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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 02/25/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. With regards to independent claims 1 and 6 Applicant argues that the cited reference Sawaki et al does not teach or disclose the amended claim limitation “a single operator configured to receive a first operation, the single operator being further configured to receive a second operation, an operation action of the second operation being different from that of the first operation”. Applicant argues that Sawaki’s operation switch 4 is provided in both the first display area and the second display area rather than “a single operator” receiving first and second operations as different operation actions on that same single operator. Examiner respectfully disagrees as the operation switch 4 itself is being interpretated as the “operator”. As was shown in the previous Office Action Sawaki in at least paragraph 0026 discloses that the operation switch 4 is provided in both the first display area 12 and the second display area 13 and configured to receive an operation for either of the first display area 12 or the second display area 13, thus a “single” operator configured to receive a first operation or a second operation having different operation actions. The rejections are sustained.
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 –
(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 and 3-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sawaki et al (pub # 20200319786).
Consider claim 1. Sawaki et al An input device (Fig. 1 and paragraph 0019, vehicular display apparatus 1). comprising:
a single operator (Fig. 1 and paragraph 0026, operation switch 4 is a touch panel provided in the first display area 12 of the first display unit 10 and the second display area 13 of the second display unit 11).
configured to receive a first operation, (paragraph 0026, Upon receiving the screen operation detection signal from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a screen change operation on the first display area 12 by the received screen operation detection signal. The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
the operator being further configured to receive a second operation, (paragraph 0028, When the rotation operation detection signal is received from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a rotation operation on the second display area 13 based on the received rotation operation detection signal. The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
an operation action of the second operation to the operator being different from that of the first operation; (paragraph 0028, When the rotation operation detection signal is received from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a rotation operation on the second display area 13 based on the received rotation operation detection signal. The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11. The rotation operation detection signal is different from the screen operation signal in paragraph 0026).
an output unit configured to output, to another device, a first command corresponding to the first operation (paragraph 0026, when the user touches the first display area 12 to perform a screen change operation, the operation switch 4 outputs a screen operation detection signal that can specify the screen change operation to the controller 2).
and a second command corresponding to the second operation; (paragraph 0028, when the user touches the second display area 13 to perform a rotation operation, the operation switch 4 outputs a rotation operation detection signal capable of specifying the rotation operation to the controller 2).
and a display device configured to perform a first display corresponding to a first state in which the first command is output (paragraph 0026, The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
and a second display corresponding to a second state in which the second command is output, (paragraph 0028, The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
wherein the display device is disposed in a periphery of the single operator, (paragraph 0026, The operation switch 4 is a touch panel provided in the first display area 12 of the first display unit 10 and the second display area 13 of the second display unit 11. Figs. 2 and 3 second display area 13 is on the periphery of operation switch 4 provided in the first display area 12).
the display device is divided into a first display region and a second display region, (Figs. 2 and 3 and paragraph 0026, first display area 12 and second display area 13).
and the first display includes a state in which the first display region is displayed, (paragraph 0026, The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
and the second display includes a state in which the second display region is displayed. (paragraph 0028, The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
Consider claim 6. Sawaki et al teaches An input method (abstract). comprising: receiving an operation by a single operator (Fig. 1 and paragraph 0026, operation switch 4 is a touch panel provided in the first display area 12 of the first display unit 10 and the second display area 13 of the second display unit 11).
configured to receive a first operation (paragraph 0026, Upon receiving the screen operation detection signal from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a screen change operation on the first display area 12 by the received screen operation detection signal. The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
and receiving a second operation, (paragraph 0028, When the rotation operation detection signal is received from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a rotation operation on the second display area 13 based on the received rotation operation detection signal. The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
an operation action of the second operation to the operator being different from that of the first operation; (paragraph 0028, When the rotation operation detection signal is received from the operation switch 4, the controller 2 specifies a rotation operation on the second display area 13 based on the received rotation operation detection signal. The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11. The rotation operation detection signal is different from the screen operation signal in paragraph 0026).
