www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`18/009,717
`
`12/10/2022
`
`Renaud DIFRANCESCO
`
`SYP335618US01
`
`2938
`
`TUC
`
`St
`
`stOUp
`
`TUCKER ELLIS LLP - Sony Group
`950 MAIN AVENUE
`SUITE 1100
`CLEVELAND,OH 44113-7213
`
`FEES, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE
`
`3662
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/12/2024
`
`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):
`
`patents @ tuckerellis.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-14 and 16-21 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 1-14 and 16-21 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 12/10/2022 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)
`
`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)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20241030
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`18/009,717
`DIFRANCESCO, Renaud
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`CHRISTOPHER FEES
`3662
`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 12/10/2022.
`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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This is the first office action regarding application number 18/009,717, filed December
`
`10, 2022. This is a Non-Final Office Action on the merits. Claim 15 has been cancelled. Claims 1-
`
`14, and 16-21 are currently pending and are addressed below.
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`2.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Priority
`
`3.
`
`Acknowledgement is made of applicants claim for foreign priority based on a United
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`Kingdom application filed on June 29, 2021.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`4.
`
`The information disclosure statementfiled on 12/10/2022 is being considered by the
`
`examiner.
`
`Specification
`
`5.
`
`The spacing of the lines of the specification is such as to make reading difficult. New
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`application papers with lines 1 1/2 or double spaced (see 37 CFR 1.52(b)(2)) on good quality
`
`paper are required.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 3
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`6.
`
`Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
`
`A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and
`
`should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should
`
`not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not
`
`compare the invention with the prior art.
`
`If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be newin the art,
`
`and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an
`
`improvementin an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include
`
`the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of
`
`example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
`
`Whereapplicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or
`
`apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making;(3) if a
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`chemical compound, its identity and use;(4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the
`
`steps.
`
`Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the
`
`abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph
`
`within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
`
`See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
`
`In this case the abstract of the instant application exceeds 150 words.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 4
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`7.
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`The abstract of the disclosure does not commence on a separate sheet in accordance
`
`with 37 CFR 1.52(b)(4) and 1.72(b). A new abstract of the disclosure is required and must be
`
`presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`8.
`
`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 more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 1-14 and 16-21 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-AlA 35 U.S.C.
`
`112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
`
`10.
`
`The term “likely” in claims 1 and 20is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite.
`
`The term “likely” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for
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`ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
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`Page 5
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`apprised of the scopeof the invention. For example the term likely can be interpreted
`
`differently by different people, a first person may define likely as having a certain probability,
`
`while a second person may define likely as being certain or unavoidable. Therefore the scope of
`
`the invention is indefinite for one of ordinary skill in the art. For the purposes of compact
`
`prosecution the examiner will be interpreting “likely” as the vehicle is unable to avoid the
`
`collision and the collision is certain to happen.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`11.
`
`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-AlA 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 ofrejection if the
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`prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under
`
`either status.
`
`12.
`
`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 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 ordinaryskill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`13.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under
`
`35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 6
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`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
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`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
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`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
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`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousnessor
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`nonobviousness.
`
`14.
`
`Claims 1-6, 8, 10-14, and 17-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over Bae (US-20180015918) in view of Breed (US-20080046150).
