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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the preliminary amendment filed on 11/25/2024.
Claims 2-20 are added by the applicants.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Examiner’s Note
Please note that Examiner cites particular columns and line numbers in the references as applied to the claims below for the convenience of the applicant. 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 as well. It is respectfully requested that, in preparing responses, the applicant fully consider the references in entirely 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.
Examiner’s Interview summary
On 09/02/2026 Examiner discussed the allowance matter with Mr. Steve Cha [44,069] to place the application in condition for allowance. On 09/03/2026 Examiner received call from Mr. Steve Cha and indicated that applicants need more time to consider the proposed amendments and requested an office action.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claim 1-3, 6-13 and 15-20 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1, 2, 5-12, 15,17-19 of U.S. Patent No. 11,733,660. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following observations.
Instant Claim
11733660 Claim
1. (Original) A method for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the method comprising:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window,
[claim 6, 7 of 11733660] wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage, the measuring comprising measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
2. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window;
wherein adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage is performed if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
1. A method for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the method comprising:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window;
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window;
6. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein measuring the current response to the applied drive voltage comprises measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
determining a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
wherein adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage is performed if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
3. (New) The method of claim 2, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determining a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determining a trend in the leakage current over time.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determining a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determining a trend in the leakage current over time.
6. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
comparing the electrical data at each of the plurality of additional times to the electrical data at the initial point in time; and
if, at any of the plurality of additional times, the electrical data differs from the electrical data at the initial point in time by drifting outside a specification, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
comparing the electrical data at each of the plurality of additional times to the electrical data at the initial point in time; and
if, at any of the plurality of additional times, the electrical data differs from the electrical data at the initial point in time by drifting outside a specification, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage.
7. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage.
8. (New) The method of claim 7, wherein measuring the current response to the applied drive voltage comprises measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein measuring the current response to the applied drive voltage comprises measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
9. (New) The method of claim 7, wherein measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window comprises monitoring the current flowing through the window while a voltage applied to the window is held constant.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window comprises monitoring the current flowing through the window while a voltage applied to the window is held constant.
10. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage comprises at least one of:
increasing a voltage,
adjusting a voltage parameter, and
adjusting a switching algorithm.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage comprises at least one of:
increasing a voltage,
adjusting a voltage parameter, and
adjusting a switching algorithm.
11. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a current density and at least one of predicting and determining a problem based on the measured current density.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a current density and at least one of predicting and determining a problem based on the measured current density.
12. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device comprises a liquid crystal material.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device comprises a liquid crystal material.
13. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the performance and/or response of the window is indicative of a degradation of the switchable optical device of the window.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance and/or response of the window is indicative of a degradation of the switchable optical device of the window.
15. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device changes optical state in response to an electrical input.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device changes optical state in response to electrical input.
16. (New) A system for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the system comprising a controller configured to:
apply a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determine a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
adjust, in response to the determined change, at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window.
17. (New) The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
17. A system for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the system comprising a controller configured to:
apply a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determine a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
adjust, in response to the determined change, at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window;
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
18. (New) The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determine a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determine a trend in the leakage current over time.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determine a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determine a trend in the leakage current over time.
19. (New) A controller of a switchable optical device, the controller configured to determine and correct for changing electrical attributes of the switchable optical device by:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window.
20. (New) The controller of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
19. A controller of a switchable optical device, the controller configured to determine and correct for changing electrical attributes of the switchable optical device by:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window;
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window;
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
Claim 1-6, 10-13 and 15-20 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-6, 8-11, 14 and 16-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,130,597. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following observations.
Instant Claim
12130597 Claim
1. (Original) A method for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the method comprising:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage, the measuring comprising measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
1. A method for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the method comprising:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage, the measuring comprising measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
2. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window;
wherein adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage is performed if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window;
wherein adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage is performed if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
3. (New) The method of claim 2, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determining a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determining a trend in the leakage current over time.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determining a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determining a trend in the leakage current over time.
4. (New) The method of claim 3, wherein determining the trend in the leakage current over time comprises determining a rate of change over time of the leakage current.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the trend in the leakage current over time comprises determining a rate of change over time of the leakage current.
5. (New) The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage in response to the rate of change over time of the leakage current outside an expected performance region.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage in response to the rate of change over time of the leakage current outside an expected performance region.
6. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
comparing the electrical data at each of the plurality of additional times to the electrical data at the initial point in time; and
if, at any of the plurality of additional times, the electrical data differs from the electrical data at the initial point in time by drifting outside a specification, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
comparing the electrical data at each of the plurality of additional times to the electrical data at the initial point in time; and
if, at any of the plurality of additional times, the electrical data differs from the electrical data at the initial point in time by drifting outside a specification, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage.
10. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage comprises at least one of:
increasing a voltage,
adjusting a voltage parameter, and
adjusting a switching algorithm.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the at least one attribute of the drive voltage comprises at least one of:
increasing a voltage,
adjusting a voltage parameter, and
adjusting a switching algorithm.
11. (New) The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a current density and at least one of predicting and determining a problem based on the measured current density.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a current density and at least one of predicting and determining a problem based on the measured current density.
12. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device comprises a liquid crystal material.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device comprises a liquid crystal material.
13. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the performance and/or response of the window is indicative of a degradation of the switchable optical device of the window.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance and/or response of the window is indicative of a degradation of the switchable optical device of the window.
15. (New) The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device changes optical state in response to an electrical input.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the switchable optical device changes optical state in response to electrical input.
16. (New) A system for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the system comprising a controller configured to:
apply a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determine a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
adjust, in response to the determined change, at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window.
16. A system for determining and correcting for changing electrical attributes of a switchable optical device, the system comprising a controller configured to:
apply a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determine a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
adjust, in response to the determined change, at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window, wherein the measured electrical data comprises a measured current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
17. (New) The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
18. (New) The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determine a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determine a trend in the leakage current over time.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:
measure electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at a plurality of additional times later than the initial point in time and other time;
determine a respective leakage current value associated with the window at each of the plurality of additional times; and
determine a trend in the leakage current over time.
19. (New) A controller of a switchable optical device, the controller configured to determine and correct for changing electrical attributes of the switchable optical device by:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window.
19. A controller of a switchable optical device, the controller configured to determine and correct for changing electrical attributes of the switchable optical device by:
applying a drive voltage to a window comprising the switchable optical device to control an optical state of the switchable optical device;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at an initial point in time;
measuring electrical data of the window indicative of the performance and/or response of the window at another time later than the initial point in time;
determining a change in the electrical data based on the electrical data measured at the other time and the electrical data measured at the initial point in time, the change in the electrical data indicating a change in the performance and/or response of the window; and
in response to determining the change, adjusting at least one attribute of the drive voltage provided to the window to correct for the change in the performance and/or response of the window, wherein measuring the electrical data comprises measuring a current response to the applied drive voltage, the measuring comprising measuring the current response to a component of a profile of the applied drive voltage.
20. (New) The controller of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
20. The controller of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a leakage current associated with the window at the other time based on the determined change in the electrical data of the window; and
adjust the at least one attribute of the drive voltage only if the determined leakage current is outside an expected performance region.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claim 14 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over claim 1 of USPN 11,733,660 (hereinafter, ‘660) Patent in view of USPN 20120239209 to Brown et al.
Per claims 14:
The instant claim Patented does not recite wherein the switchable optical device is an electrochromic or a solid state organic device features in the Instant claim Patented of ‘660 Patent. But it would have been obvious for one of the ordinary skill in the art to modify these features as modified by Brown.
However, Brown discloses in an analogous computer system wherein the switchable optical device is an electrochromic or a solid state organic device (Since this appears to be Markush type language requiring at a minimum just one from the list, Brown teaches paragraph [0092] “device may be the electrochromic devices themselves or a separate device formed on the windows”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to incorporate the method of wherein the switchable optical device is an electrochromic or a solid state organic device as taught by Brown into the method of a site monitoring system may analyze information from sites to determine when a device, a sensor, or a controller has a problem as taught by ‘660 Patent. The modification would be obvious because of one of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to add/incorporate the features of wherein the switchable optical device is an electrochromic or a solid state organic device to provide an efficient technique for managing windows color electronically so that according the sunlight the color may be changed as suggested by Brown (paragraph [0003-0005]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Related cited arts:
Wang, Yang, Evan L. Runnerstrom, and Delia J. Milliron. "Switchable materials for smart windows." Annual review of chemical and biomolecular engineering 7.1 (2016): pp. 283-304.
Lemarchand, Philippe, Eoin D. McLean, and Brian Norton. "Switchable Windows-Spectral Transmission and Switching Times." (2017). pp. 1-12
Meng, Xianyu, et al. "Recent advances in smart windows based on photo‐responsive liquid crystals featuring phase transition." ChemPlusChem 89.3 (2024): e202300700. pp. 1-12
US20110240232 - An apparatus and method for the automatic adjustment of windows coverings and the like, receiving externally-broadcast time-and-date signal as a temporal reference for making scheduled adjustments to the window covering. One embodiment comprises an antenna, a conventional broadcast time signal receiver/decoder, a motorized adjustable window covering, a conventional microcontroller with non-volatile memory, and human-operated controls for on-demand adjustments and memory commands. The broadcast time signal provides high reliability, high precision timing control, which allows synchronization of multiple units in separate windows, without the need for a central control system. Some embodiments of the invention have a learning function which is operated by making an adjustment in a conventional, familiar manner, combined with a learn command.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Satish Rampuria whose telephone number is 571-272-3732. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chat Do, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-3721. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Satish Rampuria/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2193
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