Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/288,758

IMAGE PROJECTION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Oct 27, 2023
Priority
Apr 29, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTKR2021005421
Examiner
BROOKS, JERRY L.
Art Unit
2882
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
LG Electronics Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allowance Rate
559 granted / 803 resolved
+1.6% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
830
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
82.4%
+42.4% vs TC avg
§102
10.4%
-29.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.8%
-35.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 803 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . Claim Objections Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities: “[Equation 1]…device” is outside the sentence of claim 17 and each claim must end with a period (see MPEP 608.01(M): Each claim begins with a capital letter and ends with a period. ). Appropriate correction is required. 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)(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) 1-3, 10, 18 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li (United States Patent Application Publication 2022/0099985 A1). With respect to claim 1, Li discloses an image projection device, comprising: a light source (see fig.4 or fig.25) configured to output light corresponding to an image (see para.[0221]: “Embodiments consistent with the disclosure include an integrated display panel as a self-emissive imager device”); and an optical system (see the optical system of 2540 in fig.25: since the LEDs serve as the image devices “self-emissive devices”(see para.[0221]) the optical system of 2540 is configured as an optical system) disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate (116 or 110) comprising a plurality of pixels ([0224]: In some embodiments, a display panel includes an array of single pixel light emitting devices, such as the light emitting mesa 101. ); and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices in the plurality of pixels of the substrate (the plurality of pixels are comprised by semiconductor light emitting devices (LEDS, OLEDS): see para.[0011]: “The display panel …includes an array of pixel light sources (e.g., LEDs, OLEDs)”; [0272]: In some embodiments, the light emitting layer 120 may emit green, blue or red light. The light emitted from the light emitting layer 120 may pass through and/or around the top electrode layer 115 and arrive at the micro-lens 102 (as described in FIG. 1A, not shown in FIG. 3). The light emitted from the light emitting layer 120 may also arrive at the at least one reflective cup 111 and/or 112 and be reflected upwardly to the micro-lens 102 or/and another lens (not shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the light emitting mesa 101 may comprises two or more light emitting layers emitting distinct colors.), respectively, wherein the substrate is disposed to be inclined with respect to the optical system (see substrate 110 and the disposition of 2430 in fig.24 and 2540 in fig.25), and wherein the semiconductor light emitting device (see the device comprised by 120 emitting condensed light via 111 and 112) is configured to emit a first condensed light having a first beam angle inclined with respect to the substrate (see the beams generated by 120 which are at least inclined by 90 degrees and see beams reflected by 112 and 111; see para.[0250]: “reflection from the reflective cups can also increase the light emitting efficiency and brightness by focusing the light emission into a certain direction. For example, some of the light emitted from the light emitting mesa 101 may arrive at and be reflected upward by the reflective cup parts 111 and 112.”) With respect to claim 2, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 1, wherein the first condensed light emitted at the inclined first beam angle is configured to be perpendicularly incident on the optical system (see the light incident on 2502-1 and 102 which further comprises the optical system in fig.25). With respect to claim 3, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an electrode (see 115) disposed on the substrate (see 115 disposed on 116 and 110 via 117) and spaced apart from the semiconductor light emitting device (see 120, spaced by 117 in fig.25). With respect to claim 10, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 3, wherein the light source comprises a lens (see 102 and lens supporting structure, 108, 109, and 111) surrounding the semiconductor light emitting device (see 102 and lens supporting structure, 108, 109, and 111), and the lens (see 102) is configured to emit a second condensed light having a second beam angle (see the angle of the light in fig.25, emitted from 102) inclined with respect to the substrate (see 110 fig.25). With respect to claim 18, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises: an insulating layer (see 117 in fig.25) surrounding the semiconductor light emitting device; and a connection electrode (see the electrode component between 115 and 120 in fig.25) disposed on the insulating layer (117 in fig.25) and configured to connect the electrode (115) and the semiconductor light emitting device (120). With respect to claim 20, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises at least one or more of a red semiconductor light emitting device, a green semiconductor light emitting device, and a blue semiconductor light emitting device ([0272] : In some embodiments, the light emitting layer 120 may emit green, blue or red light.). 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. Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li (United States Patent Application Publication 2022/0099985 A1). With respect to claim 19, Li discloses the image projection device of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a side surface having an area comparable to the area of an upper surface ([0360]: As shown in FIG. 21, in some embodiments, the polygon shape cross-section is a trapezoid shape having an inclined top surface 2130 without consideration of the carve-out of the micro-lens 102.: see the a side surface that comparable larger than the top surface) but does not explicitly disclose a side surface having an area larger than the area of an upper surface. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the semiconductor light emitting device a side surface having an area comparable to the area of an upper surface, since it would predictably facilitate heat dissipation and since such a modification would have involved a mere change in-the size of-a component which size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 4-9 and 11-17 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. With respect to claim 4, the prior art of record does not disclose or render obvious an image projection device, comprising: a light source configured to output light corresponding to an image; and an optical system disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate comprising a plurality of pixels; and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices in the plurality of pixels of the substrate, respectively, wherein the substrate is disposed to be inclined with respect to the optical system, and wherein the semiconductor light emitting device is configured to emit a first condensed light having a first beam angle inclined with respect to the substrate, wherein the light source comprises an electrode disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the semiconductor light emitting device, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a first isosceles triangle having a first-first side surface, a first-second side surface and a first-third side surface, the first-first side surface and the first-second side surface having the same length, and the first-third side surface having a length different from the first-first side surface or the first-second side surface. The closest prior art of record, Li, discloses an image projection device, comprising: a light source (see fig.4 or fig.25) configured to output light corresponding to an image (see para.