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 1-13 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.
Claim 1, step (b) recites, “determining an electric energy stored in the energy storage device of the autonomous robot or a directly associated electric quantity of the energy storage device”.
The phrase appears to be incomplete because it is not clear where the claim should instead recite:
--determining an electric energy stored in the energy storage device of the autonomous robot or DETERMINING a directly associated electric quantity of the energy storage device--.
Also, the phrase, “…..or a directly associated electric quantity…..” is not clear since it does not indicate what is associated with what.
The rest of the claims are rejected for depending on a rejected base claim or for having similar deficiencies as the independent claim.
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.
Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by He Mingming (EP 3872867).
Regarding claim 1, He Mingming discloses a method for operating an autonomous robot (automatic lawn mower robot 1, figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089) within an operating area (boundary 200; figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089), the robot comprising:
(i) an electrically driven tool (cutting component 7; sec 0089),
(ii) an electric motion drive (motor driving wheels 5; sec 0089) for moving the autonomous robot, and
(iii) a photoelectric device (photoelectric conversion unit 11, fig. 2; sec 0090) for converting energy from illuminating light into electric energy (sec 0090), and
(iv) an energy storage device (energy storage units; sec 0090) for storing electric energy charged by the photoelectric device (photoelectric conversion unit 11, fig. 2; sec 0090) and for supplying the tool (cutting component 7; sec 0089) and the motion drive (motor driving wheels 5; sec 0089) with electric energy (sec 0089),
the method comprising the steps of:
a) the autonomous robot (1) working in an autonomous working mode within at least one working area (an area for working within boundary 200) within the operating area ((boundary 200; figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089),
b) determining an electric energy stored in the energy storage device of the autonomous robot or a directly associated electric quantity of the energy storage device (sec 0011, 0012, 0138),
(c) in response to the determined stored electric energy or the directly associated electric quantity of the energy storage device being below a minimum operating threshold, the autonomous robot moves or is moved to a charging position (moves to a charging point; sec 0156) for recharging the energy storage device using the photoelectric device (see 0138, 0156),
d) wherein the charging position is chosen from one or more positions, wherein, at least for a minimum recharging time period, an illumination intensity of illuminating light will be higher than a high illumination threshold (sec 0156: “location at which illumination intensity satisfies a preset level") and/or where the illuminating light will essentially not be shaded by objects in or around the operating area (sec 0165),
e) wherein the charging position is defined by a corresponding position marker placed at the charging position (sec 0152),
f) wherein the autonomous robot comprises a sensing device for sensing the position marker) and wherein the autonomous robot, when moving or being moved to the charging position, searches for the position marker using the sensing device and stops when the sensing device senses the autonomous robot to be within a certain distance from the position marker (this feature is implicitly disclosed by suggesting the use of a RFID- tag, which needs such sensing device i.e. the prior art senses or recognizes a location of high illumination intensity using RFID tag; marker is placed at location of high luminous intensity; examiner cites, “when the automatic mower enters the charging mode, the control module controls the automatic mower to move a closest charging point to be replenished with electric energy. Further, the control module plans a shortest path along which the automatic mower moves to the closest charging point, and the automatic mower moves to the closest charging point according to the shortest path”; sec 0156).
Regarding, claim 2, He Mingming discloses the method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or each position marker is placed within the operating area or within the at least one working area, by a user, or wherein position marker is placed on or in or an edge of a lawn or wherein the position marker is portable, to be placed at various different charging positions in case of changes in the environment within or close to the operating area or weather conditions, or is removably fixed at the charging position, via an anchor or peg or by burying the position marker at the ground surface or by gluing or releasably fixing the position marker to an object in or next to the operating area (sec 0152, 0156),
wherein the position marker is used at or moved between the various different charging positions (sec 0152, 0156).
4. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the searching for the position marker using the sensing device of the autonomous robot is based on signaling technology using electromagnetic or sound signals, wherein the certain distance of the robot from the position marker corresponds to a certain signal intensity (i.e. based on RFID; sec 0152, 0156).
5. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the searching for the position marker is based on optical pattern recognition or image recognition identifying an image of the position marker or identifying identification patterns at the position marker (i.e. based on RFID; sec 0152, 0156),
wherein the optical pattern recognition is performed using the sensing device and, wherein the certain distance of the autonomous robot from the position marker corresponds to a focal distance or other optical characteristics sensed by the sensing device (i.e. based on RFID; sec 0152, 0156).
6. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the position marker has a passive configuration, to change or send back a signal emitted by the autonomous robot, wherein the position marker has an active configuration, and sends out a signal or field to be sensed (i.e. based on RFID; sec 0152, 0156).
7. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, with at least one of the following further features or steps:
(i) determining the electric energy stored in the energy storage device or the associated electric quantity and comparing the electric stored energy or associated electric quantity with the minimum operating threshold is performed repeatedly, within given time intervals of between 1 second and 5 minutes (sec 0089, 0090, 0119),
(ii) the autonomous robot, when or after stopping at the charging position within the certain distance from the position marker, enters a charging mode during which the energy storage device is charged by the photoelectric device (sec 0089, 0090, 0119),
(iii) during the autonomous working mode the electrically driven tool and the motion drive are both activated (sec 0089, 0090, 0119),
(iv) when the autonomous robot moves or is moved to the charging position, the electrically driven tool of the autonomous robot is deactivated and the motion drive is activated (sec 0089, 0090, 0119),
(v) when the autonomous robot moves or is moved to the charging position, the electrically driven tool of the autonomous robot is activated and the motion drive is activated (sec 0089, 0090, 0119),
(vi) when the autonomous robot has reached the charging position, the autonomous robot goes into a stand-by mode, wherein in the stand-by mode the electrically driven tool and the motion drive of the autonomous robot are both deactivated (sec 0089, 0090, 0119).
8. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
receiving darkness information that the illumination intensity of the illuminating light is or will be below a minimum charging intensity, which is necessary for charging the energy storage device by the photoelectric device, for a certain period of darkness (sec 0123, 0137),
the autonomous robot, having received the darkness information or based on the received darkness information, searching for or moving or being moved to a wake-up position (sec 0123, 0137),
wherein the wake-up position is a charging position, wherein the illuminating light after the period of darkness, will essentially not be shaded by objects in or around the operating area, for a predetermined wake-up time period of the autonomous robot, the wake-up time period including the minimum re-charging time period (sec 0123, 0137).
9. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 8, wherein the darkness information is at least one of:
(i) an information indicating a low or zero illuminating light intensity derived from the electric output of the photoelectric device of the autonomous robot or derived from measurements using a light sensor, carried by the autonomous robot (sec 0123, 0137),
(ii) a time and date indicating the beginning of darkness and a duration of darkness (sec 0123, 0137),
(iii) a weather reporting information indicating the beginning of darkness by weather conditions (sec 0123, 0137),
(iv) an end of work time of a time schedule, the end of work time indicating the time when the robot is to stop working (sec 0123, 0137),
(v) information about a working or mowing period concluded or done (sec 0123, 0137),
(vi) sensor and sensor algorithm information no more need for cutting for the time being (sec 0123, 0137),
(vii) command from user or back-end service to cease operation (sec 0123, 0137).
10. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein several charging positions or wake-up positions are defined within or close to the operating area, to decrease the distance and time for the autonomous robot to find one of the several charging positions or wake-up positions and/or to provide different charging or wake-up positions for different dates during the year or at different seasons of the year (sec 0152, 0153),
wherein:
different position markers are provided for different charging positions or wake up positions in order to distinguish the different charging positions or wake up positions from each other (sec 0152, 0153), or
identical position markers are provided for the different charging positions or wake up positions (sec 0152, 0153).
11. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1,
wherein the direction and orientation of the autonomous robot and the photoelectric device at the charging position or wake-up position is adjusted towards a source of the illuminating light, in order to increase or optimize an intensity area density of incident illuminating light on a surface of the photoelectric device, by rotating movement of the autonomous robot or by tilting or rotating movement of the photoelectric device relative to a robot body or chassis (sec 0163),
or wherein the autonomous robot stays at the charging position or wake-up position until the photovoltaic device has recharged the energy storage device above the minimum operating threshold by a sufficient margin, and then resumes operating in the working mode (sec 0163).
