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's) submitted comply with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the examiner has considered the information disclosure statement; please see attached forms PTO-1449.
Drawings
The drawings submitted have been reviewed and determined to facilitate understanding of the invention. The drawings are accepted as submitted.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 1-7, 11-18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent Application Publication UD 2019/0384007 A1 to Matiss et al. (“US1”)
Regarding Claim 1, US1 describes an optical adapter (100, 130; see Figs 1-20), comprising:
a first interface (101) to mate with a first optical connector (2), wherein the first interface comprises a first set of alignment features (151) to align the optical adapter with the first optical connector;
a second interface (102) to mate with a second optical connector (3), wherein the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (152) to align the optical adapter with the second optical connector, wherein the first and second optical connectors are not designed to mate with each other (as shown in Figs 6, 7); and
a plurality of waveguides (140) extending through the optical adapter from the first interface to the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the first optical connector and the second interface is mated with the second optical connector, the first and second optical connectors are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0040], [0056], [0075]).
Regarding Claim 2, US1 describes:
the adapter (100, 130) comprising the first interface, the second interface, and the plurality of waveguides; and
an adapter holder (120) to hold the adapter.
Regarding Claim 3, US1 describes the adapter holder configured to align the first and second optical connectors to the first and second interfaces of the adapter (see Figs 1A and 6-7).
Regarding Claim 4, US1 describes a glass interposer (110; see [0048]), wherein the glass interposer comprises the first interface, the second interface, and the plurality of waveguides, wherein the first interface is at a first end of the glass interposer and the second interface is at a second end of the glass interposer, and wherein the plurality of waveguides extend through the glass interposer from the first interface to the second interface (see Figs 1-20).
Regarding Claim 5, US1 describes:
the first set of alignment features are further to align the waveguides (210, 1000) in the optical adapter with waveguides in the first optical connector (see Figs 2, 6, 7, and [0056]); and
the second set of alignment features are further to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides (40) in the second optical connector (see Figs 6-7 and [0075]).
Regarding Claim 6, US1 describes:
the first optical connector as an optical socket (shown in Figs 2, 6A, 7A, 8A-11B, 15A) on an integrated circuit package (200; see [0055]); and
the second optical connector is an optical plug (3/30) on an optical cable (4; see [0075]).
Regarding Claim 7, US1 describes:
the integrated circuit package comprising the optical socket and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), wherein the optical socket is coupled to the PIC (shown in Figs 2, 6A, 7A, 8A-11B, 15A); and
the optical cable comprising the optical plug and a plurality of optical fibers (40), wherein the optical plug is coupled to the plurality of optical fibers (see Fig 6B).
Regarding Claim 8, US1 describes the optical plug comprising a mechanical transfer (MT) ferrule (inherent to the structure of an MTP connector described at [0052]).
Regarding Claim 11, US1 describes an optical adapter assembly, comprising:
an adapter (100, 130) to optically couple a first optical connector (2) and a second optical connector (3), wherein the first and second optical connectors are not designed to mate with each other; and
an adapter holder (120/150) to hold the adapter and align the first and second optical connectors to the adapter.
Regarding Claim 12, US1 describes
a first interface (101) to mate with the first optical connector, wherein the first interface is at a first end of the adapter;
a second interface (102) to mate with the second optical connector, wherein the second interface is at a second end of the adapter; and
a plurality of waveguides (140) extending between the first interface and the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the first optical connector and the second interface is mated with the second optical connector, the first and second optical connectors are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0040], [0056], [0075]).
Regarding Claim 13, US1 describes
the first interface comprising a first set of alignment features (151) to align the waveguides in the adapter with waveguides in the first optical connector; and
the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (152) to align the waveguides in the adapter with waveguides in the second optical connector.
Regarding Claim 14, US1 describes the adapter as at least partially made of glass (see [0048]).
Regarding Claim 15, US1 describes the adapter holder comprising:
a cavity (formed by 120 and both elements 150, as shown in Figs 1B and 1C) to hold the adapter;
a first set of alignment (151) features to align the first optical connector to the first interface of the adapter; and
a second set of alignment features (152) to align the second optical connector to the second interface of the adapter.
