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 .
Response to Amendment
Examiner acknowledges amending of claims 1, 5-10, 21, 24-29, 31, 33 and cancellation of claims 2-3, 22-23, 30.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 21 (i.e. pump band encompassing plurality of wavelengths including absorption peak after transitioning from cold pump wavelength to steady state pump wavelength) 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 (Remarks pgs. 6-8). New reference Chann (US-20110305256-A1)
Applicant argues Fidric does not disclose two laser lights being unidirectionally combined via the same end (Remarks pg. 7).
Examiner agrees. However, Sotgiu is used to modify Fidric to disclose this limitation, rendering the argument moot.
Applicant argues Sotgiu does not disclose two laser lights being unidirectionally combined via the same end (Remarks pgs. 7-8).
Examiner disagrees. Sotgiu discloses a bidirectionally pumped laser (fig. 4) and an analogous unidirectionally pumped laser with two laser lights being combined via the same end of the fiber (fig. 3). Sotgiu fig. 3 discloses optical fiber 101 being unidirectionally pumped with two laser lights 103 + 104 combined via the same end of the fiber 101. The fact that there exists a second (also unidirectionally + via same end) pumped optical fiber 102 in the figure is irrelevant. See annotated figs. P + Q.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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-AIA ), 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.
Claim 31 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 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-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
The term “high” in claim 31 line 2 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “high” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Power level relating to the electrical connector rendered indefinite. “High power” interpreted to mean any power greater than 0.
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.
Claim(s) 1-10, 21-30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fidric (US-20070236781-A1) in view of Sotgiu et al. (US-20020122244-A1) and Chann (US-20110305256-A1).
Regarding claim 1, Fidric discloses a method of multi-band pumping of a doped fiber source (fig. 1, 0004/5), the doped fiber source having a first absorption peak (fig. 1+1A+4 14, 0027 lines 1-6, “915 nm”) and a second absorption peak that differs from the first absorption peak (“976 nm”), the method comprising: generating from a first diode pump light source, a first diode pump light at (fig. 1 12) a first pump power in a first pump band encompassing a plurality of first wavelengths including the first absorption peak (fig. 4 46 encompasses plurality of wavelengths including peak 42, 0027 lines 7-9); generating from a second diode pump light source, a second diode pump light at (fig. 1 13) a second pump power in a second pump band encompassing a plurality of a second wavelengths including the second absorption peak (fig. 4 48 encompasses plurality of wavelengths including peak 44, 0027 lines 9-11), the second pump band differs from the first pump band (fig. 4 46 different from 48), wherein the doped fiber source has a first end and a second end (annotated fig. P ends 1 and 2).
Fidric does not disclose
the first and second diode pump light sources being lasers,
simultaneously and unidirectionally combining, at a pump laser combiner, the first laser light and the second laser light into the doped fiber source, wherein the first diode pump light and the second diode pump light are combined into the first end of the same doped fiber source
wherein the first pump power equals the second pump power, or wherein the second pump power is greater than the first pump power.
Sotgiu discloses a bidirectionally pumped optical amplifier with a doped fiber source receiving a mixed (i.e. simultaneous) diode pump input from multiple diode lasers (fig. 4 103 + 104 power mix to pump 101 fiber, 0053 final 2 lines, 0057 lines 1-7, 0062). Sotgiu also discloses an equivalent unidirectionally pumped optical amplifier with same components where first and second pump lights combined into a first end of same doped fiber source (fig. 3 + annotated fig. Q 103+104 pump first end 1 of same top fiber 101 unidirectionally, 0014). Sotgiu discloses making the first and second pump power equal (fig. 4 103 104 powers equal, 0083).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use diode lasers as the first and second diode pump light sources to take advantage of the energy efficiency and wavelength tunability/precision of diode lasers. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to apply the first and second pump power simultaneously + unidirectionally to the same side of the doped fiber source in Fidric to facilitate efficient temperature stabilization of the device + have more control over the input to the fiber (Sotgiu 0014) and to reduce the number of couplers required and further reduce crosstalk and leakage, supplementing the pump wavelength separation, part of an established tradeoff disclosed by Fidric (0003-0004). 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 first and second pump power equal in Fidric to simplify the construction and operation of the device and maintain a level of symmetry during operation.
Modified Fidric does not disclose a first/second pump band encompassing a plurality of a first/second wavelengths including the first/second absorption peak after transitioning from a first cold pump wavelength to a first steady state pump wavelength.
Chann discloses an optical fiber system supplied with pump laser light and a desire to stabilize pump lasers during operation/operate under steady-state conditions (fig. 4, Abstract, 0116).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a first/second pump band encompassing a plurality of a first/second wavelengths including the first/second absorption peak after transitioning from a first cold pump wavelength to a first steady state pump wavelength to increase manageability, control, and efficiency of device (Chann 0116).
