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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 9-12 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Choi US 2018/0304727.
Regarding claim 1, Choi teaches a method comprising: detecting a light source (sensors to detect light[0024]); determining, using control circuity, a location of the light source (measure position of the external light source [0025]); identifying a location of an occupant of a vehicle (using information on the location of eyes [0025]); determining, using control circuity and based on the determined location of the light source and identified location of the occupant of the vehicle, a location at which light emanating from the detected light source intersects a viewing aperture of the vehicle (determine location for optimally darkening a window [0025]), the viewing aperture comprising a polarizing layer (liquid crystal modulator with polarizers [0081)]; and activating the polarizing layer based on the determined location at which the detected light intersects the viewing aperture (darkening the window [0025]).
Regarding claim 2, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the viewing aperture comprises a windshield of a vehicle (front window [0049]).
Regarding claim 3, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a headlight of an oncoming vehicle [0049].
Regarding claim 9, Choi teaches the method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, from a first imaging sensor, data related to the vehicle's surroundings; wherein determining the location of the light source is based on the data received from the imaging sensor [0049]-[0050].
Regarding claim 10, Choi teaches the method of claim 9 further comprising receiving, from a second imaging sensor (camera 28), data related to an interior of the vehicle; wherein identifying the location of an occupant of the vehicle is based on data received from the second imaging sensor [0050].
Regarding claim 11, Choi teaches the method of claim 10, wherein the first imaging sensor is oriented in a direction of travel of the vehicle (ambient light sensor [0042]), and wherein the second imaging sensor is oriented in a direction of the occupant of the vehicle (camera 28 eye position [0042]).
Regarding claim 12, Choi teaches the method of claim 9 further comprising: determining a representation of the vehicle's surroundings based in part on the data received from the first imaging sensor ([0055]); and displaying the representation of the vehicle's surroundings to the occupant of the vehicle (the selective dimming can be considered a displaying a representation of the vehicle’s surroundings to the occupant [0056]).
Regarding claim 18, Choi teaches a system comprising: a memory configured to store aperture attenuating information [0041]; control circuitry (30 [0041]) configured to: determine a location of a light source [0049]; identify a location of an occupant of a vehicle [0049]; determine, based on the determined location of the light source, a location at which light emanating from the light source intersects a viewing aperture of the vehicle, the viewing aperture comprising a polarizing layer; and activate the polarizing layer based on the determined location at which the light intersects the viewing aperture (see fig. 5 steps 84-88); and input/output circuitry (fig 2 devices 22) configured to receive, from an imaging sensor (sensors 24), light data corresponding to light intersecting the viewing aperture [0049].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-8, and 19-20 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.
Claim 13-17 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claims 4-8, 13-17 and 19-20, the prior art of record does not teach a polarizing layer comprising a nanostructure, wherein the nanostructure comprises: a plurality of horizontal rods and a plurality of vertical rods arranged in a grid pattern; and a plurality of pixels, each pixel of the plurality of pixels defined by the intersection of a horizontal rod of the plurality of horizontal rods and a vertical rod of the plurality of vertical rods; and wherein in response to applying a voltage to the plurality of pixels, the nanostructure undergoes a phase change at the location of the plurality of pixels; and wherein the location of the plurality of pixels is defined by the location at which light emanating from a light source to an occupant of a vehicle intersects the viewing aperture.
Choi employs an electrochromic / photochromic modulator or liquid crystal as the spatial light modulator and these operate fundamentally differently and do not operate on phase change.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHU VU whose telephone number is (571)272-1562. The examiner can normally be reached 11:00 - 7:00 M-F.
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, 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 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.
/PHU VU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871