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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendments filed on 04/03/2026 are acknowledged and accepted. Claims 1 and 9 are amended, no Claims are canceled/withdrawn, Claims 14-15 have been added, and Claims 1-15 remain pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1 and 9 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Newly cited reference Kimura (US 20100165492 A1) was incorporated in the rejection below to cure the deficiencies of primary reference Okuno.
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.
Claims 1, 3, 6-9, and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Okuno (WO2020246265A1), previously cited, and further in view of Kimura (US 20100165492 A1), newly cited.
Regarding claim 1, Okuno teaches, in Fig. 16: lens unit (“imaging section 13D”; [0189]) comprising:
a lens (“light receiving lens 132A”; [0114]) that has an optical axis (see Fig. 16);
a lens frame (“the lens barrel 133”; [0114]) holding the lens (see Fig. 16);
a lens barrel (“a second member 1342”; [0126]) that has a central axis along the optical axis (see Fig. 16), houses the lens frame (133) on an inner circumferential side (see Fig. 16 in which 133 is on the inner side of 1341 and 1342), and is connectable to a substrate (“support structure 134 supports image pickup element 131”; [0125]) on which an imaging element (“image pickup element 131”; [0125]) is mounted; and
a temperature compensation member (“first member 1341”; [0126]) that comprises a first portion and a second portion (first portion being the top edge of 1341 and the second portion being the bottom of 1341) that are apart from each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis (“first member 1341 … arranged so as to be aligned along a direction parallel to the optical axis direction”; [0127]),
…
by the lens frame (133) being connected to the lens barrel (1342) via the temperature compensation member (with the provision from para [0129] that the components may be touching, see Fig. 16 in which 1341 is between 133 and 1342), the lens frame (133) is movable in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when a length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis changes (“by appropriately setting the length L1 of the first member 1341 along the optical axis direction, the linear expansion coefficient K1 of the first member 1341, the length L2 of the second member 1342 along the optical axis direction, and the linear expansion coefficient K2 of the second member 1342, it is possible to match the distance Lh, which is the decrease in the inter-element distance when the temperature rises, to the amount of movement when the focal position of the light-receiving lens 132B moves to position -a when the temperature rises”; [0227]), and
a length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of a part of the temperature compensation member (1341) from the first portion (top edge of 1341) to the second portion (bottom edge of 1341) differs from a length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of a part of the lens barrel (1342) closer to a lens barrel side connected to the substrate than a part of the lens barrel in contact with the first portion of the temperature compensation member (1341) (“it is necessary to at least satisfy the condition L1 x k1 < L2 x k2 “; [0188], “a first member 1341 and a second member 1342 that have different linear expansion coefficients”; [0126], given that the two components have different linear expansion coefficients and lengths, it would be reasonable to assume that the length of extension would be different in each component).
However, Okuno fails to teach: a first end portion of the first portion of the temperature compensation member in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens frame and a second end portion of the second portion of the temperature compensation member in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel.
In a related invention in the field of lens barrels with temperature compensators, Kimura teaches is Fig. 1: a first end portion (see annotated figure 1 below) of the first portion of the temperature compensation member (“correcting tube 2”; [0038]) in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis (see annotated figure below) is in contact with the lens frame (“frame 6”; [0029]) and a second end portion (see annotated figure 1 below) of the second portion of the temperature compensation member (2) in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel (“lens frame 21”; [0033], see Fig. 1 in which temperature compensation member 2 is connected to 6 and 21 via a connection that is perpendicular to the OA).
Furthermore, Kimura teachers this configuration such that “the cam ring and the correcting tube are fixed in the optical axis direction. According to this configuration, a temperature correction mechanism of a zoom lens can be achieved with a simple structure” (Kimura, [0025]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Okuno to incorporate the teachings of Kimura to provide a device in which a first end portion of the first portion of the temperature compensation member in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens frame and a second end portion of the second portion of the temperature compensation member in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel, for the purpose of allowing the direction of expansion to be movable in the optical axis direction to allow for a temperature correction using a simple structure (Kimura, [0025]).
