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 .
Status
The filing on 01/30/2026 amended claims 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, and cancelled claims 2, 5, 6, 11, and 12. Claims 1, 3, 4, 7-10, and 13-15 are pending and rejected.
Objection/s to the Application, Drawings and Claims
The title of the invention, “PROJECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING A PROJECTION OPTICAL SYSTEM,” is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: “PROJECTION SYSTEM HAVING A LIGHT COLOR COMPONENT PEAK BETWEEN 700 NM AND 800 NM.”
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 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.
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.
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, 3, 4, 7, and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kito (US 20190113763 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Kito teaches a projection system comprising: a light source unit (100) configured to emit a first visible light beam (B), a second visible light beam (Y) having a longer wavelength than the first visible light beam (B), and a near infrared light beam (R; [0077]); a spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) configured to subject the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R), all emitted from the light source unit (100), to spatial light modulation to produce a first image light beam, a second image light beam, and a third image light beam, respectively (Fig. 1); a projection optical system (600); and, inherently, a controller configured to control the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B), the controller being able to make the projection optical system (600) not only selectively project any one of a plurality of image light beams, including the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam, but also selectively project any two or more of the plurality of image light beams, by controlling the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) in two different manners, wherein the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) includes: a first image display element (400B) configured to subject the first visible light beam (B) to spatial light modulation on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce the first image light beam; a second image display element (400G) configured to subject the second visible light beam (Y) to spatial light modulation on the pixel-by-pixel basis to produce the second image light beam; and a third image display element (400R) configured to subject the near infrared light beam (R) to spatial light modulation on the pixel-by-pixel basis to produce the third image light beam; the first visible light beam (B) is a blue light beam, and the second visible light beam (Y) is a yellow light beam; the light source unit (100) includes: a light-emitting element (10; [0041]) configured to emit the first visible light beam (B); and a wavelength-converting portion (51, 52) including a first wavelength-converting element (51) that emits the second visible light beam (Y) when excited by the first visible light beam (B; [0069]) and a second wavelength-converting element (52) that emits the near infrared light beam (R) when excited by the first visible light beam (B; [0075]-[0077]), and the second visible light beam (Y) is fluorescent light having light components over an entire wavelength range equal to or longer than 500 nm and equal to or shorter than 600 nm ([0069]), and the near infrared light beam (R) is fluorescent light having a peak of fluorescence intensity within a wavelength range equal to or longer than 700 nm and equal to or shorter than 800 nm ([0077]).
Regarding claim 3, Kito further teaches each of the first image display element (400B), the second image display element (400G), and the third image display element (400R) is a liquid crystal display ([0035], [0037], [0052], [0054]-[0055], [0058]-[0060]).
Regarding claim 4, Kito further teaches each of the first image display element (400B), the second image display element (400G), and the third image display element (400R) is a DMD ([0126]).
Regarding claim 7, Kito further teaches the light-emitting element (10) is a semiconductor laser diode having an emission wavelength equal to or longer than 400 nm and equal to or shorter than 480 nm ([0041], [0046]).
Regarding claim 8, Kito further teaches the light source unit (100) includes a rotator (44) rotatable on a center axis of rotation and having a reflective surface (54) that reflects the second visible light beam (Y) and the near infrared light beam (R), and the wavelength-converting portion (51, 52) is disposed on the reflective surface (54) of the rotator (44) and has a ring shape when viewed in a direction aligned with the center axis of rotation (Fig. 2, 4, 5).
Claim Rejections - AIA 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 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.
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.
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 of this title, 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.
Claims 9, 10, and 13-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kito in view of Ikeda (US 20200363710 A1).
Regarding claim 9, Kito teaches a projection system comprising: a light source unit (100) configured to emit a first visible light beam (B), a second visible light beam (Y) having a longer wavelength than the first visible light beam (B), and a near infrared light beam (R; [0077]); a spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) configured to subject the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R), all emitted from the light source unit (100), to spatial light modulation to produce a first image light beam, a second image light beam, and a third image light beam, respectively (Fig. 1); a projection optical system (600); and, inherently, a controller configured to control the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B), the controller being able to make the projection optical system (600) not only selectively project any one of a plurality of image light beams, including the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam, but also selectively project any two or more of the plurality of image light beams, by controlling the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) in two different manners, the light source unit (100) includes: a light-emitting element (10) configured to emit the first visible light beam (B); and a first wavelength-converting portion (51) configured to emit the second visible light beam (Y) when excited by the first visible light beam (B; [0069]); and a second wavelength-converting portion (52) configured to emit the near infrared light beam (R) when excited by the first visible light beam (B; [0075]-[0077]), the second visible light beam (Y) is fluorescent light having light components over an entire wavelength range equal to or longer than 500 nm and equal to or shorter than 600 nm ([0069]), and the near infrared light beam (R) is fluorescent light having a peak of fluorescence intensity within a wavelength range equal to or longer than 700 nm and equal to or shorter than 800 nm ([0077]); and the light-emitting element (10) is a semiconductor laser diode having an emission wavelength equal to or longer than 400 nm and equal to or shorter than 480 nm ([0041], [0046]).
Kito does not teach the light source unit (100) is configured to emit the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R) by time division method, and the spatial light modulation unit (400R/G/B) includes an image display element configured to subject each of the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R) to spatial light modulation on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam, respectively.
Ikeda teaches the light source unit (Fig. 5A/B, 7A/B, 10, 11, 14, 15) is configured to emit the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R) by time division method, and the spatial light modulation unit (1221) includes an image display element configured to subject each of the first visible light beam (B), the second visible light beam (Y), and the near infrared light beam (R) to spatial light modulation on a pixel-by-pixel basis to produce the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam, respectively.
