IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`PATENT
`
`Application of: Mario Boisvert eta/.
`
`Serial No.: 10/765,487
`
`Filing Date: January 27, 2004
`
`Title: COLLISION MONITORING SYSTEM
`
`Examiner: Marlon T. Fletcher
`
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Docket No.: 14-733C2D1
`
`Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino, LLP
`Suite 1700
`1300 East Ninth Street
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`
`MAIL STOP AMENDMENT
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`RULE 116 AMENDMENT
`
`In response to the office action having a mailing date of January 5, 2009, please
`
`amend the application as follows:
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`1
`
`
`
`PATENT
`
`Application of: Mario Boisvert eta/.
`
`Serial No.: 10/765,487
`
`Filing Date: January 27, 2004
`
`Title: COLLISION MONITORING SYSTEM
`
`Examiner: Marlon T. Fletcher
`
`Art Unit: 2837
`
`Docket No.: 14-733C2D1
`
`Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino, LLP
`Suite 1700
`1300 East Ninth Street
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`
`MAIL STOP AMENDMENT
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`RULE 116 AMENDMENT
`
`In response to the office action having a mailing date of January 5, 2009, please
`
`amend the application as follows:
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`1
`
`
`
`Claim Status
`
`1.
`
`(previously presented) Apparatus for controlling motion of a motor driven element in
`
`a vehicle over a range of motion and for altering said motion when undesirable
`
`resistance to said motion is encountered, said apparatus comprising:
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`a) a sensor for measuring a parameter of a motor coupled to the motor driven
`
`element that varies in response to a resistance to motion during all or part of a range of
`
`motion of the motor driven element;
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`b) a memory for storing a number of measurement values from the sensor
`
`based on immediate past measurements of said parameter over at least a portion of a
`
`present traversal of said motor driven element through said range of motion;
`
`c) a controller coupled to the memory for determining to de-activate the motor
`
`based on a most recent sensor measurement of the parameter and the immediate past
`
`measurement values stored in the memory obtained during a present run through the
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`motor driven element range of motion; and
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`d) a controller interface coupled to the motor for altering motion of said motor
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`driven element during the present run in response to a determination made by the
`
`controller.
`
`2. (previously presented) A method for controlling motion of a motor driven element in
`
`a vehicle over a range of motion and for altering said motion when undesirable
`
`resistance to said motion is encountered, said method comprising:
`
`a) measuring a parameter of a motor coupled to the motor driven element that
`
`varies in response to a resistance to motion during all or part of a range of motion of the
`
`motor driven element by taking a multiplicity of measurements as the motor moves the
`
`motor driven element over its range of motion;
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`b) storing a number of measurement values based on measurements of said
`
`parameter over an immediate past portion of a present run through said range of
`
`motion;
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`c) determining that the parameter is outside a parameter range based on stored
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`2
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`
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`measurement values obtained during the
`
`immediate past portion as the motor driven
`
`element moves over its range of motion; and
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`d) altering motion of said motor driven element during the present run in
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`response to a determination that the parameter is outside the parameter range.
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`3. (Original) The method of claim 2 wherein the motor driven element is a window or
`
`panel and additionally comprising reverse actuating the window or panel prior to moving
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`said window or panel in a direction to close the window or panel.
`
`4. (Original) The method of claim 3 additionally comprising maintaining a position of
`
`the window or panel based on the sensed parameter and the reverse actuation is
`
`initiated if a leading edge of the window or panel is near a closed position.
`
`5. (Original) The method of claim 4 movement is first initiated toward a closed
`
`position when a leading edge of the window or panel is near the closed position and
`
`wherein the reverse actuation is performed upon a sensing of an obstacle that is based
`
`on determining the parameter is outside the parameter range.
`
`Please cancel claims 6-8 without prejudice or disclaimer.
`
`6 - 8 (Cancelled)
`
`9. (Cancelled)
`
`Please cancel claims 10 and 11 without prejudice or disclaimer.
`
`10 & 11. (Cancelled)
`
`12. (Previously Presented) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving
`
`an object along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is encountered
`
`by the object comprising:
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`3
`
`
`
`a) a movement sensor for
`
`monitoring movement of the object as the
`
`motor moves said object along a travel path;
`
`b) a switch for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;
`
`and
`
`c) a controller including an interface coupled to the switch for controllably
`
`energizing the motor and said interface additionally coupling the controller to the
`
`movement sensor for monitoring signals from said movement sensor; said controller
`
`comprising a stored program that:
`
`i) determines motor speed of movement from an output signal from the
`
`movement sensor ;
`
`ii) calculates an obstacle detect threshold based on motor speed of movement
`
`detected during a present run of said motor driven element;
`
`iii) compares a value based on currently sensed motor speed of movement with
`
`the obstacle detect threshold; and
`
`iv) outputs a signal from the interface to said switch for stopping the motor if the
`
`comparison based on currently sensed motor movement indicates the object has
`
`contacted an obstacle.
`
`13. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes a buffer
`
`memory for storing successive values of motor movement for use in determining the
`
`obstacle detect threshold .
`
`14. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes a clock and
`
`an input from the movement sensor is in a form of a sequence of pulses and further
`
`wherein the controller counts clock signals occurrences between receipt of pulses to
`
`provide an indication of motor speed.
`
`15. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes an interface
`
`for monitoring user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the window or
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`4
`
`
`
`panel and wherein the controller maintains a motor energization sequence a specified
`
`minimum time period in response to a short period user actuation of said control inputs
`
`to maintain position accuracy in monitoring window or panel movement.