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Figure 1: Annotated Fig. 1 of Kimura
Regarding claim 3, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches: in the direction parallel to the optical axis, a linear expansion coefficient of the temperature compensation member (1341) differs from a linear expansion coefficient of the lens barrel (1342) (“a first member 1341 and a second member 1342 that have different linear expansion coefficients”; [0126], see also the arrows in Fig. 17 which show the direction of expansion).
Regarding claim 6, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: the lens (132A) comprises at least a first lens and a second lens (“light receiving lens 132A is composed of a compound lens that combines multiple lenses 132a to 132c”; [0114]), and
a focal length of the lens is determined in a structure in which the first lens is combined with the second lens (“these multiple lenses 132a to 132c are aligned in the axial direction of the lens barrel 133 inside the lens barrel 133 so that their optical axes overlap”; [0114], with the provision of ‘lenses aligned in the axial direction’ it would be appropriate to expect that the light of each lens would have a combined focusing effect on the focal length).
Regarding claim 7, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: when the lens barrel (1342) is connected to the substrate, a focus of the lens is formed on an imaging surface (131a) of the imaging element (131) at least at a predetermined temperature (“The imaging element 131 is positioned so that its imaging surface 131a coincides with the focal position (here, the image plane position) of the light receiving lens 132A at a predetermined temperature T”; [0128]).
Regarding claim 8, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: at least one selected from the group consisting of the first portion (top side of 1341) and the second portion (bottom side of 1341) of the temperature compensation member is a plane that intersects the direction parallel to the optical axis (see Fig. 16 in which the plane of both the top and bottom surfaces of 1341 intersect the plane of the optical axis).
Regarding claim 9, Okuno and Kimura teach, in Fig. 16: an imaging device (Fig. 16) comprising:
a lens unit (“imaging section 13D”; [0189]); and
a substrate (“support structure 134 supports image pickup element 131”; [0125]) on which an imaging element is mounted (“image pickup element 131”; [0125]),
wherein the lens unit (13D) comprises a lens (“light receiving lens 132A”; [0114]) that has an optical axis, a lens frame (“the lens barrel 133”; [0114]) holding the lens (see Fig. 16),
a lens barrel (“a second member 1342”; [0126]) that has a central axis along the optical axis (see Fig. 16), houses the lens frame (133) on an inner circumferential side (see Fig. 16 in which 133 is on the inner side of 1341 and 1342), and is connected to the substrate (“support structure 134 supports image pickup element 131”; [0125]), and
a temperature compensation member (“first member 1341”; [0126]) that comprises a first portion and a second portion (first portion being the bottom edge of 1341 and the second portion being the top of 1341) that are apart from each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis (“first member 1341 … arranged so as to be aligned along a direction parallel to the optical axis direction”; [0127]),
…
by the lens frame (133) being connected to the lens barrel (1342) via the temperature compensation member (with the provision from para [0129] that the components may be touching, see Fig. 16 in which 1341 is between 133 and 1342), the lens frame (133) is movable in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when a length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis changes (“by appropriately setting the length L1 of the first member 1341 along the optical axis direction, the linear expansion coefficient K1 of the first member 1341, the length L2 of the second member 1342 along the optical axis direction, and the linear expansion coefficient K2 of the second member 1342, it is possible to match the distance Lh, which is the decrease in the inter-element distance when the temperature rises, to the amount of movement when the focal position of the light-receiving lens 132B moves to position -a when the temperature rises”; [0227]), and
a length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of a part of the temperature compensation member (1341) from the first portion (bottom edge of 1341) to the second portion (top edge of 1341) differs from a length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of a part of the lens barrel (1342) closer to a lens barrel side connected to the substrate than a part of the lens barrel in contact with the second portion of the temperature compensation member (1341) (“it is necessary to at least satisfy the condition L1 x k1 < L2 x k2 “; [0188], “a first member 1341 and a second member 1342 that have different linear expansion coefficients”; [0126], given that the two components have different linear expansion coefficients and lengths, it would be reasonable to assume that the length of extension would be different in each component).
