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 § 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kozuru et al. (US PG Pub 2020/0194974) in view Miura et al. (US PG Pub 2019/0103723).
Regarding claim 1, Kozuru et al. disclose: a first light-emitting device (20b) including a first package (21) having a first outer shape, a plurality of first semiconductor laser elements (22) sealed in the first package, and a first lens member (29) fixed to the first package and having a plurality of lens surfaces (four lens surfaces for light emitting device 20b), a number of the lens surfaces of the first lens member being the same as the number of the first semiconductor laser elements (four lens surfaces for four semiconductor laser elements), each of the lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the first semiconductor laser elements and being configured to transmit light emitted from the respective one of the first semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 3A, [0061], [0062]), and a second light-emitting device (20a) including a second package (21) having the first outer shape, one or more second semiconductor laser elements (22) sealed in the second package, and a second lens member (29) fixed to the second package and having one or more lens surfaces, and being configured to transmit light emitted from the respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 2A, [0061], [0062]), wherein a number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements is less than a number of the first semiconductor laser elements (four laser elements in the first light emitting device, three laser elements in the second light emitting device) ([0061], [0062]), one of the first semiconductor laser elements is configured to emit first light having a color different from a color of light emitted from any of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (The semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20a and the light emitting device 20b are all semiconductor laser elements emitting blue-color light. The semiconductor laser elements 22 can be semiconductor laser elements emitting light in color other than blue, for example, red color or green color. The semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20a and the semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20b can be different from each other in color of emitted light) ([0077]).
Kozuru et al. do not disclose: a number of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member being the same as the number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements, each of the one or more lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements; and a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member.
Miura et al. disclose: a number of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member being the same as the number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (three lenses with three laser elements), each of the one or more lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 2, [0031], [0038]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Kozuru by forming the second laser package with three lenses for the three semiconductor laser elements in order to reduce the size of the second laser package.
Kozuru as modified do not disclose: a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member.
Miura et al. disclose: with the light emitting device 120A, the lights passed through the collimate lens 70 are made approximately parallel light by changing the curvature 71R of the first lens portion 71, the curvature 72R of the second lens portion 72 and the curvature 73R of the third lens portion 73, respectively (Fig. 2, [0051], [0052]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Kozuru as modified by forming each lens surface with a specific curvature in order to output approximately parallel light. The device as modified disclose: a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member (one of the first semiconductor laser elements emits the same wavelengths as one of the second semiconductor laser elements, curvature of lens surface for laser elements with the same wavelength would be the same).
PNG
media_image1.png
486
602
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Fig. 3A of Kozuru
PNG
media_image2.png
488
584
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Fig. 2A of Kozuru
PNG
media_image3.png
552
552
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Fig. 2 of Miura
Regarding claim 11, Kozuru et al. disclose: a first light-emitting device (20b) including a first package (21) having a first outer shape, a plurality of first semiconductor laser elements (22) sealed in the first package, and a first lens member (29) fixed to the first package and having a plurality of lens surfaces (four lens surfaces for light emitting device 20b), a number of the lens surfaces of the first lens member being the same as the number of the first semiconductor laser elements (four lens surfaces for four semiconductor laser elements), each of the lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the first semiconductor laser elements and being configured to transmit light emitted from the respective one of the first semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 3A, [0061], [0062]), and a second light-emitting device (20a) including a second package (21) having the first outer shape, one or more second semiconductor laser elements (22) sealed in the second package, and a second lens member (29) fixed to the second package and having one or more lens surfaces, and being configured to transmit light emitted from the respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 2A, [0061], [0062]), and a wiring substrate (10a or 10b) on which the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device are mounted (Figs. 1B and 1C, [0059]-[0062]), wherein a number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements is less than a number of the first semiconductor laser elements (four laser elements in the first light emitting device, three laser elements in the second light emitting device) ([0061], [0062]), one of the first semiconductor laser elements is configured to emit first light having a color different from a color of light emitted from any of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (The semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20a and the light emitting device 20b are all semiconductor laser elements emitting blue-color light. The semiconductor laser elements 22 can be semiconductor laser elements emitting light in color other than blue, for example, red color or green color. The semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20a and the semiconductor laser elements 22 mounted on the light emitting device 20b can be different from each other in color of emitted light) ([0077]).
Kozuru et al. do not disclose: a number of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member being the same as the number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements, each of the one or more lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements; and a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member.
Miura et al. disclose: a number of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member being the same as the number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (three lenses with three laser elements), each of the one or more lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements (Fig. 2, [0031], [0038]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Kozuru by forming the second laser package with three lenses for the three semiconductor laser elements in order to reduce the size of the second laser package.