`
`15.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Bae teaches a method of operating a vehicle comprising (Paragraph
`
`[0009], “a vehicle driving assistance apparatusfor vehicle control")
`
`determining, by control circuitry of the vehicle in combination with one or more sensors
`
`of the vehicle (Paragraph [0067], "The sensing unit 125 senses various situations of the vehicle
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`100 or external situations of the vehicle 100. To this end, the sensing unit 125 may include a
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`collision sensor, a wheel sensor, a speed sensor, a tilt sensor, a weight sensor, a heading sensor,
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`a yaw sensor, a gyro sensor, a position module, a vehicle forward/reverse sensor, a battery
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`sensor, a fuel sensor, a tire sensor, a steering sensor based on turning of the steering wheel, a
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`vehicle interior temperature sensor, a vehicle interior humidity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an
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`illumination sensor, an acceleration pedalposition sensor, and a brake pedal position sensor,"
`
`here the system is using a sensor unit comprises a plurality of sensors to detect the
`
`environment of the vehicle)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
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`Page 7
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`that a vulnerable subject is travelling on a path which intersects with a path on which
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`the vehicle is travelling (Paragraph [0169], “For example, the surrounding situation information
`
`mayinclude information about speed of a vehicle sensed by the sensing unit 210, type of the
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`vehicle, and distance between the vehicle and the vehicle 100. The surrounding situation
`
`information may include information about size, type, and location of a pedestrian, a centerline,
`
`a lane, and other objects.”) (Paragraph [0114], "For example, the sensing unit 210 may sense an
`
`object which approachesfrom the rear of the vehicle 100. The sensing unit 210 may sense an
`
`object which approachesfrom a traveling lane or a lateral lane of the vehicle 100," here the
`
`system can detect surroundings information including objects such as pedestrians which may
`
`be approaching/intersecting the vehicle)
`
`determining, by the control circuitry, that a collision between the vehicle and the
`
`vulnerable subjectis likely (Paragraph [0167], “the processor 270 can calculate a probability of
`
`collision between the vehicle 100 and the object based on the surrounding situation
`
`information," here the system can calculate a probability to determine if a collision is likely)
`
`predicting, by the control circuitry, a force of the collision (Paragraph [0204], "If it is
`
`determined that the vehicles have possibility of collision with the vehicle 100, the processor 270
`
`may compare impulse exerted on the vehicle 100 during collision. The processor 270 may
`
`provide the vehicle control signal so that the vehicle 100 moves to a lane from which a vehicle
`
`having a smaller impulse during collision with the vehicle 100 approaches," the system then can
`
`determine a force/impulse of the collision and compare the force impulse to determine an
`
`action to minimizeit)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 8
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`selecting, by the control circuitry in accordance with the predicted force of the collision,
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`one of a plurality of models each defining an operation of the vehicle in response to
`
`determining that the vehicle is unable to avoid the collision (Here the specification of the
`
`instant application (Paragraph [0282], "If it is determined that the object approaches from the
`
`traveling lane or the lateral lane of the vehicle 100, the processor 270 mayprovidethe vehicle
`
`control signal for controlling at least one of the driving apparatus, the steering apparatus, and
`
`the brake apparatus of the vehicle 100 so as to prevent collision between the vehicle 100 and
`
`the object or reduce or minimize impulse during collision (S500)," here can selectively control
`
`the various models/actions of the vehicle including the driving apparatus, braking apparatus, or
`
`steering apparatus to minimize a force during a collision, each of these actions/models
`
`corresponding to an operation of the vehicle)
`
`and controlling, by the control circuitry, one or more functions of the vehicle in
`
`accordance with the selected model (See Figure 4b Step $520).
`
`However Bae does not explicitly teach where the model is selected on the basis that the
`
`control unit determines it to result in a least amount of injury for the vulnerable subject from
`
`amongthe plurality of models.
`
`Breed teaches systems and methods for vehicle control for protecting pedestrians
`
`including
`
`where the model is selected on the basis that the control unit determines it to result in
`
`a least amountofinjury for the vulnerable subject from among the plurality of models
`
`(Paragraph [0218], "Alternatively, the airbag can deploy externalto the vehicle at a location
`
`between the object and an expected point of impact of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 9
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`protect a pedestrian when impacting the vehicle. The safety device mayalso be a net designed
`
`to capture an object outside of the vehicle. Multiple safety devices may be deployedorinitiated
`
`by the anticipatory sensor system,” here the system is selecting a model/action in order to
`
`protect/reduce injury to a pedestrian, the system can select from a plurality of actions/models).
`
`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
`
`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the instant application to include where the model is selected on the basis that the
`
`control unit determines it to result in a least amount of injury for the vulnerable subject from
`
`amongthe plurality of models of Breed in the system for preventing or minimizing a collision of
`
`Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to improvethe safety of the vehicle
`
`system by reducing injuries to pedestrians (Paragraph [0218], “Alternatively, the airbag can
`
`deploy external to the vehicle at a location between the object and an expected point of impact
`
`of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to protect a pedestrian when impacting the vehicle. The
`
`safety device may also be a net designed to capture an object outside of the vehicle. Multiple
`
`safety devices may be deployedorinitiated by the anticipatory sensor system”).