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skills in the art at the time of the invention to combine Kito with Ikeda; because it allows using only one SLM to reduce cost.
Regarding claim 10, the combination of Kito and Ikeda consequently results in the image display element being a digital micromirror device ([0177] of Ikeda).
Regarding claim 13, Kito further teaches the light source unit (100) includes a first rotator (44) rotatable on a first center axis of rotation and having a reflective surface (54) intersecting with a thickness direction, the first wavelength-converting portion (51) is disposed on the reflective surface (54) of the first rotator (44) and has a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the first center axis of rotation (Fig. 2, 4, 5), the second wavelength-converting portion (52) is disposed on the reflective surface (54) of the first rotator (44) and has a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the first center axis of rotation (Fig. 2, 4, 5), but does not teach the first rotator (44) includes an emerging portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the first center axis of rotation, and interposed between the first wavelength-converting portion (51) and the second wavelength-converting portion (52) when viewed in the thickness direction and configured to let the first visible light beam (B), emitted from the light-emitting element (10), emerge by either transmitting or reflecting the first visible light beam (B).
Ikeda teaches the first rotator (5/7; Fig. 5A, 7A) includes an emerging portion (502a/b, 701a/b) having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the first center axis of rotation (508), and interposed between the first wavelength-converting portion (501) and the second wavelength-converting portion (503) when viewed in the thickness direction and configured to let the first visible light beam (B), emitted from the light-emitting element (1001/1101), emerge by either transmitting or reflecting the first visible light beam (B).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skills in the art at the time of the invention to combine Kito with Ikeda; because it allows using only one SLM to reduce cost.
Regarding claim 14, the combination of Kito and Ikeda consequently results in the light source unit (10/11; Fig. 5A/B, 7A/B, 10, 11, 14, 15 of Ikeda) further includes a second rotator (1011, 1110 of Ikeda) rotatable on a second center axis of rotation, and the second rotator (1011, 1110 of Ikeda) includes: a transmitting portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to transmit the first visible light beam (B) emerging from the emerging portion of the first rotator, a first filter portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to transmit the second visible light beam (Y) emerging from the first wavelength-converting portion; and a second filter portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to transmit the near infrared light beam (R) emerging from the second wavelength-converting portion ([0150], [0151], [0165], [0166] of Ikeda).
Regarding claim 15, the combination of Kito and Ikeda consequently results in the light source unit (10/11; Fig. 5A/B, 7A/B, 10, 11, 14, 15 of Ikeda) further includes a second rotator (1011, 1110 of Ikeda) rotatable on a second center axis of rotation, and the second rotator (1011, 1110 of Ikeda) includes: a transmitting portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to transmit the first visible light beam (B) emerging from the emerging portion of the first rotator (44); a green light filtering portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to extract a green light component from the second visible light beam (Y) emerging from the first wavelength-converting portion (51); a red light filtering portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to extract a red light component from the second visible light beam (Y) emerging from the first wavelength-converting portion (51); and a near infrared light filtering portion having a shape of an arc, of which a center is defined by the second center axis of rotation, and configured to transmit the near infrared light beam (R) emerging from the second wavelength-converting portion ([0150], [0151], [0165], [0166] of Ikeda).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to claim 1 and 9 have been considered but are found not persuasive; hence the rejection/s of all pending claims are maintained.
Regarding claims 1 and 9, applicant/s argue,
However, Kito only teaches that a color image is formed by combining the red light R, the green light G, and the blue light B with one another. That is to say, Kito teaches that the dichroic mirror 210 is a dichroic mirror that transmits a red light component and reflects a green light component and a blue light component (refer to paragraph [0057]). Kito also teaches that the red light R having passed through the dichroic mirror 210 is reflected off the reflection mirror 230, passes through the field lens 300R, and is incident on the image formation region of the liquid crystal light modulator 400R (refer to paragraph [0058]). Nevertheless, Kito fails to teach that a near infrared light beam is used as an image light beam. Furthermore, Kito teaches none of the following limitations of claim 1 as amended: "a spatial light modulation unit configured to subject the first visible light beam, the second visible light beam, and the near infrared light beam, all emitted from the light source unit, to spatial light modulation to produce a first image light beam, a second image light beam, and a third image light beam, respectively;" "a controller configured to control the spatial light modulation unit, the controller being able to make the projection optical system [...] selectively project any one of a plurality of image light beams, including the first image light beam, the second image light beam, and the third image light beam (i.e., the controller is able to make the projection optical system selectively project the third image light beam);" and "the near infrared light beam is fluorescent light having a peak of fluorescence intensity within a wavelength range equal to or longer than 700 nm and equal to or shorter than 800 nm (i.e., the third image light beam is a near infrared light beam having a peak of fluorescence intensity within a wavelength range equal to or longer than 700 nm and equal to or shorter than 800 nm)." (Remarks; p. 10-11).
Examiner respectfully disagrees. Claims 1 and 9 do not limit the wavelength range of the near infrared light beam other than limiting the peak of the infrared light beam to be between 700-800 nm. Kito clearly teaches in paragraph [0077] “[f]or example, in the case where the second phosphor layer 52 is formed of the Cr:YAG phosphor, the second phosphor layer 52 absorbs the excitation light E having a peak wavelength of about 450 nm and produces the red fluorescence R that has a peak wavelength of about 710 nm and belongs to a wavelength region ranging from about 600 to 800 nm.” A peak wavelength of about 710 nm clearly falls within “a peak of fluorescence intensity within a wavelength range equal to or longer than 700 nm and equal to or shorter than 800 nm” as recited in claims 1 and 9.”
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BAO-LUAN Q LE whose telephone number is (571)270-5362. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday; 9:00AM-5:00PM.
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/BAO-LUAN Q LE/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2882