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 .
Priority
Examiner acknowledges no foreign priority is claimed.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 11/1/2024 and 1/9/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered if signed and initialed by the Examiner.
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 1-20 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 “forming a first matrix based on data from the set of antenna receiver channels and data from the set of sub-spectrums.” It is not clear if the matrix is formed with some elements or parameters of data received by the antenna elements or sub-spectrums. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “determining whether an energy level associated with the first matrix has met a threshold energy level.” It is not understood how is the energy level associated with the matrix defined. It is not clear if the power is linked to the absolute values of the elements of the matrix, or something else. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix.” It is not clear how is the claimed reconstructed signal generated. Claim 1 merely indicates that the generating includes determining a direction of arrival phase, a first set of measurements, but none of these specify what is actually the reconstructed signal. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object.” It is not understood how is the first set of measurement generated and what does it mean that it includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “an index value”, which is not defined. Claim 1 merely
indicates that the index value is associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of
sub-spectrums associated with a target object. It is not understood how “the set of sub-spectrums are related to target object. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “determining a Doppler phase based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the Doppler phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “determining a second set of measurements based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the second set of measurements is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 1 recites “based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase”. Since it is not clear how the second set of measurements are determined based on the index value, it is not understood how a direction of departure phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claims 2-9 depends on claim 1, and therefore are also rejected.
Claim 10 recites “forming a first matrix based on data from the set of antenna receiver channels and data from the set of sub-spectrums.” It is not clear if the matrix is formed with some elements or parameters of data received by the antenna elements or sub-spectrums. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “determining whether an energy level associated with the first matrix has met a threshold energy level.” It is not understood how is the energy level associated with the matrix defined. It is not clear if the power is linked to the absolute values of the elements of the matrix, or something else. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix.” It is not clear how is the claimed reconstructed signal generated. Claim 1 merely indicates that the generating includes determining a direction of arrival phase, a first set of measurements, but none of these specify what is actually the reconstructed signal. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object.” It is not understood how is the first set of measurement generated and what does it mean that it includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “an index value”, which is not defined. Claim 1 merely
indicates that the index value is associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of
sub-spectrums associated with a target object. It is not understood how “the set of sub-spectrums are related to target object. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “determining a Doppler phase based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the Doppler phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “determining a second set of measurements based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the second set of measurements is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 10 recites “based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase”. Since it is not clear how the second set of measurements are determined based on the index value, it is not understood how a direction of departure phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claims 11-15 depends on claim 9, and therefore are also rejected.
Claim 16 recites “forming a first matrix based on data from the set of antenna receiver channels and data from the set of sub-spectrums.” It is not clear if the matrix is formed with some elements or parameters of data received by the antenna elements or sub-spectrums. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “determining whether an energy level associated with the first matrix has met a threshold energy level.” It is not understood how is the energy level associated with the matrix defined. It is not clear if the power is linked to the absolute values of the elements of the matrix, or something else. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix.” It is not clear how is the claimed reconstructed signal generated. Claim 1 merely indicates that the generating includes determining a direction of arrival phase, a first set of measurements, but none of these specify what is actually the reconstructed signal. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object.” It is not understood how is the first set of measurement generated and what does it mean that it includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “an index value”, which is not defined. Claim 1 merely
indicates that the index value is associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of
sub-spectrums associated with a target object. It is not understood how “the set of sub-spectrums are related to target object. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “determining a Doppler phase based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the Doppler phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “determining a second set of measurements based on the index value.” Since the index value is not defined in the claim, it is not clear how the second set of measurements is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claim 16 recites “based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase”. Since it is not clear how the second set of measurements are determined based on the index value, it is not understood how a direction of departure phase is determined. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claims 17-20 depends on claim 16, and therefore are also rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are allowed if corresponding 112(b) rejection is overcome.
Allowable subject matter:
“in response to a determination that the energy level of the first matrix has met the threshold energy level, generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix, generating a first set of measurements, wherein the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object, determining a Doppler phase based on the index value, determining a second set of measurements based on the index value, and based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase associated with the target object; subtracting data associated with the reconstructed signal from the first matrix; outputting the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase; and tracking a location of the target object with respect to a vehicle associated with the set of antenna receiver channels based on the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase.”
Claims 10-13 are allowed if corresponding 112(b) rejection is overcome.
Allowable subject matter:
“in response to a determination that the energy level of the first matrix has met the threshold energy level, generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix, generating a first set of measurements, wherein the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object, determining a Doppler phase based on the index value, determining a second set of measurements based on the index value, and based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase associated with the target object; subtracting data associated with the reconstructed signal from the first matrix; outputting the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase; and tracking a location of the target object with respect to a vehicle associated with the set of antenna receiver channels based on the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase.”
Claims 16-20 are allowed if corresponding 112(b) rejection is overcome.
Allowable subject matter:
“in response to a determination that the energy level of the first matrix has met the threshold energy level, generating a reconstructed signal, wherein the generating the reconstructed signal includes: determining a direction of arrival phase, wherein the determining the direction of arrival phase includes performing angular phase estimation on a set of sub-matrices of the first matrix, generating a first set of measurements, wherein the generating the first set of measurements includes beamforming the set of antenna receiver channels to the direction of arrival phase, based on the first set of measurements, determining an index value associated with a sub-spectrum of the set of sub-spectrums associated with a target object, determining a Doppler phase based on the index value, determining a second set of measurements based on the index value, and based on the second set of measurements, determining a direction of departure phase associated with the target object; subtracting data associated with the reconstructed signal from the first matrix; outputting the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase; and tracking a location of the target object with respect to a vehicle associated with the set of antenna receiver channels based on the direction of departure phase, the direction of arrival phase, and the Doppler phase.”
