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 .
Drawings
The subject matter of this application admits of illustration by a drawing to facilitate understanding of the invention. Applicant is required to furnish a drawing under 37 CFR 1.81(c). No new matter may be introduced in the required drawing. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). Claim 1 recites “executing a second process including accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector”, where “third image” needs to be shown with proper labeling for the understanding of the invention. Claim 2 recites” the second process includes accepting second operation of correcting a color of a fourth image” where “fourth image” needs to be shown with proper labeling for the understanding of the invention”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION —The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
As of claim 1, the limitation “executing a second process including accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector” is indefinite. The Applicant is required to clarify about what does it mean by “accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector”? Which “third image” the Applicant is referring to? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “executing a second process including accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector” as “the system processor synchronously performs the color gradation adjustment operation on the first converted image and the second converted image to output the adjustment signal”. The limitation “determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied” is indefinite. What does it mean by “a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied”? How does the “second correction value used to correct the color of the third image”? Also, what does it mean by a “third image”? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicates a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied” as “first projection device and the second projection device respectively adjust the projected first projection image and the second projection image according to the adjustment signal”. The limitation “outputting the first correction value updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value” is indefinite. Which first correction value is updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “outputting the first correction value updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value” as “the first processor generates the first conversion matrix according to the reference image and the first captured image to be corrected, and the second processor generates the second conversion matrix according to the reference image and the second captured image to be corrected”.
Claims 2-7 are rejected as being dependent on claim 1.
As of claim 8, the limitation “a first correction value used to correct a color of the first image, accepts first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the optical apparatus” is indefinite. The Applicant is required to clarify about what does it mean by “accepts first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the optical apparatus”? and which “third image”? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “executing a second process including accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector” as “the system processor synchronously performs the color gradation adjustment operation on the first converted image and the second converted image to output the adjustment signal”. The limitation “executes a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image, updates the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied” is indefinite. What does it mean by “a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied”? How does the “second correction value used to correct the color of the third image”? Also, what does it mean by a “third image”? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicates a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “executes a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image, updates the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied” as “first projection device and the second projection device respectively adjust the projected first projection image and the second projection image according to the adjustment signal”. The limitation “outputs the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value” is indefinite. Which first correction value is updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “outputs the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value” as “the first processor generates the first conversion matrix according to the reference image and the first captured image to be corrected, and the second processor generates the second conversion matrix according to the reference image and the second captured image to be corrected”.
As of claim 9, the limitation “determining, based on a result of capture of a first image projected by a first projector and a second image projected by a second projector, a first correction value used to correct a color of the first image, accept first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector” is indefinite. What does it mean by “accept first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector”? How does the “first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector”? Also, what does it mean by a “third image”? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicates a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied” as “first projection device and the second projection device respectively adjust the projected first projection image and the second projection image according to the adjustment signal”. The limitation “execute a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image,” is indefinite. The Applicant is required to clarify about what does it mean by “determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image”? Which “third image” the Applicant is referring to? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate a repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “execute a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image,” as “the system processor synchronously performs the color gradation adjustment operation on the first converted image and the second converted image to output the adjustment signal”. The limitation “output the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value” is indefinite. Which first correction value is updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value? A review of the description (PGPUB; [0153]), indicate repeat of the claim limitation without particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter. For the purpose of Examination, the Examiner has interpreted “output the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value” as “the first processor generates the first conversion matrix according to the reference image and the first captured image to be corrected, and the second processor generates the second conversion matrix according to the reference image and the second captured image to be corrected”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 would be allowed if earlier drawing objection and 112(b) rejections are successfully overcome.
As of claim 1, the closest prior art OIKE (US 20190124307 A1) teaches an image projection system 1 which includes two projectors 10, a projector 100A and a projector 100B, but the number of projectors 100 is not limited to two and may instead be three or greater. Further, in the following description, in a case where the projectors 100A and 100B do not particularly need to be distinguished from each other, the projectors 100A and 100B are called projector 100. The projector 100A corresponds to the “first projector” and the “projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projector 100B corresponds to the “second projector” and the “external projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projectors 100A and 100B are disposed in front of a screen SC, which is a projection surface, and disposed side by side in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) of the screen SC. In the present embodiment, the projector 100A is disposed on the left when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 11, which is a left area of the screen SC. The projector 100B is disposed on the right when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 12, which is a right area of the screen SC. The present embodiment will be described with reference to a case where an image is projected on the screen SC, which is formed of a flat surface and serves as the projection surface, but the projection surface may instead be a fixed flat surface, such as a wall surface. The screen SC may still instead be a curtain-like screen, such as a suspended screen and a standing screen. The arrangement of the projectors 100 is not limited to the arrangement in which the projectors 100A and 100B are disposed side by side in the horizontal direction of the screen SC. For example, the arrangement of the projectors 100 may be a matrix arrangement in which four projectors 100 are arranged in longitudinal two columns and two lateral rows or an arrangement in which three projectors are layered on each other in the longitudinal direction. The image projection system 1 performs tiling projection in which images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B are combined with each other on the screen SC so that a single large-screen image is projected. In the tiling projection, the projection areas 11 and 12 are so adjusted that images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B partially overlap with each other to make the boundary between the projected images less visually standing out. The area of the screen SC where an image projected by the projector 100A overlaps with an image projected by the projector 100B is called an overlapping area 13. The overlapping area 13 corresponds to the “overlapping area” in an aspect of the invention. OIKE does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, a first correction value used to correct a color of the first image; executing a second process including accepting first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector, and determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image; updating the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied; and outputting the first correction value updated by executing the first process again, and the second correction value.
Claims 2-7 would be allowed as being dependent on claim 1.