`
`16.
`
`Regarding claim 2, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
`
`above in claim 1, Bae further teaches predicting a reduction to the predicted force of the
`
`collision to a second predicted force resulting from the selecting of the one of the plurality of
`
`models, the second predicted force being lower than the predicted force (Paragraph [0204],
`
`“the processor 270 may compare impulse exerted on the vehicle 100 during collision. The
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 10
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`processor 270 mayprovide the vehicle control signal so that the vehicle 100 movesto a lane
`
`from which a vehicle having a smaller impulse during collision with the vehicle 100
`
`approaches.”).
`
`However Bae doesnot explicitly teach that this is used to determine a least amountof
`
`injury.
`
`Breed teaches selecting a on the basis of the least amountof injury (Paragraph [0218],
`
`“Alternatively, the airbag can deploy external to the vehicle at a location between the object
`
`and an expected point of impact of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to protect a pedestrian
`
`when impacting the vehicle. The safety device may also be a net designed to capture an object
`
`outside of the vehicle. Multiple safety devices may be deployedorinitiated by the anticipatory
`
`sensor system,” here the system is selecting a model/action in order to protect/reduce injury to
`
`a pedestrian, the system can select from a plurality of actions/models, the system of Bae which
`
`calculates an action to minimize the force of an impact with the system of Breed, the
`
`combination can calculate a predicted force of an impact to implement an action to reduce that
`
`force to preventinjuries).
`
`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
`
`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date of the instant application to include where the model is selected on the basis that the
`
`control unit determines it to result in a least amountof injury for the vulnerable subject from
`
`amongthe plurality of models of Breed in the system for preventing or minimizing a collision of
`
`Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to improve the safety of the vehicle
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 11
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`system by reducing injuries to pedestrians (Paragraph [0218], “Alternatively, the airbag can
`
`deploy external to the vehicle at a location between the object and an expected point of impact
`
`of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to protect a pedestrian when impacting the vehicle. The
`
`safety device may also be a net designed to capture an object outside of the vehicle. Multiple
`
`safety devices may be deployedorinitiated by the anticipatory sensor system”).
`
`17.
`
`Regarding claim 3, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
`
`above in claim 1, however Bae does not explicitly teach wherein the one or more functions
`
`comprise an inflation of one or more external airbags of the vehicle.
`
`Breed further teaches wherein the one or more functions comprise an inflation of one
`
`or more external airbags of the vehicle (Paragraph [0008], “More particularly, the present
`
`invention relates to anticipatory sensing of an impact involving a vehicle and taking action to
`
`reduce the potential harm caused by the impact, whetherit is deployment of an internal airbag
`
`to protect a vehicular occupant, deployment of an external airbag to protect a pedestrian or
`
`another type of action which can reduce the severity of the impact on the vehicular occupants or
`
`even possibly avoid the impact.”).
`
`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
`
`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the effectivefiling
`
`date of the instant application to include wherein the one or morefunctions comprise an
`
`inflation of one or more external airbags of the vehicle of Breed in the system for preventing or
`
`minimizing a collision of Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to improve the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 12
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`safety of the vehicle system by reducing injuries to pedestrians (Paragraph [0218],
`
`“Alternatively, the airbag can deploy externalto the vehicle at a location between the object
`
`and an expectedpoint of impact of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to protect a pedestrian
`
`when impacting the vehicle. The safety device may also be a net designed to capture an object
`
`outside of the vehicle. Multiple safety devices may be deployedorinitiated by the anticipatory
`
`sensor system”).
`
`18.
`
`Regarding claim 4, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
`
`above in claim 1, however Bae does not explicitly teach wherein at least one of the external
`
`airbagsis inflated non-uniformly in accordance with the selected model.