Regarding Claim 16, US1 describes the first optical connector and the second optical connector respectively comprising:
an optical socket (shown in Figs 2, 6A, 7A, 8A-11B, 15A) on an integrated circuit package (200); or
an optical plug (3/30) on an optical cable (4).
Regarding Claim 17, US1 describes a system, comprising:
an integrated circuit package (200) comprising an optical socket (shown in Figs 2, 6A, 7A, 8A-11B, 15A);
an optical cable, wherein the optical cable comprises an optical plug (3/30) and a plurality of optical fibers (40) coupled to the optical plug; and
an optical adapter (100/130) to optically couple the optical socket and the optical plug, wherein the optical socket and the optical plug are not designed to mate with each other, and wherein the optical adapter comprises:
a first interface (101) to mate with the optical socket;
a second interface (102) to mate with the optical plug; and
a plurality of waveguides (140) extending through the optical adapter from the first interface to the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the optical socket and the second interface is mated with the optical plug, the optical socket and the optical plug are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0040], [0056], [0075]).
Regarding Claim 18, US1 describes
the first interface comprises a first set of alignment features (151) to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides in the optical socket; and
the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (152) to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides in the optical plug.
Regarding Claim 19, US1 describes the optical plug comprising a mechanical transfer (MT) ferrule (inherent to the structure of an MTP connector described at [0052]).
Regarding Claim 20, US1 describes the integrated circuit package further comprising a photonic integrated circuit to send or receive optical signals via the optical socket (see [0055]).
Claims 1-2, 4-8, 11-14, and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US Patent Application Publication US 2022/0374742 A1 to Kim et al. (“US2”).
The applied reference has a common applicant with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement.
Regarding Claim 1, US2 describes an optical adapter (101/105; see Figs 1-4, 6, 11), comprising:
a first interface (420, 701) to mate with a first optical connector (201), wherein the first interface comprises a first set of alignment features (120) to align the optical adapter with the first optical connector;
a second interface (108) to mate with a second optical connector (301), wherein the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (115) to align the optical adapter with the second optical connector, wherein the first and second optical connectors are not designed to mate with each other (as shown in Fig 1); and
a plurality of waveguides (110) extending through the optical adapter from the first interface to the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the first optical connector and the second interface is mated with the second optical connector, the first and second optical connectors are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0033], [0035], [0040]).
Regarding Claim 2, US2 describes:
the adapter (101) comprising the first interface, the second interface, and the plurality of waveguides; and
an adapter holder (140) to hold the adapter.
Regarding Claim 4, US2 describes a glass interposer (105; see [0033]), wherein the glass interposer comprises the first interface, the second interface, and the plurality of waveguides, wherein the first interface is at a first end of the glass interposer and the second interface is at a second end of the glass interposer, and wherein the plurality of waveguides extend through the glass interposer from the first interface to the second interface (see Figs 1-4, 6, 11).
Regarding Claim 5, US2 describes:
the first set of alignment features are further to align the waveguides (310) in the optical adapter with waveguides in the first optical connector (see [0041]); and
the second set of alignment features are further to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides (210) in the second optical connector (see [0040]).
Regarding Claim 6, US2 describes:
the first optical connector as an optical socket (shown in Figs 1-3, 7, 11) on an integrated circuit package (see [0031], [0038]); and
the second optical connector is an optical plug (305) on an optical cable (310; see Fig 1 and [0030], [0041]).
Regarding Claim 7, US2 describes:
the integrated circuit package comprising the optical socket and a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), wherein the optical socket is coupled to the PIC (shown in Figs 1-3, 7, 11, see [0031]); and
the optical cable comprising the optical plug and a plurality of optical fibers (305), wherein the optical plug is coupled to the plurality of optical fibers (see [0032], [0041]).
Regarding Claim 8, US2 describes the optical plug comprising a mechanical transfer (MT) ferrule (see [0030]).
Regarding Claim 11, US2 describes an optical adapter assembly, comprising:
an adapter (101/105) to optically couple a first optical connector (201) and a second optical connector (301), wherein the first and second optical connectors are not designed to mate with each other; and
an adapter holder (140) to hold the adapter and align the first and second optical connectors to the adapter.
