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 .
Claims 1 – 11 remain pending in the application and have been fully considered.
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 – 11 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 recites the limitation "the safety standard" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Correction is required.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the at least one sensor of the secondary function" in line 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. In line 6, the element “at least one sensor” is claimed, but makes no reference to whether it belongs to the main function assembly or the secondary function assembly. The Applicant’s specification and Drawings show multiple sensor for both function assemblies, and therefore, it is unclear what this limitation is referring to. Correction is required.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “wherein the at least one sensor of the secondary function assembly is functionally assigned to the main function, and wherein the at least one sensor of the secondary function assembly assigned to the main function is only connected to the main function assembly in a power supply connection for supplying the sensor with operating power and in a signal exchange connection.” This is unclear due to the above insufficient antecedence basis. For examination purposes, the Examiner will understand this phrase to mean at least one sensor of the secondary assembly is functionally assigned to the mains sensor, and this sensor is further connected with the at least one sensor of the main function assembly and supplies operating power along with a signal exchange connection. This is shown applicant’s drawings in Figures 1 and 2.
Claim 3 recites the limitation “the controlled secondary function is designed...” which is unclear to the Examiner and therefore is determined to be indefinite due to lack of clarity as the Specifications and Drawings do not explicitly show what exactly controls the secondary function (e.g. one or both of the controllers), and how it is specifically “designed” as a steering wheel feedback function (e.g. via sensors or driver input).
Claims 2 – 11 are rejected for being dependent on a rejected base claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 – 11 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, set forth in this Office action.
The Examiner further notes that the allowable subject matter pertains to the secondary function assembly having at least one sensor, and the at least one sensor is connected to the main function assembly’s sensor and provides operating power and a signal exchange connection; and the safety standard of one function assembly is greater than the other function assembly.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/LONG T TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747