UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
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`16/198,910
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`11/23/2018
`
`RYOSUKE SHIOZAKI
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`731056446
`
`3169
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`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panason1e
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
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`NGUYEN” HOANG V
`
`ART UNIT
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`2845
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`03/06/2020
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
`US PTOeACtion @ SeedIP .Com
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`pairlinkdktg @ seedip .eom
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/198,910
`Examiner
`HOANG v NGUYEN
`
`Applicant(s)
`SHIOZAKI et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2845
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
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`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from 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, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
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`Status
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 11/23/2018.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)[:] This action is FINAL.
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`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4):] 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 Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above Claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`
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`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
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`8)
`Claim(s 122 Is/are rejected
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`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
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`Application Papers
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`10)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`11). The drawing(s) filed on 11/23/2018 is/are: a). accepted or b)(j 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).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`12). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a). All
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`b)C] Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`3D Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 11/23/18: 6/18/19.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200302
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`1.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C.103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
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`rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`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.
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`2.
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`Claims 1-14 and 19-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Lynch et al (US 6,014,108), hereinafter Lynch. (Applicant’s submitted prior art).
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`Regarding claim 1, Lynch (Figures 1—3) teaches an antenna device 30 that includes a
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`housing 56 formed with a window surface and transmits and receives an electromagnetic wave
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`through a cover member facing the window surface, the antenna device comprising a circuit
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`board that is provided inside the housing; a reflector 54 that is provided inside the housing and
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`faces a board surface ofthe circuit board; a transmitting antenna 42 that is provided on the
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`board surface and transmits the electromagnetic wave to a side of the reflector; and a receiving
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`antenna 42 that is provided on the boa rd surface and receives the electromagnetic wave (col 4,
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`lines 40—48 and col 8, lines 4—12).
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 3
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`Lynch does not explicitly mention that the antenna device having a length in a direction
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`of transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic wave that is greater than a height thereof.
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`It
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`would have been an obvious matter of design choice to configure the antenna device to have a
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`length in a direction of transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic wave that is greater than
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`a height thereof in order to achieve desired radiation characteristics to improve the efficiency
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`of the antenna.
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`Regarding claim 2, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) further teaches a
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`radome 44 that covers a direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted and
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`received.
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`Regarding claim 3, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) further teaches a
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`dielectric lens 44 that is supported forward of the circuit board, narrows a beam of the
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`electromagnetic wave from the reflector to emit the beam outside the device, and collects the
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`electromagnetic wave from outside the device into the reflector.
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`Regarding claim 4, as applied to claim 3, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) teaches that the
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`dielectric lens 44 converts the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the transmitting
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`antenna to a plane wave.
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`Regarding claim 5, as applied to claim 4, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) teaches that the
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`dielectric lens 44 is composed of a convex lens that has a convex shape in a front surface side.
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`Regarding claim 6, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figure 2) teaches that the transmitting
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`antenna and the receiving antenna are each composed of a conductor pattern formed on the
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`board surface ofthe circuit board.
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 4
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`Regarding claim 7, as applied to claim 6, Lynch (col 3, lines 61—65) teaches that the
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`transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are patch antennas.
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`Regarding claim 8, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figure 3) teaches that the reflector
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`reflects 54 a beam of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the transmitting antenna so
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`as to narrow a beam width and reflects the electromagnetic wave from a front side such that
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`the electromagnetic wave is collected.
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`Regarding claim 9, a applied to claim 8, Lynch (col 6, lines 44—53) teaches that, in at least
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`a vertical direction, a reflection surface ofthe reflector has a parabolic surface shape having a
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`focal point at which the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are disposed.
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`Regarding claim 10, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) teaches that a
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`reflection surface of the reflector has a shape warping in an outside direction from right and
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`left sides relative to a position where the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are
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`disposed.
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`Regarding claim 11, as applied to claim 10, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) teaches that the
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`transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna respectively have a plurality of antenna
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`elements disposed along right and left sides where the reflector extends.
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`Regarding claim 12, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figures 2 and 3) further teaches a
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`housing 56 that has a window 44 on a front surface through which the electromagnetic wave
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`passes and stores the circuit board so as to transmit and receive the electromagnetic wave
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`through the window.
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`Regarding claim 13, as applied to claim 12, Lynch teaches the claimed invention except
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`explicitly mention that the housing includes metal material.
