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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`18/249,504
`
`04/18/2023
`
`HIROSHI MORI
`
`SYP336691US01
`
`6955
`
`CHIP LAW GROUP
`505 N. LAKE SHORE DRIVE
`SUITE 250
`CHICAGO, IL 60611
`
`TABA, MONICA TERESA
`
`2878
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/27/2024
`
`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):
`
`docketing @chiplawgroup.com
`eofficeaction @appcoll.com
`sonydocket @evalueserve.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`18/249,504
`MORI, HIROSHI
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`MONICA T TABA
`2878
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof 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 4/18/2023.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3) 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)(2) 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.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-17 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) 1-17 is/are rejected.
`(] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* 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 4/18/2023 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)Y) All
`1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) 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)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`4)
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date4/18/2023and6/25/2024.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20241120
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`The presentapplication, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
`
`35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
`
`Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of
`matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the
`conditions and requirementsofthis title.
`
`Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed
`
`to an abstract idea without significantly more.
`
`Regarding claim 1, the claim(s) recite(s) that a signal processing unit “generates
`
`multiband data including a plurality of pieces of band data including detected band data ofa
`
`plurality of wavelength bands, and band data of a wavelength band reconstructed from the
`
`detected band data”in the first limitation. As explained in paragraphs [0147]-[0159] of the
`
`specification, the claimed generation of data is done acquiring band data from the imaging
`
`device and performing ‘preprocessing’ by a mathematical calculations/algorithms. Thus, this
`
`limitation recites a concept that falls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 1 further recites an arithmetic unit “generates envelope information of spectrum
`
`data represented bythe multiband data” in the second limitation. As explained in paragraphs
`
`[0160]-[0182], specifically paragraph [0165] of the specification, the claimed generation of
`
`envelope information of spectrum data is done by connecting plots of output values of each
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 3
`
`wavelength band to produce a graph. Thus,this limitation recites a concept thatfalls into the
`
`mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 2 recites the limitation “generates first derivative information of the envelope
`
`information” which is a concept that falls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract
`
`ideas.
`
`Claim 3 recites the limitation “detectsa zero cross point of the first derivative
`
`information,” and specifies “peak wavelength” and “bottom wavelength” which are concepts
`
`that falls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas and/or mental stepsof
`
`reviewing the graphed data.
`
`Claim 4 recites the limitation “calculates an evaluation index” which are concepts that
`
`falls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 5 recites “setting a value” and specifying a first triangle, which are concepts that
`
`falls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 6 recites “calculates an area” and “calculates an evaluation index using the
`
`calculated area,” which are conceptsthat falls into the mathematical concepts group of
`
`abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 7 recites “calculates an angle” and “calculates an evaluation index using the
`
`calculated angle,” which are concepts thatfalls into the mathematical concepts group of
`
`abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 8 recites “calculates a length” and “calculates an evaluation index using the
`
`calculated length,” which are concepts that falls into the mathematical concepts group of
`
`abstract ideas.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 4
`
`Claims 9-11 recite calculating “a composite product of the first derivative information”
`
`and “calculates an evaluation index using the composite product.” As explained in paragraph
`
`[0029] of the specification, the claimed calculation of a composite product of the first derivative
`
`information corresponds to an inflection point of the first derivative information, thisis
`
`typically done by a mathematical calculations/algorithms. Thus,this limitation recites a
`
`conceptthatfalls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 12 recites “stores intensity information” and “stores difference information,”
`
`which are concepts that falls into the mental process of group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claim 13 recites “calculates difference information of envelope information...” and
`
`“stores intensity information...” and “stores difference information...,” which are concepts that
`
`falls into the mathematical concepts and/or mental processof group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claims 16-17 recite a method and a program, respectively, that comprises “generating
`
`multiband data including a plurality of pieces of band data including detected band data of a
`
`plurality of wavelength bands, and band data of a wavelength band reconstructed from the
`
`detected band data.” As explained in paragraphs [0147]-[0159] of the specification, the
`
`claimed generation of data is done acquiring band data from the imaging device and
`
`performing ‘preprocessing’ by a mathematical calculations/algorithms. Thus, this limitation
`
`recites a concept thatfalls into the mathematical concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`Claims 16-17 furtherrecite “generating envelope information of spectrum data
`
`represented bythe multiband data”. As explained in paragraphs [0160]-[0182], specifically
`
`paragraph [0165] of the specification, the claimed generation of envelope information of
`
`spectrum data is done by connecting plots of output values of each wavelength band to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 5
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`produce a graph. Thus,this limitation recites a concept that falls into the mathematical
`
`concepts group of abstract ideas.
