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 .
Response to Arguments/Amendments
The amendment, filed 11/20/2025 in response to the Non-Final Office Action mailed on 08/22/2025 has been entered.
Claims 1-7 and 9-18 are currently pending in U.S. Patent Application No. 18/454,244.
Applicant’s remarks filed 11/20/2025 have been fully considered but are moot because the new grounds of rejection regarding the amended limitation no longer relies on the combination of references presented in the Non-Final Rejection. A change in scope necessitated by the Applicant’s amendments has led to an updated search revealing new art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1, 3-7, and 12-15 are rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki (US 2013/0259321; hereinafter “Aoki”) in view of Blixt et al. (EP 2731049; hereinafter “Blixt”).
Regarding Claim 1, Aoki discloses a contactless authentication system comprising:
a processor (see [0044]);
at least one illumination apparatus that projects illumination light onto a portion of a hand, the portion being not in contact of an object (Figs 5A-5B, [0037-0039], Aoki discloses an authentication device including an illumination light source which illuminates an object a hand. The Examiner notes Figs. 5A-5B where the hand is not in contact with the image acquisition unit, and furthermore [0039] where the hand must be within a predetermined range prior to the hand being imaged.),
an imaging apparatus that obtains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint image and a palm print image as authentication information by imaging the light component in the wavelength range in reflected light generated by reflection of the illumination light from the portion of the hand ([0037-0039], Aoki discloses obtaining an illumination image where the object is being illuminated by the illumination light source. The Examiner notes [0037] where the illumination light source emits light at a specific wavelength.), wherein
the at least one illumination apparatus cyclically alternates an emission intensity of the illumination light between an irradiation state and a non-irradiation state ([0037-0038], Aoki discloses an illumination light source used to illuminate a palm or finger for authentication, wherein the illumination light source can be turned on (i.e., irradiation state) or off (i.e., non-irradiation state). The Examiner notes [0050] where the illumination light source alternatively turns on and off for a predetermined period.),
the imaging apparatus obtains the authentication information by
(i) obtaining a first image in a first mode by increasing sensitivity of the imaging apparatus during a first period including at least a part of a period in which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0060], Aoki discloses capturing an illumination image when the illumination light source is turned on, wherein the period when the light is turned on and the sensor is absorbing the reflected light is analogous to the claimed “first period”. The Examiner asserts that the phrase “increasing sensitivity of the imaging apparatus”, given its broadest reasonable interpretation, is interpreted as the process of increasing the sensitivity of the apparatus from baseline (i.e., when an image is not obtained) to an active (i.e., image-taking) status.), and
(ii) obtaining a second image in a second mode by increasing the sensitivity of the imaging apparatus during a second period including at least a part of a period in which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the non-irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0063], Aoki discloses capturing a non-illumination image when the illumination light source is turned off, wherein the period when the light is turned off is and the sensor is obtaining the non-illuminated image is analogous to the claimed “second period”. The Examiner notes the interpretation made above regarding the phrase “increasing sensitivity of the imaging apparatus”.), and
the processor performs authentication by generating a feature based on a third image obtained from a difference between the first image and the second image ([0064], Fig. 7, Aoki discloses calculating a difference image based on the difference between the illumination image and the non-illumination image. Using a plurality of difference images, image features are obtained in order to determine an authenticated user.).
Aoki does not disclose the illumination light containing a light component in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm.
Blixt teaches the illumination light containing a light component in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm ([0028], Blixt teaches a light source used to illuminate a target object, wherein the light source can emit wavelengths greater than 1380 nm.).
Aoki and Blixt are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating biologic objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki by incorporating the specific light source taught by Blixt which allows for wavelengths greater than 1380nm to be emitted. The motivation for this being the ability to extract specific characteristics which are only detectable at the wavelengths taught by Blixt.
Claim 13 is the apparatus claim corresponding to claim 1, and is similarly rejected (see Fig. 1, Aoki).
Regarding Claim 3, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1.
The current combination of Aoki in view of Blixt does not explicitly teach wherein the imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion layer, and sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion layer has a peak in the wavelength range.
