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 § 103
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.
Claims 1–15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over US20180361918 A1 by Bertollini et al (Bertollini).
Referring to the claim 1 Bertollini Fig 1A- 4 teaches a computer system (Fig 1 item 100 paragraph [0018] a warning system [0026] ) comprising processing circuitry configured to: obtain sensing data from a sensor of a vehicle (paragraph [0042]), the sensing data being indicative of a first object and a second object within a predefined area of the vehicle [0043], and comprising first positional information of the first object in relation to the vehicle and second positional information of the second object in relation to the vehicle (See abstract, Fig 1A, 1B and paragraphs [0016] [0021]) ; and
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control a plurality of exterior lights based on the first positional information (controller 34 and warning system 100, processor 44 detects objects in vicinity to the vehicle 1 paragraph [0028] provides information related to everything including vehicle position and objects) and the second positional information such that : a first set of the exterior lights closer to the first object operate by a first mode of operation, the first set of the exterior lights being at a first side of the vehicle (See Fig 1B and paragraphs [0021] –[0023]);
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a second set of the exterior lights closer to the second object operate by a second mode of operation, the second set of the exterior lights being at a second side of the vehicle and adjacent to the first side (See Fig 1B and paragraphs [0021] –[0023]);
a corner set of lights at a corner portion of the vehicle operate by a corner mode of operation(See Fig 1B item corner lights), the corner set of lights extending from the first side of the vehicle to the second side of the vehicle, the corner mode of operation being different from the first and/or second modes of operation (see abstract and paragraphs [0021]-[0023]); and
a default set of the exterior lights (see Fig 1B item 31b and paragraph [0022]) farther from the objects operate by a default mode of operation, the first mode of operation, the second mode of operation, and the corner mode of operation being different from the default mode of operation. (see paragraphs [0021] –[0027])
Hence, it would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art to use a computer system to control the vehicle mode of operation with warning systems/lighting systems for a safe operation of the vehicle while in motion from any object within the vicinity of the vehicle.
Referring to claim 2 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation includes at least one of a flashing frequency, an optic light guide, a flashing duration, a light color, a light intensity, a light intensity shift, and/or an indicia projection. (see paragraph [0048] where Bertollini teaches frequency of flashing color changing sound etc).
Referring to claim 3 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to filter the sensing data based on at least one of dimensions of the first and/or second object(s), an object class of the first and/or second objects, a movement status of the vehicle, a distance between the first and/or second object(s) and the exterior lights, a motion and/or speed of the first and/or second objects, a reflectivity of the first and/or second object(s), ambient conditions, time of the day, sound or noise level, and/or energy consumption requirements. (See paragraph [0020] [0026], [0041] –[0045] and claim 8, 9). Hence, it is obvious to an ordinary skill to adapt any limitation in order to make the vehicle completely automated for a safe operation.
Referring to claim 4 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to dynamically adjust a size of the predefined area based on the filtered sensing data. (see paragraph [0029] and [0030] where Bertollini teaches using the sensor data and calculates the pre-defined area etc.). Hence, it is obvious to a person with ordinary skill to incorporate these instructions in to the computer and adjust the predefined area dynamically accordingly for the computer to operate the vehicle accordingly.
Referring to claim 5 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to dynamically adjust a sensing responsiveness of the sensor based on the filtered sensing data. (see paragraph [0029] and [0030] where Bertollini teaches using the sensor data and calculates the pre-defined area etc.). Hence, it is obvious to a person with ordinary skill to incorporate these instructions in to the computer and adjust the predefined area dynamically accordingly for the computer to operate the vehicle accordingly.
Referring to claim 6 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to disable or enable one or more of the exterior lights based on the filtered sensing data. (Bertollini suggests that using the computer controlling with the warning systems it is an autonomous operating vehicle and hence enabling or disabling is within the scope of the invention see claims 1-20).
Referring to claim 7 Bertollini modified reference teaches the computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause concurrent control of the first, second, default and corner sets of lights (Fig 1B paragraph [0021] –[0023] claim 1).
Referring to claim 8 Bertollini modified reference teaches the vehicle (Fig 1A, 1B and paragraphs [0016] – [0021]) comprising the computer system of claim 1.
Referring to claim 9 Bertollini modified reference teaches : An LED belt (See Fig 1B item 31 a -h LED belt) comprising a plurality of LEDs, wherein the LED belt is adapted to be arranged at an exterior of a vehicle, wherein the LED belt is configured to be controlled by the computer system of claim 1 (See Fig 1A, 1B and paragraph [0021] –[0023]).
