DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-29 are pending.
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 5/11/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-29 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent Application. 18/369,841. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the instant application recites similar features and limitations as the co-pending application. Both Applications cite features in references to projection of complementary pattern images.
Present Application 18/411,047
Patent 18/369,841
1. A method of operating a system including a light projection device, the method comprising:
projecting, from the light projection device, during a first period of time, said first time period being no more than 1/60th of a second, a first set of one or more images to illuminate an area, said first set of one or more images corresponding to a first pattern; and
projecting, from the light projection device, during a second period of time following said first period of time, a second set of one or more images, said second period of time being no more than 1/60th of a second, said second set of one or more images corresponding to a second pattern, said second pattern being a concealing pattern with respect to the first pattern.
13. A system comprising: a light projection device;
a memory; and
a processor configured to controlling the light projection device to:
project, from the light projection device, during a first period of time, a first set of one or more images to illuminate an area, said first set of one or more images corresponding to a first pattern; and
project, from the light projection device, during a second period of time following said first period of time, a second set of one or more images, said second set of one or more images corresponding to a second pattern, said second pattern being a concealing pattern with respect to the first pattern.
20. A non-transitory computer readable medium including processor executable instructions which when executed by a processor of an apparatus including a light projection device causes the processor to control the light projection device to:
project, from the light projection device, during a first period of time, a first set of one or more images to illuminate an area, said first set of one or more images corresponding to a first pattern; and
project, from the light projection device, during a second period of time following said first period of time, a second set of one or more images, said second set of one or more images corresponding to a second pattern, said second pattern being a concealing pattern with respect to the first pattern.
1. A method of operating a system including a light projection device, the method comprising:
projecting, from the light projection device, for a fraction of a second, a first image to illuminate an area, and
projecting, from the light projection device, immediately following projecting the first image, a second image to illuminate the area, said second image being different from said first image and being a complementary image to said first image.
14. A system comprising:
a light projection device;
a memory storing a first image and a second image;
a processor configured to control the light projection device to:
project, from the light projection device, for a fraction of a second, the first image to illuminate an area, project, from the light projection device, immediately following projection of the first image, the second image to illuminate the area, said second image being different from said first image and being a complementary image to said first image.
.
Conclusion
Claims 1-29 are rejected.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Inquiries
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUSHFIKH I ALAM whose telephone number is (571)270-1710. The examiner can normally be reached 1:00PM-9:00PM.
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MUSHFIKH I. ALAM
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2426
/MUSHFIKH I ALAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2426 7/8/2026
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