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
This Application is a continuation of Application No. 18/334638, now US Patent 12,368,467. After compare between pending claims and patent claims, the pending claims are not patentably distinct from the patent claims. Therefore, there are double patenting rejections below.
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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Claims 1-24 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-24 of U.S. Patent No. 12,368467.
Pending claims
Patent claims
1. A method of distributing analog video samples from one or more input video signals to P electromagnetic paths, said method comprising:
distributing said analog video samples from said one or more input video signals into P input vectors each of length N by implementing a pre-determined distributing permutation by which each video sample is distributed to one of said P input vectors, wherein P is an integer > 2;
receiving each of said P input vectors at a respective line driver as an ordered series of L analog output values, wherein L >= N >= 2; and
for each of the P electromagnetic paths, transmitting said respective L analog output values over said each electromagnetic path from a source assembly to a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein L=N.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
encoding said analog samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N codes each of length L into said respective L analog output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N analog samples of each input vector, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
encoding said analog samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N
mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said respective L analog output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N analog samples of each input vector.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
6. The method as recited in claim 1further comprising:
continuously repeating said steps of distributing, receiving, and transmitting for successive groups of P*N analog samples from said one or more video signals.
7. A source assembly for distributing analog video samples from one or more input video signals to P electromagnetic paths, said source assembly comprising:
a distributing permuter that distributes said analog video samples from said one or more input video signals into P input vectors each of length N by implementing a pre- determined distributing permutation by which each analog sample is distributed to one of said input vectors, wherein P is an integer > 2;
P line drivers that each receives one of said P input vectors as an ordered series of L analog output values, wherein L >= N >= 2; and
an output terminal for each of the P electromagnetic paths that transmits said L analog output values over said each electromagnetic path from said source assembly to a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display.
8. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein L=N.
9. The source assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising:
an encoder that encodes said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
10. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 further comprising:
an encoder that encodes said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector.
I1 The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said display is a flat- screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
12. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said permuter continuously assigns digital samples from said one or more input video signals to locations in said input vectors, wherein said each line driver continuously receives L digital output values, wherein said each DAC continuously converts L digital output values, and wherein said each output terminal continuously transmits L analog output values over said each electromagnetic pathway.
13. A method of receiving P ordered series of L analog input values representing one or more media signals, each of said ordered series being received from one of P electromagnetic paths, wherein P is an integer >=2, said method comprising:
receiving each of said ordered series of L analog input values from a source assembly over one of said electromagnetic paths at one of P line amplifiers of a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display;
for each series of L analog input values, receiving said each series as N analog samples into a corresponding one of P output vectors, wherein L >= N >= 2;
collecting said N analog samples from each of said output vectors into one or more reconstructed video signals by implementing a pre-determined permutation;
and delivering said one or more reconstructed video signals to an array of display elements of said display to emit light for a viewer.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein L=N.
15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising: for each series of L analog input values, decoding said each series with reference to a predetermined code set of N codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
16. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising:
for each series of L analog input values, decoding said each series with reference to a predetermined code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said predetermined code set is the same as a code set used to encode said ordered series of L analog input values.
17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
18. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:
continuously repeating said steps of receiving each of said ordered series, receiving said each series, collecting and delivering for successive series of L analog input values from said electromagnetic paths.
19. A sink assembly for receiving P ordered series of L analog input values representing one or more video signals, each of said ordered series being received from one of P electromagnetic paths, wherein P is an integer >=2, said method comprising:
an input terminal for each electromagnetic path that receives one of said P ordered series of L analog input values from a source assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display;
an output vector corresponding to each electromagnetic path that receives and stores said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values as N analog samples, wherein L >= N >= 2; and
a permuter that collects said N analog samples from each of said output vectors into one or more reconstructed video signals by implementing a pre- determined permutation and delivers said one or more reconstructed video signals to an array of display elements of said display to emit light for a viewer.
20. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein L=N.
21. The sink assembly as recited in claim 20 further comprising:
a decoder for each electromagnetic path that decodes said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values with reference to a pre-determined code set of N codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+l" or
22. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising:
a decoder for each electromagnetic path that decodes said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values with reference to a pre-determined code set of N mutually- orthogonal codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples.
23. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said display is a flat- screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
24. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said input terminal continuously receives said P ordered series of L analog input values, wherein said P output vectors continuously receive and store L analog input values and wherein said permuter continuously distributes said N analog samples from output vectors.
25. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving said analog video samples from an image sensor of a camera before said step of distributing.
26. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
transmitting said respective L analog output levels from said sink assembly to an array of display elements of said display to emit light for a viewer.
27. A source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said analog video samples are received at said distributing permuter from an image sensor of a camera.
28. A source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said sink assembly transmits said respective L analog output levels to an array of display elements of said display to emit light for a viewer.
29. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said ordered series of L analog video values originate at an image sensor of a camera.
30. A sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said ordered series of L analog video values originate at an image sensor of a camera.
