DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Applicant’s preliminary amendment dated 11/14/2023 has been received and entered. By the amendment, claims 1-8 are now pending in the application.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
(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.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Applicant’s submitted prior art, Takahashi et al., US 2020/0301227A1.
Claim 1 is anticipated by Takahashi et al. figures 1-4 and accompanying text which discloses an electronic element 11 for electronic light control spectacles 112, which is combined with a lens 12 ([0104]) and exhibits a light control effect when electric energy is supplied ([0032]) comprising:
. substrates 9, 10
. a pair of transparent electrode layers 7, 8
. a light control layer 5
. a sealing material 6 that covers at least a part of the transparent electrode layer 7/8 is provided in a peripheral area outside a light control area in which the pair of transparent electrode layers and the light control layer overlap (figs 3, 4)
. wherein each of the pair of transparent electrode layers 7, 8 has a projecting part extending to the peripheral area (e.g., outside the sealing material side), and the projecting part is in contact with the sealing material without other conductive members being interposed therebetween (figs 3, 4).
Re claim 2, wherein a pair of electrode terminals 3, 4 connected to the pair of transparent electrode layers 7, 8 and exposed on the outer surfaces of the substrates are provided in the peripheral area (figs 3, 4).
Re claims 3 and 6, wherein the pair of transparent electrode layers are formed of IZO ([0083])
Re claims 4 and 7, wherein the pair of transparent electrode layers can be including a conductive fiber layer formed of conductive fibers (e.g., network electrode, [0085]).
Re claims 5 and 8, wherein the electronic element is an electrochromic element ([0029]) that causes a reversible change in optical properties due to an oxidation-reduction reaction in the light control layer 5 when a voltage is applied to the pair of transparent electrode layers 7, 8 ([0070]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DUNG T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2297. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 - 5:00.
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.
/DUNG T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871