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Annotated fig. P
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Regarding claim 4, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1, in which the doped fiber source is a Yb-doped fiber source (Fidric 0020 lines 7-11).
Regarding claim 5, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the first pump band has a peak wavelength in a range from 910 nm to 930 nm (0027, “915 nm”, first pump centered/peak at 915).
Regarding claim 6, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1.
Fidric discloses the first pump band has a peak wavelength of 915 nm (0027 lines 1-6, “915 nm”).
This value is sufficiently close to the claimed range of 930-960 nm, and thus, a prima facie case of obviousness exists. Applicant does not suggest any criticality for the range 930-960 compared to the clearly disclosed range of 910-930 or clearly disclosed value of 915 (instant application Specification 0035) (MPEP 2144.05 I).
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 first pump band (and also first absorption band) have a peak wavelength of 930-960 nm to increase pumping and absorption between 930-960 nm at a level at least as efficient and thermally stable as that of the 910-930 range.
Regarding claim 7, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the second pump band has a peak wavelength in a range from 970 nm to 980 nm (0027, “976 nm”, second pump centered/peak at 976).
Regarding claim 8, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the doped fiber source is a doped fiber laser (Fidric fig. 1 + 1A 10, 0008/9, 0017 lines 1-4).
Regarding claim 9, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1 also being used when the doped fiber source is a doped fiber amplifier (Fidric fig. 2 34, 0021 lines 1-7).
Regarding claim 10, Fidric, as modified, discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the first and second laser pumps are diode lasers (Sotgiu 0053 final 2 lines, see claim 1 modification).
Regarding claim 21, Fidric discloses a multi-band pump stage for pumping a doped fiber source (fig. 1, 0004/5), the doped fiber source having a first absorption peak (fig. 1+1A+4 14, 0027 lines 1-6, “915 nm”) and a second absorption peak that is different from the first absorption peak (“976 nm”), the multi-band pump stage comprising: a first diode pump light source (fig. 1 12) configured to produce a first diode pump light at a first pump power in a first pump band encompassing a plurality of first wavelengths including the first absorption peak (fig. 4 46 encompasses plurality of wavelengths including peak 42, 0027 lines 7-9); a second diode pump light source (fig. 1 13) configured to produce a second diode pump light at a second pump power in a second pump band encompassing a plurality of second wavelengths including the second absorption peak (fig. 4 48 encompasses plurality of wavelengths including peak 44, 0027 lines 9-11), the second pump band being different from the first pump band (fig. 4 46 different from 48), a controller configured to control the first and second diode pumps (fig. 1 controller 22+23 combo controls 12+13, 0022), wherein the doped fiber source has a first end and a second end (annotated fig. P ends 1 and 2).
Fidric does not disclose
the first and second diode pump light sources being lasers,
simultaneously and unidirectionally combining, at a pump laser combiner, the first laser light and the second laser light into the doped fiber source, wherein the first diode pump light and the second diode pump light are combined into the first end of the same doped fiber source
wherein the first pump power equals the second pump power, or wherein the second pump power is greater than the first pump power.
Sotgiu discloses a bidirectionally pumped optical amplifier with a doped fiber source receiving a mixed (i.e. simultaneous) diode pump input from multiple diode lasers (fig. 4 103 + 104 power mix to pump 101 fiber, 0053 final 2 lines, 0057 lines 1-7, 0062). Sotgiu also discloses an equivalent unidirectionally pumped optical amplifier with same components where first and second pump lights combined into a first end of same doped fiber source (fig. 3 + annotated fig. Q 103+104 pump first end 1 of same top fiber 101 unidirectionally, 0014). Sotgiu discloses making the first and second pump power equal (fig. 4 103 104 powers equal, 0083).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use diode lasers as the first and second diode pump light sources to take advantage of the energy efficiency and wavelength tunability/precision of diode lasers.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to apply the first and second pump power simultaneously + unidirectionally to the same side of the doped fiber source in Fidric to facilitate efficient temperature stabilization of the device + have more control over the input to the fiber (Sotgiu 0014) and to reduce the number of couplers required and further reduce crosstalk and leakage, supplementing the pump wavelength separation, part of an established tradeoff disclosed by Fidric (0003-0004).
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 first and second pump power equal in Fidric to simplify the construction and operation of the device and maintain a level of symmetry during operation.
Modified Fidric does not disclose a first/second pump band encompassing a plurality of a first/second wavelengths including the first/second absorption peak after transitioning from a first cold pump wavelength to a first steady state pump wavelength.
Chann discloses an optical fiber system supplied with pump laser light and a desire to stabilize pump lasers during operation/operate under steady-state conditions (fig. 4, Abstract, 0116).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a first/second pump band encompassing a plurality of a first/second wavelengths including the first/second absorption peak after transitioning from a first cold pump wavelength to a first steady state pump wavelength to increase manageability, control, and efficiency of device (Chann 0116).
Regarding claim 24, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21, wherein the doped fiber source is a Yb-doped fiber source (Fidric 0020 lines 7-11).
