Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/523,887

LASER RANGING SIGHT

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Nov 30, 2023
Priority
Sep 15, 2023 — CN 202311200693.4
Examiner
HULKA, JAMES R
Art Unit
4100
Tech Center
4100
Assignee
Shenzhen Ruierxing Electronic Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
746 granted / 976 resolved
+16.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1009
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
87.5%
+47.5% vs TC avg
§102
4.8%
-35.2% vs TC avg
§112
3.2%
-36.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 976 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-8 and 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Hamilton (US 2020/0049455). Regarding Claim 1, Hamilton discloses a laser ranging sight [0033-34; 0047-48], comprising: a housing; and a laser emitting device, a laser receiving device [0033-34; 0047-48; 0511; 0555; 0661], and an imaging device arranged in the housing [0047-48; 0257 ; 0312; 0511; 0555; 0661], wherein optical paths of the laser emitting device, the receiving device and the imaging device collectively form a ranging optical path [0047-48; 0511; 0555; 0661], wherein the laser ranging sight further comprises an adjusting component mounted on the housing [0032; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0300-04; 0555-57], and the adjusting component is disposed at a front side of the laser emitting device, the laser receiving device and the imaging device [0032; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0300-04; 0555-57], and the adjusting component is operatable to change an orientation of the ranging optical path [0032-33; 0047-48; 0052-53; 0182-83; 0197; 0300-04; 0511; 0555-57; 0661]. Regarding Claim 2, Hamilton also discloses a reflective optical element provided at the front side of the laser emitting device, wherein the laser receiving device and the imaging device, the adjusting component is connected to the reflective optical element, and the orientation of the ranging optical path is changed by steering the reflective optical element [0024-26; 0032; 0047-48; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0209; 0300-04; 0555-57]. Regarding Claim 3, Hamilton also discloses wherein the imaging device is a digital imaging device or an optical imaging device [0032; 0047-48; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0209; 0300-06; 0342; 0555-57]. Regarding Claim 4, Hamilton also discloses wherein the reflective optical element is a lens or a prism [0024-26; 0032; 0047-48; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0209; 0300-06; 0342; 0555-57]. Regarding Claim 5, Hamilton also discloses wherein the adjusting component is manually operated or electrically driven [0032-33; 0047-48; 0052-53; 0182-83; 0197; 0300-06; 0342; 0511; 0555-57; 0661] Regarding Claim 6, Hamilton also discloses wherein the adjusting component comprises an adjusting knob and an adjusting seat, the adjusting knob is partially exposed outside the housing, the adjusting seat is connected to the reflective optical element, and when the adjusting knob is operated, the adjusting knob acts on the adjusting seat and drives the reflective optical element to rotate [0047-48; 0052-53; 0300-06; 0342; 0475-81; 0555-57; 0661] Regarding Claim 7, Hamilton also discloses wherein the adjusting seat is provided with a reset spring, and the reset spring provides a return force for driving the adjusting seat together with the reflective optical element to rotate in a return direction [0342; 0463-67]. Regarding Claim 8, Hamilton also discloses wherein the adjusting knob comprises an up- down adjusting knob and the adjusting seat comprises an up-down adjusting seat, the up-down adjusting knob abuts against the adjusting seat, and the up-down adjusting seat is rotatably connected to the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis [0047-48; 0052-53; 0300-06; 0342; 0463-67; 0475-81; 0555-57; 0661] Regarding Claim 19, Hamilton also discloses another reflective optical element provided opposite the reflective optical element, wherein the another reflective optical element is fixedly disposed in the housing [0024-26; 0032; 0047-48; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0209; 0300-04; 0555-57]. Regarding Claim 20, Hamilton also discloses wherein the laser emitting device and the laser receiving device are disposed in parallel on two sides of the imaging device [0024-26; 0032; 0047-48; 0053; 0182-83; 0197; 0209; 0300-06; 0555-57]. Relevant Prior Art Fu (WO 2022/021250) also discloses most, if not all, of the limitations of Claims 1-8 and 19-20, and might render obvious several limitations in dependent Claims 9-18. See Figures 2-4 and corresponding descriptions of elements, especially imaging module (#34), housing (#30), laser ranging unit (#341), imaging unit (#343), second image sensor (#342), infrared light source unit (#344), lateral (#401) and longitudinal (#402) movement mechanisms, second adjusting member (#340), display module (#35). Claim Objections Claims 9-18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES R HULKA whose telephone number is (571)270-7553. The examiner can normally be reached M-R: 9am-6pm, F: 10am-2pm. 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, Helal Algahaim can be reached at 5712705227. 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. JAMES R. HULKA Primary Examiner Art Unit 3645 /JAMES R HULKA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 30, 2023
Application Filed
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (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
76%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+11.6%)
3y 1m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 976 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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