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
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 1/15/2025 has been considered by the examiner.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet preferably within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, "The disclosure concerns," "The disclosure defined by this invention," "The disclosure describes," etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as "means" and "said," should be avoided.
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it is comprised of two paragraphs with 182 words. Correction is required. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Claim Objection
Claims 15, 17, 21, and 23-27 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 15: please amend “the property of the measured gas” to --the at least one property of the measured gas--; “the Nernst cell” to --the at least one Nernst cell--.
Claim 17: please amend “The method according to claim 15 wherein” to --The method according to claim 15, wherein --.
Claim 21: please amend “target variable data packets” to –the target variable data packet[[s]]--.
Claim 23: please amend “a target variable data packet” to –[[a]] the target variable data packet--.
Claim 24: please amend “The method according to claim 23 wherein” to --The method according to claim 23, wherein --; “the correction index” to -- the time correction index--.
Claim 25: please amend “the property of the measured gas” to --the at least one property of the measured gas--; “the Nernst cell” to --the at least one Nernst cell--.
Claim 26: please amend “the property of the measured gas” to --the at least one property of the measured gas--; “the Nernst cell” to --the at least one Nernst cell--.
Claim 27: please amend “the property of the measured gas” to --the at least one property of the measured gas--; “operating a sensor for detecting at least one property of a measured gas in a measurement gas chamber, wherein the sensor includes a sensor element configured to detect the property of the measured gas, wherein the sensor element includes at least one Nernst cell” to -- operating [[a]] the sensor for detecting the at least one property of [[a]] the measured gas in [[a]] the measurement gas chamber, at least one Nernst cell--.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 17, 20 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as failing to set forth 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.
Regarding claim 17, claim 17 recites “wherein the target variable is a manipulated variable when controlling the Nernst voltage, and the manipulated variable is a current or a voltage of a pump cell of the sensor element or of the Nernst cell”. For the manipulated variable is a voltage of the Nernst cell, it is unclear if a voltage of the Nernst cell is the same as or different than the Nernst voltage which is under control. Thus, the scope of claim 17 is indefinite.
Regarding claim 20, claim 20 recites “adding the timestamp assigned to the currently processed pump current packet to”, and it is unclear where the timestamp assigned to the currently processed pump current packet is added. Furthermore, the currently processed pump current packet lacks antecedent basis, and it is unclear if it is the same as or different than the currently processed target variable data packet. Thus, the scope of claim 20 is indefinite.
Regarding claim 23, claim 23 recites “accessing a target variable data
packet stored in the ring buffer”, wherein “the ring buffer” lacks antecedent basis and it is unclear if claim 23 depends on claim 22 which provides antecedent basis for the ring buffer. Thus, the scope of claim 23 is indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 15-16, 18-19, 21-22 and 24-27 are allowable.
Claims 17, 20, and 23 would be allowable if they are 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter.
The closest prior art to the present application is Ledermann et al. (WO2020011652A1, English translation), Schroeder et al. (WO2018166677A1, English translation), Ledermann et al. (WO2021083820A1, English translation, hereinafter Ledermann’820), and Barnikow et al. (US20120266657A1).
Regarding independent claims 15, 25-27, Ledermann teaches a sensor 100
for detecting at least one property of a measured gas in a measurement gas chamber, wherein the sensor includes a sensor element 10 configured to detect the property of the measured gas, wherein the sensor element includes at least one Nernst cell 46 (claim 12 and Fig.1).
Ledermann further teaches an electronic storage medium on which is stored a computer program for operating the sensor for detecting the at least one property of the measured gas in the measurement gas chamber (an electronic storage medium on which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is for carry out each step of the method of operating the sensor [para. 0039-0040]).
Ledermann further teaches an electronic control device comprising an electronic storage medium on which is stored a computer program for operating the sensor for detecting the at least one property of the measured gas in the measurement gas chamber (an electronic control unit which includes such an electronic storage medium on which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is for carry out each step of the method of operating the sensor [para. 0039-0041]).