Referring to claim 10 Bertollini teaches: A computer-implemented method for notifying others of detection status (Fig 1A, B abstract item 100 paragraph [0018] a warning system [0026] ), comprising:
obtaining sensing data from a sensor of a vehicle(paragraph [0042]), the sensing data being indicative of a first object and a second object within a predefined area of the vehicle (paragraph [0043]), and comprising first positional information of the first object in relation to the vehicle (See Fig 1B) and second positional information of the second object in relation to the vehicle (paragraph [0044]); and
controlling a plurality of exterior lights (Fig 1B item 31 a, b … based on the first positional information and the second positional information such that: a first set of the exterior lights closer to the first object operate by a first mode of operation, the first set of exterior lights being at a first side of the vehicle (See Fig 1B and paragraphs [0021] –[0023]);
a second set of the exterior lights (Fig 1B item 31 d etc.) closer to the second object operate by a second mode of operation, the second set of the exterior lights being at a second side of the vehicle and adjacent to the first side; (See Fig 1B and paragraphs [0021] –[0023])
a corner set of lights (Fig 1B corner set of lights 31 c i j etc) at a corner portion of the vehicle operate by a corner mode of operation, the corner set of lights extending from the first side of the vehicle to the second side of the vehicle, the corner mode of operation being different from the first and/or second modes of operation (see Fig 1B abstract and paragraphs [0021]-[0023]); and
a default set of the exterior lights (See Fig 1B item 31b) farther from the objects operate by a default mode of operation (see Fig 1B and paragraph [0022]), the first mode of operation, the second mode of operation, and the corner mode of operation being different from the default mode of operation. (See claim 1).
Hence, it would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art to use a computer system to control the vehicle mode of operation with warning systems/lighting systems for a safe operation of the vehicle while in motion from any object within the vicinity of the vehicle (claims 1-10).
Referring to claim 11 Bertollini modified reference teaches the method of claim 10, wherein the first mode of operation includes at least one of a flashing frequency, an optic light guide, a flashing duration, a light color, a light intensity, a light intensity shift, and/or an indicia projection (see paragraph [0048] where Bertollini teaches frequency of flashing color changing sound etc).
Referring to claim 12 Bertollini modified reference teaches the method of claim 10, further comprising filtering the sensing data based on at least one of dimensions of the first and/or second object(s), an object class of the first and/or second object(s), a movement status of the vehicle, a distance between the first and/or second object(s) and the exterior lights, a motion and/or speed of the first and/or second object(s), a reflectivity of the first and/or second object(s), ambient conditions, time of the day, sound or noise level, and/or energy consumption requirements. (see Fig 1A, B and paragraphs [0043] –[0045] where9 Bertollini teaches the sensing data and three dimension information etc see claims 1-9).
Referring to claim 13 Bertollini modified reference teaches the method of claim 10, further comprising dynamically adjusting a size of the predefined area based on the filtered sensing data. (see paragraph [0029] and [0030] where Bertollini teaches using the sensor data and calculates the pre-defined area etc). Hence, it is obvious to a person with ordinary skill to incorporate these instructions in to the computer and adjust the predefined area dynamically accordingly for the computer to operate the vehicle accordingly.
Referring to claim 14 Bertollini teaches: A computer program product comprising program code for performing, when executed by processing circuitry, the method of claim 10. (See Fig 1A,B processor 44 and memory devices such as programmable memories in to the circuitry of the autonomous vehicle. Paragraphs [0026] [0027]).
Referring to claim 15 Bertollini modified reference teaches: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by processing circuitry (See Fig1A item 34 controller has the media 46 paragraph [0026]), cause the processing circuitry to perform the method of claim 10. (See claim 10).
Conclusion
Claims 1-15 are rejected over prior art.
The prior of art made of record and not relied upon is considered to pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Applicants are directed to consider additional pertinent prior art included on the notice of references cited PTOL 892 attached here with. The examiner has pointed out particular references contained in the prior art of record within the body of this action for the convenience of the Applicants. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim other passages and figures may apply. Applicant, in preparing the response should consider fully the entire reference as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the examiner. See for example: WO2022010686 US11158488, US20140306754 US20220028659.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU whose telephone number is (571)272-4250. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30AM-5.30 PM.
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/SRINIVAS SATHIRAJU/Examiner, Art Unit 2844 02/07/2026