Blixt further teaches wherein the imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion layer, and sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion layer has a peak in the wavelength range (Fig. 1, [0063-0064], [0144], Blixt teaches a light sensor which includes a photoelectric conversion layer which includes a peak within the wavelength range.).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to further modify the current invention of Aoki in view of Blixt to include Blixt’s specific light sensor, which includes the photoelectric conversion layer. The motivation for this combination being the ability to detect and analyze the light which is reflected off the object of interest (i.e., the finger/palm).
Regarding Claim 4, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 3, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer includes a quantum dot ([0049], Blixt teaches a photoelectric conversion layer including a quantum dot.).
Regarding Claim 5, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 3, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer includes a semiconducting carbon nanotube ([0060], Blixt teaches a photoelectric conversion layer including a carbon nanotube.).
Regarding Claim 6, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the light component to be imaged by the imaging apparatus contains a wavelength at which solar light is significantly attenuated on a ground surface ([0016], Blixt teaches utilizing a wavelength between 960nm-3000nm wherein ambient sunlight is attenuated.).
Regarding Claim 7, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus includes an optical filter, and a transmittance of the optical filter with respect to light having a wavelength less than 1380 nm is lower than a transmittance of the optical filter with respect to light having a wavelength greater than or equal to 1380 nm ([0020], Blixt teaches an optical filter which exclusively allows light within a specific range, and not allow light from out (i.e., lower transmittance) from wavelengths outside of the specific range.).
Regarding Claim 12, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1.
The current combination of Aoki in view of Blixt does not teach wherein the light component imaged by the imaging apparatus is a light component in the reflected light in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm and less than 2500 nm.
Blixt further teaches wherein the light component imaged by the imaging apparatus is a light component in the reflected light in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm and less than 2500 nm ([0018], Blixt teaches having an illuminator wavelength between 1380 nm to 1520 nm, and having a sensor sensitivity centered around 1450 nm.).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to further modify the current invention of Aoki in view of Blixt to include Blixt’s specific light sensor that is able to detect wavelengths at 1450 nm. The motivation for this combination being the ability to accurately measure a specific wavelength with higher sensitivity compared to being able to detect all wavelengths with lower sensitivity.
Regarding Claim 14, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the first period includes the entire period during which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0060], Aoki discloses capturing an illumination image when the illumination light source is turned on, wherein the claimed “first period” is equivalent to the period when the light source is turned on and the sensor is obtaining an image of the reflected light.), and the second period does not include any period during which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0063], Aoki discloses capturing a non-illumination image when the illumination light source is turned off, wherein the claimed “second period” is equivalent to the period when the light source is turned off and the sensor is obtaining the non-illuminated image.).
Regarding Claim 15, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the authentication method according to claim 13, wherein the first period includes the entire period of the irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0060], Aoki discloses capturing an illumination image when the illumination light source is turned on, wherein the claimed “first period” is equivalent to the period when the light source is turned on and the sensor is obtaining an image of the reflected light.), and the second period does not include any period of the irradiation state (Fig. 3, [0063], Aoki discloses capturing a non-illumination image when the illumination light source is turned off, wherein the claimed “second period” is equivalent to the period when the light source is turned off and the sensor is obtaining the non-illuminated image).
Claim 2 is rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Koda (US 2022/0067339; hereinafter “Koda”).
Regarding Claim 2, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1.
Aoki in view of Blixt does not teach wherein the authentication information includes information indicating a position of a sweat pore.
Koda teaches wherein the authentication information includes information indicating a position of a sweat pore ([0012], [0074], Koda teaches obtaining position information regarding sweat gland pores present on an image of a fingerprint, which can be used to recognize an individual.).
Aoki, Blixt, and Koda are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt by incorporating Koda’s methods of identifying sweat pores. The motivation for this combination being the ability to utilize the sweat pore information to help identify an individual.
Claim 9 is rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi (US 2019/0007654; hereinafter “Higuchi”).
Regarding Claim 9, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 1.
