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 .
Detailed Action
Specification Objection
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections – 35 U.S.C. 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.
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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis 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.
Claims 1, 2, 4 and 16 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lenchenkov (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2015/0228689).
Regarding Claim 1
FIG. 4 of Lenchenkov discloses a solid-state imaging element comprising: a first light receiving pixel (38C) that receives visible light; a second light receiving pixel (38N) that receives infrared light; and a metal layer (34) provided to face at least one of a photoelectric conversion unit (140) of the first light receiving pixel and a photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel on an opposite side of a light incident side, the metal layer containing tungsten as a main component [0033].
Regarding Claim 2
FIG. 4 of Lenchenkov discloses the metal layer is provided to face the photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel.
Regarding Claim 4
FIG. 4 of Lenchenkov discloses the metal layer is a multilayer [0033].
Regarding Claim 16
FIG. 1 of Lenchenkov discloses an electronic device comprising: a solid-state imaging element (12); an optical system (16) that captures incident light from a subject and forms an image on an imaging surface of the solid-state imaging element; and a signal processing circuit (18) that perform processing on an output signal from the solid-state imaging element, wherein (FIG. 4) the solid-state imaging element includes a first light receiving pixel (38C) that receives visible light, a second light receiving pixel (38N) that receives infrared light, and a metal layer (34) provided to face at least one of a photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and a photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel on an opposite side of a light incident side, the metal layer containing tungsten as a main component [0033].
Claim Rejections – 35 U.S.C. 103
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 3 and 5-9 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lenchenkov, in view of Yokogawa (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2019/0244992).
Regarding Claim 3
Lenchenkov discloses Claim 1.
Lenchenkov is silent with respect to “the metal layer is provided to face the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel”.
FIG. 10 of Yokogawa discloses a similar solid-state imaging element, wherein the metal layer (RM1) is provided to face the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to modify the device of Lenchenkov, as taught by Yokogawa. The ordinary artisan would have been motivated to modify Lenchenkov in the above manner for purpose of improving sensitivity ([0004] of Yokogawa).
Regarding Claim 5
FIG. 9 of Yokogawa discloses the metal layer (RM) has a gap in plan view.
Regarding Claim 6
FIG. 10 of Yokogawa discloses a semiconductor layer (103) in which the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and the photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel are provided; and a wiring layer (101) provided on a surface on an opposite side of a light incident side of the semiconductor layer and having a plurality of layers of wiring (106), wherein the metal layer (RM) is provided on a light incident side of the plurality of layers of wiring in the wiring layer.
Regarding Claim 7
FIG. 10 of Yokogawa discloses the wiring layer (101) includes a plurality of pixel transistors respectively connected to the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and the photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel, and the metal layer (RM) is arranged not to overlap the pixel transistor in plan view (FIG. 9).
Regarding Claim 8
FIG. 10 of Yokogawa discloses the wiring layer (101) includes a plurality of pixel transistors respectively connected to the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and the photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel, and the metal layer (RM) is arranged to ride on an opposite side of a light incident side of the pixel transistor.
Regarding Claim 9
FIG. 10 of Yokogawa discloses the wiring layer includes a lens (22) provided on a light incident side of the metal layer.
Claims 10-12 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lenchenkov and Yokogawa, in view of Nagai (JP 2012084815, machine-translation provided).
Regarding Claim 10
Lenchenkov as modified by Yokogawa discloses Claim 6.
Lenchenkov as modified by Yokogawa is silent with respect to “the metal layer includes a plurality of protrusion portions arranged on a surface on the light incident side, and a wall-shaped side wall portion protruding from a peripheral edge portion of the surface on the light incident side toward the light incident side”.
FIG. 10 of Nagai discloses a similar solid-state imaging element, wherein the metal layer (112) includes a plurality of protrusion portions arranged on a surface on the light incident side, and a wall-shaped side wall portion protruding from a peripheral edge portion of the surface on the light incident side toward the light incident side.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to modify the device of Lenchenkov, as taught by Nagai. The ordinary artisan would have been motivated to modify Lenchenkov in the above manner for purpose of suppressing color-mixing (Advantage of Nagai).
Regarding Claim 11
FIG. 10 of Nagai discloses the wiring layer includes a high reflectance film (Cu) arranged to cover a surface on the light incident side in the metal layer.
Regarding Claim 12
FIG. 10 of Nagai discloses a semiconductor layer (101) in which the photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and the photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel are provided; and a wiring layer provided on a surface on an opposite side of a light incident side of the semiconductor layer and having a plurality of layers of wiring, wherein the metal layer is provided on the semiconductor layer.
Claim 13 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lenchenkov, in view of Kitamura (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2019/0140000).
Regarding Claim 13
Lenchenkov discloses Claim 1.
Lenchenkov is silent with respect to “the metal layer is connected to a ground potential”.
FIG. 1 of Kitamura discloses a similar solid-state imaging element, wherein the metal layer (114) is connected to a ground potential [0026].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to modify the device of Lenchenkov, as taught by Kitamura. The ordinary artisan would have been motivated to modify Lenchenkov in the above manner for purpose of reducing noise in photodiode ([0026] of Kitamura).
Claims 14 and 15 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lenchenkov, in view of Kokubun (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0343766).
Regarding Claim 14
FIG. 4 of Lenchenkov discloses a solid-state imaging element comprising: a first light receiving pixel (38C) that receives visible light; a second light receiving pixel (38N) that receives infrared light; and a reflection layer (34) provided to face at least one of a photoelectric conversion unit of the first light receiving pixel and a photoelectric conversion unit of the second light receiving pixel on an opposite side of a light incident side.
Lenchenkov is silent with respect to the reflection layer is “an optical filter reflection layer” “having a reflectance of a given value or more”.
FIG. 1 of Kokubun discloses a similar solid-state imaging element, wherein the reflection layer (22) is an optical filter reflection layer having a reflectance of a given value or more [0011].
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to modify the device of Lenchenkov, as taught by Kokubun. The ordinary artisan would have been motivated to modify Lenchenkov in the above manner for purpose of reducing occurrence of sensing malfunction ([0027] of Kokubun).
Regarding Claim 15
FIG. 1 of Kokubun discloses the optical filter reflection layer is provided over an entire pixel region.
Pertinent Art
US 20100110271, 20180019270, 20110049330.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHENG-BAI ZHU whose telephone number is (571)270-3904. The examiner can normally be reached on 11am – 7pm EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chad Dicke can be reached on (571)270-7996. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHENG-BAI ZHU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2897