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 .
Inventorship
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art.
If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps.
Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
Line 27 “Main figure:4 “ should be deleted.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-7, 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Gerlach et al (12,097,735).
Gerlach et al teaches 1.- A control method for controlling a motor vehicle (100) comprising a sprung mass with a body (140), an unsprung mass comprising a plurality of wheels (120) for allowing a progress of the motor vehicle (100) on a road, an active suspension assembly (110) configured to suspend the sprung mass relative to the unsprung mass and comprising active suspension elements (130) configured to apply respective forces to the wheels (120)of the motor vehicle (100), wherein each of said forces is a compression force to bring the sprung mass closer to the corresponding one of the wheels according to a yaw axis of the motor vehicle (100) or an extension force to move the sprung mass away from the corresponding one of the wheels (120) according to the yaw axis, the method comprising a control of the active suspension assembly (110) for- applying a first compression force of said forces to a first wheel of the wheels via a first element of active suspension elements, and simultaneously- applying a first extension force of said forces to a second wheel of the wheels via a second element of said active suspension elements, the second wheel being aligned with the first wheel according to a pitch axis of the motor vehicle (100) (see figures 1, 4B, 6, col. 8 line 31 through col. 9 line 64, col. 11 line 19-60).
For claim 2 see col. 4 line 31-38.
For claim 3 see col. 4 line 10-30.
For claim 4 see col. 4 line 39-55.
For claim 5 see col. 5 line 21 through col. 6 line 10.
For claim 6 see col. 5 line 21 through col. 6 line 10.
For claim 7 see col. 5 line 21 through col. 7 line 10.
For claim 10 see col. 4 line 39 through col. 5 line 5.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8-9 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.
Claims 11-15 allowed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Hirao et al 12,162,322 teaches a suspension control apparatus.
Graus et al 11,904,648 teaches an adjustable suspension for a vehicle.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAI H HUYNH whose telephone number is (571)272-4844. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
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, Lindsay M Low can be reached at 571-272-1196. 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.
/HAI H HUYNH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747