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`It would have been obvious to one
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 5
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`having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to select
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`the material for the housing to be metal, since it has been held to be within the general skill in
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`the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter
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`of obvious design choice.
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`In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
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`Regarding claim 14, as applied to claim 12, Lynch teaches the claimed invention except
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`explicitly mention that when a normal direction of the board surface of the circuit board is
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`regarded as a vertical direction, a length in the vertical direction of the housing is shorter than a
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`length in a front—rear direction of the housing.
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`It would have been an obvious matter of design choice to configure, when a normal
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`direction ofthe board surface of the circuit board is regarded as a vertical direction, a length in
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`the vertical direction of the housing is shorter than a length in a front—rear direction ofthe
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`housing, such configuration would obtain desired radiation characteristics to improve the
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`efficiency of the antenna.
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`Regarding 19, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (Figure 1A, col 3 lines 43—49) further teaches a
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`signal processing unit 26 that estimates an azimuth of a target based on a reflected wave from
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`the target that is a part of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the transmitting
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`antenna.
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`Regarding claim 20, as applied to claim 19, Lynch (Figure 1A, col 3 lines 43—49) teaches
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`that the signal processing unit 26 and the transmitting antenna 42 or the receiving antenna 42
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`are integrally mounted on the board surface of the circuit board.
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 6
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`Regarding claim 21, as applied to claim 1, Lynch (col 5 lines 34—40) teaches that the
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`reflector 54 is made of a metal member or a resin member with a surface coated with metal
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`plating.
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`24.
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`Regarding claim 22, as applied to claim 1, the antenna device 30 is mounted in a vehicle
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`3.
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`Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lynch in view of
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`Prudhomme et al (WO 96/29755), hereinafter Prudhomme. (Applicant’s submitted prior art).
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`Lynch teaches the claimed invention except explicitly mention that the housing has a
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`connector that thermally bonds with the circuit board or a circuit part mounted on the circuit
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`board.
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`Prudhomme (page 9, line 33—35) teaches an in—vehicle antenna comprising a housing has
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`a connector that thermally bonds with a circuit board or a circuit part mounted on the circuit
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`board.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the claimed invention to configure the housing to thermally bonds with a circuit
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`board or a circuit part mounted on the circuit board, as taught by Prudhomme, doing so would
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`enable heat transfer from the circuit board in order to sustain optimum antenna performance.
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`4.
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`Claims 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lynch in view
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`of Suzuki et al (EP 1 462 817 A1), hereinafter Suzuki. (Applicant’s submitted prior art).
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`Regarding claim 16, Lynch teaches the claimed invention except further comprising a
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`bracket that fixes the housing on the cover member arranged to cover a front region of outside
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
`
`Page 7
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`the device and defines a direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the
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`device.
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`Suzuki (Figure 7, para [0035]) teaches an antenna device comprising a bracket that fixes
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`the housing on the cover member arranged to cover a front region of outside the device and
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`defines a direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the device.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the claimed invention to provide the antenna device of Lynch with a bracket that
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`fixes the housing on the cover member arranged to cover a front region of outside the device
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`and defines a direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the device, as
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`taught by Suzuki, doing so would allow the transmission and/or receiving of electromagnetic
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`wave to the outside of the device.
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`Regarding claim 17, as applied to claim 16, Suzuki (Figure 7, page 9 lines 33—35) teaches
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`that the bracket fixes the housing on the cover member so as to make the direction in which
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`the electromagnetic wave is transmitted outside the device horizontal to a ground.
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`Regarding claim 18, as applied to claim 16, Suzuku (Figure 7, page 9 lines 33—35) teaches
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`that the bracket is made of an electromagnetic wave absorber or material containing the
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`electromagnetic wave absorber.
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to HOANG V NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272—1825.
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`The examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Friday 8am—5pm.
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`

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`Application Number: 16/198,910
`Art Unit: 2845
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`Page 8
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in—person, and video conferencing
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`using a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Jessica Han can be reached on (571) 272-2078. The fax phone number for the
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`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 Patent
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`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications
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`may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
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`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
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`system, see https://ppair—my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access
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`to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866—217—9197(to|l—
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`free). Ifyou would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to
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`the automated information system, call 800—786—9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571—272—1000.
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`/HOANG V NGUYEN/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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`