CTNF 19/198,529 CTNF 86747 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, 2, 5 and 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 a(1) as being anticipated by Jung et al. (US 2020/0074863) . Claims 1, 13 and 14, Jung teaches a driving assistance device and method (abstract&82) that includes: an object information acquisition device that acquires information on objects in front of an own vehicle (par. 33: The sensor unit 130 may include a camera 132, configured to sense an object ahead of a vehicle by obtaining and processing image information of the object using an optical system) and an electronic control unit that is configured to execute driving assistance control when the own vehicle enters a roundabout in front of the own vehicle by acquiring information on the roundabout (par. 61: the controller 140 prohibits the host vehicle 210 from entering the roundabout 230, the controller 140 may be configured to determine deceleration or stoppage of the host vehicle 210) and determining whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout based on acquired information on the roundabout and information on the objects acquired by the object information acquisition device (par. 37-38: upon sensing a predetermined traffic sign 240 from the forward view image information of the host vehicle 210… determining that the roundabout 230 is present ahead of the host vehicle 210, to determine the risk of collision between the host vehicle 210 and a target vehicle (B) 220, the controller 140 may be configured to determine whether the host vehicle 210 has currently reached a predetermined region 250 immediately before an entry boundary line), and notifying a driver of a result of the determination (par. 77: the controller 140 may be configured to prohibit the host vehicle 210 from entering the roundabout 230, and generate a deceleration or stop control command (S617)), wherein the electronic control unit is configured to estimate a first travel time required for the own vehicle to reach an entry position to the roundabout (par. 46: the controller 140 may be configured to determine a risk of collision by calculating a first arrival time of the host vehicle 210 to the estimated collision point 260), to estimate a second travel time required for a first other vehicle traveling in the roundabout to reach the entry position (par. 46: the controller 140 may be configured to determine a risk of collision by calculating a second arrival time of the target vehicle 220 to the estimated collision point 260), and to determine whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout based on a relationship between the first and second travel times (par. 76-77: configured to calculate an arrival time gap |TG|, which is an absolute value of a difference between a first arrival time of the host vehicle 210 to the estimated collision point 260 and a second arrival time of the target vehicle 220 to the estimated collision point 260 … the controller 140 may be configured to determine whether to allow the host vehicle 210 to enter the roundabout 230 by comparing the calculated arrival time gap |TG| and a first reference value T.sub.th_1 with each other). Claim 2, Jung teaches wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the own vehicle can enter the roundabout after the first other vehicle has passed the entry position, when the first travel time is greater than a sum of the second travel time and a first margin time (par. 77: the controller 140 may be configured to determine whether to allow the host vehicle 210 to enter the roundabout 230 by comparing the calculated arrival time gap |TG| and a first reference value T.sub.th_1 with each other (S616). When the calculated arrival time gap |TG| is less than the first reference value T.sub.th_1 (|TG|<T.sub.th_1) (NO in S616). When the first other vehicle passed the entry position, and the first travel time of the own vehicle is greater than the sum of the second travel time which is zero would enable the own vehicle to enters the roundabout). Claim 5, Jung teaches wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout, when the first travel time is less than or equal to a reference value (par. 76-77: controller 140 may be configured to calculate an estimated collision point 260 using a point at which the traveling path of the host vehicle 210 and the traveling path of the target vehicle 220 meet or intersect, and may be configured to calculate an arrival time gap |TG|, which is an absolute value of a difference between a first arrival time of the host vehicle 210 to the estimated collision point 260 and a second arrival time of the target vehicle 220 to the estimated collision point 260 (S615). For example, when the own vehicle and the target vehicle is near arrival of the collision point of entry, then the first travel time is less than the reference value Tth_1). Claim 12, Jung teaches wherein the electronic control unit is configured not to determine whether or not the own vehicle can enter the roundabout, when there is a preceding vehicle between the own vehicle and the roundabout (par. 73: since determination is based on map data and vehicle current location and time interval. Thus, it is implied that when the vehicle is located beyond a certain distance or time of arrival threshold to a roundabout, the steps as shown in Figure 6 would not be initiated) . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim s 3, 4 and 6-11 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 An T Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)270-5167. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9-5 ET. 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, Brian Zimmerman can be reached at 571-272-3059 . 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. /AN T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2686 Application/Control Number: 19/198,529 Page 2 Art Unit: 2686 Application/Control Number: 19/198,529 Page 3 Art Unit: 2686 Application/Control Number: 19/198,529 Page 4 Art Unit: 2686 Application/Control Number: 19/198,529 Page 5 Art Unit: 2686 Application/Control Number: 19/198,529 Page 6 Art Unit: 2686
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