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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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 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.
Election/Restrictions
Regarding the Restriction/Election Requirement Office Action mailed on 12/29/2025, the examiner apologizes for any confusion resulting from the typographical errors. The applicant’s understanding is appreciated, and the applicant is encouraged to contact the examiner for clarification regarding such issues. It should be corrected as follows:
Restriction to one of the following inventions is required under 35 U.S.C. 121:
I. Claims 1-7, drawn to a light source module, classified in H04N1/02825.
II. Claim 8-20, drawn to an image forming device, classified in G02B27/106.
Applicant’s election of Group I Invention and Species I (figures 10A-10E; claims 1-7) in the reply filed on 01/13/2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takahashi et al. (US 2005/0073750).
Regarding claim 1, Takahashi et al. (figure 1B) discloses a light source module, comprising:
a first semiconductor laser and a second semiconductor laser arranged so that respective light axes are parallel to each other (LD1; figure 1B; see at least paragraph 0064); and
a light beam combining element (light-condensing optical element 4) in which a first light beam and a second light beam respectively emitted by the first semiconductor laser and the second semiconductor laser enter, the light beam combining element configured to emit the first light beam and the second light beam with respective light axes made closer to each other (figure 1B; light from a light source portion 1 having a plurality of light-sources is condensed by a light condensing portion; see at least paragraph 0056),
wherein an air conversion length of a first total distance from a first light emitting surface of the first semiconductor laser to an exit surface of the light beam combining element, and an air conversion length of a second total distance from a second light emitting surface of the second semiconductor laser to the exit surface of the light beam combining element are equal to each other (LDs are at equal distance from the light condensing element 4).
Regarding claim 7, Takahashi et al. (figure 1B) discloses wherein the first light emitting surface of the first semiconductor laser and the second light emitting surface of the second semiconductor laser are located on a same plane (LD; figure 1B).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-3, 5 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sakuma et al. (US 5,970,034).
Regarding claim 1, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses a light source module, comprising:
a first semiconductor laser and a second semiconductor laser arranged so that respective light axes are parallel to each other (laser diodes 1a-1b); and
a light beam combining element (2a, 2b, 12, 13, 14) in which a first light beam and a second light beam respectively emitted by the first semiconductor laser and the second semiconductor laser enter, the light beam combining element configured to emit the first light beam and the second light beam with respective light axes made closer to each other (C1-C2; figures 17A-17B; see at least column 11, lines 55-67 and column 12, lines 1-36),
wherein an air conversion length of a first total distance from a first light emitting surface of the first semiconductor laser to an exit surface of the light beam combining element, and an air conversion length of a second total distance from a second light emitting surface of the second semiconductor laser to the exit surface of the light beam combining element are equal to each other (1a-1b; he optical source S2 designated collectively by a numeral 10b includes a laser diode 1a for emitting a laser beam and a collimator lens 2b for producing the parallel optical beam c2 from the laser beam produced by the laser diode 1b; see at least column 10, lines 9-26).
Regarding claim 2, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses wherein the light beam combining element comprises a polarization beam splitter (12) in which the first light beam directly enters, and a prism (13) which is arranged adjacent to the polarization beam splitter, and in which the second light beam directly enters, the prism configured to reflect the second light beam toward the polarization beam splitter, and the polarization beam splitter configured to transmit the first light beam, and to reflect the second light beam (13A; figure 17B; the laser beam produced by the laser diode 1b impinges upon a reflection surface 13A of the polarization beam-splitter 12 after passing through the collimator lens 2b and a half-wavelength plate 11, which is used for converting the laser beam incident to the beam-splitter 12 into a linearly polarized optical beam; see at least column 11, lines 55-67 and column 12, lines 1-36).
Regarding claim 3, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses wherein the first light beam and the second light beam are linearly-polarized light beams which coincide in polarization direction with each other, and the light beam combining element further comprises a ½ wave plate disposed on a plane of incidence of the prism (11; the laser beam produced by the laser diode 1b impinges upon a reflection surface 13A of the polarization beam-splitter 12 after passing through the collimator lens 2b and a half-wavelength plate 11, which is used for converting the laser beam incident to the beam-splitter 12 into a linearly polarized optical beam; see at least column 11, lines 55-67 and column 12, lines 1-36).
