www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/932,714
`
`07/18/2020
`
`Kohei FUKUGAWA
`
`AOYA.21PUS0O1
`
`3393
`
`MARKD. SARALINO (PAN)
`RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`ISTH FLOOR
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
`
`CHIU, WESLEY JASON
`
`2698
`
`08/12/2021
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`
`ipdocket @rennerotto.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-8 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)() The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 07/18/2020 is/are: a)[¥) accepted or b)(.) objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`_—_c)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)¥) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210803
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/932,714
`FUKUGAWAetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`WESLEYJ CHIU
`2698
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133}.
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 07/18/2020.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA 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
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which
`
`papers have been placedof recordin the file.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/18/2020is in
`
`compliance with the provisions on 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure
`
`statement is being considered by the examiner.
`
`Specification
`
`The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly
`
`indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
`
`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-AlA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or moreclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), 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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 3
`
`Claim 5 recites “a recognition result of the recognizer’in lines 9-10. It is unclearif
`
`this is referring to the same “recognition result of the recognizer’ of claim 1, line 14 or a
`
`different “recognition result of the recognizer’.
`
`Examiner suggests amending “a recognition result of the recognizer” in claim 5,
`
`lines 9-10 to “the recognition result of the recognizer”
`
`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 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 madein this Office action:
`
`A personshall 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 effectivefiling date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`Claim(s) 1, 5-6 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
`
`anticipated by Ishii (US 2010/0097515 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Ishii teaches an imaging device (Ishii, Fig. 1) comprising:
`
`an imager configured to capture a subject to generate a captured image (Ishii,
`
`Fig. 1, image sensor 106, Paragraph 0026);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 4
`
`a recognizer configured to recognize the subject on the captured image (Ishii,
`
`Fig. 1, face detection processing unit 116, Paragraph 0032); and
`
`a controller configured to control a focusing operation based on a focusing region
`
`set on the captured image(Ishii, Fig. 1, Control Unit 114, Paragraph 0035),
`
`wherein
`
`the controller, when the subject (Ishii, Fig. 7, Face) is recognized to be present in
`
`a first determination region (Ishii, Fig. 2, Block S202, Paragraph 0041, Fig. 7, The first
`
`determination region is any region of the image or the entire image.) in a state where
`
`the focusing region is set on a predetermined region (Ishii, Fig. 7, Normal Frame B or
`
`Normal Frame C, Paragraphs 0045 and 0078-0079)fixedly arranged on the captured
`
`image, sets the focusing region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer
`
`instead of the predetermined region (Ishii, Fig. 2, Steps S202-S203, S206-S207 and
`
`$210-S211, If no face is detected, the normal frame is set as the focus region (a state
`
`where the focusing region is set on a predetermined region). Whena face is detected,
`
`the focus region is set on the face.).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Ishii teaches the imaging device according to claim 1 (see
`
`claim 1 analysis), having:
`
`a predetermined operation mode for setting the focusing region to the
`
`predetermined region (Ishii, Fig. 2, The AF Control is considered to be a mode and sets
`
`focusing region to the predetermined region (Fig. 2, Step S210).),
`
`wherein
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 5
`
`when the subject is recognized to be present in the first determination region
`
`during execution of the predetermined operation mode, the controller sets the focusing
`
`region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined
`
`region (Ishii, Fig. 2, Steps S202-S203, S206-S207 and $210-S211, If no face is
`
`detected, the normalframe is set as the focus region. Whenaface is detected, the
`
`focus region is set on the face.).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Ishii teaches the imaging device according to claim 1 (see
`
`claim 1 analysis), wherein the first determination region includes a center of the
`
`captured image (Ishii, Fig. 2, Block S202, Paragraph 0041, Fig. 7, The first
`
`determination region may be a region including the center of the captured image or the
`
`entire image.).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Ishii teaches the imaging device according to claim 1 (see
`
`claim 1 analysis), further comprising:
`
`a display configured to display the captured image (Ishii, Fig. 1, Display Unit
`
`109),
`
`wherein
`
`the controller controls the display to display at least one of the focusing region
`
`(Ishii, Paragraph 0046) andthe first determination region.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 6
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections setforth 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.
`
`Claims 1-3, 5-6 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable overYi et al. (US 2008/0170132 A1) in view of Ishii (US 2010/0097515
`
`Al).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Yi et al. (hereafter referred as Yi) teaches an imaging device
`
`(Yi, Fig. 1) comprising:
`
`an imager configured to capture a subject to generate a captured image
`
`(photographing device 30, Paragraph 0026);
`
`a recognizer configured to recognize the subject on the captured image (Yi, Fig.
`
`2, face part detection processing unit 101, Paragraph 0028); and
`
`a controller configured to control a focusing operation based on a focusing region
`
`set on the captured image(Yi, Fig. 1, CPU 100, Paragraphs 0025, Fig. 7, Paragraph
`
`0055),
`
`wherein
`
`the controller sets a state where the focusing region is set on a predetermined
`
`region fixedly arranged on the captured image (Yi, Fig. 7, Step $51, Paragraph 0055),
`
`and,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 7
`
`when the subject is recognized to be present in a first determination region (Yi,
`
`Fig. 3, Region 1, Paragraph 0030), sets the focusing region depending on a recognition
`
`result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined region (Yi, Fig. 7, Steps, S53-S59,
`
`Paragraphs 0055 and 0060, If a face is detectedin the first determination region, the
`
`focus region is set on the face.).