Regarding claim 25, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21, wherein the first absorption band has a peak wavelength in a range from 910 nm to 930 nm (Fidric 0027 lines 1-6, “915 nm”).
Regarding claim 26, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21.
Modified Fidric does not disclose the peak wavelength being in a range from 930 nm to 960 nm.
Fidric discloses the first absorption band has a peak wavelength of 915 nm (0027 lines 1-6, “915 nm”).
This value is sufficiently close to the claimed range of 930-960 nm, and thus, a prima facie case of obviousness exists. Applicant does not suggest any criticality for the range 930-960 compared to the clearly disclosed range of 910-930 or clearly disclosed value of 915 (instant application Specification 0035) (MPEP 2144.05 I).
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 first absorption band (and also first pump laser) have a peak wavelength of 930-960 nm to provide increased absorption between 930-960 nm at a level at least as efficient and thermally stable as that of the 910-930 range.
Regarding claim 27, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21, wherein the second absorption band has a peak wavelength in a range from 970 nm to 980 nm (0027 lines 1-6, “976 nm”).
Regarding claim 28, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21, wherein the doped fiber source is a doped fiber laser (Fidric fig. 1 + 1A 10, 0008/9, 0017 lines 1-4).
Regarding claim 29, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21, wherein the doped fiber source is a doped fiber amplifier (Fidric fig. 2 34, 0021 lines 1-7).
Claim(s) 31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fidric in view of Sotgiu, Chann, and Buckholder (US-20170244212-A1).
Regarding claim 31, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21.
Fidric, as modified, does not disclose further comprising an AC/DC pump power supply electrically coupled to a high power electrical connector (see claim 31 112b + interpretation).
Buckholder discloses a laser power architecture for laser diode arrays comprising an AC/DC power supply electrically coupled to cables and by cables to a laser diode array (fig. 2 202 coupled to cables 204/212/213, 0026).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use an AC/DC power supply coupled to a high power electrical connector with the device in modified Fidric.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to provide built-in conversion of AC power into DC power and compatibility with wall outlets.
Claim(s) 32-33 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fidric in view of Sotgiu, Chann, and Eggleton et al. (US-6768577-B2).
Regarding claim 32, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21.
Fidric, as modified, does not disclose further comprising a diode laser driver to drive one or both the first and second laser pumps.
Eggleton discloses a tunable multimode laser diode pump source for an amplifier with a driver that drives laser pumps (fig. 2 combination of (206+121+122) drives 202-205, col. 10 lines 35-36, col. 11 lines 34-41).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add a diode laser driver to drive one or both the first and second laser pumps to the device in modified Fidric.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to allow for control over the operation and parameters of the laser pumps, including the output power and the central wavelength (col. 11 lines 25-31).
Regarding claim 33, Fidric, as modified, discloses the multi-band pump stage of claim 21.
Fidric, as modified, does not disclose further comprising a laser pump source sensor configured to monitor one or both of the first and second pump power.
Eggleton discloses a tunable multimode laser diode pump source for an amplifier with a sensor configured to monitor laser pump power (fig. 2 combination of (206+121+122) indirectly monitors 202-205 power + amplification via output monitor signal, col. 10 lines 35-36, col. 11 lines 12-22, col. 12 46-51).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add a source sensor configured to monitor one or both the first and second laser pump power in the device in modified Fidric.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification to ensure proper operation of the device and provide information to make decisions regarding the device’s inputs.
Claim(s) 34-35 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fidric in view of Sotgiu, Chann, and Kakui (US-20080180788-A1).
Regarding claim 34, modified Fidric discloses the method according to claim 1.
Modified Fidric does not disclose wherein the doped fiber source comprises a single doped fiber source.
Kakui discloses a laser processing apparatus with multiple pumping light sources that pump a single doped fiber (fig. 1 processing apparatus contains amplification section 30 with plurality of pumps 32_x and single doped fiber 31, 0030, 0033).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use a single doped fiber source as the doped fiber source to reduce the complexity of the device and the cost/time to construct device, smaller footprint + easier to integrate with other devices with single inputs, increased power to single fiber, etc.
Regarding claim 35, modified Fidric discloses the multi-band pump stage according to claim 21.
Modified Fidric does not disclose wherein the doped fiber source comprises a single doped fiber source.
Kakui discloses a laser processing apparatus with multiple pumping light sources that pump a single doped fiber (fig. 1 processing apparatus contains amplification section 30 with plurality of pumps 32_x and single doped fiber 31, 0030, 0033).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use a single doped fiber source as the doped fiber source to reduce the complexity of the device and the cost/time to construct device, smaller footprint + easier to integrate with other devices with single inputs, increased power to single fiber, etc.
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 Alex Ehrlich whose telephone number is (703)756-5716. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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/A.E./Examiner, Art Unit 2828
/MINSUN O HARVEY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2828