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 statement (IDS) submitted on 6/23/2023 was filed 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
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.
1: Claim(s) 1-4 and 13-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by USPN 10,585,173 B1 Zhu et al.
2: As for Claim 1, Zhu et al teaches A time-of-flight module with switchable illumination for a scene (Column 1, Lines 25-35), comprising: a time-of-flight sensor configured to generate time-of-flight data representing a time-of-flight measurement of light reflected from the scene (Column 5, Lines 34-42 and Column 9, Lines 47-53); a full-field illuminator configured to provide a full-field illumination to the scene (Column 9, Lines 54-64); a spot illuminator configured to provide a spotted illumination to the scene (Column 9, Lines 54-64); and a control unit configured to switch between the full-field illumination and the spotted illumination provided to the scene (Column 9, Lines 54-64); wherein the full-field illuminator and the spot illuminator are arranged adjacent to the time- of-flight sensor (See Figures 1-3).
3: As for Claim 2, Zhu et al wherein the time-of-flight sensor, the full- field illuminator and the spot illuminator are arranged in a first line (See Figures 1-3).
4: As for Claim 3, Zhu et al depicts in Figure 3 elements 132 and 172 wherein each of the time-of-flight sensor, the full-field illuminator and the spot illuminator has a rectangular shape and a larger side of the time-of-flight sensor faces a larger side of each of the full-field illuminator and the spot illuminator.
5: As for Claim 4, Zhu et al teaches a first image sensor (IR camera can be used) configured to generate first image data representing a first image of the scene; wherein the first image sensor is arranged adjacent to the time-of-flight sensor (172) in a direction orthogonal to the first line (Column 9, Lines 61-64).
6: As for Claim 13, Zhu et al depicts in Figures 1-3 wherein a distance between the time-of- flight sensor (172) and the full-field illuminator (132) and a distance between the time-of-flight sensor (172) and the spot illuminator (132 with light changed by 134) are substantially (broad term) equal (Column 8, Lines 30-49).
7: As for Claim 14, Zhu et al depicts in Figures 1-3 wherein a field-of-illumination of each of the full-field illuminator and the spot illuminator covers a field-of-view of the time-of-flight sensor (172).
8: As for Claim 15, Claim 15 is rejected for reasons discussed related to Claims 1-4.
9: As for Claim 16, Zhu et al teaches A time-of-flight module with switchable illumination for a scene (Column 1, Liens 25-35), comprising: a time-of-flight sensor configured to generate time-of-flight data representing a time-of-flight measurement of light reflected from the scene (Column 5, Lines 34-42 and Column 9, Lines 47-53); and a switchable illuminator configured to provide either a full-field illumination or a spotted illumination to the scene based on an illumination switch command obtained from a control unit (Column 9, Lines 54-64); wherein the control unit is configured to transmit the illumination switch command to the switchable illuminator for switching between the full-field illumination and the spotted illumination provided to the scene (Column 9, Lines 54-64); and the switchable illuminator is arranged adjacent to the time-of-flight sensor (See Figures 1-3).
10: As for Claim 17, Claim 17 is rejected for reasons discussed related to Claim 4.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-12 and 18-20 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES M HANNETT whose telephone number is (571)272-7309. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Monday thru Thursday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Twyler Haskins can be reached at 571-272-7406 The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JAMES M HANNETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639
JMH
February 16, 2026