`
`However, Yi does not explicitly state the controller, when the subjectis
`
`recognized to be present in a first determination region in a state where the focusing
`
`region is set on a predetermined region fixedly arranged on the captured image, sets
`
`the focusing region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the
`
`predetermined region. That is, Yi does not explicitly state transitioning from a state
`
`wherethe focusing region is set on a predetermined region to setting the focusing
`
`region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined
`
`region.
`
`In reference to Ishii, Ishii teaches the controller, when the subject (Ishii, Fig. 7,
`
`Face) is recognized to be presentin a first determination region (Ishii, Fig. 2, Block
`
`$202, Paragraph 0041, Fig. 7, The first determination region is any region of the image
`
`or the entire image.) in a state where the focusing region is set on a predetermined
`
`region (Ishii, Fig. 7, Normal Frame B or Normal Frame C, Paragraphs 0045 and 0078-
`
`0079) fixedly arranged on the captured image, sets the focusing region depending on a
`
`recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined region (Ishii, Fig. 2,
`
`Steps S202-S203, S206-S207 and S210-S211, If no face is detected, the normal frame
`
`is set as the focus region (a state where the focusing region is set on a predetermined
`
`region). When a face is detected, the focus region is set on the face.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 8
`
`These arts are analogous since they are both related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`invention of Yi with the teaching of repeatedly performing subject detection for
`
`autofocus as seen in Ishii to update the autofocus region for changes in the scene.
`
`Regarding claim 2, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 1 (see claim 1 analysis), wherein the controller, in setting the
`
`focusing region depending on the recognition result of the recognizer, sets the focusing
`
`region to follow the subject within a second determination region (Yi, Fig. 3, Region 2 or
`
`Region 3) including the first determination region (Yi, Fig. 3, For a single face, the
`
`focusing region would follow the subject in the first and second determination regions.
`
`For multiple faces, the focusing region would follow the subject in the first and second
`
`determination regions depending on the assessment score.).
`
`Regarding claim 3, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 2 (see claim 2 analysis), wherein the controller, when the subject
`
`being followed is recognized not to be within the second determination region, sets the
`
`focusing region to the predetermined region (Yi, Fig. 7, Step S51, For a single face, if
`
`the face is no longer detected, the focusing region is set to the predetermined region.
`
`Therefore, the limitation “when the subject being followed is recognized not to be within
`
`the second determination region, sets the focusing region to the predetermined region”
`
`is met.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding claim 5, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 1 (see claim 1 analysis), having:
`
`a predetermined operation mode for setting the focusing region to the
`
`predetermined region (Yi, Fig. 7, The method of Figure 7 is considered to be a mode
`
`and sets the focusing region to the predetermined region.),
`
`wherein
`
`when the subject is recognized to be present in the first determination region
`
`during execution of the predetermined operation mode, the controller sets the focusing
`
`region depending on a recognition result of the recognizer instead of the predetermined
`
`region (Yi, Fig. 7, Steps, S53-S59, Paragraphs 0055 and 0060, If a face is detected in
`
`the first determination region, the focus region is set on the face.).
`
`Regarding claim 6, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 1 (see claim 1 analysis), wherein the first determination region
`
`includes a center of the captured image (Yi, Fig. 3, Region 1).
`
`Regarding claim 8, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 1 (see claim 1 analysis), further comprising:
`
`a display configured to display the captured image (Yi, Fig. 1, Display 90,
`
`Paragraph 0027).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 10
`
`However, the combination of Yi and Ishii does not teach wherein the controller
`
`controls the display to display at least one of the focusing region and the first
`
`determination region.
`
`In further referenceto Ishii, Ishii teaches wherein the controller controls the
`
`display to display at least one of the focusing region (Ishii, Paragraph 0046).
`
`These arts are analogous since they are both related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`combination of Yi and Ishii with the teaching of displaying the focusing region as seen in
`
`Ishii to allow the user to easily determine the region the imaging device is performing
`
`focusing on.
`
`Alternatively, claims 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable overYi et al. (US 2008/0170132 A1) in view of Ishii (US 2010/0097515
`
`A1) in further view of Nozakiet al. (US 2004/0207743 A1).
`
`Alternatively, regarding claim 3, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the
`
`imaging device according to claim 2 (see claim 2 analysis). However, the combination of
`
`Yi and Ishii does not teach wherein the controller, when the subject being followedis
`
`recognized not to be within the second determination region, sets the focusing region to
`
`the predetermined region.
`
`In reference to Nozaki et al. (hereafter referred as Nozaki, Nozaki teaches when
`
`the subject being detected is recognized notto be within a determination region
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 11
`
`(Nozaki, Fig. 16, narrow broken line), sets the focusing region to the predetermined
`
`region (Nozaki, Fig. 16, Paragraph 0110).
