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 Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 8 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Specifically, claim 8 recites "the vehicular sensing system of claim 6, wherein the first zonal aggregator and the second zonal aggregator are the same, and wherein the first daughter card and the second daughter card are different", which is indefinite. It is unclear how the first and second zonal aggregators can be the same [zonal aggregator] and the first and second daughter cards are different [daughter cards], while simultaneously (i) the first and second zonal aggregators are located at different locations within the vehicle (per claim 6), (ii) the first and second daughter cards are removably connected to respective first and second zonal aggregators (per claim 6), and (iii) each daughter card is removably connected to a respective zonal aggregator (per claim 1), rendering the scope of the claim(s) indefinite.
Furthermore, claim 21 recites "the vehicular sensing system of claim 15, wherein the first zonal aggregator and the second zonal aggregator are the same, and wherein the first daughter card and the second daughter card are different", which is indefinite. It is unclear how the first and second zonal aggregators can be the same [zonal aggregator] and the first and second daughter cards are different [daughter cards], while simultaneously (i) the first and second zonal aggregators are located at different locations within the vehicle (per claim 15), and (ii) the first and second daughter cards are removably connected to respective first and second zonal aggregators (per claim 15), rendering the scope of the claim(s) indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim(s) 1, Examiner deems a vehicular sensing system, the vehicular sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular sensing system, each sensor of the plurality of sensors capturing respective sensor data; wherein the plurality of sensors comprises (i) at least one camera and (ii) at least one radar sensor; a plurality of zonal aggregators, wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators aggregates its received sensor data into respective aggregated sensor data; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the ECU receives the respective aggregated sensor data from each respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a processor for processing the received aggregated sensor data; a plurality of daughter cards, wherein each daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to a respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein each respective daughter card comprises a respective controller, and wherein the respective controller controls a respective component of the equipped vehicle; and wherein at least one daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards performs a diagnostic test on its respective component of the equipped vehicle to be novel and non-obvious over the prior art of record. Specifically, the prior art of record provides no teaching, suggestion, or motivation for modifying the prior art of record to include such a vehicular sensing system specifically including the architecture described and further including a plurality of zonal aggregators, wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; a plurality of daughter cards, wherein each daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to a respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; [and] wherein each respective daughter card comprises a respective controller, and wherein the respective controller controls a respective component of the equipped vehicle.
Claim(s) 2-14 depend(s) from claim(s) 1, (respectively,) and is/are deemed allowable at least by virtue of their dependence on allowable claims.
Regarding claim(s) 15, Examiner deems a vehicular sensing system, the vehicular sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular sensing system, each sensor of the plurality of sensors capturing respective sensor data; wherein the plurality of sensors comprises (i) at least one camera and (ii) a plurality of radar sensors; a plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein the plurality of zonal aggregators comprises (i) a first zonal aggregator disposed at a first location within the equipped vehicle and (i) a second zonal aggregator disposed at a second location within the equipped vehicle that is different than the first location; wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators aggregates its received sensor data into respective aggregated sensor data; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the ECU receives the respective aggregated sensor data from each respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a processor for processing the received aggregated sensor data; a plurality of daughter cards; wherein a first daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to the first zonal aggregator and comprises a first controller, and wherein a second daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to the second zonal aggregator and comprises a second controller that is different from the first controller of the first daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards; and wherein the first controller controls a first component of the equipped vehicle and the second controller controls a second component of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the first component is different than the second component to be novel and non-obvious over the prior art of record. Specifically, the prior art of record provides no teaching, suggestion, or motivation for modifying the prior art of record to include such a vehicular sensing system specifically including the architecture described and further including a plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein the plurality of zonal aggregators comprises (i) a first zonal aggregator disposed at a first location within the equipped vehicle and (i) a second zonal aggregator disposed at a second location within the equipped vehicle that is different than the first location; wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; a plurality of daughter cards; [and] wherein a first daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to the first zonal aggregator and comprises a first controller, and wherein a second daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to the second zonal aggregator and comprises a second controller that is different from the first controller of the first daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards.
Claim(s) 16-25 depend(s) from claim(s) 15, (respectively,) and is/are deemed allowable at least by virtue of their dependence on allowable claims.
Regarding claim(s) 26, Examiner deems a vehicular sensing system, the vehicular sensing system comprising: a plurality of sensors disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular sensing system, each sensor of the plurality of sensors capturing respective sensor data; wherein the plurality of sensors comprises (i) a plurality of cameras and (ii) a plurality of radar sensors, and wherein the plurality of cameras includes a camera disposed at a windshield of the equipped vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle through the windshield; a plurality of zonal aggregators, wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators aggregates its received sensor data into respective aggregated sensor data; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the ECU receives the respective aggregated sensor data from each respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises a processor for processing the received aggregated sensor data; a plurality of daughter cards, wherein each daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to a respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; wherein each respective daughter card comprises a respective controller, and wherein the respective controller controls a respective component of the equipped vehicle; and wherein at least one daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards performs a diagnostic test on its respective component of the equipped vehicle to be novel and non-obvious over the prior art of record. Specifically, the prior art of record provides no teaching, suggestion, or motivation for modifying the prior art of record to include such a vehicular sensing system specifically including the architecture described and further including a plurality of zonal aggregators, wherein each zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators receives respective sensor data captured by at least two respective sensors of the plurality of sensors; a plurality of daughter cards, wherein each daughter card of the plurality of daughter cards is removably connected to a respective zonal aggregator of the plurality of zonal aggregators; [and] wherein each respective daughter card comprises a respective controller, and wherein the respective controller controls a respective component of the equipped vehicle.
Claim(s) 27-33 depend(s) from claim(s) 26, (respectively,) and is/are deemed allowable at least by virtue of their dependence on allowable claims.
Cass et al. (US PGPub. No. 2021/0370975) is deemed the closest prior art of record and teaches systems for receiving first data from a first sensor utilizing a first communication protocol, wherein the first sensor is positioned in an aggregation zone, receiving second data from a second sensor utilizing a second communication protocol, wherein the second sensor is positioned in the aggregation zone, processing the first data received from the first sensor and the second data received from the second sensor to conform the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, and providing instructions based on the processed first data and the processed second data in a third communication protocol, wherein the instructions adjust auxiliary functions of an autonomous vehicle (Cass Abstract). Cass further teaches a sensor data aggregation system [Cass 200] including a microcontroller unit [Cass 206], and establishing aggregation zones [Cass 222A-222D] for the vehicle [Cass 102] corresponding to respective sensor clusters [Cass 220] (Cass ¶0035, ¶0039, ¶0046), but appears to be silent on the system further including a plurality of zonal aggregators with respective daughter cards each having respective controllers for controlling components corresponding to respective zones as claimed in claims 1, 15, and 26.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL V KERRIGAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8552. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-8:00pm.
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/MICHAEL V KERRIGAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3664
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