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) 1-6 and 8-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang et al. (CN 216083219). Reference to Zhang et al. (CN 216083219) will be made to Chang et al. (U.S. 2023/0045993), which is an equivalent English translation of Zhang et al. (CN 216083219).
Regarding claim 1, Chang discloses a lens device (1, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0057]), comprising:
a first lens group (12, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]);
a second lens group (15, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]); and
a prism (13, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]; page 2, para [0038]),
wherein an optical axis (121, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0058]) of the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) is arranged at an angle with respect to an optical axis (151, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0062]) of the second lens group (15, Fig. 4), an optical path of the first lens group (such as optical path 121 of 12, Fig. 4) is arranged closer to an object side (such as side of D1, Fig. 4) than an optical path of the second lens group (such as optical path 151 of 15, Fig. 4), and the prism (13, Fig. 4) is arranged between the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) and the second lens group (15, Fig. 4) and configured to change an optical path (13 changes and optical path from 151 to 121, Fig. 4); and
wherein an edge of at least one lens (such as lens 122, Figs. 3-4; page 4, para [0061]) in the first lens group (12, Figs. 3-4) and the second lens group (such as lens 152 of 15, Figs. 3-4; page 4, para [0062]) comprises a cut edge (such as flat edge of 122 and flat edge of upper 152, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0061-0062]).
Regarding claim 2, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein the optical axis (121, Fig. 4) of the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) is perpendicular to the optical axis (151, Fig. 4) of the second lens group (15, Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 3, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) comprises a first lens barrel (11, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0061]) and first lenses (122, Figs. 3-4; page 4, para [0061]) arranged in the first lens barrel (11, Fig. 4), the second lens group (15, Fig. 4) comprises a second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0062]) and second lenses (152, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0062]) arranged in the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4), the prism (13, Fig. 4) is arranged in the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4), and the first lens barrel (11, Fig. 4) is adhered to the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4) through an adhesive, such that the optical axis (121, Fig. 4) of the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) is arranged at a preset angle with respect to the optical axis (151, Fig. 4) of the second lens group (15, Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 4, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein at least one of the first lenses (122, Fig. 3) comprises a first cut edge (first flat edge of 122, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0061]) and a second cut edge (second flat edge of 122, Fig. 3) opposite to each other, and at least one of the second lenses (such as upper 152, Fig. 3) comprises a third edge (upper flat edge of upper 152, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0062]) and fourth edge (bottom flat edge of upper 152, Fig. 3) opposite to each other.
Regarding claim 5, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein the first lens barrel (11, Fig. 4) is provided therein with a first step hole (such as step portion within the first lens barrel 11, see annotated Fig. 4 below), at step walls of which the first lenses are received (first lenses 122 received within step walls on inner surface of 11, see annotated Fig. 4 below and Figs. 3 and 5); the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4) is provided therein with a second step hole (such as step portion within the second lens barrel 14, see annotated Fig. 4 below), at step walls of which the second lenses are received (second lenses 152 received within step walls on inner surface of 14, see annotated Fig. 4 below); and wherein the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4) is further provided with a receiving groove (142, Fig. 4; page 3, para [0045]) communicating with the second step hole (142 communicating with step portion of 14, see annotated Fig. 4 below), and the prism (13, Fig. 4) is received in the receiving groove (prism 13 received in the receiving groove 142, Fig. 4).
[AltContent: textbox (first step hole)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (step walls)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (second step hole)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (step walls)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (receiving groove communicating with the second step hole)][AltContent: arrow]Annotated Fig. 4 of Chang
PNG
media_image1.png
736
794
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 6, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein the second lens barrel (14, Fig. 4) is provided with a notch (143, Fig. 2; page 3, para [0046]), and the first lens barrel (11, Fig. 2) is received at the notch (11 received at notch 143, Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 8, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein the prism (13, Fig. 4) is a planar prism.