`
`These arts are analogous since theyare all related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`combination of Yi and Ishii with the method of excluding faces outside a determination
`
`region as seen in Nozaki to prevent the device from focusing on faces the user does not
`
`want to emphasis (Nozaki, Paragraph 0110). That is, the determination region for
`
`excluding faces is be considered to be the second determination region.
`
`Claim 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yi et
`
`al. (US 2008/0170132 A1) in view of Ishii (US 2010/0097515 A1) in view of Yasuda
`
`(US 2010/0149369 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 4, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 2 (see claim 2 analysis), wherein whena state in whicha first subject
`
`as the subject being followed is within the second determination region and outside the
`
`first determination region and a second subjectthatis different from the first subject is
`
`present in the first determination region, the controller sets the focusing region to follow
`
`the second subject instead of the first subject (Yi, Figs. 3 and 7, Steps S55-S59,
`
`Paragraphs 0055 and 0070, If a first subject being followed moves to the second
`
`determination region (Region 2 or Region 3) from the first determination region, anda
`
`second subject moves from the second determination region to the first determination
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 12
`
`region, the controller sets the focusing region to follow the second subject instead of the
`
`first subject because of the assignmentscore.).
`
`However, the combination of Yi and Ishii does not teach wherein whena state
`
`continues for a predetermined period of time or more in whichafirst subject as the
`
`subject being followed is within the second determination region and outside the first
`
`determination region and a second subjectthatis different from the first subject is
`
`present in the first determination region.
`
`In reference to Yasuda, Yasuda teaches whena state continues for a
`
`predetermined period of time or more in whichafirst subject as the subject being
`
`followed has a lower priority score and a second subjectthatis different from the first
`
`subject has a higher priority score, the controller sets the focusing region to follow the
`
`second subjectinstead of the first subject (Yasuda,Fig. 2, Steps S206-S208,
`
`Paragraphs 0054-0056 and 0059-0060, If a second subject is determined to be the
`
`main face for a predetermined number of counts, the second subject is set as the
`
`focusing region. The count value and predetermined value threshold dictate a
`
`predetermined period.).
`
`These arts are analogous sincethey are all related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`combination of Yi and Ishii with the method of switching focusing regions after a
`
`predetermined period of time as seen in Yasuda to suppress frequent main face
`
`changeovers (Yasuda, Paragraphs 0024 and 0063).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 13
`
`Claim 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yi et
`
`al. (US 2008/0170132 A1) in view of Ishii (US 2010/0097515 A1) in view of Iwasaki
`
`(US 2017/0366739 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 7, the combination of Yi and Ishii teaches the imaging device
`
`according to claim 1 (see claim 1 analysis). However, the combination of Yi and Ishii
`
`does not teach wherein the controller, in setting the focusing region to the
`
`predetermined region, divides the predetermined region into a plurality of regions to be
`
`used for the focusing region.
`
`In reference to Iwasaki, lwasaki teaches the controller, in setting the focusing
`
`region to the predetermined region, divides the predetermined region into a plurality of
`
`regions to be usedfor the focusing region (Iwasaki, Fig. 6, Step S605, Fig. 7C,
`
`Paragraphs 0077).
`
`These arts are analogous sincethey are all related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`combination of Yi and Ishii with the focusing method using a plurality of regions as seen
`
`in lwasaki to since it is a known method of determining focusing in a region and improve
`
`trackability of subjects in an area (lwasaki, Paragraphs 0076 and 0079).
`
`Claim 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable overIshii
`
`(US 2010/0097515 A1) in view of lwasaki (US 2017/0366739 A1).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
`
`Page 14
`
`Regarding claim 7, Ishii teaches the imaging device according to claim 1 (see
`
`claim 1 analysis). However, Ishii does not teach wherein the controller, in setting the
`
`focusing region to the predetermined region, divides the predetermined region into a
`
`plurality of regions to be used for the focusing region.
`
`In reference to lwasaki, lwasaki teaches the controller, in setting the focusing
`
`region to the predetermined region, divides the predetermined region into a plurality of
`
`regions to be used for the focusing region (Iwasaki, Fig. 6, Step S605, Fig. 7C,
`
`Paragraphs 0077).
`
`These arts are analogous sincethey are all related to imaging devices
`
`performing autofocusing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill
`
`in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to modify the
`
`invention of Ishii with the focusing method using a plurality of regions as seen in lwasaki
`
`to since it is a known method of determining focusing in a region and improve
`
`trackability of subjects in an area (lwasaki, Paragraphs 0076 and 0079).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to WESLEY JASON CHIU whose telephone number is
`
`(571)270-1312. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri: 8am-4pm.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration tool. To schedule an
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/932,714
`Art Unit: 2698
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`Page 15
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
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`supervisor, Twyler Haskins can be reached on (571) 272-7406. The fax phone number
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`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
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`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
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`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
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`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-
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`my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on accessto the Private
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`PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197(toll-free).
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`If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access
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`to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-
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`272-1000.
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`/WESLEYJ CHIU/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2698
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`/TWYLER L HASKINS/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2698
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`