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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/11/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 Langi, 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 l.321(c) or l.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 l.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.l. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR l.lll(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR l.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR l.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-7 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-4 and 8-9 of U.S. Patent No. 18/330,867.
Table has been created below to compare claims 1-7 of the instant application and claims 1-4 and 8-9 of U.S. Patent No. 18/330,867.
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 18/330,867
1. A precision landing system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
one or more anchors configured for placement in proximity to a landing zone;
a tag configured for securement to the UAV, wherein the tag is further configured to wirelessly communicate with the one or more anchors when the UAV is in proximity to the landing zone;
a controller in communication with the tag, wherein the controller is configured to fly the UAV towards a centerline axis of the landing zone and defined through a first airspace zone defined at a first altitude above the landing zone, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the first airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the first altitude,
wherein the controller is further configured to fly the UAV towards the centerline axis defined through a second airspace zone defined at a second altitude which is below the first altitude, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the second airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the second altitude until the UAV has descended to the landing zone.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to fly the UAV towards the centerline axis defined through a third airspace zone defined at a third altitude which is below the second altitude, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the third airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the landing zone.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more anchors comprise ultra wideband transmitter/receiver units.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more anchors comprise four anchors each positioned at a corner of the landing zone.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a computer having a processor for communicating via the tag with at least three or more anchors.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to automatically reduce a gain value prior to landing the UAV upon the landing zone.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the tag is configured to initialize with the at least three or more anchors prior to take off from the landing zone.
1. A precision landing system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
one or more anchors configured for placement in proximity to a landing zone;
a tag configured for securement to the UAV, wherein the tag is further configured to wirelessly communicate with at least three or more of the anchors when the UAV is in proximity to the landing zone;
a controller in communication with the tag, wherein the controller is configured to fly the UAV towards a centerline axis which represents a center of the landing zone and defined through a first airspace zone defined at a first altitude above the landing zone, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the first airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the first altitude,
wherein the controller is further configured to fly the UAV towards the centerline axis defined through a second airspace zone defined at a second altitude which is below the first altitude, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the second airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the second altitude, and
wherein the controller is further configured to fly the UAV towards the centerline axis defined through a third airspace zone defined at a third altitude which is below the second altitude, wherein the controller is further configured to maintain the UAV within the third airspace zone until the UAV has descended to the landing zone.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more anchors comprise ultra wideband transmitter/receiver units.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more anchors comprise four anchors each positioned at a corner of the landing zone.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a computer having a processor for communicating via the tag with the at least three or more anchors.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to automatically reduce a gain value prior to landing the UAV upon the landing zone.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the tag is configured to initialize with the at least three or more anchors prior to take off from the landing zone.
As illustrated in the table above, all matching elements of the claim limitations appear in bold while non-matching elements of the claim limitations are not bolded.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both inventions are directed to a UAV landing system that uses a tag and anchors in a landing zone. There are only minor differences between the claims at issue. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to separate the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 objected to as being dependent upon a double patenting rejection but would be allowable if a terminal disclosure is filed to overcome the double patenting rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH GALYN MARTINEZ whose telephone number is (703)756-1537. The examiner can normally be reached MON-THURS 9-2.
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/E.G.M./Examiner, Art Unit 3668 /JAMES J LEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3668
