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
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 publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 8, 10-14, and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takizawa et al. (Pub. No. US 2010/0202766 A1; hereafter Takizawa).
Regarding claim 1, Takizawa discloses a lens driving device comprising: a first housing (see Takizawa Fig. 18, items 101 and 102); a lens assembly disposed in the first housing (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 100); a first driving part disposed in the first housing and configured to drive the lens assembly (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 401-405); a second housing disposed to surround the first housing (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 200 and 210), and a second driving part disposed in the second housing and corresponding to the first driving part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 301-303); wherein the first driving part includes a plurality of first driving members configured to drive the lens assembly based on each of a plurality of rotation axes (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 401, 402, and 405, rotation axes 20-22), and wherein the plurality of first driving members are arranged at a same distance from a center of any one of the plurality of rotation axes in the first housing (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are “located symmetrically… with respect to the sphere center 202A”).
Regarding claim 11, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first driving members includes a magnet (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 401, 402, and 405), and wherein the second driving part includes a plurality of second driving members including a coil corresponding to each of the plurality of first driving members (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 301-303).
Regarding claim 2, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of first driving members includes at least two of: a first magnet part configured to move the lens assembly based on a first rotation axis (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 401); a second magnet part configured to move the lens assembly based on a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 402); and a third magnet part configured to move the lens assembly based on a third rotation axis different from the first and second rotation axes (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 405).
Regarding claim 3, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, wherein the center of the rotation axis is a center of any one of the first to third rotation axes (see Takizawa Fig. 12, note the axes all intersect at the sphere center).
Regarding claim 4, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 3, wherein the centers of the first to third rotation axes are the same (see Takizawa Fig. 12, note the axes all intersect at the sphere center).
Regarding claim 5, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, wherein a distance from the center of the rotation axis to the third magnet part is same as at least one of a distance from the center of the rotation axis to the first magnet part and a distance from the center of the rotation axis to the second magnet part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, they are all symmetrically placed about the center).
Regarding claim 6, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 5, wherein the third rotation axis corresponds to an optical axis through which light is incident on the lens assembly (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 10 and 22).
Regarding claim 8, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of second driving members include: a first coil part corresponding to the first magnet part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 301); a second coil part corresponding to the second magnet part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 302); and a third coil part corresponding to the third magnet part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 303).
Regarding claim 10, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, wherein the first magnet part includes a plurality of first magnets facing each other in a first horizontal direction (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 401), wherein the second magnet part includes a plurality of second magnets facing each other in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 402), and wherein the third magnet part includes a plurality of third magnets facing each other in a diagonal direction between the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 405).
Regarding claim 12, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 8, wherein a distance from the center of the rotation axis to the third coil part, the distance from the center of the rotation axis to the first coil part, and the distance from the center of the rotation axis to the second coil part are the same (see Takizawa paragraph [0215] “The magnetic yokes and the driving coils are fixed to the base 200 by the connection sections 210 so as to be located on a circumference of a circle centered around the optical axis 10.”).
Regarding claim 13, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 10, wherein a first distance between the plurality of first magnets passing through the center of the first housing is equal to at least one of a second distance between the plurality of second magnets passing through the center of the first housing and a third distance between the plurality of third magnets passing through the center of the first housing (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A).
Regarding claim 14, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 13, wherein the first to third distances are equal to each other (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A).
Regarding claim 18, Takizawa discloses a lens driving device comprising: a first housing having a first receiving space; a lens assembly disposed in the first receiving space of the first housing (see Takizawa Fig. 12, item 100); a second housing having a second receiving space in which the first housing is disposed (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 200 and 210); and a driving part configured to move the first housing including the lens assembly relative to the second housing, wherein the driving part includes: a first driving part configured to drive the first housing based on a first rotation axis (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 301 and 401); a second driving part configured to drive the first housing based on a second rotation axis different from the first rotation axis (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 302 and 402); and a third driving part configured to drive the first housing based on a third rotation axis different from the first and second rotation axes (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 303 and 4050), wherein distances from a center of any one of the first to third rotation axes to the first to third driving parts is the same (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A).
Regarding claim 19, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 18, wherein the centers of each of the first to third rotation axes are the same (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A).
