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
Applicant’s election of Species A (figure 3) in the reply filed on 11/06/2025 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 § 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.
Claims 1-7 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over He et al. (US 2021/0294105) in view of Wong et al. (US 2021/0294012).
Regarding claim 1, He et al. (figure 4) discloses a zoomable curved optical device comprising:
a curved polarization reflection film (30);
a waveplate (28) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other;
a half-mirror film (22) arranged on the first surface of the waveplate; and
a zoomable module (26; portion of ray can be refracted (partially focused) by the shape of aspheric convex surface of lens element 26; see at least paragraph 0048) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (28),
wherein the curved polarization reflection film is arranged on the zoomable module (30 and 26).
He et al. discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of claim 1 above. However, He et al. is silent regarding an optical adhesive. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module (lens system 90 and 160) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (50) through an optical adhesive (80). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the adhesive layer as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
Regarding claim 2, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the waveplate is a quarter waveplate (28; see at least paragraph 0051).
Regarding claim 3, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the half-mirror film is a curved half-mirror film (22; see at least paragraph 0089).
Regarding claim 4, Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches wherein the zoomable module comprises:
at least one polarization dependent lens (retarder 40);
at least one first solid lens (90 and 30) and at least one second solid lens respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the at least one polarization dependent lens;
a first polarization controller (70) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (50) through the optical adhesive (80) and arranged between the at least one first solid lens and the waveplate (90 and 50); and
a second polarization controller (120) arranged between the at least one second solid lens (30) and the polarizer film.
Therefore, He et al. as modified by Wong et al. teaches a second polarization controller arranged between the at least one second solid lens (30) and the curved polarization reflection film.
Regarding claim 5, He et al. (figure 4) discloses optical system having aspheric convex surfaces (see at least paragraph 0061). However, He et al. is silent regarding wherein the at least one first solid lens and the at least one second solid lens are aspherical lenses. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module having first and second solid lenses (90 and 30). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the lenses as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
Regarding claim 6, Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches wherein the at least one first solid lens and the at least one second solid lens are non-polarization dependent lenses (optical lenses; see at least paragraph 0024).
Regarding claim 7, He et al. (figure 4) discloses optical system having aspheric convex surfaces (see at least paragraph 0061). However, He et al. is silent regarding wherein the at least one polarization dependent lens is an aspherical lens. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module one polarization dependent lens (40). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the lenses as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
Regarding claim 10, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the zoomable module is configured to control a diopter of incident light (reflection from the curved shape of surface S1 provides optical system 20 with additional optical power; see at least paragraph 0052; figure 3) and maintain or change a polarization state of an incident polarized image according to the polarization state of the incident polarized image (Light that is polarized parallel to the reflection axis of reflective polarizer 30 will be reflected by reflective polarizer 30. Light that is polarized perpendicular to the reflection axis and therefore parallel to the pass axis of reflective polarizer 30 will pass through reflective polarizer 30; see at least paragraph 0044).
Claims 8-9, 11-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over He et al. in view of Wong et al.; further in view of Yu (CN 106444046).
Regarding claim 8, He et al. (figure 4) discloses and the display module is configured to transmit circularly-polarized images to the half-mirror film (the display system includes a wave plate such as quarter wave plate 18 to provide circularly polarized image light; see at least paragraph 0038), wherein the first surface of the waveplate faces toward a display surface of a display module through the half-mirror film (28, 22, and 40). However, He et al. is silent regarding concave surfaces of the curved polarization reflection film and the half-mirror film face toward the display surface of the display module. Yu (figure 2) teaches concave surfaces of the layers face toward the display surface of the display module (3 and 11). 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 curved surfaces of the optical device as taught by Yu in order to achieve a lightweight optical system with a short working distance, a compact structure, a large viewing angle and a large exit pupil diameter. Therefore, He et al. as modified by Wong et al. and Yu teaches wherein the first surface of the waveplate faces toward a display surface of a display module through the half-mirror film, and concave surfaces of the curved polarization reflection film and the half-mirror film face toward the display surface of the display module.
Regarding claim 9, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the display module is a liquid-crystal display, a micro-organic light-emitting diode (μ-OLED) module, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon display module, a digital light-processing module, or micro light-emitting diode display module (see at least paragraph 0031).