outputting a first command corresponding to the first operation (paragraph 0026, when the user touches the first display area 12 to perform a screen change operation, the operation switch 4 outputs a screen operation detection signal that can specify the screen change operation to the controller 2).
and a second command corresponding to the second operation to another device; (paragraph 0028, when the user touches the second display area 13 to perform a rotation operation, the operation switch 4 outputs a rotation operation detection signal capable of specifying the rotation operation to the controller 2).
and causing a display device to perform a first display corresponding to a first state in which the first command is output (paragraph 0026, The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
and a second display corresponding to a second state in which the second command is output, (paragraph 0028, The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
wherein the display device is disposed in a periphery of the single operator, (paragraph 0026, The operation switch 4 is a touch panel provided in the first display area 12 of the first display unit 10 and the second display area 13 of the second display unit 11. Figs. 2 and 3 second display area 13 is on the periphery of operation switch 4 provided in the first display area 12).
the display device is divided into a first display region and a second display region, (Figs. 2 and 3 and paragraph 0026, first display area 12 and second display area 13).
and the first display includes a state in which the first display region is displayed, (paragraph 0026, The first display command signal corresponding to the specified screen change operation is then outputted to the first display unit 10).
and the second display includes a state in which the second display region is displayed. (paragraph 0028, The second display command signal corresponding to the specified rotation operation is outputted to the second display unit 11).
Consider claim 3. Sawaki et al further teaches The input device according to claim 1, wherein the single operator comprises a push button. (paragraph 0030, The remote control terminal 16 is provided separately from the vehicular display apparatus 1. When the user operates the remote control terminal 16, an operation detection signal capable of specifying the operation content is transmitted to the remote control sensor 5 by wireless communication such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The remote control terminal 16 is configured to be capable of performing a plurality of operations such as a long press, a short press, a movement in eight directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonally), thus a push button).
Consider claim 4. Sawaki et al further teaches The input device according to claim 3, wherein the single operator is configured to distinguish between the first operation or the second operation based on a difference in a length of time for which the push button is pushed. (paragraph 0030, The remote control terminal 16 is configured to be capable of performing a plurality of operations such as a long press, a short press, a movement in eight directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonally), thus a push button).
Consider claim 5. Sawaki et al further teaches The input device according to claim 4, wherein the output unit is configured to: transition, in response to the push button being pushed for a predetermined time or longer, to a selection state in which a selection operation of the first command and the second command is received, (paragraph 0030, The remote control terminal 16 is configured to be capable of performing a plurality of operations such as a long press, a short press, a movement in eight directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonally), thus a push button).
and receive a change in selection of the first command and the second command in response to a push operation for less than the predetermined time being received in the selection state, and output the first command or the second command being selected when the push button is pushed for the predetermined time or longer. (paragraph 0030, The remote control terminal 16 is configured to be capable of performing a plurality of operations such as a long press, a short press, a movement in eight directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonally), thus a push button).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sawaki et al (pub # 20200319786) in view of Ban et al (pub # 20220318607).
Consider claim 2. Sawaki et al does not specifically disclose The input device according to claim 1, wherein the first command includes a call command of first setting data related to a first sound processing, and the second command includes a call command of second setting data related to a second sound processing. However Ban et al in at least paragraph 0056 discloses “if the processing result of the audio data needs to be obtained, the PCH can send the call command to the storage unit (DRAM) through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. The storage unit (DRAM) can send the processing result to the CPU according to the call command of the PCH, such that the processing result of the audio data is obtained by the processor and fed back to the CPU”. Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the system and method of Ban et al with the system and method of Sawaki et al in order to improve a data processing efficiency (Ban et al paragraph 0023).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHAYCE R BIBBEE whose telephone number is (571)270-7222. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 8:00-6:00.
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/CHAYCE R BIBBEE/Examiner, Art Unit 2624
/MATTHEW A EASON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2624
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