As of claim 8, the closest prior art OIKE (US 20190124307 A1) teaches an image projection system 1 which includes two projectors 10, a projector 100A and a projector 100B, but the number of projectors 100 is not limited to two and may instead be three or greater. Further, in the following description, in a case where the projectors 100A and 100B do not particularly need to be distinguished from each other, the projectors 100A and 100B are called projector 100. The projector 100A corresponds to the “first projector” and the “projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projector 100B corresponds to the “second projector” and the “external projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projectors 100A and 100B are disposed in front of a screen SC, which is a projection surface, and disposed side by side in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) of the screen SC. In the present embodiment, the projector 100A is disposed on the left when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 11, which is a left area of the screen SC. The projector 100B is disposed on the right when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 12, which is a right area of the screen SC. The present embodiment will be described with reference to a case where an image is projected on the screen SC, which is formed of a flat surface and serves as the projection surface, but the projection surface may instead be a fixed flat surface, such as a wall surface. The screen SC may still instead be a curtain-like screen, such as a suspended screen and a standing screen. The arrangement of the projectors 100 is not limited to the arrangement in which the projectors 100A and 100B are disposed side by side in the horizontal direction of the screen SC. For example, the arrangement of the projectors 100 may be a matrix arrangement in which four projectors 100 are arranged in longitudinal two columns and two lateral rows or an arrangement in which three projectors are layered on each other in the longitudinal direction. The image projection system 1 performs tiling projection in which images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B are combined with each other on the screen SC so that a single large-screen image is projected. In the tiling projection, the projection areas 11 and 12 are so adjusted that images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B partially overlap with each other to make the boundary between the projected images less visually standing out. The area of the screen SC where an image projected by the projector 100A overlaps with an image projected by the projector 100B is called an overlapping area 13. The overlapping area 13 corresponds to the “overlapping area” in an aspect of the invention. OIKE does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, at least one processor executes a first process of determining, based on a result of capture of a first image projected by the optical apparatus and a second image projected by another projector, a first correction value used to correct a color of the first image, accepts first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the optical apparatus, executes a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image, updates the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied, and outputs the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value.
As of claim 9, the closest prior art OIKE (US 20190124307 A1) teaches an image projection system 1 which includes two projectors 10, a projector 100A and a projector 100B, but the number of projectors 100 is not limited to two and may instead be three or greater. Further, in the following description, in a case where the projectors 100A and 100B do not particularly need to be distinguished from each other, the projectors 100A and 100B are called projector 100. The projector 100A corresponds to the “first projector” and the “projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projector 100B corresponds to the “second projector” and the “external projector” in an aspect of the invention. The projectors 100A and 100B are disposed in front of a screen SC, which is a projection surface, and disposed side by side in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) of the screen SC. In the present embodiment, the projector 100A is disposed on the left when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 11, which is a left area of the screen SC. The projector 100B is disposed on the right when viewed in the direction toward the screen SC and projects an image in a projection area 12, which is a right area of the screen SC. The present embodiment will be described with reference to a case where an image is projected on the screen SC, which is formed of a flat surface and serves as the projection surface, but the projection surface may instead be a fixed flat surface, such as a wall surface. The screen SC may still instead be a curtain-like screen, such as a suspended screen and a standing screen. The arrangement of the projectors 100 is not limited to the arrangement in which the projectors 100A and 100B are disposed side by side in the horizontal direction of the screen SC. For example, the arrangement of the projectors 100 may be a matrix arrangement in which four projectors 100 are arranged in longitudinal two columns and two lateral rows or an arrangement in which three projectors are layered on each other in the longitudinal direction. The image projection system 1 performs tiling projection in which images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B are combined with each other on the screen SC so that a single large-screen image is projected. In the tiling projection, the projection areas 11 and 12 are so adjusted that images projected by the projectors 100A and 100B partially overlap with each other to make the boundary between the projected images less visually standing out. The area of the screen SC where an image projected by the projector 100A overlaps with an image projected by the projector 100B is called an overlapping area 13. The overlapping area 13 corresponds to the “overlapping area” in an aspect of the invention. OIKE does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, based on a result of capture of a first image projected by a first projector and a second image projected by a second projector, a first correction value used to correct a color of the first image, accept first operation of correcting a color of a third image produced by correcting the first image with the first correction value and projected by the first projector, execute a second process of determining, based on a result of the first operation, a second correction value used to correct the color of the third image, update the first correction value by executing the first process again when a setting condition set in advance is satisfied, and output the first correction value updated by executing the first process again and the second correction value.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
- Prior Art Wu (US 20200244934 A1) teaches a projection system including a first projection device and a first image capturing device is provided. The first projection device projects a first projection image. The first projection image includes a plurality of different color lights and has color blocks of different brightnesses formed by the plurality of different color lights. The first image capturing device captures the first projection image to generate a first captured image. The first image capturing device includes a first processor. The first processor converts the first captured image into a first converted image according to a first conversion matrix. A color gradation adjustment operation is performed on the first converted image to output an adjustment signal, and the first projection device adjusts the projected first projection image according to the adjustment signal;
- Prior Art Kasuga et al. (US 10080002 B2) teaches a projection system including a first projector and a second projector project images side by side, wherein the first projector includes a first projection section that projects a first image and a first control section that causes the first projection section to project an identification image containing identification information, and the second projector includes a second projection section that projects a second image, an imaging section that captures an image of a range including the projection range of the second projection section to produce a captured image, and a second control section that causes the imaging section to capture an image of the identification image projected by the first projector, acquires the identification information on the first projector based on the captured identification image, and determines the position of the first image relative to the second image based on the position of the identification image in the captured image.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SULTAN U. CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)270-3336. The examiner can normally be reached on 5:30 AM-5:30 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Minh-Toan Ton can be reached on 571-272-2303. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SULTAN CHOWDHURY/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2882