Regarding Claim 12, US2 describes
a first interface (420, 701) to mate with the first optical connector, wherein the first interface is at a first end of the adapter;
a second interface (108) to mate with the second optical connector, wherein the second interface is at a second end of the adapter; and
a plurality of waveguides (110) extending between the first interface and the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the first optical connector and the second interface is mated with the second optical connector, the first and second optical connectors are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0033], [0035], [0040]).
Regarding Claim 13, US2 describes
the first interface comprising a first set of alignment features (151) to align the waveguides in the adapter with waveguides in the first optical connector; and
the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (152) to align the waveguides in the adapter with waveguides in the second optical connector.
Regarding Claim 14, US2 describes the adapter as at least partially made of glass (see [0033]).
Regarding Claim 16, US2 describes the first optical connector and the second optical connector respectively comprising:
an optical socket (shown in Figs 1-3, 7, 11) on an integrated circuit package (see [0031], [0038]); or
an optical plug (305) on an optical cable (see [0032], [0041]).
Regarding Claim 17, US2 describes a system, comprising:
an integrated circuit package comprising an optical socket (shown in Figs 1-3, 7, 11; see [0031], [0038]);
an optical cable (see [0032], [0041]), wherein the optical cable comprises an optical plug (305) and a plurality of optical fibers (310) coupled to the optical plug; and
an optical adapter (101/105) to optically couple the optical socket and the optical plug, wherein the optical socket and the optical plug are not designed to mate with each other, and wherein the optical adapter comprises:
a first interface (420, 701) to mate with the optical socket;
a second interface (108) to mate with the optical plug; and
a plurality of waveguides (110) extending through the optical adapter from the first interface to the second interface, wherein when the first interface is mated with the optical socket and the second interface is mated with the optical plug, the optical socket and the optical plug are optically coupled via the plurality of waveguides (see [0033], [0035], [0040]).
Regarding Claim 18, US2 describes
the first interface comprises a first set of alignment features (120) to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides in the optical socket; and
the second interface comprises a second set of alignment features (115) to align the waveguides in the optical adapter with waveguides in the optical plug.
Regarding Claim 19, US2 describes the optical plug comprising a mechanical transfer (MT) ferrule (see [0030]).
Regarding Claim 20, US2 describes the integrated circuit package further comprising a photonic integrated circuit to send or receive optical signals via the optical socket (see [0031]).
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.
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 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US1 as applied to Claim 1 above.
Regarding Claim 9, US1 describes the optical adapter comprising a second optical connector (3) that is a second optical plug (30) on a second optical cable (4; see Fig 6 and [0074]-[0075]). US1 does not additionally the first optical connector is a first optical plug on a first optical cable. However, the structure of the adapter US1 is symmetrical, which would allow for physical connection of a plug identical to the plug of US1 to both sides of the adapter. Further, it is well-known in the art that an optical source/receiver connections may alternately be direct or remote via a fiber cable. Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to connect an additional plug on a cable, identical to the described plug of US1, to the adapter of US1 in place of the first connector of US1. The motivation for doing so would have been to allow for remote connection of the optoelectronic device.
Regarding Claim 10, US1 describes the second optical plug as an MT ferrule (inherent to the structure of an MTP connector described at [0052]). The obvious adapter in view of US1 would have identical plugs, resulting in both the first and second optical plug comprising an MT ferrule. US1 is silent as to the material of the ferrule of the optical plug. Glass is a well-known material for forming ferrules of optical plugs. Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to form the ferrules of both plugs in the obvious adapter in view of US1, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416. The motivation for doing so would have been to make use of the known material qualities of glass in forming the ferrules.
Conclusion
The prior art cited in the attached form PTO-892 are made of record and considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art describes various optical systems allowing for the connection of first and second interfaces with waveguides.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERRY RAHLL whose telephone number is (571)272-2356. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00am-5:00pm.
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, Uyen-Chau Le can be reached at 571-272-2397. 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.
/JERRY RAHLL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
Prosecution Insights