Regarding claim 20, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 18, wherein the first driving part includes a first magnet part and a first coil part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 301 and 401), wherein the second driving part includes a second magnet part and a second coil part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 302 and 402), wherein the third driving part includes a third magnet part and a third coil part (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 303 and 405), and wherein distances from the center of the rotation axes to the first to third magnet parts is the same (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A), and wherein distances from the center of the rotation axes to the first to third coil parts is the same (see Takizawa paragraph [0215] “The magnetic yokes and the driving coils are fixed to the base 200 by the connection sections 210 so as to be located on a circumference of a circle centered around the optical axis 10.”).
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 (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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa.
Regarding claim 7, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, but does not specifically disclose that sizes of the first to third magnet parts are the same.
The magnets shown in the drawings have essentially the same dimensions, but Takizawa never explicitly states that they are the same size, and drawings cannot be relied upon as accurate evidence of object dimensions.
However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide the magnets as magnets having the same size as the most straightforward interpretation of the Takizawa reference, since Takizawa does not discuss giving the magnets different sizes. Additionally, it would make the assembly of the device simpler if the magnets were uniform components that could be placed in any of the holders, as opposed to having to fashion distinct magnet sizes for each location.
Claim(s) 9 and 15-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takizawa in view of Chiang (Pub. No. US 2010/0098394 A1; hereafter Chiang).
Regarding claim 9, Takizawa discloses the lens driving device of claim 2, but does not specifically disclose that the lens assembly includes: a bobbin; and a lens disposed in the bobbin; wherein the second driving part includes a fourth coil part disposed in the bobbin and corresponding to the first magnet part and the second magnet part.
Chiang discloses a lens assembly that includes: a bobbin (see Chiang Fig. 2 item 32); and a lens disposed in the bobbin (see Chiang Fig. 2, items 31 and 32 and paragraph [0022] “A lens or a lens module (not shown) can be received in the core member 31”); wherein the second driving part includes a fourth coil part disposed in the bobbin (see Chiang Fig. 2, item 38) and corresponding to the first magnet part and the second magnet part (see Chiang Fig. 2 which show that the focus coil 38 utilizes the same magnets as the image stabilization magnets 35).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide the device of Takizawa with a bobbin and coil like that in Chaing in order to enable the lens device to conduct focusing operations.
Regarding claim 15, Takizawa discloses a lens driving device comprising: a housing (see Takizawa Fig. 12, items 200 and 210); and a driving part disposed in the housing and configured to drive the lens, wherein the driving part includes a plurality of magnet parts, wherein the plurality of magnet parts include: a plurality of first magnets arranged to face each other in a first horizontal direction with respect to a center of the housing; a plurality of second magnets arranged to face each other in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction with respect to the center of the housing; and a plurality of third magnets arranged to face each other in a diagonal direction between the first and second horizontal directions with respect to the center of the housing, and wherein a first distance between the plurality of first magnets passing through the center of the housing is equal to at least one of a second distance between the plurality of second magnets passing through the center of the housing and a third distance between the plurality of third magnets passing through the center of the housing.
Takizawa does not specifically disclose a bobbin disposed in the housing; and a lens disposed in the bobbin;
Chiang discloses a bobbin (see Chiang Fig. 2 item 32); and a lens disposed in the bobbin (see Chiang Fig. 2, items 31 and 32 and paragraph [0022] “A lens or a lens module (not shown) can be received in the core member 31”).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide the device of Takizawa with a bobbin and coil like that in Chaing in order to enable the lens device to conduct focusing operations.
Regarding claim 16, Takizawa as modified discloses the lens driving device of claim 15, wherein the first to third distances are equal to each other (see Takizawa paragraphs [0213] and [0216] which disclose that the magnets are symmetric about the spherical center 202A).
Regarding claim 17, Takizawa as modified discloses the lens driving device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of first magnets are a yaw driving part configured to yaw the lens, wherein the plurality of second magnets are a pitch driving part configured to pitch the lens, and wherein the plurality of third magnets are a roll driving part configured to roll the lens (see Takizawa Fig. 12, axes 20-22).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NOAM S REISNER whose telephone number is (571)270-7542. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00AM-5:30PM.
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/NOAM REISNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852 1/15/2026