Regarding claim 11, He et al. (figure 4) discloses a zoomable curved optical device comprising:
a curved polarization reflection film (30);
a waveplate (28) having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other;
a half-mirror film (22) arranged on the first surface of the waveplate; and
a zoomable module (26; portion of ray can be refracted (partially focused) by the shape of aspheric convex surface of lens element 26; see at least paragraph 0048) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (28), wherein the curved polarization reflection film is arranged on the zoomable module (30 and 26), and
a display module whose display surface faces toward the first surface of the waveplate through the half-mirror film (28, 22, and 40), wherein the display module is configured to transmit circularly-polarized images to the half-mirror film (the display system includes a wave plate such as quarter wave plate 18 to provide circularly polarized image light; see at least paragraph 0038).
He et al. discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of claim 11 above. However, He et al. is silent regarding an optical adhesive. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module (lens system 90 and 160) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (50) through an optical adhesive (80). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the adhesive layer as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
He et al. (figure 4) discloses and the display module is configured to transmit circularly-polarized images to the half-mirror film (the display system includes a wave plate such as quarter wave plate 18 to provide circularly polarized image light; see at least paragraph 0038), wherein the first surface of the waveplate faces toward a display surface of a display module through the half-mirror film (28, 22, and 40). However, He et al. is silent regarding concave surfaces of the curved polarization reflection film and the half-mirror film face toward the display surface of the display module. Yu (figure 2) teaches concave surfaces of the layers face toward the display surface of the display module (3 and 11). 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 curved surfaces of the optical device as taught by Yu in order to achieve a lightweight optical system with a short working distance, a compact structure, a large viewing angle and a large exit pupil diameter. Therefore, He et al. as modified by Wong et al. and Yu teaches wherein the first surface of the waveplate faces toward a display surface of a display module through the half-mirror film, and concave surfaces of the curved polarization reflection film and the half-mirror film face toward the display surface of the display module.
Regarding claim 12, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the waveplate is a quarter waveplate (28; see at least paragraph 0051).
Regarding claim 13, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the half-mirror film is a curved half-mirror film (22; see at least paragraph 0089).
Regarding claim 14, Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches wherein the zoomable module comprises:
at least one polarization dependent lens (retarder 40);
at least one first solid lens (90 and 30) and at least one second solid lens respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the at least one polarization dependent lens;
a first polarization controller (70) arranged on the second surface of the waveplate (50) through the optical adhesive (80) and arranged between the at least one first solid lens and the waveplate (90 and 50); and
a second polarization controller (120) arranged between the at least one second solid lens (30) and the polarizer film.
Therefore, He et al. as modified by Wong et al. teaches a second polarization controller arranged between the at least one second solid lens (30) and the curved polarization reflection film.
Regarding claim 15, He et al. (figure 4) discloses optical system having aspheric convex surfaces (see at least paragraph 0061). However, He et al. is silent regarding wherein the at least one first solid lens and the at least one second solid lens are aspherical lenses. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module having first and second solid lenses (90 and 30). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the lenses as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
Regarding claim 16, Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches wherein the at least one first solid lens and the at least one second solid lens are non-polarization dependent lenses (optical lenses; see at least paragraph 0024).
Regarding claim 17, He et al. (figure 4) discloses optical system having aspheric convex surfaces (see at least paragraph 0061). However, He et al. is silent regarding wherein the at least one polarization dependent lens is an aspherical lens. Wong et al. (figure 2) teaches a zoomable module one polarization dependent lens (40). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the lenses as taught by Wong et al. in order to secure the connections between the layers and avoid or minimize cross-talk between adjacent pixels.
Regarding claim 18, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the display module is a liquid-crystal display, a micro-organic light-emitting diode (μ-OLED) module, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon display module, a digital light-processing module, or micro light-emitting diode display module (see at least paragraph 0031).
Regarding claim 19, He et al. (figure 4) discloses wherein the zoomable module is configured to control a diopter of incident light (reflection from the curved shape of surface S1 provides optical system 20 with additional optical power; see at least paragraph 0052; figure 3) and maintain or change a polarization state of an incident polarized image according to the polarization state of the incident polarized image (Light that is polarized parallel to the reflection axis of reflective polarizer 30 will be reflected by reflective polarizer 30. Light that is polarized perpendicular to the reflection axis and therefore parallel to the pass axis of reflective polarizer 30 will pass through reflective polarizer 30; see at least paragraph 0044).
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.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/LAUREN NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871