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 .
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.
Claim(s) below is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kobayashi (JP6537948).
Referring to claims 1, 13, and 21, Kobayashi shows a ruggedized sensor window apparatus (see figure 9), comprising:
a protective window (see figure 9 Ref 123) having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface (see the sides of figure 9 Ref 123), wherein the protective window is configured to be positioned forward of an optical sensor (see figure 9 Ref 125) intersecting an optical path of a transmission component and a receiver component of the optical sensor (see figure 9 Ref 134a and 133a);
a light scatter blocking component (see figure 9 Ref 122) on the second surface of the protective window (see the second surface of Ref 123 that is connected to Ref 122) and configured to be positioned between the protective window and the optical sensor (see figure 9), wherein the light scatter blocking component has a first side (see figure 9 Ref 122), a second side opposite the first side (see figure 9 Ref 122 note the first and second surfaces of Ref 122), and an aperture extending completely through the light scatter blocking component from the first side to the second side (see figure 9 Ref 122a), wherein the aperture is configured to be positioned over the transmission component of the optical sensor to allow transmission of a sender beam to pass therethrough (see figure 9 Ref 122a and 133a), and
wherein the light scatter blocking component is opaque and has a low reflection coefficient to block light scattering from the sender beam from reaching the receiver component of the optical sensor (see paragraph 3 note the shielding member).
Referring to claims 4, 19, and 24, Kobayashi shows second aperture extending through the light scatter blocking component from the first side to the second side, wherein the second aperture is configured to be positioned over the receiver component of the optical sensor to allow the receiver component to detect reflected light, wherein the second aperture is spaced laterally apart from the first aperture by a distance (see figure 9 Ref 122b).
Referring to claim 5, Kobayashi shows first aperture extends along a first axis; and the second aperture extends along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are parallel to each other (see figure 9 Ref 122a and 122b also see figures 2 and 4).
Referring to claim 8, Kobayashi shows the protective window is a thin substrate configured to avoid light scatter; and the protective window and the light scatter blocking component are configured to be positioned in physical contact with the optical sensor (see figure 9).
Referring to claim 9, Kobayashi shows the protective window is spaced apart from the sensor by a distance; and
the light scatter blocking component has a thickness defined by the distance between the protective window and a front surface of the optical sensor (see figure 9).
Referring to claim 14, Kobayashi shows the sensor is a laser distance
Sensor (see paragraph 3).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 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.
Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayashi (JP6537948) in view of Svatek (4132471).
Referring to claims 2 and 23, Kobayashi fails to specifically indicate whatn the light scatter blocking component is made out of however Svatek shows a similar light blocking component comprises ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) (see column 10 lines 63-65). It would have been obvious to include EPDM because this is an extremely well known light blocking material and adds no new or unexpected results.
Claim(s) 3, 7, 9, 12, 17, and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayashi (JP6537948).
Referring to claim 3, Kobayashi fails to specifically show the use of PLA for the light blocking material, however, PLA is an extremely well known thermoplastic used in optics and adds no new or unexpected results. The examiner is taking official notice indicating that PLA is extremely common and ubiquitous in manufacturing opaque optical components.
Referring to claim 7, Kobayashi does not indicate what the protective window cover is made from however polycarbonate is an extremely well known material for an optical window and adds no new or unexpected results.
Referring to claims 9, 12, 17, and 18 Kobayashi renders obvious a window having a thickness any variety of thickness because this is extremely well known and adds no new or unexpected results.
Claim(s) 6, 20, and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayashi (JP6537948) in view of Chou (20220082672).
Referring to claims 6, 20, and 25, Kobayashi fails to show but Chou shows the first aperture extends along a first axis; and the second aperture extends along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not parallel to each other (see figure 4). It would have been obvious to include the non-parallel axes because this allows for specific light gathering and projecting for a specified FOV as shown by Chou.
Claim(s) 10, 15, and 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayashi (JP6537948) in view of Yamanobe (20130240717).
Referring to claim 10, 15, and 22, Kobayashi fails to show but Yamanobe shows protective window has a recessed portion surrounding the transmission component; and
the light scatter blocking component is positioned in the recessed portion (see figure 2 note Ref 32a). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to include the protective window as shown by Yamanobe because the recesses allow for compactness of size of the sensor as shown by Yamanobe.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUKE D RATCLIFFE whose telephone number is (571)272-3110. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-5:00PM EST.
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/LUKE D RATCLIFFE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645
/ISAM A ALSOMIRI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3645