`
`The judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the
`
`generically recited computer elements do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea
`
`because they amount to simply implementing the abstract idea on a computer/processing
`
`device.
`
`The claim(s) does/do notinclude additional elements that are sufficient to amount to
`
`significantly more than the judicial exception because the “signal processing unit” and
`
`“arithmetic unit” are well-understood, routine, conventional computer functions as recognized
`
`by the court decisions listed in MPEP § 2106.05(d).
`
`Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to
`
`non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do notfall within at least one of the four
`
`categories of patent eligible subject matter becauseit is directed to a software program and it
`
`does not define any structural and functional interrelationships between the computer
`
`program and the information processing device (see MPEP 2106.03.I.: Non-limiting examples of
`
`claims that are not directed to any of the statutory categories include: Products that do not
`
`have a physical or tangible form, such as information (often referredto as "data per se") ora
`
`computer program per se (oftenreferredto as "software per se") whenclaimed as a product
`
`without any structural recitations).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subjectto AIA35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subjectto pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 6
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`of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AlA) forthe rejection will not be
`
`considered a new ground ofrejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting
`
`the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`(a}(2) the claimed invention was described ina 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.
`
`Claims 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent
`
`Publication No. 2021/0144345 ("Takashima")
`
`Regarding claim 16, Takashima discloses an information processing method, comprising:
`
`generating multiband data (multi-spectrum images, paragraph [0070]) including a plurality of
`
`pieces of band data including detected band data ofa plurality of wavelength bands
`
`(paragraphs [0043]-[0044], [0070], [0088]) and band data of a wavelength band reconstructed
`
`from the detected band data (paragraphs [0044], [0070], [0088]); and
`
`generating envelope information of spectrum data represented by the multiband data
`
`(Fig. 8).
`
`Regarding claim 17, Takashima discloses a program (paragraphs [0080], [0246]) for
`
`causing an information processing device (paragraphs [0296]-[0297]) to execute:
`
`a process of generating multiband data (multi-spectrum images, paragraph [0070])
`
`including a plurality of pieces of band data including detected band data of a plurality of
`
`wavelength bands (paragraphs [0043]-[0044], [0070], [0088]) and band data of a wavelength
`
`band reconstructed from the detected band data (paragraphs [0044], [0070], [0088]); and a
`
`process of generating envelope information of spectrum data represented by the multiband
`
`data (Fig. 8).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 7
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth 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 forthin 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, 12-13, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Takashima in view of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2021/0211617 ("Ono").
`
`Regarding claim 1, Takashima discloses an information processing device, comprising:
`
`a signal processing unit (120, Fig. 7) that generates multiband data (multi-spectrum
`
`images, paragraph [0070]) including a plurality of pieces of band data including detected band
`
`data of a plurality of wavelength bands (paragraphs [0043]-[0044], [0070], [0088]) and band
`
`data of a wavelength band reconstructed from the detected band data (paragraphs [0044],
`
`[0070], [0088]); and
`
`an arithmetic unit (implicit within 120, Fig. 7, see paragraphs [0078], [0080], [0089], or
`
`300a, Fig. 9, paragraph [0084]-[0085]) that generates envelope information of spectrum data
`
`represented bythe multiband data (Fig. 8).
`
`Takashima does not explicitly disclose an arithmetic unit.
`
`However, Ono discloses a signal processing unit (200, Fig. 13) performs arithmetic
`
`processing (Abstract, paragraphs [0103], [0216]-[0217]) therefore signal processing unit is also
`
`an arithmetic unit that can be done byasingle processing unit.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 8
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to havea signal processing unit perform arithmetic functions as disclosed by Ono in the
`
`device of Takashima in order to create a more compact system and save space.