Regarding claim 9, Chang discloses an electronic device (6, Fig. 21; page 7, para [0103]), comprising a housing (61, Fig. 21; page 7, para [0103]), a display screen (63, Fig. 21; page 7, para [0103]) and a lens device (lens device 62 such as lens module 1, Figs. 3 and 21; page 7, para [0103]; page 4, para [0057]), wherein the lens device (such as 1, Fig. 3) comprises:
a first lens group (12, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]);
a second lens group (15, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]); and
a prism (13, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0057]; page 2, para [0038]),
wherein an optical axis (121, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0058]) of the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) is arranged at an angle with respect to an optical axis (151, Fig. 4; page 4, para [0062]) of the second lens group (15, Fig. 4), an optical path of the first lens group (such as optical path 121 of 12, Fig. 4) is arranged closer to an object side (such as side of D1, Fig. 4) than an optical path of the second lens group (such as optical path 151 of 15, Fig. 4), and the prism (13, Fig. 4) is arranged between the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) and the second lens group (15, Fig. 4) and configured to change an optical path (13 changes and optical path from 151 to 121, Fig. 4); and
wherein an edge of at least one lens (such as lens 122, Figs. 3-4; page 4, para [0061]) in the first lens group (12, Figs. 3-4) and the second lens group (such as lens 152 of 15, Figs. 3-4; page 4, para [0062]) comprises a cut edge (such as flat edge of 122 and flat edge of upper 152, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0061-0062]); and
wherein the optical axis (121, Fig. 4) of the first lens group (12, Fig. 4) is perpendicular to the display screen (121 is perpendicular to the display screen 63, Figs. 3-4 and 21-22), and is arranged closer to an inner wall of the display screen and an inner wall of the housing (optical axis 121 of lens device 62 such as lens module 1 is arranged close to an inner wall of the display screen 63 and an inner wall of the housing 61, Figs. 3-4 and 21).
Regarding claim 10, Chang discloses an electronic device with all the limitations of claim 9 above and further discloses wherein the electronic device (6, Fig. 21) is a mobile phone (Fig. 21; page 7, para [0103]).
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.
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.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al. (CN 216083219) in view of Yamaguchi (JP 2008-216772). Reference to Zhang et al. (CN 216083219) will be made to Chang et al. (U.S. 2023/0045993), which is an equivalent English translation of Zhang et al. (CN 216083219).
Regarding claim 7, Chang discloses a lens device with all the limitations above and further discloses wherein two second lenses (such as upper two lenses 152, Fig. 3) are provided but does not expressly disclose wherein three first lenses (122, Fig. 3) are provided. However, Chang discloses that a plurality of first lenses (122, Fig. 3) can be configured in the lens device (1, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0058]). Furthermore, Yamaguchi discloses a lens device (60, Fig. 8; page 26, para [0044]) comprising a first lens group (10, Fig. 8; page 26, para [0044]) comprising three first lenses (11, 12, 13, Fig. 8; page 26, para [0044]) and a second lens group (20, Fig. 8; page 26, para [0044]) comprising a plurality of second lenses (21-26, Fig. 8; page 13, para [0023]).
Therefore, before the time of the effective filing of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to try configuring the first lens group (Chang: 12, Fig. 3) of Chang to have three first lenses (Chang: 122, Fig. 3; Yamaguchi: 11, 12, 13, Fig. 8) in combination with the two second lenses (Chang: upper two lenses 152, Fig. 3) of Chang through routine experimentation and optimization to improve the imaging quality with a reasonable expectation for success as evidenced by Chang’s teaching of providing a plurality of first lenses (Chang: 122, Fig. 3; page 4, para [0058]) and Yamaguchi’s disclosure of a first lens group (Yamaguchi: 10, Fig. 8) comprising three first lenses (Yamaguchi: 11, 12, 13, Fig. 8) configured in combination with a second lens group (Yamaguchi: 20, Fig. 8) comprising a plurality of second lenses (Yamaguchi: 21-26, Fig. 8).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL CHANG LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-7923. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am-6pm.
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, Michael H Caley can be reached at 571-272-2286. 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.
/PAUL C LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871