Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-27)

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:


Claim 1 (Currently Amended): A system comprising:at least one microcontroller in communication with at least onefirst engine and at least one second engine, wherein the at least one microcontroller is configured to:determine an angular position of at least one inboard propeller attached to the at least onefirst engine;
send afirst signal to the at least one first engine to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to the ground upon landing; and
send a second signal to the at least one second engine to adjust rotation of at least one tip propeller attached to the at least one second engine while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
wherein the at least one inboard propeller would strike the ground during rotation of the at least one inboard propeller upon landing; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.

Claim 2 (Currently Amended): The system of claim 1, further comprising:an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); and
one or more inner wing panels of the UAV;
wherein the least one inboard propeller is attached to the at least onefirst engine disposed on the one or more inner wing panels.

Claim 3 (Original): The system of claim 2, further comprising:one or more outer wing panels of the UAV, wherein the one or more outer wing panels are disposed on either side of the one or more inner wing panels, and wherein the one
 the one or more inner wing panels.

Claim 4 (Currently Amended): The system of claim 3, further comprising:at least one tip propeller attached to at least one second engine disposed on the one or more outer wing panels.

Claim 5 (Currently Amended): The system of claim 4, further comprising:one or more landing pods of the UAV, wherein the one or more landing pods are attached to the one or more inner wing panels of the UAV to assist in landing of the UAV,
wherein a distance from a center of a propeller hub to a tip of the at least one inboard propeller is greater than a height of the one or more landing pods, and wherein the at least one tip propeller is identical to the at least one inboard propeller, and wherein the at least one tip propeller can freely rotate when the UAV is on the ground.

Claim 6 (Original): The system of claim 2, wherein the UAV is a high altitude long endurance aircraft.

Claim 7 (Original): The system of claim 2, further comprising a solar array covering at least a portion of the one or more inner wing panels.

Claim 8 (Original): The system of claim 1, further comprising:a position sensor in communication with the microcontroller, wherein the position sensor detects a position of the at least one inboard propeller, and wherein the position sensor is a Hall-Effect rotary position sensor.

Claim 9 (Currently Amended): The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one microcontroller is further configured to:determine an altitude of the UAV;
 the signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller if the determined altitude is below a threshold altitude; and send a signal to adjust rotation of the at least one tip propeller while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground.

Claim 10 (Original): The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one microcontroller is further configured to:determine an altitude of the UAV; and
send a signal to start rotation of the at least one inboard propeller if the determined altitude is above a threshold altitude.

Claim 11 (Currently Amended): A method comprising:determining, by at least one microcontroller in communication with at least onefirst engine and at least one second engine, an angular position of at least one inboard propeller connected to the at least one engine;
sending, by the at least one microcontroller, afirst signal to the at least one first engine to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to a ground upon landing; and
sending, by the at least one microcontroller, a second signal to the at least one second engine to adjust rotation of at least one tip propeller attached to the at least one second engine while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
wherein the at least one inboard propeller would strike the ground during rotation of the at least one inboard propeller upon landing; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.


Claim 12 (Currently Amended): The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one first engine is on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and wherein the at least one inboard propeller is disposed on one or more inner wing panels of the UAV.

Claim 13 (Original): The method of claim 12, further comprising:determining, by the at least one microcontroller, an altitude of the UAV.

Claim 14 (Original): The method of claim 13, wherein the signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller is sent if the determined altitude is below a threshold altitude.

Claim 15 (Original): The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one tip propeller is disposed on one or more outer wing panels, wherein the at least one tip propeller is identical to the at least one inboard propeller, and wherein the at least one tip propeller can freely rotate when the UAV is on the ground.