Aoki in view of Blixt does not teach wherein the at least one illumination apparatus projects the illumination light onto the hand in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction, and the imaging apparatus images the reflected light originating from the illumination light projected onto the hand in the first direction and the reflected light originating from the illumination light projected onto the hand in the second direction.
Higuchi discloses wherein the at least one illumination apparatus projects the illumination light onto the hand in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction, and the imaging apparatus images the reflected light originating from the illumination light projected onto the hand in the first direction and the reflected light originating from the illumination light projected onto the hand in the second direction (Fig. 9, [0065-0066], Higuchi teaches a light source to illuminate one portion of the finger and an additional auxiliary light source to illuminate another portion of the finger.).
Aoki, Blixt, and Higuchi are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt by incorporating Higuchi’s usage of multiple light sources to illuminate the portion of the finger. The motivation for this combination being the ability to utilize additional portions of the finger to aide in authentication.
Claim 10 is rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi in view of Rowe et al. (US 2011/0235872; hereinafter “Rowe”).
Regarding Claim 10, Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one illumination apparatus includes a first illumination apparatus that projects the illumination light onto the hand in the first direction, and a second illumination apparatus that projects the illumination light onto the hand in the second direction (see the combination made in Claim 9),
Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi does not teach timing to project the illumination light from the first illumination apparatus onto the hand is different from timing to project the illumination light from the second illumination apparatus onto the hand.
Rowe teaches timing to project the illumination light from the first illumination apparatus onto the hand is different from timing to project the illumination light from the second illumination apparatus onto the hand ([0124], Rowe teaches a biometric capture device containing a set of light sources including a linear polarizer and another set of light sources which do not include a linear polarizer. Rowe further teaches taking a series of two images, with one image taken with the non-polarized light illuminating a hand (i.e., the light sources including a linear polarizer are turned off) and another image with cross-polarized light illuminating the hand (i.e., the light sources that do not include a polarizer are turned off).).
Aoki, Blixt, Higuchi, and Rowe are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi by including Rowe’s logic of alternating the timings of the different light sources present in the device. The motivation for this combination being the ability to control which light sources should be used, especially when different light sources can provide different information when illuminating an object.
Claim 11 is rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi in view of Xie and Zhou (CN 106326861; hereinafter “Xie”).
Regarding Claim 11, Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 9.
Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi does not teach wherein the at least one illumination apparatus includes an adjuster that changes a direction of projection of the illumination light onto the hand, and the at least one illumination apparatus projects the illumination light onto the hand in the first direction and the second direction by using the adjuster.
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Xie teaches wherein the at least one illumination apparatus includes an adjuster that changes a direction of projection of the illumination light onto the hand, and the at least one illumination apparatus projects the illumination light onto the hand in the first direction and the second direction by using the adjuster (Page 2, Xie teaches a directional light source which can be controlled to adjust the direction of the light source.).
Aoki, Blixt, Higuchi, and Xie are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Higuchi by including Xie’s method of incorporating a directional light source which can be directed in a specific direction. The motivation for this combination being the ability to control the direction of a light source and reduce the need for additional light sources.
Claims 16-17 are rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Stigwall et al. (US 2017/0123053; hereinafter “Stigwall”).
Regarding Claim 16, Aoki in view of Blixt teaches the contactless authentication system according to claim 14.
Aoki in view of Blixt does not teach wherein the first period further includes at least a part of a period immediately following termination of the irradiation state in which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the non-irradiation state.
[AltContent: textbox (Annotated Fig. 2B from Stigwall. The Examiner notes that points A and B on curve 21’ define the period for the sensitivity of the image sensor (i.e., the “first period”). Points C and D on curve 22’ define the period of the illumination light. As shown, Points A-B (the period of the sensitivity of the image sensor) include both the period of the illumination light as well as a portion where the light is not illuminated (the portion of time between points D and B).)][AltContent: oval][AltContent: oval][AltContent: textbox (A)][AltContent: textbox (B)][AltContent: textbox (C)][AltContent: textbox (D)]Stigwall discloses wherein the first period further includes at least a part of a period immediately following termination of the irradiation state in which the at least one illumination apparatus is in the non-irradiation state ([0081-0085], Fig. 2b, Stigwall discloses a method involving illuminating an object, wherein the period of the sensitivity of the image sensor (shown by curve 21’, i.e., first period) includes both a period of illumination and a period of no illumination (shown by curve 22’).).
