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 .
Status of Application
This communication is responsive to the applicant's preliminary amendment filed 04/24/2025.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
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) 1-8, 10-11, and 14-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ludwig et al (US-2021/0204057, hereinafter, Ludwig).
Regarding claim 1, Ludwig discloses an in-vehicle system (infotainment system 200 for a vehicle, see Fig. 2), comprising: one or more loudspeakers (202); one or more illumination devices (257) associated with the one or more loudspeakers (202); and a controller (206) to control at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers (see para [0024]), wherein the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers are controllable to provide a set of functions (see para [0025]), wherein the controller is configured to operate in at least a first mode of operation (base infotainment system 200) and a second mode of operation (non-branded premium infotainment system or midlevel infotainment system 220), wherein in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide only a subset of the set of functions (see para [0025]), and wherein in the second mode of operation, the controller is further configured to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide an entirety of the set of functions (see para [0026]).
Regarding claims 2-3, see Figs. 5-6, and para [0062], [0067].
Regarding claim 4, see Fig. 5, and para [0059].
Regarding claim 14, see para [0067], [0086].
Regarding claims 5-7, see Figs. 5-6, and para [0059], [0060], [0078], [0079].
Regarding claim 8, see Fig. 4, and para [0054], [0084].
Regarding claim 10, see para [0024].
Regarding claim 11, see Fig. 5, and para [0059].
Regarding claim 15, see Figs. 5 and 6, and para [0059], [0066].
Regarding claim 16, Ludwig discloses an in-vehicle system (infotainment system 200 for a vehicle, see Fig. 2), comprising: one or more loudspeakers (202); one or more illumination devices (257); and a controller (206) programmed to control at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers (see para [0024]), wherein the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers are controllable to provide a set of functions (see para [0025]), wherein the controller is further programmed to operate in at least a first mode of operation (base infotainment system 200) and a second mode of operation (non-branded premium infotainment system or midlevel infotainment system 220), wherein in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide only a subset of the set of functions (see para [0025]), and wherein in the second mode of operation, the controller is further configured to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide an entirety of the set of functions (see para [0026]).
Regarding claims 17-18, Ludwig discloses the controller is further programmed to switch from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to receiving a control signal from a remote server; and further comprising a user interface to enable a user to input a command to cause the remote server to generate and transmit the control signal (see para [0025], [0062], [0064], [0067]).
Regarding claim 19, see Fig. 5, and para [0059].
Regarding claim 20, Ludwig discloses an in-vehicle system (infotainment system 200 for a vehicle, see Fig. 2), comprising: one or more loudspeakers (202); one or more illumination devices (257); and a controller (206) programmed to control at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers (see para [0024]), wherein the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers are controllable to provide a set of functions (see para [0025]), wherein the controller is further programmed to operate in at least a first mode of operation (base infotainment system 200) and a second mode of operation (non-branded premium infotainment system or midlevel infotainment system 220), wherein in the first mode of operation, the controller is programmed to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide only a subset of the set of functions (see para [0025]), and wherein in the second mode of operation, the controller is further programmed to control the at least one of the one or more illumination devices and the one or more loudspeakers to provide an entirety of the set of functions (see para [0026]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ludwig.
Regarding claim 9, Ludwig discloses the in-vehicle system as discussed in claim 1 above. However, Ludwig does not disclose the one or more illumination devices comprise at least one of a light emitting diode, an array of LEDs, and an array of individually controllable LEDs.
Ludwig discloses the illumination device or lighting/lights 210 including individual light may be activated and deactivated (see Fig. 2, para [0024], [0025]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effect filing date of the claimed invention to utilize one of the old and well-known LED, an array of LEDs, and an array of individually controllable LEDs for providing visual indication of the activation status of speakers.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12-13 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Karunamuni et al, Havemann, and Pilgaard Havemann disclose various in-vehicle infotainment systems having speaker and lighting control.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XU MEI whose telephone number is (571)272-7523. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 10-6:30 est.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Vivian Chin can be reached on 571-272-7848. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/XU MEI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2695 09/29/2026
