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 April 15, 2025 is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Applicant is required to insert the Patent Number 12,298,147 into the specification.
Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-14 of U.S. Patent No. 11,698,265. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both the patent and the application having similar limitations of displaying a band-like-trajectory line containing the array of markers as shown belows:
Patent No. 11,698,265
Application No. 19/179,614
1. A vehicle display device comprising:
a storage unit having a display control program stored thereon;
a memory having the display control program loaded thereon; and
a central processing unit (CPU) that is coupled to the memory to execute the display control program to:
acquire coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle,
generate an array of markers;
display the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates, and
display a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers.
1. A vehicle display device comprising:
a storage unit having a display control program stored thereon;
a memory having the display control program loaded thereon; and
a central processing unit (CPU) that is coupled to the memory to execute the display control program to:
acquire coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle,
generate an array of markers;
display the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates, and
display a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers,
wherein the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are displayed in a manner such that the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are visually distinguishable.
2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to move display positions of the array of markers on the first display unit in accordance with travel of the host vehicle and toward a reference position on the first display unit corresponding to the host vehicle.
2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are made visually distinguishable by coloring the band-like trajectory line.
3. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to select a coordinate corresponding to a future position to be displayed on the first display unit from the acquired coordinates.
5. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to select a coordinate corresponding to a future position to be displayed on the first display unit from the acquired coordinates.
4. The vehicle display device according to claim 3, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to convert the selected coordinate into a coordinate on the first display unit.
6. The vehicle display device according to claim 5, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to convert the selected coordinate into a coordinate on the first display unit.
5. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on the first display unit, an image in which a first-person perspective image and the markers are combined, the first-person perspective image being an image expressing a perspective of a driver of the host vehicle.
7. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on the first display unit, an image in which a first-person perspective image and the markers are combined, the first-person perspective image being an image expressing a perspective of a driver of the host vehicle.
6. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit comprises a head-up display having a display range that is part of a forward field of view of an occupant of the host vehicle.
8. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit comprises a head-up display having a display range that is part of a forward field of view of an occupant of the host vehicle.
7. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on a second display unit that is separate from the first display unit, an image in which a third-person perspective image and the array of markers are combined, the third-person perspective image being an image expressing a perspective of a bird's eye view seen from above and behind the host vehicle.
9. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on a second display unit that is separate from the first display unit, an image in which a third-person perspective image and the array of markers are combined, the third-person perspective image being an image expressing a perspective of a bird's eye view seen from above and behind the host vehicle.
8. The vehicle display device according to claim 7, wherein the second display unit comprises a display provided in an instrument panel of the host vehicle.
10. The vehicle display device according to claim 9, wherein the second display unit comprises a display provided in an instrument panel of the host vehicle.
9. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on the first display unit, road width lines that simulate boundary lines of a lane in which the host vehicle is traveling.
11. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display, on the first display unit, road width lines that simulate boundary lines of a lane in which the host vehicle is traveling.
10. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to, in a case in which a time headway setting for autonomous driving control of the host vehicle has been changed, display, on the first display unit, headway setting lines according to a time headway that has been set.
13. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to, in a case in which a time headway setting for autonomous driving control of the host vehicle has been changed, display, on the first display unit, headway setting lines according to a time headway that has been set.
11. The vehicle display device according to claim 10, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display the headway setting lines stationary on a display screen of the first display unit.
14. The vehicle display device according to claim 13, wherein the CPU executes the display control program to display the headway setting lines stationary on a display screen of the first display unit.
12. The vehicle display device according to claim 10, wherein the CPU executes the display control program not to display the headway setting lines stationary on the first display unit in a case in which the time headway setting for autonomous driving control of the host vehicle is not changed.
15. The vehicle display device according to claim 13, wherein the CPU executes the display control program not to display the headway setting lines stationary on the first display unit in a case in which the time headway setting for autonomous driving control of the host vehicle is not changed.
13. A vehicle display control method comprising:
acquiring coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle;
generating an array of markers; displaying the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates; and
displaying a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers.
16. A vehicle display control method comprising:
acquiring coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle;
generating an array of markers;
displaying the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates; and
displaying a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers,
wherein the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are displayed in a manner such that the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are visually distinguishable.
14. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a vehicle display control process, the vehicle display control process comprising:
acquiring coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle;
generating an array of markers; displaying the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates; and
displaying a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers.
17. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a vehicle display control process, the vehicle display control process comprising:
acquiring coordinates corresponding to future positions of a host vehicle from an autonomous driving control unit that autonomously drives the host vehicle;
generating an array of markers; displaying the array of markers in positions, on a first display unit, corresponding to the future positions of the host vehicle based on the acquired coordinates; and
displaying a band-like trajectory line on the first display unit, the band-like trajectory line containing the array of markers,
wherein the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are displayed in a manner such that the band-like trajectory line and the array of markers are visually distinguishable.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAI T. NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2961. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm.
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, Quan-Zhen Wang can be reached at 571-272-3114. 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.
/TAI T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685 July 14, 2026
Prosecution Insights