`
`Breed further teaches wherein at least one of the external airbagsis inflated non-
`
`uniformly in accordance with the selected model (Paragraph [0525], “FIG. 20 illustrates the
`
`system using two discrete inflators 83 and 84 which maybe triggered independently or together
`
`to thereby provide a variable inflation rate of the airbag 69. Inflator 84 and associated airbag 82
`
`are controlled by the anticipatory sensor system described herein andthe inflator 83 and
`
`associated airbag 81 could also be initiated by the same system. In a less severe accident,
`
`inflator 83 can beinitiated also by the anticipatory sensor without initiating inflator 84 or,
`
`alternately, inflator 83 could be initiated by another sensor system,” here the airbag comprises
`
`twoparts 81 and 82 and they can beinflated together or separately/non-uniformly).
`
`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
`
`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 13
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the instant application to include wherein at least one of the external airbagsis inflated
`
`non-uniformly in accordance with the selected model of Breed in the system for preventing or
`
`minimizing a collision of Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to tailor the
`
`airbag deployment to a specific accident scenario and conservethe airbagsin less serious
`
`scenarios where they are not necessary (Paragraph [0525], “FIG. 20 illustrates the system using
`
`two discrete inflators 83 and 84 which may betriggered independently or together to thereby
`
`provide a variable inflation rate of the airbag 69. Inflator 84 and associated airbag 82 are
`
`controlled by the anticipatory sensor system described herein and the inflator 83 and associated
`
`airbag 81 could also beinitiated by the same system. In a less severe accident, inflator 83 can be
`
`initiated also by the anticipatory sensor withoutinitiating inflator 84 or, alternately, inflator 83
`
`could be initiated by another sensor system”).
`
`19.
`
`Regarding claim 5, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
`
`above in claim 1, however Bae does not explicitly teach wherein at least one of the external
`
`airbagsis inflated more fully than at least one other of the external airbags.
`
`Breed further teaches wherein at least one of the external airbagsis inflated morefully
`
`than at least one other of the external airbags (Paragraph [0592], “The rate of deployment of
`
`the positioning airbag and the amount of inflation gas used to deploy the airbag can be
`
`varied”).
`
`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
`
`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 14
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the instant application to include wherein at least one of the external airbagsis inflated
`
`morefully than at least one other of the external airbags of Breed in the system for preventing
`
`or minimizing a collision of Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to tailor the
`
`airbag deployment to a specific accident scenario and conservethe airbagsin less serious
`
`scenarios where they are not necessary (Paragraph [0525], “FIG. 20 illustrates the system using
`
`two discrete inflators 83 and 84 which may betriggered independently or together to thereby
`
`provide a variable inflation rate of the airbag 69. Inflator 84 and associated airbag 82 are
`
`controlled by the anticipatory sensor system described herein and the inflator 83 and associated
`
`airbag 81 could also beinitiated by the same system. In a less severe accident, inflator 83 can be
`
`initiated also by the anticipatory sensor withoutinitiating inflator 84 or, alternately, inflator 83
`
`could be initiated by another sensor system”).
`
`20.
`
`Regarding claim 6, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
`
`above in claim 1, however Bae does not explicitly teach wherein the method comprises
`
`inflating, by airbag control circuitry of the vehicle, at least a first of the external airbags and
`
`inflating at least a second of the external airbags a predetermined time after the first of the
`
`external airbags.
`
`Breed further teaches wherein the method comprises inflating, by airbag control
`
`circuitry of the vehicle, at least a first of the external airbags and inflating at least a second of
`
`the external airbags a predetermined time after the first of the external airbags (Paragraph
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`[0527], “More particularly, the inflator 84 may be associated with an anticipatory crash sensor
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`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
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`Page 15
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`to be triggered thereby andthe inflator 83 may be associated with the anticipatory crash sensor
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`or anotherdifferent sensor, such as one which detects the crash only after it has occurred.In
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`this manner, inflator 84 will be triggered prior to inflator 83 and inflator 83, if triggered, will
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`supply an additional amount of gas into the airbag 69,” here the first airbag 82 can be inflated
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`by the first inflator 84 and inflator 83 will be triggered after to supply gas to airbag 81).