Closest prior art found to be:
Zhang et al. (US 2022/0244370 A1) describes techniques and systems to enable a radar system to detect angles in bistatic and monostatic scenarios. In some examples, a radar system for installation on a vehicle includes at least one processor…the processor is configured to obtain EM energy reflected by one or more objects in an environment of the vehicle, and generate, based on the reflected EM energy, a two-dimensional (2D) data matrix…the 2D data matrix has a number of rows corresponding to the number of antenna elements in a transmitter array and a number of columns corresponding to the number of antenna elements in a receiver array…using the 2D data matrix, the processor can determine DoA estimates and DoD estimates for monostatic and bistatic scenarios. By comparing the DoA estimates to the DoD estimates, the processor can determine an angle associated with each object (paragraph 3); the described radar system 102 and angle-finding module 114 can perform object detection for one or more objects 120 in the detection conditions 200-1 through 200-4…Doppler velocity estimates for a multipath reflection can depend on the speed of the vehicle 104 (e.g., the host vehicle), the speed of the object 120, and the speed of the reflective surface 118…when the reflective surface 118 is stationary (e.g., a wall, a fence, a guardrail), the direct-path detection condition 200-1 has the largest absolute Doppler velocity, while the two-way multipath detection condition 200-4 has the smallest absolute Doppler velocity (paragraph 41); the angle-finding module 114 can find three clusters of energy in range-Doppler detections (RDDs), including direct-path detections, bistatic scenarios, and two-way multipath detections…the angle-finding module 114 can use range-Doppler information to differentiate the bistatic scenarios (e.g., detection conditions 200-2 and 200-3) from the monostatic scenarios (e.g., detection conditions 200-1 and 200-4)…the bistatic scenarios fall into the same range-Doppler bin (paragraph 42); at 402, the angle-finding module 114 reshapes the beam vector of the radar data into a 2D data matrix (e.g., the 2D data matrix 500 of FIG. 5)….angle-finding module 114 or processor 110 receives the radar data as an N.sub.TN.sub.R×one beam vector…the angle-finding module 114 reshapes this beam vector into an N.sub.T×N.sub.R data matrix…the angle-finding module 114 can use the horizontal dimension of the 2D data matrix to measure the DoA angular phase using a ULA with the receiver spacing, d.sub.R, 310. The angle-finding module 114 can also use the vertical dimension of the 2D data matrix to measure the DoD angular phase using a ULA with the transmitter spacing, d.sub.t, 308 (paragraph 56).
Nadig et al. (US 2025/0199113 A1) describes FIG. 1B shows a one-dimensional virtual array of virtual array elements 30, which is generated when the array of physical transmitters 10 is operated in conjunction with the array of physical receivers 20…the virtual array is generated in the sense that, during one chirp repetition period T.sub.f, measurement data is read from each physical receiver 20 once for each active physical transmitter 10. (It is recalled that data from a plurality of chirp repetition periods is normally required for any velocity computation, e.g., for the providing of a Doppler FFT….data is collected from multiple chirps for each virtual array element…the measurement data thus collected, a virtual array signal, may be organized as a matrix X with dimensions equal to the dimensions of the virtual array. In the 1×8 case illustrated in FIG. 1B, the appearance of this matrix can be:
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22
298
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where x.sub.TX1,4 denotes measurement data read from the physical receiver 20 labeled A while it is excited by the first physical transmitter 10 (TX1), x.sub.TX2,A denotes measurement data read from the same physical receiver 20 while excited by the second physical transmitter 10 (TX2), and so forth…it may be considered that the virtual array in FIG. 1B is divided into two subarrays 40, which are each in a one-to-one relationship with the physical transmitter 10 that provides the excitation. Each measurement data entry in X may be, for example, a digital representation of an intermediate-frequency (IF) signal obtained by mixing the signal fed to the physical transmitter 10 with the signal received from the physical receiver 20…the digital representation may for instance be a row matrix of time samples. Further, each entry in X may be a data structure collecting measurement data from a plurality of radar chirps; for example, the measurement data entry may be represented as a matrix where the chirps correspond to rows (paragraph 40).
Meissner et al. (US 11,907,829 B2) describes the calculation of a range Doppler map involves two stages, wherein a plurality of Fourier transformations are calculated in each stage (for example by way of an FFT algorithm). According to the present example, the baseband signal y(t) (cf. FIG. 5) is sampled such that N×M sampled values (samples), that is to say M segments each containing N samples, are obtained for a chirp sequence containing M chirps. That is to say, the sampling time interval T.sub.SAMPLE is selected such that each of the M segments (chirp echoes in baseband) is represented by a sequence of N samples. As illustrated in diagram (c) in FIG. 9, these M segments with in each case N samples may be arranged in a two-dimensional array Y[n,m] (radar data array). Each column of the array Y[n,m] represents one of the M segments under consideration of the baseband signal y(t), and the nth row of the array Y[n,m] contains the nth sample of the M chirps. The row index n (n=0, 1, . . . N−1) may thus be considered to be a discrete time n.Math.T.sub.SAMPLE (within a chirp) on a “fast” time axis. Similarly, the column index m (m=0, 1, . . . M−1) may be considered to be a discrete time m.Math.T.sub.CHIRP on a “slow” time axis. The column index m corresponds to the number of the chirp in a chirp sequence (column 1 1lines 41-63).
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NUZHAT PERVIN whose telephone number is (571)272-9795. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-5:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, William J Kelleher can be reached at 571-272-7753. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NUZHAT PERVIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3648
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