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 .
Claim(s) 1 - 20 is pending for examination.
This Action is made NON-FINAL.
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).
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Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim(s) 1-17 of Patent US 12330684 B2.
Table has been created below to compare claims of the instant application and claims of the copending application side by side.
Instant Application 19/209107
Patent US 12330684 B2
1. A vehicle control interface that is connected between an autonomous driving system and a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system, the vehicle control interface comprising: a memory in which a program including a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals is stored; and a processor configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing the program, wherein: the vehicle platform is configured to be activated in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command; the first activation command is a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface; the second activation command is a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; and the processor is configured to: when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transition from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to a standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintain the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transition from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which manual operation of the vehicle platform is suppressed.
1. A vehicle control interface that is connected between an autonomous driving system and a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system, the vehicle control interface comprising: a memory in which a program including a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals is stored; and a processor configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing the program, wherein: the vehicle platform is configured to be activated in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command; the first activation command is a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface; the second activation command is a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; and the processor is configured to: when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode by going through a standby mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is restricted; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to the standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintain the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transition from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which the vehicle platform renders traveling impossible.
2. The vehicle control interface according to claim1,wherein the processor is configured to transition from the manual driving mode to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
2. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transition from the manual driving mode to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
3. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform.
2. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform.
4. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform.
2. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform.
5. The vehicle control interface according to claim I, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual parking brake release operation on the vehicle platform.
2. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables a manual parking brake release operation on the vehicle platform.
6. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein: the vehicle platform includes an air conditioner or an audio system; and the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables the manual operation on the air conditioner or the audio system.
6. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein: the vehicle platform includes an air conditioner or an audio system; and the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables the manual operation on the air conditioner or the audio system.
7. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
7. The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
8. A vehicle that is configured to be equipped with an autonomous driving system, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system; and a vehicle control interface configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals, wherein: the vehicle platform is configured to be activated in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command; the first activation command is a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface; the second activation command is a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; and the vehicle control interface is configured to; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transition from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to a standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintain the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transition from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which manual operation of the vehicle platform is suppressed.
2. 8. A vehicle that is configured to be equipped with an autonomous driving system, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system; and a vehicle control interface configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals, wherein: the vehicle platform is configured to be activated in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command; the first activation command is a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface; the second activation command is a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; and the vehicle control interface is configured to; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode by going through a standby mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is restricted; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to the standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintain the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transition from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which the vehicle platform renders traveling impossible.
9. The vehicle according to claim8,wherein the manual driving mode is transitioned to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the manual driving mode is transitioned to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
11. The vehicle according to claim8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
12. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual parking brake release operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
12. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
13. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein: the vehicle platform includes an air conditioner or an audio system; and the standby mode is a mode in which a manual operation of the air conditioner or the audio system is disabled.
Claim 8 in view of claim 6 of US 12330684 B2 The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein: the vehicle platform includes an air conditioner or an audio system; and the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables the manual operation on the air conditioner or the audio system.
14. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
Claim 8 in view of claim 7 of US 12330684 B2 he vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
15. A control method for a vehicle that is configured to be equipped with an autonomous driving system, the vehicle including: a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system; and a vehicle control interface configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals, the control method comprising: activating the vehicle platform in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command, the first activation command is a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface, and the second activation command is a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transitioning from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transitioning from the manual driving mode to a standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintaining the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transitioning from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which the manual operation of the vehicle platform is suppressed.
13. A control method for a vehicle that is configured to be equipped with an autonomous driving system, the vehicle including: a vehicle platform configured to perform autonomous driving according to a command from the autonomous driving system; and a vehicle control interface configured to perform interfacing between the autonomous driving system and the vehicle platform by executing a predetermined application programming interface (API) defined for each of a plurality of signals, the control method comprising: activating the vehicle platform in response to one of a first activation command and a second activation command, the first activation command being a command transmitted from the autonomous driving system to the vehicle platform via the vehicle control interface, and the second activation command being a command in response to a manual operation on the vehicle platform; transitioning from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode by going through a standby mode in which the manual operation received by the vehicle platform is restricted when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command; when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transitioning from the manual driving mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transitioning from the manual driving mode to the standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintaining the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transitioning from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which the vehicle platform renders traveling impossible.
16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the manual driving mode is transitioned to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
14. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the manual driving mode is transitioned to the standby mode when a vehicle speed is zero and a shift position is a parking position in the manual driving mode.
17. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
15. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual shift operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
18. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
16. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual accelerator operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
19. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which a manual parking brake release operation on the vehicle platform is disabled.
Claim 8 in view of claim 5 of US 12330684 B2 The vehicle control interface according to claim 1, wherein: the vehicle platform includes an air conditioner or an audio system; and the standby mode is a mode that includes processing which disables the manual operation on the air conditioner or the audio system.
20. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
17. The control method according to claim 13, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which manual operation received by the vehicle platform is disabled.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both inventions are directed to A vehicle interface, a vehicle, and a control method for a vehicle. Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected based on claim(s) 1-17 of Patent US 12330684 B2. Minor differences can be seen and noted in the table above, however it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use A vehicle interface, a vehicle, and a control method for a vehicle of Patent US 12330684 B2 to produce the A vehicle interface, a vehicle, and a control method for a vehicle of the instant application.
This is a nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowable if the double patenting rejection is overcome because the prior art does not teach “when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the second activation command, transition from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode in response to an autonomous driving transition command from the autonomous driving system; and when the vehicle platform is activated in response to the first activation command, transition from the manual driving mode to a standby mode after executing an initial diagnosis of the vehicle platform, maintain the standby mode until having received the autonomous driving transition command, and transition from the standby mode to the autonomous driving mode in response to receiving the autonomous driving transition command; and the standby mode is a mode in which manual operation of the vehicle platform is suppressed.”
This is the same allowable subject matter from parent applicant 18/104,609
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Jeon (US 20210178903 A1) teaches in para [0043] “A power-off mode, a testing mode, the voltage boost mode, the voltage reduction mode, and a transition mode, represent operating states, respectively, of the TDC 50. The power-off mode represents an operating state where electric power is not supplied to the LDC 50. The testing mode is entered before electric power is supplied to the LDC 50. In the testing mode, it is checked whether or not the LDC 50 operates properly. The voltage boost mode represents an operating state where the LDC 50 boosts a low voltage of the low voltage power network and transfers a resulting voltage to the high voltage power network. The voltage reduction mode represents an operating state where the LDC reduces a high voltage of the high voltage power network and transfers a resulting voltage to the low voltage power network. The transition mode is a neutral mode that is entered when transitioning from the voltage reduction mode to the power-off mode is required. In the transition mode, self-diagnosis, error storage, or the like is performed. In addition, in the transition mode, transfer of electric power between the low voltage power network and the high voltage power network is interrupted.”
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/A.G.M./Examiner, Art Unit 3668
/ABDHESH K JHA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3668
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