CTNF 19/043,224 CTNF 80484 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1, 8 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Niclass et al (UPGPUB 20060202129) . Regarding claim 1, Niclass et al teach (Figs. 1-7) An apparatus comprising: a photodiode (1) configured to perform avalanche multiplication (SPAD); a transistor (2) connected to the photodiode and having a gate ( gate of element 2) receiving a control signal (11); a logic circuit (16) receiving a signal (via signal line 8) based on the control signal (photodiode functions as a result of the recharging line) and a signal based (output via element 8 and 9) on an output from the photodiode and outputting a signal (output of element 16) according to a result of a logic operation on the signal based on the control signal and the signal based on the output from the photodiode; and a counter (17) connected to the logic circuit, wherein the counter is configured to count a number ([0036]) of pulses of the signal output from the logic circuit. Regarding claim 8, Niclass et al teach the apparatus according to claim 1; and a signal processing unit (18) configured to process a signal output from the apparatus. Regarding claim 9 Niclass et al teach a distance information acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance ([0036]) to a target object, based on a signal from the apparatus; and a control unit configured to control the movable object (automotive airbag [0004]) based on the distance information . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim s 2-7 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TONY KO whose telephone number is (571)272-1926. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9-5pm . Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Georgia Epps can be reached at 571-272-2328 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /TONY KO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2878 TK Application/Control Number: 19/043,224 Page 2 Art Unit: 2878 Application/Control Number: 19/043,224 Page 3 Art Unit: 2878 Application/Control Number: 19/043,224 Page 4 Art Unit: 2878
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