Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/733,965

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROCHROMIC GLASS CAMERA SHUTTER

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Apr 29, 2022
Examiner
PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
Art Unit
2872
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
OA Round
4 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
1384 granted / 1716 resolved
+12.7% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
1761
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
73.7%
+33.7% vs TC avg
§102
22.3%
-17.7% vs TC avg
§112
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1716 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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 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 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gleason et al. (US 2014/0192257) in view of Glik et al. (US 2020/0237214), and further in view of Ollila et al. (US 2017/0140221). Regarding claim 1, Gleason discloses, an information handling system comprising: a processor (Para. 0017, lines 10-25); a memory device (Para. 0017, lines 10-25); a power management unit (PMU) (Para. 0003 and 0028, lines 21-28; describes a controller that is used to control the amount of power applied/the drive voltage to control opacity of the electrochromic glass shutter); a camera (10) formed within a chassis (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) of the information handling system (Para. 0033, lines 7-14 and see Fig. 1; describes a “consumer electronic device (e.g., a smartphone or a tablet computer)”), the camera including: a lens (11) and an electronic image capture component (13); an electrochromic glass shutter camera privacy shutter (14) formed external (see Fig. 2) to the lens (11) of the camera; the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter operatively coupled to a circuit switch (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17) to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) to reduce light external to the chassis from reaching the camera within the chassis to prevent the electronic image capture component from capturing an image in a first state (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a dark aperture stop state) and to permit light external to the chassis to reach the electronic image capture component in a second state to permit capturing the image (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a clear state that transmits at least 95% of light), the circuit switch operatively coupled to and controlled by an embedded controller (EC) (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17); and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0029, lines 3-6; discloses “an active EC medium”) having a first material coating of lithium ions (Para. 0031, lines 1-5; discloses the ion source layer stores suitable ions, for example, lithium ions that will be used for activating the EC layer) formed between a first conductive layer (17) and a second conductive layer (20). Gleason does not explicitly disclose the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having a first material coating of lithium ions an electrochromic glass layer having a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer on the electrochromic glass formed between a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. Glik teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an electrochromic glass shutter that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass shutter (Para. 0061 and 0063) includes an electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses an electrochromic layer) having a first material coating of lithium ions (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses an ion storage layer (e.g., lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2))) and a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a first conducting oxide layer (e.g., tungsten oxide (W03)) on the electrochromic glass formed between a first conductive layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a first conducting oxide layer made composed of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)) and a second conductive layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a second conducting oxide layer made composed of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having a first material coating of lithium ions an electrochromic glass layer having a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer on the electrochromic glass formed between a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer as taught by the electrochromic glass shutter of Glik in the electrochromic glass shutter of Gleason since Glik teaches it is known to include these features in an electrochromic glass shutter for the purpose of providing a low-cost electrochromic glass shutter with reduced color aliasing that avoids the use of moving parts while at the same time achieving improved focusing and greater depth of field. Gleason in view of Glik does not explicitly disclose the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state, and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the camera components including the lens of the camera and electronic image capture component including controls for exposure and image capture. Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system (Fig. 8) that it would have been desirable to make the circuit switch (Para. 0033 and 0081; note, discloses using a controller to activate an electrochromic glass privacy shutter) to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0078 and see 556) to occlude light external to the chassis (544) from reaching within the chassis in a first state (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light) and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state (Para. 0061; note, discloses the privacy shutter is fully transmissive to transmit light), and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (556) formed external to the camera components (546 and 548) including the lens of the camera (546) and electronic image capture component (548) including controls (Figs. 1 and 16) for exposure and image capture (see 104 of Fig. 1 and see 2, 4 of Fig. 16). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state, and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the camera components including the lens of the camera and electronic image capture component including controls for exposure and image capture as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason in view of Glik since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Regarding claim 2, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, the embedded controller operating below a basic input/output system (BIOS) (Para. 0003, 0026-0028 and see 15, 17) executed by the processor of the information handling system; and the EC to receive a user input (Para. 0026, Claim 9; describes a “button activated by a user of the device”) to turn on or turn off the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between the first state and the second state (Para. 0026). Regarding claim 3, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, the PMU operatively coupled to the circuit switch (Para. 0026-0028 and see Fig. 2) to control a first voltage provided across an electrochromic glass layer of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to make the electrochromic glass layer opaque (Para. 0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042). Furthermore, Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass layer opaque to block external light from reaching within the chassis of the information handling system (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason in view of Glik since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Regarding claim 4, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, a dedicated button used by a user (Para. 0026, Claim 9; describes a “button activated by a user of the device”) to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between