Claim 16 (Currently Amended): A system comprising:at least one microcontroller in communication with at least one first engine and at least one second engine, wherein at least one inboard propeller is attached to the at least onefirst engine, wherein at least one tip propeller is attached to the at least one second engine, and wherein the at least one microcontroller is configured to:determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller;
send a first signal to the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to a surface\[\[,\]\];
send a second signal to the at least one tip propeller to adjust rotation of at least one tip propeller while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
 the at least one inboard propeller would contact the surface during rotation of the at least one inboard propeller;andwherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.

Claim 17 (Currently Amended): The system of claim 16, further comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), wherein the UAV further comprises at least one tip propeller attached to the at least one second engine of the UAV, wherein the at least one tip propeller can rotate freely without contacting the surface during rotation of the at least one tip propeller when the UAV is located on the surface.

Claim 18 (Original): The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one microcontroller is further configured to:send a signal to the at least one tip propeller to adjust a thrust to guide the UAV in for landing while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the surface, wherein the at least one tip propeller retains lateral control of the UAV during landing.

Claim 19 (Original): The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one microcontroller is further configured to:send a signal to the at least one tip propeller to adjust a thrust to guide the UAV for take-off while the at least one inboard propeller is in the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the surface, wherein the at least one tip propeller retains lateral control of the UAV during take-off; and
send a signal to the at least one inboard propeller after take-off such that the at least one inboard propeller starts rotation.