However, Okuno fails to teach: a first end portion of the first portion of the temperature compensation member in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens frame and a second end portion of the second portion of the temperature compensation member in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel.
In a related invention in the field of lens barrels with temperature compensators, Kimura teaches is Fig. 1: a first end portion (see annotated figure 1) of the first portion of the temperature compensation member (“correcting tube 2”; [0038]) in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis (see annotated figure below) is in contact with the lens frame (“frame 6”; [0029]) and a second end portion (see annotated figure 1) of the second portion of the temperature compensation member (2) in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel (“lens frame 21”; [0033], see Fig. 1 in which temperature compensation member 2 is connected to 6 and 21 via a connection that is perpendicular to the OA).
Furthermore, Kimura teachers this configuration such that “the cam ring and the correcting tube are fixed in the optical axis direction. According to this configuration, a temperature correction mechanism of a zoom lens can be achieved with a simple structure” (Kimura, [0025]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Okuno to incorporate the teachings of Kimura to provide a device in which a first end portion of the first portion of the temperature compensation member in a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens frame and a second end portion of the second portion of the temperature compensation member in a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis is in contact with the lens barrel, for the purpose of allowing the direction of expansion to be movable in the optical axis direction to allow for a temperature correction using a simple structure (Kimura, [0025]).
Regarding claim 14, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: wherein by the lens frame (133) being connected to the lens barrel (1342) via the temperature compensation member (1341) (with the provision from para [0129] that the components may be touching, see Fig. 16 in which 1341 is between 133 and 1342),
the lens frame (133) is movable by the temperature compensation member (1341) towards the imaging element (131) in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when a length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis increases and movable by the temperature compensation member (1341) away from the imaging element in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when the length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis decreases (see Figs. 17A and 17B which depicts the movement of expansion based on temperature fluctuation. The two figures show that the temperature compensation member and the lens barrel are movable in either direction (towards or away the imaging element 131) depending on the fluctuation of temperature. However, the claim language does not specify the fluctuation in temperature that is associated with this function. Therefore, the feature is not novel.).
Regarding claim 15, Okuno and Kimura teach the imaging device according to claim 9. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: wherein by the lens frame (133) being connected to the lens barrel (1342) via the temperature compensation member (1341) (with the provision from para [0129] that the components may be touching, see Fig. 16 in which 1341 is between 133 and 1342),
the lens frame (133) is movable by the temperature compensation member (1341) towards the imaging element (131) in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when a length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis increases and movable by the temperature compensation member (1341) away from the imaging element in the direction parallel to the optical axis with respect to the lens barrel (1342) when the length of the temperature compensation member (1341) in the direction parallel to the optical axis decreases (see Figs. 17A and 17B which depicts the movement of expansion based on temperature fluctuation. The two figures show that the temperature compensation member and the lens barrel are movable in either direction (towards or away the imaging element 131) depending on the fluctuation of temperature. However, the claim language does not specify the fluctuation in temperature that is associated with this function. Therefore, the feature is not novel.).
Claims 2, 4, and 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Okuno (WO2020246265A1) and Kimura (US 20100165492 A1) as in claim 1, and further in view of the embodiments of Okuno.
Regarding claim 2, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 1. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 17A: the first portion (outer side of 1341) of the temperature compensation member is connected to the lens barrel (1342) at a position farther from the lens barrel side (1342) connected to the substrate than the second portion (inner side of 1341) of the temperature compensation member,
when a focal length of the lens becomes longer due to a rise in temperature (“when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132A rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction away from the light receiving lens 132A”; [0195]), the length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of the part of the temperature compensation member (1341) from the first portion (top edge of 1341) to the second portion (bottom edge of 1341) is smaller than the length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of the part of the lens barrel (1342) closer to the lens barrel side connected to the substrate than the part of the lens barrel in contact with the first portion of the temperature compensation member (it is necessary to at least satisfy the condition L1 x k1 < L2 x k2 “; [0188], “a first member 1341 and a second member 1342 that have different linear expansion coefficients”; [0126], given that the two components have different linear expansion coefficients and lengths, it would be reasonable to assume that the length of extension in 1341 would be smaller than the length of expansion 1342).