the first state and the second state (Para. 0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042), the dedicated button including a hot-key on a keyboard of the information handling system communicatively coupled to the EC (Para. 0026, Claim 9; describes a “button activated by a user of the device”). Regarding claim 5, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter is formed into a bezel (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) of the information handling system external to the camera within the chassis to block external light for image capture by the electronic image capture component(see “ACTIVE EC LAYER” of Figs. 4-6) of the camera within the chassis when the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter is opaque in the first state (Para. 0005, lines 11-15, 0026-0028 and 0040-0042). Regarding claim 6, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, a printed circuit board (PCB) (Para. 0003) onto which the camera is installed, the PCB including a frame (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) formed over the camera to hold the electrochromic glass layer over the camera and external to the lens and image capture component to block image capture by the camera when the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter is opaque (Para. 0002). Furthermore, Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass layer opaque to block external light from reaching within the chassis of the information handling system (Para. 0026; note, discloses the cover element 605 (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason in view of Glik since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Regarding claim 7, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, a printed circuit board (PCB) (Para. 0003) onto which the camera is installed, the PCB including the circuit switch to receive input from the embedded controller to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass shutter from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between clear and dark states; as desired), the circuit switch (Para. 0003 and 0028, lines 21-28; describes a controller that is used to control the amount of power applied/the drive voltage to control opacity of the electrochromic glass shutter) operatively coupled to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to send the voltage level to select the first state or the second state of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired). Regarding claim 8, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Gleason discloses, the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (14) including: an electrochromic glass layer (“ACTIVE EC LAYER”); the first conductive layer (20) formed on a first side of the electrochromic glass layer; the second conductive layer (17) formed on a second side of the electrochromic glass layer; a first glass outer layer (see substrate under 20) formed on the first conductive layer; and a second glass outer layer (see 16) formed on the second conductive layer. Regarding claim 9, Gleason, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and further Glik further teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an electrochromic glass shutter that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass layer for the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the lens and the electronic image capture component includes the first material coating that is a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses an ion storage layer (e.g., lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2))) and the second material coating is a tungsten tri-oxide (W03) layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a first conducting oxide layer (e.g., tungsten oxide (W03)) on the electrochromic glass formed between the first conductive layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a first conducting oxide layer made composed of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)) and the second conductive layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a second conducting oxide layer made composed of transparent conductive oxides (TCOs)). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the electrochromic glass shutter of Glik in the combination of Gleason in view of Ollila since Glik teaches it is known to include these features in an electrochromic glass shutter for the purpose of providing a low-cost information handling system with reduced color aliasing that avoids the use of moving parts while at the same time achieving improved focusing and greater depth of field. Claims 10-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gleason et al. (US 2014/0192257) in view of Zhang (WO 2017/084547), and further in view of Ollila et al. (US 2017/0140221). Regarding claim 10, Gleason discloses, a camera module (Figs. 1-6) formed into a bezel of an information handling system (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) comprising: a lens (11) and an electronic image capture component (13); an electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (14) formed into the bezel (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) and placed over the lens (see Figs. 2-6), wherein the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter is operatively coupled to a power management unit (PMU) (Para. 0003 and 0028, lines 21-28; describes a controller that is used to control the amount of power applied/the drive voltage to control opacity of the electrochromic glass shutter) of the information handling system; and a circuit switch (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17) to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) to occlude light from passing through the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to the electronic image capture component in a first state (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a dark aperture stop state) and to permit light to pass through the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to the electronic image capture component in a second state (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a clear state that transmits at least 95% of light), the circuit switch operatively coupled to and controlled by an embedded controller (EC) (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17); and the circuit switch is operatively coupled to and controlled by an embedded controller (EC) (see Figs. 2-6) switches the electrochromic glass layer between the first state and the second state applying the voltage across the electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired). Gleason does not disclose the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component. Zhang teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a camera that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component (Page 14, lines 3-8). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component as taught by the camera of Zhang in the camera of Gleason since Zhang teaches it is known to include these features in a camera for the purpose of providing a camera with enhanced performance and reduced errors. Gleason in view of Zhang does not explicitly disclose the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system (Fig. 8) that it would have been desirable to make the circuit switch (Para. 0033 and 0081; note, discloses using a controller to activate an electrochromic glass privacy shutter) to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0078 and see 556) to occlude light external to the chassis (544) from reaching within the chassis in a first state (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light) and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state (Para. 0061; note, discloses the privacy shutter is fully transmissive to transmit light), and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (556) formed external to the camera components (546 and 548) including the lens of the camera (546) and electronic image capture component (548) including controls (Figs. 1 and 16) for exposure and image capture (see 104 of Fig. 1 and see 2, 4 of Fig. 16). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state, and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the camera components including the lens of the camera and electronic image capture component including controls for exposure and image capture as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason in view of Zhang since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Regarding claim 11, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, the embedded controller to receive a user input from a software setting to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between allowing light to pass through the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter and not allowing light to pass through the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0026-0028, 0040-0042, and Claim 9; describes a “button activated by a user of the device”). Regarding claim 12, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, the PMU operatively coupled to the embedded controller (Para. 0026-0028 and see Fig. 2) to control the voltage to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter via the electronic circuit switch independent of the operations of the processor of the information handling system (Para. 0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042). Regarding claim 13, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, a dedicated switch used by a user (Para. 0026-0028, 0040-0042, and Claim 9; describes a “button activated by a user of the device”) to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass layer of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter, the dedicated switch including a hot-key on a keyboard of the information handling system operatively coupled to the EC (Para. 0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042). Regarding claim 14, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, the voltage used to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between the first state and the second state includes: a first voltage from the circuit switch to turn the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter on in the first state and make the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter opaque (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) such that the electrochromic glass layer blocks light external to the camera module from reaching the electronic image capture component (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a dark aperture stop state); and a second voltage from the circuit switch to turn the electrochromic glass shutter off in a second state and make the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter transparent (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) such that the electrochromic glass layer passes light external to the camera module through to the electronic image capture component (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a clear state that transmits at least 95% of light). Regarding claim 15, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, a printed circuit board (PCB) (Para. 0003) onto which the camera is installed, the PCB including a frame (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) formed over the camera to hold the electrochromic glass camera privacy layer over the camera to block image collection by the camera for privacy where the electrochromic glass shutter is opaque in the first state to block light from passing behind the frame holding the electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0002). Regarding claim 16, Gleason, Zhang and Ollila discloses and teaches as forth above, and Gleason further discloses, the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (14) including: the electrochromic glass layer (“ACTIVE EC LAYER”); a first conductive layer (20) formed on a first side of the electrochromic glass layer; a second conductive layer (17) formed on a second side of the electrochromic glass layer; a first glass outer layer (see substrate under 20) formed on the first conductive layer; and a second glass outer layer (see 16) formed on the second conductive layer. Zhang teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a camera that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light from passing to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to pass to the electronic image capture component (Page 14, lines 3-8). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light from passing to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to pass to the electronic image capture component as taught by the camera of Zhang in the combination of Gleason in view of Ollila since Zhang teaches it is known to include these features in a camera for the purpose of providing a camera with enhanced performance and reduced errors. Claims 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gleason et al. (US 2014/0192257) in view of Zhang (WO 2017/084547) in view of Glik et al. (US 2020/0237214), and further in view of Ollila et al. (US 2017/0140221). Regarding claim 17, Gleason discloses, a camera module formed in a bezel (Para. 0005, lines 1-4 and Para. 0033, lines 7-14; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) of an information handling system comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) (Para. 0003); a camera (10); a power circuit formed on the PCB and operatively coupled to the camera (Para. 0003 and 0028, lines 21-28; describes a controller that is used to control the amount of power applied/the drive voltage to control opacity of the electrochromic glass shutter); a frame (Para. 0005, lines 1-4, Para. 0033, lines 7-14 and see Figs. 1-6; describes an external housing wall of the information handling system (“consumer electronic device”) that is used to support the camera) formed over the camera; and an electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (14) having an electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0029, lines 3-6; discloses “an active EC medium”) with a voltage-controlled opacity (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) disposed on the frame and over an aperture of the camera to block image capture by the camera when the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter is made opaque to prevent light reaching the aperture and the camera (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between clear and dark states; as desired), wherein the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0029, lines 3-6; discloses “an active EC medium”) having a first material coating of lithium ions (Para. 0031, lines 1-5; discloses the ion source layer stores suitable ions, for example, lithium ions that will be used for activating the EC layer) formed between a first conductive layer (17) and a second conductive layer (20). Gleason does not disclose the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component. Zhang teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in a camera that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component (Page 14, lines 3-8). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having embedded nanocrystals formed in the electrochromic glass that change between a first state that is opaque to occlude light to the electronic image capture component and a second state that is transparent to allow light to the electronic image capture component as taught by the camera of Zhang in the camera of Gleason since Zhang teaches it is known to include these features in a camera for the purpose of providing a camera with enhanced performance and reduced errors. Gleason in view of Zhang does not explicitly disclose the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having a first material coating of lithium ions an electrochromic glass layer and a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer such that a first voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a first state of opacity blocking light from reaching the aperture of the camera and a second voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a second state that is transparent to permit light to reach the aperture of the camera. Glik teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an electrochromic glass shutter (Para. 0061 and 0063) that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having a first material coating of lithium ions an electrochromic glass layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses an ion storage layer (e.g., lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2))) and a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer (Para. 0063, lines 6-23; discloses a first conducting oxide layer (e.g., tungsten oxide (W03)) such that a first voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a first state of opacity blocking light from reaching the aperture of the camera (Para. 0062-0063) and a second voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a second state that is transparent to permit light to reach the aperture of the camera (Para. 0062-0063). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the electrochromic glass shutter includes an electrochromic glass layer having a first material coating of lithium ions an electrochromic glass layer and a second material coating of a transition metal oxide layer such that a first voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a first state of opacity blocking light from reaching the aperture of the camera and a second voltage across the electrochromic glass layer with the first material coating and the second material coating causes a second state that is transparent to permit light to reach the aperture of the camera as taught by the electrochromic glass shutter of Glik in the combination of Gleason in view of Zhang since Glik teaches it is known to include these features in an electrochromic glass shutter for the purpose of providing a low-cost electrochromic glass shutter with reduced color aliasing that avoids the use of moving parts while at the same time achieving improved focusing and greater depth of field. Gleason, Zhang and Glik does not explicitly disclose the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state, and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the camera components including the lens of the camera and electronic image capture component including controls for exposure and image capture. Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system (Fig. 8) that it would have been desirable to make the circuit switch (Para. 0033 and 0081; note, discloses using a controller to activate an electrochromic glass privacy shutter) to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (Para. 0078 and see 556) to occlude light external to the chassis (544) from reaching within the chassis in a first state (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light) and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state (Para. 0061; note, discloses the privacy shutter is fully transmissive to transmit light), and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter (556) formed external to the camera components (546 and 548) including the lens of the camera (546) and electronic image capture component (548) including controls (Figs. 1 and 16) for exposure and image capture (see 104 of Fig. 1 and see 2, 4 of Fig. 16). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to make the circuit switch to receive a voltage to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to occlude light external to the chassis from reaching within the chassis in a first state and to permit light external to the chassis to reach within the chassis in a second state, and the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter formed external to the camera components including the lens of the camera and electronic image capture component including controls for exposure and image capture as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason, Zhang and Glik since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Regarding claim 18, Gleason, Zhang, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Gleason further discloses, a cable connection (see annotated Fig. 2 below) operatively coupling the camera and electrochromic glass layer to an embedded controller (EC) operating below a basic input/output system (BIOS) (Para. 0003, 0026-0028 and see 15, 17) executed by the processor of the information handling system (Para. 0026-0028 and 0040-0042). PNG media_image1.png 732 867 media_image1.png Greyscale Regarding claim 19, Gleason, Zhang, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Gleason further discloses, the PMU operatively coupled to the EC and the PCB (see annotated Fig. 2 above), the EC to control the voltage (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter via a circuit switch (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17). Regarding claim 20, Gleason, Zhang, Glik and Ollila discloses and teaches as set forth above, and Gleason further discloses, a circuit switch (Para. 0026-0028 and see 15, 17) operatively coupled to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter with a first voltage sent to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to switch to the first state to turn it opaque and occlude light to an image capture component of the camera (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a dark aperture stop state), and a second voltage sent to the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter to switch to the second state to make the electrochromic glass layer transparent (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired) and transmit light to the image capture component of the camera (Para. 0038-0040; discloses a clear state that transmits at least 95% of light), the circuit switch to receive input from the EC to change the opacity of the electrochromic glass camera privacy shutter between the first state and the second state (Para. 0004-0005, lines 11-15 and 0040-0042; describes a variable voltage that is used to change the active electrochromic glass shutter between clear and dark states; as desired). Furthermore, Ollila teaches, from the same field of endeavor that in an information handling system that it would have been desirable to make the electrochromic glass layer opaque to block external light from reaching within the chassis of the information handling system (Para. 0026; note, discloses the cover element 605 (Para. 0061; note, discloses blocking and rejecting light). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the above mentioned limitations as taught by the information handling system of Ollila in the combination of Gleason, Zhang and Glik since Ollila teaches it is known to include these features in an information handling system for the purpose of providing a compact, fast, reliable and low power information handling system. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAWAYNE A PINKNEY whose telephone number is (571)270-1305. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5. Examiner interviews are 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, Pinping Sun can be reached at 571-270-1284. The fax phone number for the organization where this 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 Center is 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 Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing 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 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /DAWAYNE PINKNEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872 06/10/2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Sep 09, 2024
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 09, 2024
Response Filed
Apr 04, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Sep 30, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 02, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 01, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 02, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+18.1%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
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