function, without introducing any new matter (35 U.S.C. 132(a)); or
(b) Stating on the record what the corresponding structure, material, or acts, which are implicitly or inherently set forth in the written description of the specification, perform the claimed function. For more information, see 37 CFR 1.75(d) and MPEP §§ 608.01(o) and 2181.
Claim 2, the phrase “machine tool ratio” is unclear because it has no defined relationship in the specification, that is, the specification does not identify what quantities form the ratio or define how it is meant to be interpreted. Therefore, the scope of the claimed invention, with respect to the use of this phrase, cannot be reasonably determined.
Claim 4, the phrase “the linear reflector is called up” is unclear because the claim and specification do not identify what action is performed on the reflector. Therefore, the scope of the claimed invention, with respect to the use of this phrase, cannot be reasonably determined.
Claim 8, it is unclear whether steps 1-4 are repeated when both the first precision parameters and first compensation parameters exceed the preset range, when either group exceeds the range, or when any individual parameter exceeds an applicable range. Therefore, the steps of the claimed triggering condition cannot be reasonably determined.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, and the objections, as set forth in this Office action, from above.
As per claim 1, the prior art of record fails to teach or adequately the combination of feature claimed. Specifically, the prior art fails to disclose the trigger acquisition module configured to convert the machine tool encoder position value into a pulse value to transmission to the laser interferometry measurements module, retrieve axis parameter and compensation point information, and generate machine tool operation code and a measurement preparation signal, in combination with the other claimed features and or limitations as claimed.
References Considered but Not Relied Upon
The following references were considered but were not relied upon with respect to any prior art rejections:
(1) US 2021/0023667 A1, which discloses measuring geometric and thermal machine tool errors online, calculating corrections, and writing compensation values to a CNC;
(2) US 5,375,066 A, which discloses adjusting machine tool encoder feedback pulses in real-time using thermal and measured error conditions;
(3) US 6,286,055 B1, which discloses detecting multi axis machine movement errors with laser-based sensors and continuously correcting numerical control position commands;
(4) US 2009/0030637 A1, which discloses using laser calibrated measurements to build machine tool error data and correct axis position detection;
(5) US 5,940180 A, which discloses integrating a laser interferometer into machine tools to measure motion accurately and to supply position signals to the controller; and
(6) US 2016/0054722 A1, which discloses measuring CNC thermal growth, calculating location drift, and checking or improving machine temperature compensation settings.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONALD D HARTMAN JR whose telephone number is (571)272-3684. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 - 4:30 EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached at (571) 272-4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RONALD D HARTMAN JR/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2119 June 12, 2026
/RDH/
Prosecution Insights