1. A method of distributing digital video samples from one or more input video signals to P electromagnetic paths, said method comprising:
distributing said digital video samples from said one or more input video signals into P input vectors each of length N by implementing a pre-determined distributing permutation by which each video sample is distributed to one of said P input vectors, wherein P is an integer > 2;
receiving each of said P input vectors at a respective line driver as an ordered series of L digital output values, wherein L >= N >= 2;
converting each ordered series of said L digital output values into L analog output values;
and for each of the P electromagnetic paths, transmitting said respective L analog output values over said each electromagnetic path from a source assembly to a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein L=N.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:
encoding said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising: encoding said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising: continuously repeating said steps of distributing, receiving, converting and transmitting for successive groups of P*N digital samples from said one or more video signals.
7. A source assembly for distributing digital video samples from one or more input video signals to P electromagnetic paths, said source assembly comprising:
a distributing permuter that distributes said digital video samples from said one or more input video signals into P input vectors each of length N by implementing a pre-determined distributing permutation by which each digital sample is distributed to one of said input vectors, wherein P is an integer > 2;
P line drivers that each receives one of said P input vectors as an ordered series of L digital output values, wherein L >= N >= 2;
P digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that each converts one of said series of L digital output values into L analog output values; and
an output terminal for each of the P electromagnetic paths that transmits said L analog output values from one of said DACs over said each electromagnetic path from said source assembly to a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display.
8. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein L=N.
9. The source assembly as recited in claim 8 further comprising:
an encoder that encodes said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
10. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 further comprising:
an encoder that encodes said digital samples of said input vectors using P encoders, each encoder encoding one of said input vectors using N codes of a code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said respective L digital output values, each of said N codes being associated with one of said N digital samples of each input vector.
11. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
12. The source assembly as recited in claim 7 wherein said permuter continuously assigns digital samples from said one or more input video signals to locations in said input vectors, wherein said each line driver continuously receives L digital output values, wherein said each DAC continuously converts L digital output values, and wherein said each output terminal continuously transmits L analog output values over said each electromagnetic pathway.
13. A method of receiving P ordered series of L analog input values representing one or more media signals, each of said ordered series being received from one of P electromagnetic paths, wherein P is an integer >=2, said method comprising:
receiving each of said ordered series of L analog input values from a source assembly over one of said electromagnetic paths at one of P line amplifiers of a sink assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display;
for each series of L analog input values, receiving said each series as N analog samples into a corresponding one of P output vectors, wherein L >= N >= 2;
collecting said N analog samples from each of said output vectors into one or more reconstructed video signals by implementing a pre-determined permutation; and
delivering said reconstructed video signals to an array of display elements of said display.
14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein L=N.
15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising: for each series of L analog input values, decoding said each series with reference to a predetermined code set of N codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
16. The method as recited in claim 13 further comprising: for each series of L analog input values, decoding said each series with reference to a predetermined code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said predetermined code set is the same as a code set used to encode said ordered series of L analog input values.
17. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
18. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:
continuously repeating said steps of receiving each of said ordered series, receiving said each series, collecting and delivering for successive series of L analog input values from said electromagnetic paths.
19. A sink assembly for receiving P ordered series of L analog input values representing one or more video signals, each of said ordered series being received from one of P electromagnetic paths, wherein P is an integer >=2, said sink assembly comprising:
an input terminal for each electromagnetic path that receives one of said P ordered series of L analog input values from a source assembly, wherein said source assembly and said sink assembly both being implemented within a display;
an output vector corresponding to each electromagnetic path that receives and stores said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values as N analog samples, wherein L >= N >= 2;
and a permuter that collects said N analog samples from each of said output vectors into one or more reconstructed video signals by implementing a pre-determined permutation.
20. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein L=N.
21. The sink assembly as recited in claim 20 further comprising:
a decoder for each electromagnetic path that decodes said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values with reference to a pre-determined code set of N codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples, wherein said code set is an identity matrix and chip values in said code set are constrained to be "+1" or "0."
22. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 further comprising:
a decoder for each electromagnetic path that decodes said one of said P ordered series of L analog input values with reference to a pre-determined code set of N mutually-orthogonal codes each of length L into said corresponding output vector of N analog samples, each of said N codes being associated with one of said samples.
23. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said display is a flat-screen display, a vehicle display, or a retail signage display.
24. The sink assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said input terminal continuously receives said P ordered series of L analog input values, wherein said P output vectors continuously receive and store L analog input values, and wherein said permuter continuously distributes said N analog samples from output vectors.
As can be seen above, differences (bold portions) between pending independent claims 1 and 7 and patent independent claims 1 and 7 are minimal. Therefore, the pending independent claims 1 and 7 have been modified to become broader than the patent independent claims 1 and 7 by removing the features “P digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that each converts one of said series of L digital output values into L analog output values” from the pending independent claims 1 and 7. The motivation for doing so would protect the pending claims as broad as possible in order to have more products in the industrial applicability.
In regards to the pending dependent claim(s) 2-6, 8-12, 14-18 and 20-24, these limitations are not patentably distinct from the patent dependent claim(s) 2-6, 8-12, 14-18, and 20-24, respectively.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 25-30 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 KEVIN M NGUYEN whose telephone number is 571-272-7697. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
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KEVIN M NGUYEN
Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2628
/Kevin M Nguyen/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628