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 § 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.
Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mamoru (JP2021167151A).
Regarding claim 1, Mamoru discloses a key unit that houses an electronic key of a vehicle (key storage case 30 storing smart key 20, Para. 74), the key unit comprising:
an interference antenna configured to propagate, in the air, interference radio waves interfering with communication performed using a first frequency band between a transmission antenna of the vehicle and the electronic key (communication cutoff unit generates interfering wave in the same frequency band as the call signal S1, Para. 80-85);
a communication antenna configured to communicate with a mobile terminal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band (wireless communication unit 54 is configured to perform wireless communication by Bluetooth (registered trademark) capable of mutual authentication with a portable wireless communication unit 54 such as a mobile phone, Para. 79); and
a control unit configured to control an output of the interference antenna according to a communication content in the second frequency band (the control unit 52 determines from the communication state of the wireless communication unit 54 with the wireless communication terminal 80 whether the wireless communication terminal 80 exists outside the vehicle 2 or inside the vehicle interior 4, and wirelessly. When the communication terminal 80 exists outside the vehicle 2, the communication blocking unit 60 is operated, Para. 84-85).
Regarding claim 2, Mamoru discloses wherein the control unit stops the output of the interference radio waves when it is determined that a user is in a vehicle cabin (Para. 84-85).
Regarding claim 3, Mamoru discloses wherein in a state where the mobile terminal is away from the vehicle and it is determined that no user is in a vehicle cabin, the control unit causes the interference radio waves to be output when radio waves in the second frequency band are not received (Para. 84-85).
Regarding claims 4, 5, Mamoru discloses wherein the control unit determines whether the user is in the vehicle cabin based on an intensity of communication performed between the communication antenna and the mobile terminal (the distance between the vehicle 2 and the wireless communication terminal is calculated based on the signal level of the received signal obtained from the wireless communication unit 54, Para. 93).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Prior art related to key fob actuator housing including jamming transmitters: US 10991237 B1, US 20200257330 A1.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YONG HANG JIANG whose telephone number is (571)270-3024. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30-6 EST.
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/YONG HANG JIANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689