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 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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Patel (US 10,996,405 B2).
Regarding claim 16, 1-3, Patel teaches An optical system, comprising: a photonic die (reference numeral 140 in Figure 3) comprising waveguides (e.g. “waveguide” as in column 2 lines 35-48); an alignment part (reference numeral 405, 415, 420, 210, or 205 in Figure 4 or Figure 5) that is bonded to a surface of the photonic die using an adhesive (e.g. “epoxy” as in column 7 lines 10-19 and throughout); and a FAU (reference numeral 310, 410 in Figure 4) mated with the alignment part (e.g. as illustrated in Figure 3), wherein the mating between the FAU and the alignment part aligns optical fibers in the FAU to the waveguides in the photonic die (e.g. “aligned” as in column 6 lines 40-55), and wherein the FAU (reference numeral 310, 410 in Figure 4) is removeable from the photonic die (reference numeral 140 in Figure 3) and the alignment part (reference numeral 405, 415, 420, 210, or 205 in Figure 4 or Figure 5).
Regarding claim 17, Patel teaches The optical system of claim 16, further comprising: a different alignment part (reference numeral 415 in Figure 4) bonded to the surface of the photonic die using the adhesive (e.g. “epoxy” as in column 7 lines 10-19 and throughout), wherein the FAU mates with both the alignment part and the different alignment part (e.g. as illustrated in Figure 3) to align the optical fibers in the FAU to the waveguides in the photonic die (e.g. “aligned” as in column 6 lines 40-55).
Regarding claim 18, Patel teaches The optical system of claim 17, wherein the alignment part and the different alignment part each comprise at least one of a respective pin (reference numeral 415 in Figure 4) or a respective aperture (reference numeral 420 in Figure 4) that mates with apertures or pins in the FAU.
Regarding claim 19, 4-7, Patel teaches The optical system of claim 16, wherein the alignment part (reference numeral 405, 415, 420, 210, or 205 in Figure 4 or Figure 5) is a unitary part that comprises at least two alignment features (reference numeral 210, 205, 415, 420 in Figure 4 or Figure 5) that mate with at least two alignment features in the FAU.
Regarding claim 20, 8, Patel teaches The optical system of claim 16, wherein cured epoxy is not used to attach the FAU to the alignment part or the photonic die so that the FAU is removable from the FAU (e.g. “other adhesive” as in column 4 lines 1-15).
Regarding claim 9, Patel teaches The method of claim 8, wherein the different FAU is attached to the photonic die using a removable gel adhesive (e.g. “epoxy” as in column 7 lines 10-19 and throughout).
Regarding claim 10, Patel teaches The method of claim 8, but fails to specifically teach that the different FAU comprises an anti-reflective (AR) coating disposed at ends of the fibers (e.g. “index matching or non-index matching epoxy” as in column 12 lines 10-24), wherein the photonic die comprises a seal ring disposed around a periphery of the fibers (e.g. “epoxy that is disposed between the termination ends of the optical fibers 155 and the optical interface in the photonic chip” as in column 12 lines 10-24).
Regarding claim 11, Patel teaches The method of claim 8, further comprising: attaching the different FAU to the photonic die using a clamp (e.g. “die bonder” as in column 3 lines 53-67).
Regarding claim 12, Patel teaches The method of claim 7, wherein the different FAU is non-removeable from the photonic die and the alignment part (e.g. “bond” formed after “epoxy” “curing” as in column 4 lines 4-14).
Regarding claim 13, Patel teaches The method of claim 7, wherein the different FAU is chamfered at an endface that faces the photonic die (reference numeral 415 in Figure 4 and Figure 8).
Regarding claim 14, Patel teaches The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment part is attached to a top surface (reference numeral 210 in Figure 5) of the photonic die.
Regarding claim 15, Patel teaches The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment part is attached to an edge of the photonic die (e.g. as illustrated in Figure 6 and Figure 7) .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/29/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As noted in Examiner’s amended rejection, Patel meets the newly added limitations of claim 16. Specifically, Examiner contends Patel’s FAU, e.g. layers 310, 410 in Figure 4, are removable from the photonic die in that the entirety of element 150, of which Patels FAU is a part, is couplable and removable from the photonic die. Similarly, Patel’s FAU, e.g. layers 310, 410 in Figure 4, are also removable from Patel’s alignment part, e.g. at least reference numeral 405 in Figure 4 or Figure 5, in that Patel’s FAU is comprised of layers above and below Patel’s alignment part. As independent, distinct, and separated layers prior to sandwiching Patel’s alignment part (405), examiner contends said layers are removable from Patel’s alignment part.
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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 AGUSTIN BELLO whose telephone number is (571)272-3026. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 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, David Payne can be reached at (571)272-3024. 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.
/AGUSTIN BELLO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2635