Regarding claim 5, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses wherein a ray axis of the ½ wave plate is set so as to convert the P-polarized light into the S-polarized light (11; half-wave plate (HWP) rotates the polarization plane of incident linear light (S or P) by an angle equal to 2theta, where theta is the angle between the input polarization and the plate's fast axis).
The limitations “wherein a ray axis of the ½ wave plate is set so as to convert the P-polarized light into the S-polarized light” are regarded as intended use limitations. A recitation of the intended use of the claimed invention must result in a structural difference between the claimed invention and the prior art in order to patentably distinguish the claimed invention from the prior art. If the prior art structure is capable of performing the intended use, then it meets the claim.
Regarding claim 7, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses wherein the first light emitting surface of the first semiconductor laser and the second light emitting surface of the second semiconductor laser are located on a same plane (1a-1b; he optical source S2 designated collectively by a numeral 10b includes a laser diode 1a for emitting a laser beam and a collimator lens 2b for producing the parallel optical beam c2 from the laser beam produced by the laser diode 1b; see at least column 10, lines 9-26).
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 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.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sakuma et al. (US 5,970,034) in view of Videen (US 6,239,873).
Regarding claim 4, Sakuma et al. discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of claim 3 above. However, Sakuma et al. is silent regarding wherein the first semiconductor laser and the second semiconductor laser emit the light beams of a P-polarized first light beam and a P-polarized second light beam to a bonding surface of the polarization beam splitter. Videen (figure 1) teaches wherein the first semiconductor laser and the second semiconductor laser emit the light beams of a P-polarized first light beam and a P-polarized second light beam to a bonding surface of the polarization beam splitter (the illumination unit includes diode lasers (100,120) which emit S-polarized light and P-polarized light of mutually different wavelengths (lambda1, lambda2), respectively. A polarization beam splitter (110) passes the S-polarized light and reflects the P-polarized light, so that the two light are coincident at the output; see at least abstract). Therefore, 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 light source module as taught by Videen in order to achieve an apparatus for simultaneous measurement of two polarization states of scattered light.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the first semiconductor laser and the second semiconductor laser emitted the light beams of a P-polarized first light beam and a P-polarized second light beam to a bonding surface of the polarization beam splitter since it was known in the art that which polarized beam being is emitted by the first and second semiconductor lasers is merely a design matter that could have been appropriately performed by a person skilled in the art. Claim 4 is therefore unpatentable.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sakuma et al. (US 5,970,034) in view of Schwindt et al. (US 8,212,556).
Regarding claim 6, Sakuma et al. (figures 12 and 17A-17B) discloses wherein the light beam combining element has a 1/2 wave plate disposed on an exit surface of the polarization beam splitter (12 and 14). However, Sakuma et al. is silent regarding wherein the light beam combining element has a ¼ wave plate disposed on an exit surface of the polarization beam splitter. Videen (figure 1) teaches the optical waveplate 26 can comprise a high-order optical waveplate which functions as a quarter waveplate at the wavelength of the pump light beam 18 (e.g. a D1- or D2-line wavelength) and simultaneously functions as a half waveplate at the wavelength of the probe light beam 28 (e.g. a D2- or D1-line wavelength) (see at least column 12, lines 60-67 and column 12, lines 1-12). Therefore, 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 light source module as taught by Schwindt et al. in order to maintain the probe light beam linearly polarized, improve a signal-to-noise ratio for detecting the magnetic field, and simplify the manufacturing steps. Therefore, Sakuma et al. as modified by Schwindt et al. teaches wherein the light beam combining element has a ¼ wave plate disposed on an exit surface of the polarization beam splitter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAUREN NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1428. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM -6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Carruth, can be reached at 571-272-9791. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LAUREN NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871