Claim 20 (Original): The system of claim 18, further comprising:one or more landing pods to assist in the safe landing of the UAV at the surface, wherein a distance from a center of a propeller hub to a tip of the at least one inboard propeller is greater than a height of the one or more landing pods, and wherein the distance Page 6 of 14
 the center of the propeller hub to the tip of the at least one tip propeller is greater than or equal to a height from the center of the propeller hub of the at least one tip propeller to a bottom of the one or more landing pods;one or more inner wing panels of the UAV, wherein the at least one inboard propeller is attached to the one or more inner wing panels;
one or more outer wing panels of the UAV, wherein the at least one tip propeller is attached to the one or more outer wing panels, wherein the one or more outer wing panels are disposed on either side of the one or more inner wing panels, and wherein the one or more outer wing panels are disposed at an upward angle to a plane formed by the one or more inner wing panels; and
a position sensor in communication with the microcontroller, wherein the position sensor detects a position of the at least one inboard propeller.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Terminal Disclaimer
The terminal disclaimer filed on 2/20/2025 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US Patent #11724793 has been reviewed and is accepted.  The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: See Applicant’s arguments filed 2/4/2025.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS/ARGUMENTS
Claims 1-20 were pending. Claims 1-2, 4-5, 9, 11-12, and 15-17 are amended. No new matter has been added. Claims 1, 11, and 16 are independent. Claims 1-20 are pending.
In the Non-Final Office action mailed November 4, 2024 (hereinafter "Office action"), the Examiner:
1. Rejected Claim 9 under 35 USC 112(b);
2. Rejected Claims 1, 8, 11, and 16 under 35 USC 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US
Publication No. 2015/0008857 to Firanski (hereinafter "Firanski");
3. Rejected Claims 2-7, 10, 12-15, and 17 under 35 USC 103 as being unpatentable over
Firanski in view of US Publication No. 2016/0144969 to Rawdon (hereinafter
"Rawdon"); and
4. Rejected Claim 9 under 35 USC 103 as being unpatentable over Firanski in view of
Rawdon and further in view of US Patent No. 10,526,069 to Rahrig (hereinafter
"Rahrig").
The Applicant thanks the Examiner for the present Office action and respectfully responds as follows:
Applicant respectfully traverses all of the rejections because the cited references, alone or in combination, do not teach or suggest all of the claimed limitations.
Rejection of Claim 9 under 35 USC 112(b)
The Applicant has responsively amended Claim 9 to correct a typographical error and to correct antecedent basis. No new matter has been added. By these amendments, the Applicant respectfully asserts that the rejection of Claim 9 under 35 USC 112(b) has been obviated.
Rejection of Claims 1, 8, 11, and 16 under 35 USC 102(a)(2) - Firanski
1. Independent Claims 1, 11, and 16
Independent Claim 1, as currently amended, reads as follows (with emphasis added):
A system comprising:
at least one microcontroller in communication with at least one first engine and at least
one second engine, wherein the at least one microcontroller is configured to:
determine an angular position of at least one inboard propeller attached to the at
least one first engine;
send a first signal to the at least one first engine to halt rotation of the at least one
inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an
attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to the ground upon
landing; and
send a second signal to the at least one second engine to adjust rotation of at
least one tip propeller attached to the at least one second engine while the
at least one inboard propeller is held in the attitude that provides for
clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
wherein the at least one inboard propeller would strike the ground during rotation
of the at least one inboard propeller upon landing; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently
from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.
Independent Claim 11, as currently amended, reads as follows (with emphasis added):
A method comprising:
determining, by at least one microcontroller in communication with at least one first
engine and at least one second engine, an angular position of at least one inboard
propeller connected to the at least one engine;
sending, by the at least one microcontroller, a first signal to the at least one first engine to
halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a propeller blade to a
ground upon landing; and
sending, by the at least one microcontroller, a second signal to the at least one
second engine to adjust rotation of at least one tip propeller attached to the at
least one second engine while the at least one inboard propeller is held in the
attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the ground;
wherein the at least one inboard propeller would strike the ground during rotation of the
at least one inboard propeller upon landing; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently from
the at least one first engine according to the second signal.
Independent Claim 16, as currently amended, reads as follows (with emphasis added):
A system comprising:
at least one microcontroller in communication with at least one first engine and at least
one second engine, wherein at least one inboard propeller is attached to the at least one first engine, wherein at least one tip propeller is attached to the at least one
second engine, and wherein the at least one microcontroller is configured to:
determine an angular position of the at least one inboard propeller;
and
send a first signal to the at least one inboard propeller such that the at least one
inboard propeller is held in an attitude that provides for clearance of a
propeller blade to a surface;
send a second signal to the at least one tip propeller to adjust rotation of at
least one tip propeller while the at least one inboard propeller is held in
the attitude that provides for clearance of the propeller blade to the