`
`16. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controller includes an interface
`
`for monitoring user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the object and
`
`wherein in response to a specified input the controller conducts a calibration motor
`energization sequence to determine parameters of object.
`
`17. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the motor is coupled to a motor
`
`vehicle window or panel and wherein the controller includes an interface for monitoring
`
`user actuation of control inputs for controlling movement of the window or panel and
`
`wherein the controller maintains a position indication which is updated in response
`
`movement of the window or panel and further wherein the controller reverse actuations
`
`the motor near an end point in an object path of travel to avoid false obstacle detection
`
`in the region of closure of the window or panel.
`
`18. (Original) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a current sensor and
`
`wherein the controller includes means for adjusting the obstacle threshold based on
`
`dynamic motor current as sensed from the current sensor to take into account varying
`
`loads experienced by the motor.
`
`19. (previously presented) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving a
`
`window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is
`
`encountered by the window or panel comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for sensing movement of a window or panel along a travel path;
`
`b) a switch for controlling energization of the motor with an energization signal;
`
`and
`
`c) a controller coupled to the switch for controllably energizing the motor and
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`5
`
`
`
`having an interface coupling the controller
`
`to the sensor and to the switch; said
`
`controller comprising decision making logic for:
`
`i) monitoring a signal from the sensor;
`
`ii) calculating a real time obstacle detect threshold based on the signal
`
`that is detected during at least one prior period of motor operation during movement
`
`along a present or current run through a path of travel of said window or panel ;
`
`iii) comparing a value based on a currently sensed motor parameter with
`
`the obstacle detect threshold; and
`
`iv) stopping movement of the window or panel by controlling an output to
`
`said switch that controls motor energization if the comparison based on a currently
`
`sensed motor parameter indicates the window or panel has contacted an obstacle.
`
`20. (Previously Presented) Apparatus for controlling activation of a motor for moving
`
`a window or panel along a travel path and de-activating the motor if an obstacle is
`
`encountered by the window or panel comprising:
`
`a) a sensor for generating speed signals representative of the window or panel
`
`speed as the motor moves the window or panel along a travel path;
`
`b) an obstacle detection controller for monitoring at least a part of the travel
`
`path of the window or panel for sensing and generating an obstacle detect signal
`
`indicating the presence in said travel path of an obstacle to movement of the window or
`
`panel;
`
`c) a switch coupled to said controller for controlling energization of the motor
`
`with an energization signal ; and
`
`d) said controller for processing speed signals and obstacle detection signals
`
`and controlling operation of the motor in response to said speed or obstacle detection
`
`signals; said controller including:
`
`i) a storage for storing a number of speed signals that vary with motor speed;
`
`ii) a processor for calculating an obstacle detect threshold based on one or more
`
`speed signals stored in said storage obtained in real time based on immediate past
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`6
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`
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`measures of the speed signal sensed by
`
`the sensor to adapt to varying conditions
`
`encountered during movement along a present path of travel of said window or panel;
`
`iii) a logic unit for making a comparison between a value representing window or
`
`panel speed based on a currently sensed motor speed signal with the calculated
`
`obstacle detect threshold, and generating a control output if an obstacle is detected
`
`based on said comparison; and
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`iv) an interface coupled to said switch for changing the state of the switch to stop
`
`the motor.
`
`21. (Original) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sensor for generating a speed
`
`signal comprises a Hall-effect sensor.
`
`22. (Original) The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the sensor for generating a speed
`
`signal comprises a magnetic pick-up.
`
`23.
`
`(Original) The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising an obstacle detector
`
`having an output coupled to the controller that senses a disruption in a region through
`
`which the window or panel moves.
`
`24. (Original) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the obstacle detector comprises a
`
`microwave generator and a reflected wave transducer.
`
`25. (Original) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the obstacle detector comprises an
`
`infrared light source and detector.
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`26. (Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the obstacle detector
`
`comprises a field effect device.
`
`27. (Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the field effect device
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`January 20, 2009
`
`7
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`
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`comprises a magnetic field inductive
`
`sensor.
`
`Please cancel claims 28-32 without prejudice or disclaimer.
`
`28- 32. (cancelled)
`
`33 -35.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`36. (Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the immediate past
`
`measurements of said parameter were taken within a forty millisecond interval prior to
`
`the most recent sensor measurement.
`
`37. (Cancelled)
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`January 20, 2009
`
`8
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`
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`REMARKS
`
`No claims are amended and claims I- 5, 12-27 and 36 are pending and reconsideration
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`of those claims is requested.
`
`Claims 1 - 5 and 12 - 27 were indicated in the last office action as being allowable.
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`Claim 36 depends from allowable claim 1 and is allowable as well. If the Examiner
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`disagrees he is encouraged to call the undersigned to discuss the suitability of claim 36.
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`All claims are believed to be in condition for allowance and prompt issuance of a Notice
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`of Allowance is respectfully requested. If any fees are determined to be due, the commissioner
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`is authorized to charge those fees to deposit account no 20-0090.
`
`Date:
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/Stephen J. Schultz/
`Stephen J. Schultz
`Registration No. 29, 108
`Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell and Tummino
`1300 East Ninth St., Suite 1700
`Cleveland, OH 44114
`Phone: (216) 621-2234
`Facsimile: (216) 241-8151
`E-mail: sschultz@tarolli.com
`
`January 20, 2009
`
`9
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`
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