`
`Regarding claim 12, Takashima in view of Ono discloses the information processing
`
`device according to claim 1, and Takashima further discloses that the [imaging apparatus] (100,
`
`Fig. 7) stores intensity information of a specific wavelength band (paragraphs [0058], [0079] -
`
`[0080], [0098]), and stores difference information with an adjacent wavelength band of a
`
`wavelength band otherthan the specific wavelength band (paragraphs [0058], [0079] -[0080]).
`
`Further, Ono discloses that the arithmetic unit (200, Fig. 13) can store information (200C,Fig.
`
`13, paragraph [0219]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to havea signal processing unit perform arithmetic functions and store information as
`
`disclosed by Ono in the device of Takashima in order to create a more compact system and save
`
`space.
`
`Regarding claim 13, Takashima in view of Ono discloses the information processing
`
`device according to claim 1, and Takashima further discloses that the [imaging apparatus] (100,
`
`Fig. 7) calculates difference information of envelope information betweenaspecific wavelength
`
`band and a wavelength band other than the specific wavelength band (paragraphs [0058],
`
`[0079]-[0080]), stores intensity information of the specific wavelength band (paragraphs
`
`[0058], [0079]-[0080], [0098]), and stores the difference information of a wavelength band
`
`other than the specific wavelength band (paragraphs [0058], [0079]-[0080]). Further, Ono
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 9
`
`discloses that the arithmetic unit (200, Fig. 13) can store information (200C, Fig. 13, paragraph
`
`[0219]}).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date to havea signal processing unit perform arithmetic functions and store information as
`
`disclosed by Ono in the device of Takashima in order to create a more compact system and save
`
`space.
`
`Regarding claim 14, Takashima in view of Ono discloses the information processing
`
`device according to claim 1, and Takashima further discloses that the detected band datais
`
`data obtained by capturing an image of a farm field (paragraph [0048], [0058], rice, wheat, are
`
`typically grown in farm fields).
`
`Claims 2-4, 9-11, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Takashimain view of Ono further in view of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0088579
`
`("Balas").
`
`Regarding claim 2, Takashima in view of Ono discloses the information processing
`
`device according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose that the arithmetic unit generates
`
`first derivative information of the envelope information.
`
`However, Balas discloses a processor unit (paragraph [0070]: “Estimation,
`
`through a microprocessor unit, of the minimum number or the most informative wavelengths,
`
`named here as CSB [critical spectral bands], is, by nature, an optimization problem addressed
`
`with relevant algorithms”) generates first derivative information of the envelope information
`
`(paragraphs [0010], [0075]: “Analysis may involve automatic feature extraction algorithms for
`
`identifying said prominent wavelengths corresponding, for example, to peaks,valleys, slopes
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 10
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`etc.” It is well known in the art that calculating the slope along points in a curveis the first
`
`derivative of the curve).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to generate the first derivative information of the envelope information as disclosed by
`
`Balas in the device of Takashima in view of Ono in order to identify the critical spectral bands
`
`which may vary in different scenes.