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`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
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`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the effectivefiling
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`date of the instant application to include wherein the method comprises inflating, by airbag
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`control circuitry of the vehicle, at least a first of the external airbags and inflating at least a
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`second of the external airbags a predetermined time after the first of the external airbags of
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`Breed in the system for preventing or minimizing a collision of Bae with a reasonable
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`expectation of success in order to tailor the airbag deploymentto a specific accident scenario
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`and conservethe airbagsin less serious scenarios where they are not necessary (Paragraph
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`[0525], “FIG. 20 illustrates the system using two discrete inflators 83 and 84 which may be
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`triggered independently or together to thereby provide a variable inflation rate of the airbag 69.
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`Inflator 84 and associated airbag 82 are controlled by the anticipatory sensor system described
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`herein and the inflator 83 and associated airbag 81 could also beinitiated by the same system.
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`In a less severe accident, inflator 83 can be initiated also by the anticipatory sensor without
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`initiating inflator 84 or, alternately, inflator 83 could be initiated by another sensor system”).
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`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 16
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`21.
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`Regarding claim 7, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
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`above in claim 1, Bae further teaches wherein the one or more functions additionally comprise
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`a steering function of the vehicle (Paragraph [0145], “For example, the processor 270 may
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`provide a signal for controlling at least one of a driving apparatus, a steering apparatus, anda
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`brake apparatus of the vehicle 100 so that the vehicle 100 may moveto a laterallane. If the
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`interface unit 250 provides the signal to the controller 170, the controller 170 may control the
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`vehicle 100 to moveto a lateral lane.”)
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`the steering function being controlled by steering control circuitry of the vehicle so as to
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`control an impact location on the vehicle (Paragraph [0176], “If it is determined that collision
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`between the vehicle 100 and the object cannot be avoided, the processor 270 may determine
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`movement of the vehicle 100 to reduce or minimize collision occurring during collision with the
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`object, based on the surroundingsituation information,” here the system is controlling the
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`steering of the vehicle in order to change the impact location to reduce or minimize the
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`collision).
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`However, Bae does not explicitly teach at least one of the external airbags being located
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`at the impact location of the vehicle.
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`Breed further teaches at least one of the external airbags being located at the impact
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`location of the vehicle (Paragraph [0556], “An anticipatory sensor system canthus beinstalled
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`all aroundthe vehicle, with multiple externally deployable airbags, whereby in use, when a
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`determination is made that an object is about to impact the vehicle, only the airbag(s) which
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`will inflate between the vehicle and the object, and which will cushion the impact, is/are
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`inflated,” here Breed teaches the use of external airbags to minimize injuries to pedestrians).
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`Application/Control Number: 18/009,717
`Art Unit: 3662
`
`Page 17
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`Bae and Breed are analogous art as they are both generally related to systems for
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`minimizing or preventing vehicular collisions.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the effectivefiling
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`date of the instant application to include at least one of the external airbags being located at
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`the impact location of the vehicle of Breed in the system for preventing or minimizing a collision
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`of Bae with a reasonable expectation of success in order to improve the safety of the vehicle
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`system by reducing injuries to pedestrians (Paragraph [0218], “Alternatively, the airbag can
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`deploy external to the vehicle at a location between the object and an expected point of impact
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`of the object with the vehicle, e.g., to protect a pedestrian when impacting the vehicle. The
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`safety device may also be a net designed to capture an object outside of the vehicle. Multiple
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`safety devices may be deployedorinitiated by the anticipatory sensor system”).
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`22.
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`Regarding claim 8, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
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`above in claim 1, Bae further teaches wherein the one or more functions comprise a braking
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`function of the vehicle, the braking function being controlled by braking control circuitry of the
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`vehicle so as to reduce a force of the collision (Paragraph [0012], “based on acquired
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`surrounding situation information, a signal for controlling at least one of a driving apparatus, a
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`steering apparatus, and a brake apparatusof the vehicle to prevent collision between the
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`vehicle and the object or to minimize impulse exerted on the vehicle during collision”).
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`23.
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`Regarding claim 9, the combination of Bae and Breed teaches the method as discussed
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`above in claim 1, Bae further teaches wherein the one or more functions additionally comprise
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`Application/Control Numbe