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 .
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on August 4, 2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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, 8, 9-12, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yamada et al (US 2022/0388562).
Yamada et al disclose a sensing steering wheel, comprising: a steering wheel grip (31); and a sensing circuit layer (100), including: an elastic base layer (111) having a first surface (111a) and a second surface (111b) opposite to each other (see Fig 3B); an elastic sensing pattern layer (112) disposed on the first surface (111a), wherein the elastic sensing pattern layer (112) is formed of a stretchable conductive material (col. 6 lines 23-39) and includes at least one sensor unit (110) and at least one sensing line (122) corresponding to the at least one sensor unit (110); and a first insulating protective layer (113) disposed on the elastic sensing pattern layer (112); wherein the sensing circuit layer (112) has an enclosed belt structure extends along a circumferential direction of the steering wheel grip (31) and is stretched to sleeve onto the steering wheel grip (31).
Re claim 2, the at least one sensor unit (110) generates at least one sensing signal (see ||50) in response to being touched by an object.
Re claim 3, a processing circuit (140) electrically connected to the at least one sensing wire (122), wherein the processing circuit (140) is configured to determine a holding state of the steering wheel grip (31) according to the at least one sensing signal (see ||50).
Re claim 4, a heating layer (114) disposed between the steering wheel grip (31) and the sensing circuit layer (112), wherein the heating layer includes a plurality of first heating lines (114).
Re claim 5, the processing circuit (140) is further electrically connected to the heating layer (114) and is configured to generate a plurality of first heating signals (see 190) to drive the first heating lines (114) for heating.
Re claim 8, an inner edge (Ea) and an outer edge (Eb) of the enclosed belt structure are parallel to the steering wheel grip (31).
Re claim 9, Yamada et al disclose a method for fabricating a sensing steering wheel, the method comprising processes of: forming an elastic sensing pattern layer (112); with a stretchable conductive material on a first surface (111a); of an elastic base layer (111); wherein the elastic sensing pattern layer (112) includes at least one sensing line (122); forming a first insulating protective layer (113) on the elastic sensing pattern layer (112), so as to form a sensing circuit layer including the elastic base layer (111), the elastic sensing pattern layer (112) and the first insulating protective layer (113), wherein the sensing circuit layer (100) has an enclosed belt structure (see Fig 3A); and
Re claim 10, the elastic sensing pattern layer (112) further includes at least one sensor unit (110) corresponding to the at least one sensing line (122), and the at least one sensor unit (110) generates at least one sensing signal (see ||50) in response to being touched by an object.
Re claim 11, electrically connecting a processing circuit (140) to the at least one sensing line (122), wherein the processing circuit (140) is configured to determine a holding state of the steering wheel grip (31) according to the at least one sensing signal (see ||50).
Re claim 12, disposing a heating layer on the steering wheel grip (31) before stretching the sensing circuit layer (112) and sleeving the sensing circuit layer (100) onto the steering wheel grip (31), wherein the heating layer includes a plurality of first heating lines (114).
Re claim 13, electrically connecting the processing circuit (140) to the heating layer (114), wherein the processing circuit (140) is configured to generate a plurality of first heating signals (see 190) to drive the plurality of first heating lines (114) for heating.
Re claim 20, an inner edge (Ea) and an outer edge (Eb) of the enclosed belt structure are parallel to the steering wheel grip (31).
Response to Arguments
Some further comments regarding the applicant’s remarks are deemed appropriate. The applicant argues the amendment, “the steering circuit layer extending along a circumferential direction of the steering wheel grip,” overcomes the Yamada et al reference. The Yamada et al reference meets the limitations of the claims. Applicant's arguments filed August 4, 2026 have been fully considered, however they are not deemed fully persuasive.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VICKY A JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7106. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John R Olszewski can be reached at 571-272-2706. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617
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