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 .
The information disclosure statement filed on 8/4/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-3 are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 –
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by CA 2,959,176 by Bellows et al. (CA 2,959,176 by Bellows et al.; herein after referred to as “Bellows”).
Regarding claim 1, Bellows discloses a system for inventorying objects(OMT1, OMTN) contained in a closed space delimited by an enclosure, the system comprising a control device(100) connected to a UHF RFID reader(250) disposed in the closed space (Bellows; antenna elements operates in ultrasonic frequency range which is considered as a high frequency range, 902 – 928 MHz is considered as UHF frequency; par 0024 – “RFID reader can provide any received tag information it obtains to an access -point that can be wired or wirelessly connected to a local area network (not shown) for inventory purposes”),
the UHF RFID reader being provided with at least one antenna that sends electromagnetic waves to RFID tags(Pucl, PucN) disposed on the objects, the objects being intended to be placed respectively at a predetermined position in the closed space, at least some of the predetermined positions comprising an auxiliary electromagnetic-wave radiating element(Eral, EraN), wherein the auxiliary radiating element consists of two trapezoidal-shaped arms and two load bars each comprising a notch separating the load bar into two distinct parts (Bellows; par 0024 – “RFID reader can provide any received tag information it obtains to an access -point that can be wired or wirelessly connected to a local area network (not shown) for inventory purposes”); par. 0025 – “The emitters 18 are co-located with the .R.F1D antenna elements 10 of FIG. I. as will be described below-. .Although combined embodiment as described herein has eight RFID antennas (of FIG. 1) and four ultrasonic emitters (of FIG. 2), the actual number of each of the RFID antennas and ultrasonic emitters can vary, depending on the need, application., or coverage. For example, there can be one ultrasonic emitter co-located, with every RFID antenna”; par. 0035-0036 “ It should be recognized that any number of ultrasonic emitter and/or R.F1D antennas could be used. The reflector panels, emitters, and antennas are angled approximately fifteen degrees from the vertical. [0036] All the reflector panels 26 are electrically joined, together, along, with a conductive top 50 and bottom 52, to define a common reflector box or housing 16. The reflector box isolates the radiated RF energy of the antenna elements from the -ultrasonic emitter circuitry. The central housing 16 can be, but is not limited to, a square, rectangular, trapezoidal”; antenna elements are arranged on the separated reflector panels that are electrically joined together, the reflector panel each fits in a slot of a geometric shape).
Regarding claim 2, Bellows discloses the system according to claim 1, wherein a trapezoidal-shaped arm comprises three recesses or slots disposed on the largest side of the trapezoidal shape (Bellows; antenna elements operates in ultrasonic frequency range which is considered as a high frequency range, 902 – 928 MHz is considered as UHF frequency; par 0024 – “RFID reader can provide any received tag information it obtains to an access -point that can be wired or wirelessly connected to a local area network (not shown) for inventory purposes”; par. 0035-0036 “ It should be recognized that any number of ultrasonic emitter and/or R.F1D antennas could be used. The reflector panels, emitters, and antennas are angled approximately fifteen degrees from the vertical. [0036] All the reflector panels 26 are electrically joined, together, along, with a conductive top 50 and bottom 52, to define a common reflector box or housing 16. The reflector box isolates the radiated RF energy of the antenna elements from the -ultrasonic emitter circuitry. The central housing 16 can be, but is not limited to, a square, rectangular, trapezoidal”; antenna elements are arranged on the separated reflector panels that are electrically joined together, the reflector panel each fits in a slot of a geometric shape).
Regarding claim 3, Bellows discloses the system according to claim 1, wherein a trapezoidal-shaped arm comprises two slots, each slot being respectively on one side of the trapezoidal shape (Bellows; antenna elements operates in ultrasonic frequency range which is considered as a high frequency range, 902 – 928 MHz is considered as UHF frequency; par 0024 – “RFID reader can provide any received tag information it obtains to an access -point that can be wired or wirelessly connected to a local area network (not shown) for inventory purposes”; par. 0035-0036 “ It should be recognized that any number of ultrasonic emitter and/or R.F1D antennas could be used. The reflector panels, emitters, and antennas are angled approximately fifteen degrees from the vertical. [0036] All the reflector panels 26 are electrically joined, together, along, with a conductive top 50 and bottom 52, to define a common reflector box or housing 16. The reflector box isolates the radiated RF energy of the antenna elements from the -ultrasonic emitter circuitry. The central housing 16 can be, but is not limited to, a square, rectangular, trapezoidal”; antenna elements are arranged on the separated reflector panels that are electrically joined together, the reflector panel each fits in a slot of a geometric shape).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THIEN MINH LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2396. The examiner can normally be reached 6:30-5:00 PM M-Th..
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/THIEN M LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