[0221]: “Embodiments consistent with the disclosure include an integrated display panel as a self-emissive imager device”); and an optical system (see 2540 in fig.25) disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate (110) comprising a plurality of pixels ([0224]: In some embodiments, a display panel includes an array of single pixel light emitting devices, such as the light emitting mesa 101. ) wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a trapezoidal cross sectional area (see fig.21) but does not disclose or suggestion wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a first isosceles triangle having a first-first side surface, a first-second side surface and a first-third side surface, the first-first side surface and the first-second side surface having the same length, and the first-third side surface having a length different from the first-first side surface or the first-second side surface. Claims 5-9 contain allowable subject matter as they depend from an allowable claim. With respect to claim 11, the prior art of record does not disclose or render obvious an image projection device, comprising: a light source configured to output light corresponding to an image; and an optical system disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate comprising a plurality of pixels; and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices in the plurality of pixels of the substrate, respectively, wherein the substrate is disposed to be inclined with respect to the optical system, and wherein the semiconductor light emitting device is configured to emit a first condensed light having a first beam angle inclined with respect to the substrate, wherein the light source comprises an electrode disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the semiconductor light emitting device, wherein the light source comprises a lens surrounding the semiconductor light emitting device, and the lens is configured to emit a second condensed light having a second beam angle inclined with respect to the substrate, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a first isosceles triangle having a first-first side surface, a first-second side surface and a first-third side surface, the first-first side surface and the first-second side surface having the same length, and the first-third side surface having a length different from the first-first side surface or the first-second side surface. The closest prior art of record, Li, discloses an image projection device, comprising: a light source (see fig.4 or fig.25) configured to output light corresponding to an image (see para.[0221]: “Embodiments consistent with the disclosure include an integrated display panel as a self-emissive imager device”); and an optical system (see 2540 in fig.25) disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate (110) comprising a plurality of pixels ([0224]: In some embodiments, a display panel includes an array of single pixel light emitting devices, such as the light emitting mesa 101. ) wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a trapezoidal cross sectional area (see fig.21), wherein the light source comprises a lens (see 102 and supporting structure) surrounding the semiconductor light emitting device, and the lens (see 102) is configured to emit a second condensed light having a second beam angle (see the angle of the light in fig.21) inclined with respect to the substrate (see fig.21) but does not disclose wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a first isosceles triangle having a first-first side surface, a first-second side surface and a first-third side surface, the first-first side surface and the first-second side surface having the same length, and the first-third side surface having a length different from the first-first side surface or the first-second side surface. Claims 12-16 contain allowable subject matter as they depend from an allowable claim. With respect to claim 17, the prior art of record does not disclose or suggest the image projection device of claim 3, wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first semiconductor light emitting device and a second semiconductor light emitting device, the electrode comprises a first electrode disposed on one side of the first semiconductor light emitting device and a second electrode disposed between the first semiconductor light emitting device and the second semiconductor light emitting device, and the first semiconductor light emitting device is spaced apart from the second electrode by a distance L or more according to Equation 1: [Equation 1] L=H/tan q H: Height of the second electrode q: Beam angle of condensed light emitted from the first semiconductor light emitting device. The closest prior art of record, Li, discloses an image projection device, comprising: a light source (see fig.4 or fig.25) configured to output light corresponding to an image (see para.[0221]: “Embodiments consistent with the disclosure include an integrated display panel as a self-emissive imager device”); and an optical system (see 2540 in fig.25) disposed in front of the light source and configured to project the image, wherein the light source comprises: a substrate (110) comprising a plurality of pixels ([0224]: In some embodiments, a display panel includes an array of single pixel light emitting devices, such as the light emitting mesa 101. ) wherein the semiconductor light emitting device has a trapezoidal cross sectional area (see fig.21), wherein the light source comprises a lens (see 102 and supporting structure) surrounding the semiconductor light emitting device, and the lens (see 102) is configured to emit a second condensed light having a second beam angle (see the angle of the light in fig.21) inclined with respect to the substrate (see fig.21) , wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first semiconductor light emitting device and a second semiconductor light emitting device, the electrode comprises a first electrode disposed on one side of the first semiconductor light emitting device and a second electrode disposed between the first semiconductor light emitting device and the second semiconductor light emitting device, and the first semiconductor light emitting device is spaced apart from the second electrode by a distance L or more according to Equation 1: [Equation 1] L=H/tan q H: Height of the second electrode q: Beam angle of condensed light emitted from the first semiconductor light emitting device. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERRY L. BROOKS whose telephone number is (571)270-5711. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-4:00 PM. 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, Toan Ton can be reached at 5712722303. 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 L BROOKS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2882
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 27, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §102, §103
May 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12638759
COOLING DEVICE, LIGHT-SOURCE DEVICE, IMAGE PROJECTION APPARATUS, AND WAVELENGTH CONVERTER
3y 5m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12638760
PROJECTION DEVICE AND HEAT DISSIPATION MODULE THEREOF
2y 11m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12631950
LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE AND PROJECTION APPARATUS
3y 3m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634417
MULTICOLOR LIGHT MIXING MODULE
2y 11m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12625300
OPTICAL ELEMENT AND OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME
4y 5m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
70%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+15.7%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 803 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month