DETAILED ACTION.
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 13-31 objected to because of the following informalities: applicant is advised to use proper punctuations in the claim limitations. As an example, semi-colons should be used in line 2 of claim 1. It is advisable that applicant correct the rest of the claims as suggested.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 13-31 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by PLianos (US Pub 2019/0100208).
Regarding claim 13, PLianos discloses a device for controlling a coasting mode of a vehicle (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0020) in a context of distance and/or speed control of the vehicle (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0023), wherein the device is configured to:
predict a distance and/or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting mode in consideration of a movement of the vehicle during a coasting entry phase (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0023); and
control, to start or to end, the coasting mode in dependence on the predicted distance and/or speed profile (sec 0011, 0016, 0017, 0146-0148, 0150).
Regarding claim 14, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the device is configured to take into consideration a drive and/or drag torque caused by a drive motor of the vehicle during the coasting entry phase and/or an acceleration of the vehicle caused by the drive motor during the coasting entry phase in ascertainment of the predicted distance and/or speed profile (sec 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 15, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the coasting entry phase extends over a driving progression range which begins with an initial driving progression, at which a decoupling of a drive motor of the vehicle from one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle is initiated, and which ends with an end driving progression, at which the drive motor is completely decoupled from the drivetrain (sec 0115-0124).
Regarding claim 16, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 14, wherein the coasting entry phase extends over a driving progression range which begins with an initial driving progression, at which a decoupling of the drive motor of the vehicle from one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle is initiated, and which ends with an end driving progression, at which the drive motor is completely decoupled from the drivetrain (sec 0115-0124, 0150, 0175).
Regarding claim 17, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the device is configured to ascertain a value of a drive and/or drag torque and/or an acceleration which is caused or was caused at an initial driving progression of the coasting entry phase by a drive motor of the vehicle on one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle (sec 0123-0136, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and
determine the predicted distance and/or speed profile based on the ascertained value of the drive and/or drag torque and/or the acceleration (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 18, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 14, wherein the device is configured to ascertain a value of a drive and/or drag torque and/or an acceleration which is caused or was caused at an initial driving progression of the coasting entry phase by a drive motor of the vehicle on one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle (sec 0123-0136, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and
determine the predicted distance and/or speed profile based on the ascertained value of the drive and/or drag torque and/or the acceleration (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 19, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 15, wherein the device is configured to ascertain a value of a drive and/or drag torque and/or an acceleration which is caused or was caused at an initial driving progression of the coasting entry phase by a drive motor of the vehicle on one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and
determine the predicted distance and/or speed profile based on the ascertained value of the drive and/or drag torque and/or the acceleration (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 20, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the device is configured to ascertain the predicted distance and/or speed profile under the assumption that if an influence of a roadway gradient is not taken into consideration a driving speed of the vehicle at the beginning of the predicted distance and/or speed profile remains unchanged for a specific driving progression range (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 21, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 14, wherein the device is configured to ascertain the predicted distance and/or speed profile under the assumption that if an influence of a roadway gradient is not taken into consideration a driving speed of the vehicle at the beginning of the predicted distance and/or speed profile remains unchanged for a specific driving progression range (figs, 3-7; sec 0081, 0101, 0107, 0127, 0158).
Regarding claim 22, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 15, wherein the device is configured to ascertain the predicted distance and/or speed profile under the assumption that if an influence of a roadway gradient is not taken into consideration a driving speed of the vehicle at the beginning of the predicted distance and/or speed profile remains unchanged for a specific driving progression range (figs, 3-7; sec 0081, 0101, 0107, 0127, 0158).
Regarding claim 23, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 20, wherein the device is configured to ascertain the specific driving progression range, in which the driving speed of the vehicle remains unchanged, based on the ascertained value of the drive and/or drag torque and/or the acceleration (figs, 3-7; sec 0081, 0101, 0107, 0127, 0158).
Regarding claim 24, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein during the coasting entry phase, a drive motor of the vehicle is decoupled from one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle; and/or the drive motor is deactivated (sec 0115-0124, 0150, 0175).
Regarding claim 25, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 14, wherein during the coasting entry phase, the drive motor of the vehicle is decoupled from one or more wheels of a drivetrain of the vehicle; and/or the drive motor is deactivated (sec 0115-0124, 0150, 0175).
Regarding claim 26, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 15, wherein during the coasting entry phase, the drive motor of the vehicle is decoupled from the one or more wheels of the drivetrain of the vehicle; and/or the drive motor is deactivated (sec 0115-0124, 0150, 0175).
Regarding claim 27, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the predicted distance and/or speed profile indicates a temporal and/or spatial distance of the vehicle to a preceding vehicle driving in front of the vehicle and/or a driving speed of the vehicle as a function of the driving progression (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and/or
the predicted distance and/or speed profile extends proceeding from a current driving progression over a predefined prediction horizon (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175): and/or
the driving progression comprises a position of the vehicle along a roadway traveled by the vehicle (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and/or
a time during a journey of the vehicle (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 28, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the device is configured to ascertain an upcoming gradient profile of a roadway traveled by the vehicle (figs, 3-7; sec 0081, 0101, 0107, 0127, 0158); and
predict the distance and/or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting mode based on the upcoming gradient profile (figs, 3-7; sec 0081, 0101, 0107, 0127, 0158).
Regarding claim 29, PLianos discloses the device according to claim l 3, wherein the device is configured to ascertain status data with respect to a status of the vehicle and/or with respect to a status of a preceding vehicle driving in front of the vehicle (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0023); and
predict the distance and/or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting mode based on the status data (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0023).
Regarding claim 30, PLianos discloses the device according to claim 13, wherein the device is configured to compare the predicted distance and/or speed profile to a target speed or to a speed threshold value, lying below the target speed, of the distance and/or speed control (fig. 1-8; abstract; sec 0011-0023); and/or
compare the predicted distance and/or speed profile to a target distance or to a distance threshold value, lying above the target distance, of the distance and/or speed control (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and
control, to start or to end, the coasting mode in dependence on the comparison (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Regarding claim 31, PLianos discloses a method for controlling a coasting mode of a vehicle in a context of distance and/or speed control of the vehicle (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175), the method comprising:
predicting a distance and/or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting mode in consideration of a movement of the vehicle during a coasting entry phase (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175); and
controlling, including starting or ending, the coasting mode in dependence on the predicted distance and/or speed profile (abstract; sec 0011, 0119, 0123-0126, 0130-0135, 0167-0170, 0173-0175).
Conclusion
The prior art (US 11897466, US pub 2025/0206309) 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.
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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.
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/RONNIE M MANCHO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3657