ground;
wherein at least a portion of the at least one inboard propeller would contact the
surface during rotation of the at least one inboard propeller; and
wherein the at least one second engine is configured to operate independently
from the at least one first engine according to the second signal.
Support for amendments to independent Claims 1, 11, and 16 may be found in the as- filed application at, for example, paragraphs 0024, 0038, and 0039. No new matter has been added.
The Applicant has responsively amended independent Claims 1, 11, and 16 to distinguish from the cited prior art.
The Applicant respectfully asserts that it is not obvious for a person with ordinary skill in the art to modify Firanski and Rawdon with the propeller control of Rahrig to provide thrust for the aircraft during take off and landing while protecting the larger propeller.
According to the description on Claims 1, 4, and 9 and paragraphs [0024], [0038], and [0039] of present disclosure, "the microcontroller" is configured to send a signal to an engine attached to "the inboard propeller" and another signal to an engine attached to "the tip propeller," respectively, and each engine is configured to operate "the inboard propeller" and "the tip propeller" independently according to the respective signal sent to each engine. Specifically, "the UAV 101 further includes at least one motor 110 coupled to the UAV 101 for the propulsion of the UAV 101." (paragraph [0024]). "The microcontroller is configured to ...send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one inboard propeller ..." (claim 9), and
"a flight control computer (FCC) may send a command signal to each motor 110 associated with an inner win
g
panel 107 to level, hold, and lock the blades 144 of the associated one or more inboard
prop
ellers 140.
The microcontroller 420 in turn will control the motor 110 speed, thereby levelin
g
, holding, and lockin
g
the blades 144" (paragraph
[0038]). "The microcontroller is configured to ...send a signal to halt rotation of the at least one outboard
tip
propeller ..." (claim 9), "...
microcontrollers 420 associated with the ti
p prop
ellers 141 may control the motor 110 speed for landing and take-off, while the blades 144 associated with the inboard propellers 140 are leveled and locked. When
the rotation of the inboard propellers 140 is halted, such as when the UAV 101 descends to the landing site 102,
the ti
p prop
ellers 141 may continue to rotate
and
t
he
thrust from the motors 110 to the tip propellers 141 may allow the tip propellers 141 to
g
uide the UAV 101 in for a landing."
(paragraphs [0038] and [0039]).
However, the Applicant notes that neither Firanski, Rawdon, nor Rahrig discloses, teaches, or suggests a system where a controller is configured to send a signal to an engine attached to "the folding propeller" and another signal to an engine attached to "the non-folding or smaller propeller," and each engine is configured to operate "the inboard propeller" and "the tip propeller" independently according to the respective signal.
Specifically, according to FIG. 12 and Col 5, line 48-Col 6, line 17 of Rahrig,
"foldin
g
propeller 200 and non-folding or smaller propeller 202" are "mounted to a common rotating shaft 204."
Thus, although "Drives 222 and 226 may be used at different times," "drive 222 may be used to rotate shaft 204 at a high rate of rotation during aircraft take off, climbs and landings," and "During loitering flight, ...drive 226 may be used to rotate shaft 204 at a lower rate of revolution than the rotation rate provided by drive 222,"
"folding propeller 200" and "non- foldin
g
or smaller propeller 202" always operate to
g
ether accordin
g
to the rotation of "common rotatin
g
shaft 204" re
g
ardless of which drive 222 or 226 is used.
There are no separate signals from a controller to rotate each of "folding propeller 200" and "non-folding or smaller propeller 202" independently. Any one of Firanski or Rawdon does not cure this deficiency.
Anticipating the invention requires the prior art teaching all the claim elements and the claimed arrangement. MPEP §2131 (citing
In re Bond,
910 F.2d 831 (Fed. Cir. 1990)).
The Applicant respectfully notes that all claim limitations must be considered when
determining patentability of an invention over the prior art.
In re Gulack,
703 F.2d 1381, 1385 (Fed. Cir. 1983).
For at least the above reasons, the Applicant respectfully asserts that currently amended independent Claims 1, 11, and 16 are patentable over the cited prior art and that currently amended independent Claims 1, 11, and 16 are in condition for allowance.
2. Dependent Claim 8
Claim 8 depends from currently amended independent Claim 1, which the Applicant
asserts is in condition for allowance. Dependent claims are allowable if the independent claims from which they depend are patentable.
In re Fine,
837 F.2d 1071 (Fed. Cir. 1988).
For at least the above reasons, the Applicant respectfully asserts that Claim 8 is
patentable over the prior art, as cited by the Examiner, and that Claim 8 is in condition for allowance.
Rejection of Claims 2-7, 10, 12-15, and 17 under 35 USC 103 - Firanski in view of Rawdon
Claims 2-7, 10, 12-15, and 17 depend from currently amended independent Claims 1, 11, and 16, respectively, which the Applicant asserts is in condition for allowance. Dependent claims are allowable if the independent claims from which they depend are patentable.
In re Fine,
837 F.2d at 1071.
For at least the above reasons, the Applicant respectfully asserts that Claims 2-7, 10, 12- 15, and 17 are patentable over the prior art, as cited by the Examiner, and that Claims 2-7, 10, 12-15, and 17 are in condition for allowance.
Rejection of Claim 9 under 35 USC 103 - Firanski in view of Rawdon and further in view of Rahrig
Claim 9 depends from currently amended independent Claim 1, which the Applicant
asserts is in condition for allowance. Dependent claims are allowable if the independent claims from which they depend are patentable.
In re Fine,
837 F.2d at 1071.
For at least the above reasons, the Applicant respectfully asserts that Claim 9 is
patentable over the prior art, as cited by the Examiner, and that Claim 9 is in condition for allowance.
CONCLUSION