Kozuru as modified do not disclose: a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member.
Miura et al. disclose: with the light emitting device 120A, the lights passed through the collimate lens 70 are made approximately parallel light by changing the curvature 71R of the first lens portion 71, the curvature 72R of the second lens portion 72 and the curvature 73R of the third lens portion 73, respectively (Fig. 1, [0051], [0052]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Kozuru as modified by forming each lens surface with a specific curvature in order to output approximately parallel light. The device as modified disclose: a curvature of one of the lens surfaces of the first lens member configured to transmit the first light emitted from the one of the first semiconductor laser elements is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member (one of the first semiconductor laser elements emits the same wavelengths as one of the second semiconductor laser elements, curvature of lens surface for laser elements with the same wavelength would be the same).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-10 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.
Claim 2 is allowable as the prior art fails to anticipate or render obvious the claimed limitations including “…wherein the first semiconductor laser elements are constituted of five semiconductor laser elements, the one or more second semiconductor laser elements is constituted by four semiconductor laser elements, one of the first semiconductor laser elements is configured to emit second light having a color different from the color of the first light, one of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements is configured to emit third light having a color different from the color of the first light and the color of the second light, and all of the lens surfaces of the first lens member have the same curvature.”
Claim 3 is allowable as the prior art fails to anticipate or render obvious the claimed limitations including “…wherein the lens surfaces of the first lens member are aligned and coupled to each other, the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member are aligned and coupled to each other, and a width of each of the lens surfaces of the first lens member in a direction in which the lens surfaces of the first lens member are aligned is smaller than a width of each of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member in a direction in which the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member are aligned.”
Claim 5 is allowable as the prior art fails to anticipate or render obvious the claimed limitations including “…further comprising a third light-emitting device including a third package having the first outer shape, one or more third semiconductor laser elements sealed in the third package, and a third lens member fixed to the third package and having one or more lens surfaces, each of the one or more lens surfaces corresponding to a respective one of the one or more third semiconductor laser elements and being configured to transmit light emitted from the respective one of the one or more third semiconductor laser elements, wherein a number of the one or more third semiconductor laser elements is the same as the number of the one or more second semiconductor laser elements, all of the one or more third semiconductor laser elements are configured to emit light having the same color as the first light, and a curvature of each of the one or more lens surfaces is the same as a curvature of one of the one or more lens surfaces of the second lens member.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Miura et al. (US PG Pub 2017/0317467) disclose: a light-emitting device includes providing a base body including a base section; fixing a plurality of semiconductor laser elements on an upper surface of the base section; and fixing an optical member to the base body, the optical member including a plurality of lens sections, and a non-lens section disposed at a periphery of the plurality of lens sections in a top view. In the step of fixing the optical member: the optical member is arranged above the base body; (i) an inclination and a height of the optical member are adjusted after interposing an adhesive between the base body and the non-lens section, or (ii) an adhesive is interposed between the base body and the non-lens section after adjusting the inclination and the height of the optical member; and subsequently, the adhesive is cured to fix the optical member to the base body (Abstract). Dykaar (US PG Pub 2019/0121141) discloses: systems, devices, and methods for optical engines and laser projectors that are well-suited for use in wearable heads-up displays (WHUDs) are described. Generally, the optical engines of the present disclosure integrate a plurality of laser diodes (e.g., 3 laser diodes, 4 laser diodes) within a single, hermetically or partially hermetically sealed, encapsulated package. The optical engines include an optical director element that includes a curved reflective surface (e.g., parabolic cylinder) that redirects laser light beams and collimates the same along the fast axes thereof. Such optical engines may have various advantages over existing designs including, for example, smaller volumes, better manufacturability, faster modulation speed, etc. WHUDs that employ such optical engines and laser projectors are also described (Abstract). Kozuru et al. (US PG Pub 2019/0371971) disclose: a light emitting device includes a semiconductor laser element and a base member. The base member includes a bottom part, a frame part, and first and second electrode layers. The frame part forms a frame surrounding the semiconductor laser element. An area within an intersection line between the first inner surface and the bonding surface of the frame part has a size larger than a size of the arrangement surface of the bottom part. An area within an intersection line between the second inner surface and the bonding surface of the frame part has a size smaller than the size of the arrangement surface. The planar surface of the frame part intersects at least a part of the second inner surface. The planar surface and the second inner surface form a step portion on an inner side of the frame. The second electrode layer is disposed on the planar surface (Abstract).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XINNING(TOM) NIU whose telephone number is (571)270-1437. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:30am-6:00pm.
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, Minsun Harvey can be reached at 571-272-1835. 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.
/XINNING(Tom) NIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2828