Ledermann further teaches a method of operating the gas sensor, wherein the method comprising the following steps:
measuring a Nernst voltage of the Nernst cell, and, based on the Nernst voltage, quantitatively determining a target variable describing the property of the measured gas (The composition in the gas is determined by the Nernst cell 46 by measuring a Nernst voltage between the third electrode 48 and the fourth electrode 50 [para. 0097]);
recording a target variable data packet based on the target variable (the measured value of the Nernst voltage is the main input to the controller 58 of the control unit 52, the output of the controller 58 is connected to the input power source 60 and the controller 58 uses the latest Nernst voltage value to determine a new setpoint for the pump current [para. 0103]; note that the Nernst voltage is regulated/controlled by the pump current of the pump cell, and a measurement signal from sensor element is determined based on the pump current [para. 0105]; At least one corrected measurement signal is determined from the measurement signal and the compensation parameter. The corrected measurement signal is used to determine the properties of the measuring gas in the measuring gas chamber. The compensation quantity depends at least partially on an actual value Y of the pump current and a target value X supplied to the power source 60 for the pump current [para. 0106]);
assigning a current timestamp to the target variable data packet (The compensation quantity comprises a linear equation of the pairs [Xi, Yi] of actual value Y, of the pump current and target value X, for the pump current [para. 0108], and N, such as N=500, pairs of values (Xi, Yi) were collected [para. 0109]; a new value is measured at predetermined time intervals of 100 ms or at other time intervals [para. 0121]. Current timestamp corresponds to the timestamp of measuring N pairs of values);
processing the target variable data packet on a signal processing path ([para. 0108-0125] details processing the N pairs of values using a linear relationship U=m X+c wherein m is the slope and c is the offset by the computer program stored on the electronic storage medium);
requesting a current system time (each newly determined point [NewX, NewY] [para.0121]);
correcting the timestamp of the currently processed target variable data packet
based on a predetermined time delay and the current system time (a new value is measured at a predetermined time intervals of 100 ms or at other time intervals [para. 0121]);
converting the corrected timestamp to form a number of measured values (As long as fewer than N points have been collected, the following calculation is performed for each newly determined point [NewX, NewY]: SumX=SumX+NewX. If N points have already been collected, the sum is calculated as SumX=SumX*(N-1)/N+NewX, and the old values lose weight and the most recently collected values have the highest weight [para. 0121-0124]; the newly determined point [NewX, NewY] is added to the already collected pairs of values [Xi, Yi] to form a number of measured values); and
ascertaining a corrected target variable value (a compensation quantity is determined by means of signal processing, wherein at least one corrected measurement signal is determined from the measurement signal and the compensation quantity, wherein the property of the measuring gas in the measuring gas space is determined, wherein the compensation quantity is at least partially dependent on an actual value Y of the pump current and a target value X [claim 1]).
Ledermann does not teach and/or suggest ascertaining a time correction index for the target variable based on the number of measured values; and ascertaining the corrected target variable value based on the time correction index, recited in independent claims 15, 25-27.
Schroeder teaches a sensor 10 having a sensor element 12 with a Nernst cell 40 and a pump cell 36 for detecting at least one property of a measured gas in a measurement gas chamber (title; abstract and Fig.1). Schroeder further teaches a method of operating the sensor for detecting at least one property of a measured gas in a measurement gas chamber (title), wherein a Nernst voltage of the Nernst cell is measured and regulated, a measurement signal of the sensor element is ascertained on the basis of a pump current (IP); a compensation variable is determined by processing the signal; at least one corrected measurement signal is determined from the measurement signal and the compensation variable; the property of the measured gas in the measurement gas chamber is determined from the corrected measurement signal; the compensation variable at least partly depends on the pump current (IP) and a voltage (UP) applied to the pump cell; the processing of the signal in order to determine the compensation variable includes a low-pass filtering process of the pump current (IP) and the voltage applied (UP) to the pump cell by means of a low-pass filter; and a time constant (τ) and/or an amplification factor (G) of the low-pass filter is controlled depending on the voltage (UP) applied to the pump cell or a component (dUP) of the applied voltage (UP) which changes over time (abstract). Schroeder does not teach and/or suggest ascertaining a time correction index for the target variable based on the number of measured values; and ascertaining the corrected target variable value based on the time correction index, recited in independent claims 15, 25-27.
Similar to Ledermann, Ledermann’820 also teaches all the structural elements of the sensor assembly comprising an electronic control device (control unit 10) and a sensor 100 for detecting at least one property of a measured gas in a measuring gas chamber, wherein the sensor 100 comprising a sensor element 102 comprising at least one pump cell 106 and at least one Nernst cell 108, and the control unit comprises a microcontroller 20 comprising a Nernst voltage regulator 22 for controlling the Nernst voltage of the Nernst cell by using software 24 of the microcontroller (claims 1-2). The microcontroller is a chip that incorporates a processor, working memory and program memory [para. 0028]. Ledermann’820 does not teach and/or suggest ascertaining a time correction index for the target variable based on the number of measured values; and ascertaining the corrected target variable value based on the time correction index, recited in independent claims 15, 25-27.
Barnikow teaches a device and method for controlling an exhaust gas sensor comprising a pump cell PZ and a Nernst cell NZ, and a Nernst voltage of the Nernst cell is measured [para. 0028; Fig.1]. When the measured Nernst voltage deviates from the ideal 450 mV, a control device 30 is configured to control the current of the pump cell [para. 0029]. Barnikow does not teach and/or suggest ascertaining a time correction index for the target variable based on the number of measured values; and ascertaining the corrected target variable value based on the time correction index, recited in independent claims 15, 25-27.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
The prior arts made of record and not relied upon are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Diehl (US20030116433A1) teaches a gas sensor for measuring the concentration of a gas component in a gas mixture and the gas sensor comprises a pump cell and a Nernst cell. Bauerle (US20080312860A1) teaches a sensing system comprises a sensor and a control module for determining a rate of change of the sensor data based on N prior sensor data samples and the first sensor data samples.
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/SHIZHI QIAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1795
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