`
`Regarding claim 3, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 2, and Balas further discloses that the arithmetic unit
`
`detectsa zero cross point of the first derivative information (51, Fig. 2, peaks or maximum and
`
`minimum points in a curve are wherethe first derivative of the curve is equal to zero), specifies,
`
`as a peak wavelength of the envelope information, a wavelength of a zero cross point in middle
`
`of transition of the first derivative information from positive to negative (51, Fig. 2, for example,
`
`max A point transitions from positive slope to negative slope), and specifies, as a bottom
`
`wavelength of the envelope information, a wavelength of a zero cross point in middle of
`
`transition of the first derivative information from negative to positive (51, Fig. 2, for example
`
`min A transitions from negative slope to positive slope).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to generate the first derivative information of the envelope information as disclosed by
`
`Balas in the device of Takashima in view of Ono in order to identify the critical spectral bands as
`
`defined by max and min critical points which may vary in different scenes.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 3, and Balas further discloses that the arithmetic unit
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 11
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`calculates an evaluation index using at least one of the peak wavelength or the bottom
`
`wavelength (paragraph [0077], the critical spectral bands can be applied for plant tissue
`
`diagnosis, which under the broadest reasonable interpretation would implicitly involve
`
`calculating an evaluation index).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to calculate an evaluation index as disclosed by Balas in the device of Takashima in view of
`
`Ono in order to assist, for example, in remote sensing and/or plant tissue diagnosis.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 3, and Balas further discloses that the arithmetic unit
`
`calculates a composite product (see other points between max and min values in 53, Fig. 2,
`
`includes inflection points) of the first derivative information from the peak wavelengthto the
`
`bottom wavelength (max and min values, 51, 53, Fig. 2), and calculates an evaluation index
`
`using the calculated composite product (paragraph [0077], the critical spectral bands can be
`
`applied for plant tissue diagnosis, which underthe broadest reasonable interpretation would
`
`implicitly involve calculating an evaluation index).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to calculate an evaluation index as disclosed by Balas in the device of Takashima in view of
`
`Ono in order to assist, for example, in remote sensing and/or plant tissue diagnosis.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 3, whereinthe arithmetic unit calculates at least one of a
`
`composite product of the first derivative information from the peak wavelength to a first
`
`wavelength (inflection point in 53, Fig. 2 between peak to min value) or a composite product of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 12
`
`the first derivative information from the bottom wavelength to a second wavelength (inflection
`
`point in 53, Fig. 2 between min value to peak), and calculates an evaluation index using the
`
`calculated composite product (paragraph [0077], the critical spectral bands can be applied for
`
`plant tissue diagnosis, which under the broadest reasonable interpretation would implicitly
`
`involve calculating an evaluation index).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to calculate an evaluation index as disclosed by Balas in the device of Takashima in view of
`
`Ono in order to assist, for example, in remote sensing and/or plant tissue diagnosis.
`
`Regarding claim 11, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 3, and Balas further discloses that the arithmetic unit
`
`calculates a composite product of the first derivative information from at least one of the peak
`
`wavelength or the bottom wavelength to a wavelength corresponding to an inflection point of
`
`the first derivative information (see points defined in graph 53, Fig. 2, includes points between
`
`max/min and inflection points), and calculates an evaluation index using the calculated
`
`composite product (paragraph [0077], the critical spectral bands can be applied for plant tissue
`
`diagnosis, which under the broadest reasonable interpretation would implicitly involve
`
`calculating an evaluation index).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date to calculate an evaluation index as disclosed by Balas in the device of Takashima in view of
`
`Ono in order to assist, for example, in remote sensing and/or plant tissue diagnosis.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 13
`
`Regarding claim 15, Takashima in view of Ono and Balas discloses the information
`
`processing device according to claim 4, and Takashima further discloses that the evaluation
`
`index is a vegetation evaluation index (paragraph [0048]).
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 5-8 are objected to as being dependent uponarejected base claim, but would be
`
`allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and
`
`any interveningclaims, and if the 101 rejections are overcome.
`
`The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
`
`The invention as claimed, specifically in combination with:
`
`sets a value corresponding to the peak wavelength obtained from the envelope
`
`information as a first vertex, sets a value corresponding to the bottom wavelength obtained
`
`from the envelope information as a second vertex, setsa value corresponding to a
`
`predetermined wavelength located on a longer wavelength side than the peak wavelength and
`
`the bottom wavelength obtained from the envelope information as a first reference point, sets
`
`a value corresponding to a predetermined wavelength located on a shorter wavelength side
`
`than the peak wavelength and the bottom wavelength obtained from the envelope information
`
`as a second reference point, and specifies a first triangle including the first vertex, the second
`
`vertex, and the first reference point, and a second triangle including the first vertex, the second
`
`vertex, and the second reference point, are not disclosed or made obvious by the prior art of
`
`record.
`
`Conclusion
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/249,504
`Art Unit: 2878
`
`Page 14
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to MONICAT. TABA whosetelephone number is (571)272-1583.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached Monday- Friday 9 am - 6 pm.
`
`Examiner interviewsare 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, Georgia Epps can be reached on 571-272-2328. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization wherethis 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 Centeris 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 Centerand https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for
`
`information aboutfiling 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 (INUSA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
`
`/MONICAT TABA/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2878
`
`

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