Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/451,545

MIRROR MODULE AND RANGING APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 17, 2023
Priority
Feb 19, 2021 — JP 2021-025392 +1 more
Examiner
GAGNON, GRANT A
Art Unit
3667
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Denso Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
395 granted / 477 resolved
+30.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
509
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
44.4%
+4.4% vs TC avg
§102
42.6%
+2.6% vs TC avg
§112
5.1%
-34.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 477 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I claims 1-5 in the reply filed on 05/07/2026 is acknowledged. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The IDS’ filed to date have been considered. 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 ([0003]) publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Suzuki (US 20210341730, of record) herein after referred to as D1. With regard to claim 1, D1 teaches a mirror (20A, and 20B) module (1) that deflects a non-visible laser light for scanning the non-visible laser light, in at least (figure 1); comprising: a deflection mirror (20A, and 20B) having a reflective surface (21A) (21A and 21B) that allows a visible light ([0024]: transmits the light waves) to be transmitted ([0024]: transmits) therethrough and reflects ([0052]: reflects) the non-visible laser light ([0052]); a mirror (20A, and 20B) support (20C) having a mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines) of which the shape (support member 20C is shaped to hold 20A and 20B) corresponds to a shape of the reflective surface (21A) (20A); and an information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”) that displays information ([0084]: distance, and brightness) related to the mirror (20A, and 20B) module (1) in a visible manner, wherein the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”) is disposed between the deflection mirror (20A, and 20B)and the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines). With regard to claim 2, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a mirror module, in at least (Figs. 1, 2, and 4); wherein the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”) is configured as a part of the mirror (20A, and 20B) support (20C) and a portion where the information ([0084]) is laser-printed ([0003]) on the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines). With regard to claim 3, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a mirror module, in at least (Figs. 1, 2, and 4); wherein the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines) includes a projection part (22A/B) that contacts a surface of the deflection mirror (20A) which is an opposite surface of the reflective surface (21A) of the deflection mirror (20A) and supports the deflection mirror (20A, and 20B); the mirror (20A, and 20B) supports (20C) includes an antireflection layer (22A/B) on a surface thereof; the antireflection layer (22A/B) suppresses at least a reflection of the laser light ([0052]); and the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines) includes a non-formation region where the antireflection layer (22A/B) is not formed; and the projection part (22A/B) is positioned in the non-formation region (21A). With regard to claim 4, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 3, wherein D1 further teaches a mirror module, in at least (Figs. 1, 2, and 4); wherein the antireflection layer (22A/B) suppresses reflection of at least the laser light and the visible light; the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”) is configured, as a part of the mirror (20A, and 20B) support (20C), to be at least one of a portion where the information is engraved ([0003]: print) on the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines) and a portion where the information is printed ([0003]) on the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines); and the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”) is positioned in the non-formation region (21A) on the mirror (20A, and 20B) mounting surface (20C; dotted lines). With regard to claim 5, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 4, wherein D1 further teaches a mirror module, in at least (Figs. 1, 2, and 4); wherein for the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”), a reflectance of the visible light ([0024]) satisfies a relationship: reflectance of the reflective surface (21A) of the deflection mirror (20A and 20B) reflectance of the information display unit ([0085]; “a distance measurement apparatus,” and applied to a head-up display, a projector or the like”). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GRANT A GAGNON whose telephone number is (571)270-0642. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-5:30. 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, Bumsuk Won can be reached at (571) 272-2713. 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. /GRANT A GAGNON/ Examiner, Art Unit 2872 /BALRAM T PARBADIA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 17, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 477 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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