Aoki, Blixt, and Stigwall are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt such that the “first period”, as taught by Aoki in view of Blixt, was modified to be the period of camera sensor sensitivity (defined by points A-B in the annotated figure above), such that the period of camera sensitivity included both a period of illumination and a period of no illumination. The motivation for this combination being the ability to account for distance between the object of interest (i.e., finger/hand) and the sensor, and consequently ensuring that the sensor is active for enough time to absorb all of the reflected light.
Claim 17 is the method claim corresponding to claim 16, and is similarly rejected.
Claim 18 is rejected as being unpatentable over Aoki in view of Blixt in view of Bergqvist (WO 2018/073335; hereinafter “Bergqvist”).
Regarding Claim 18, Aoki discloses a contactless authentication system comprising:
a processor (see Fig. 1);
at least one illumination apparatus that projects illumination light onto a portion of a hand, the portion being not in contact of an object (Figs 5A-5B, [0037-0039], Aoki discloses an authentication device including an illumination light source which illuminates an object a hand. The Examiner notes Figs. 5A-5B where the hand is not in contact with the image acquisition unit, and furthermore [0039] where the hand must be within a predetermined range prior to the hand being imaged.),
an imaging apparatus that obtains at least one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint image and a palm print image by imaging the light component in the wavelength range in reflected light generated by reflection of the illumination light from the portion of the hand ([0037-0038], Aoki discloses an illumination light source used to illuminate a palm or finger for authentication, wherein the illumination light source can be turned on (i.e., irradiation state) or off (i.e., non-irradiation state). The Examiner notes [0050] where the illumination light source alternatively turns on and off for a predetermined period.), wherein
the processor performs authentication using the at least one selected from the group consisting of the fingerprint image and the palm print image as authentication information ([0064], Fig. 7, Aoki discloses calculating a difference image based on the difference between the illumination image and the non-illumination image. Using a plurality of difference images, image features are obtained in order to determine an authenticated user.).
Aoki does not explicitly disclose the illumination light containing a light component in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm, and not using blood vessel pattern as authentication information.
Blixt teaches the illumination light containing a light component in a wavelength range greater than or equal to 1380 nm ([0028], Blixt teaches a light source used to illuminate a target object, wherein the light source can emit wavelengths greater than 1380 nm.),
Aoki and Blixt are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating biologic objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki by incorporating the specific light source taught by Blixt which allows for wavelengths greater than 1380nm to be emitted. The motivation for this being the ability to extract specific characteristics which are only detectable at the wavelengths taught by Blixt.
Aoki in view of Blixt does not explicitly teach and not using blood vessel pattern as authentication information (The Examiner notes [0031] of Aoki which discloses that while palm or finger vein pattern can be used, other forms of biometric information usch as fingerprint or palm print can also be used.).
Bergqvist discloses not using blood vessel pattern as authentication information (Fig. 1, Page 9, lines 13-26, Bergqvist discloses a contactless authentication system, which obtains an image of a hand and extracts biometric characteristic data such as palm crease/print data used to authenticate an individual.).
Aoki, Blixt, and Bergqvist are considered to be analogous to the claimed invention as they are in the same field of illuminating biologic objects of interest for image processing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Aoki in view of Blixt by incorporating the methods disclosed by Bergqvist, such that the images obtained by Aoki in view of Blixt are therefore processed by the methods disclosed by Bergqvist using non-blood vessel pattern (i.e., palm crease/print data) in order to recognize/authenticate an individual. The motivation for this being the ability to utilize alternative
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Leguilloux and Schmitt (EP0880104B1)
Hagio and Takada (JP 2011080965 A)
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.
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/PROMOTTO TAJRIAN ISLAM/Examiner, Art Unit 2669 /CHAN S PARK/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2669