12. (Currently Amended) The method, according to claim 1,
wherein the charging position is chosen at a slope with a slope angle within the operating area, wherein the slope angle is selected such that an inclination angle of the photoelectric device towards a source of the illuminating light, is optimized or increased with respect to an intensity area density of the incident illuminating light on the surface of the photoelectric device, when the autonomous robot stops at the charging position (sec 0163).
13. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 12, wherein at least a part of the photoelectric device is and arranged at a fixed not tiltable orientation with respect to a robot chassis (sec 0163), or
wherein the inclination angle of the photoelectric device of the autonomous robot toward the source of the illuminating light is a sum of the slope angle of the slope at the charging position and an additional tilting angle of the photoelectric device with respect to the slope or the robot chassis (sec 0163), or
wherein at least one charging position is chosen at a slope, for summer, and at least one further charging position is chosen at essentially horizontal or less sloped surface for spring or autumn (sec 0163), or
wherein an azimuthal orientation of the slope is chosen within an azimuthal angle range of the sun at the times of the year or day intended for re-charging (sec 0163).
14. (Currently Amended) An autonomous robot system comprising:
a) an autonomous robot (automatic lawn mower robot 1, figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089) within an operating area (boundary 200; figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089), the autonomous robot comprising:
al) an electric tool (cutting component 7; sec 0089),
a2) an electric motion drive (motor driving wheels 5; sec 0089) for moving the robot,
a3) at least one photoelectric device (photoelectric conversion unit 11, fig. 2; sec 0090) for converting energy from illuminating light into electric energy (sec 0090), and
a4) at least one energy storage device (energy storage units; sec 0090) for storing electric energy charged by the photoelectric device (photoelectric conversion unit 11, fig. 2; sec 0090) and for supplying the tool (cutting component 7; sec 0089) and the motion drive (motor driving wheels 5; sec 0089) with electric energy (sec 0089),
b) the system with the autonomous robot being configured to carry out the method of claim 1 (automatic lawn mower robot 1, figs. 1&2; abstract; sec 0088, 0089), and
c) comprising the position marker (sec 0152, 0156).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over He Mingming (EP 3872867) in view of Nakazawa (JP 2758461 B2).
Regarding, claim 3, He Mingming discloses the method according to claim 1, wherein base on an RFID tag position or marker id detected (sec RFID tag; sec 0152, 0156). Mingming indicated that other systems other than RFID could be used for detecting a marker. Mingming did not particularly recite or indicate that the, “position marker contains permanent magnetic material or is made as a magnetic strip or body……….,”
Nakazawa teaches of a method of operating an autonomous robot, wherein the position marker contains permanent magnetic material or is made as a magnetic strip or body and the sensing device of the autonomous robot contains a magnetic field sensor for sensing the magnetic field of the position marker, wherein the certain distance of the autonomous robot from the position marker corresponds to a certain magnetic field strength sensed by the sensing device or wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged in front or in the middle of the autonomous robot (citing Nakazawa, “Next, an electric motor 6 is attached to the lower front part of the automatic traveling lawn mower 1, and a lower end of a rotating shaft 7 of the electric motor 6 having a vertical axis is provided with a lever 8 extending horizontally. One end of the lever 8 is fixed, and the other end of the lever 8 is provided with a magnetic sensor 9 which is a marker sensor for detecting the magnetism generated by the magnetic body 5. The electric motor 6”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify Mingming in view of Nakazawa such the Mingming device is equipped with a magnetic sensor to sense the position of a magnetic marker as taught Nakazawa, With such modification Mingming will be able to determine the position of a marker using other means other than using RFID for the purpose of driving the robot to the position of the marker as a backup means for detecting the position of a marker or for the purpose or versatility.
Conclusion
The prior art US 9510505, US 9554508 made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONNIE MANCHO whose telephone number is (571)272-6984. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Adam Mott can be reached at 571 270 5376. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/RONNIE M MANCHO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3657