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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 4/4/22, 5/2/24, and 12/3/24 were filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1 and 13-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Carolan et.al. (US 2019/0294199).
Regarding claim 1 Carolan (figs. 1, 2A-2B 4A - 4D, and 11A) teaches an artificial neuron network comprising a plurality of two or more layers of artificial neuron units (para. 0032, 0052),
said layers of artificial neuron units being configured for communicating between them via an arrangement of two or more optical waveguides (para. 0052),
said arrangement of two or more optical waveguides are configured with predetermined coupling between the two or more waveguides, thereby providing cross communication between neuron units of said two or more layers (para. 0052).
Regarding claim 13 Carolan (figs. 1, 2A-2B 4A - 4D, and 11A) teaches an artificial neuron network, configured to operate as a cascaded logic gate (para. 0079).
Regarding claim 14 Carolan (figs. 1, 2A-2B 4A - 4D, and 11A) teaches an artificial neuron unit comprising a modal mixing unit configured for receiving input light of a first wavelength range and applying selected mixing to light components of two or more spatial modes of said input light (para. 0043),
said modal mixing unit comprises a multi-mode optical fiber having at least a potion thereof impregnated with gain medium and comprising predetermined gain medium configured for emitting light at predetermined first wavelength range in response to pumping light of second wavelength range (para. 0032, 0052),
where said modal mixing unit is further configured to selectively pump additional energy to one or more spatial modes of said input light propagating therethrough in response to pumping light of said second wavelength range and one or more selected spatial modes (para. 0032, 0052).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-12 and 15 – 28 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The primary reason to indicate objected to subject matter is the direction of specific construction and design of the individual components of the optical system.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Further prior art include Brooks et. al. (7921019 B2), Shainline et. al. (US 20200052183 A1), Song et. al. (US 2023/0409894 A1) and Pernick et. al. (US 5129041 A).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT E TALLMAN whose telephone number is (571)270-3958. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10 a.m. -6 p.m..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ricky Mack can be reached at 571-272-2333. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Robert E. Tallman/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872