However Fig. 17 of Okuno does not teach to a configuration such that focal length becomes shorter when the temperature rises.
In an alternate embodiment of Okuno as shown in Figs. 15a, Okuno teaches: when the focal length of the lens becomes shorter due to a rise in temperature (“when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132B rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction closer to the light receiving lens 132B”; [0174]), the length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of the part of the temperature compensation member (1341) from the first portion to the second portion is smaller than a length of extension in the direction parallel to the optical axis per unit temperature of a part of the lens barrel closer (1342) to the lens barrel side connected to the substrate than a part of the lens barrel in contact with the second portion of the temperature compensation member (“both first member 1341 and second member 1342 expand”; [0175], “The distance Lh is expressed by the following equation (12). Lh=(L2×k2-L1×k1)×ΔT”; [0178]-[0179], the expression is configured such that the expansion of 1342 must be greater than that of 1341 in order ensure that the expression of Lh is positive).
Furthermore, Okuno teaches this configuration such that the disclosure provides “a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range, and an optical assembly for a three-dimensional measuring device that is equipped therewith” (Okuna, [0006]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the embodiments of Okuna to provide a device in which the optical assembly is capable of correction for a shortened and lengthened focal length, for the purpose of providing a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range (Okuna, [0006]).
Regarding claim 4, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 3. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 1: a position at which the first portion (top edge of 1341) of the temperature compensation member is connected to the lens barrel (1342) is farther from the lens barrel side connected to the substrate than a position at which the second portion (bottom edge of 1341) of the temperature compensation member is connected to the lens barrel (1342) (see Fig. 16 in which the top edge portion is farther away from the substrate than the bottom edge portion),
when a focal length of the lens becomes longer due to a rise in temperature (“when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132A rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction away from the light receiving lens 132A”; [0195]), the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the temperature compensation member (1341) is smaller than the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel (1342) (“the linear expansion coefficient of the first member 1341 is smaller than the linear expansion coefficient of the second member 1342”; [0191]).
However Fig. 17 of Okuno does not teach to a configuration such that focal length becomes shorter when the temperature rises.
In an alternate embodiment of Okuno as shown in Figs. 19a, Okuno teaches:
when the focal length of the lens becomes shorter due to a rise in temperature (“As shown in Figure 19 (A), when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132B rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction closer to the light receiving lens 132B”; [0215]), the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the temperature compensation member (1341) is greater than the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel (1342) (“In this configuration example, the linear expansion coefficient of the first member 1341 is greater than the linear expansion coefficient of the second member 1342”; [0211]).
Furthermore, Okuna teaches this configuration such that the disclosure provides “a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range, and an optical assembly for a three-dimensional measuring device that is equipped therewith” (Okuna, [0006]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the embodiments of Okuna to provide a device in which the optical assembly is capable of correction for a shortened and lengthened focal length using differing linear expansion coefficients, for the purpose of providing a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range (Okuna, [0006]).
Regarding claim 10, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 2. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: in the direction parallel to the optical axis, a linear expansion coefficient of the temperature compensation member differs (1341) from a linear expansion coefficient of the lens barrel (1342) (“a first member 1341 and a second member 1342 that have different linear expansion coefficients”; [0126], see also the arrows in Fig. 17 which show the direction of expansion).
Regarding claim 11, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 10. Okuno further teaches in Fig. 16: a position at which the first portion (top side of 1341) of the temperature compensation member (1341) is connected to the lens barrel (1342) is farther from the lens barrel side connected to the substrate than a position at which the second portion (bottom edge of 1341) of the temperature compensation member is connected to the lens barrel (1342) (see Fig. 16 in which the top edge portion is farther away from the substrate than the bottom edge portion),
when a focal length of the lens becomes longer due to a rise in temperature (“when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132A rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction away from the light receiving lens 132A”; [0195]), the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the temperature compensation member (1341) is smaller than the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel (1342) (“the linear expansion coefficient of the first member 1341 is smaller than the linear expansion coefficient of the second member 1342”; [0191]).
However Fig. 17 of Okuno does not teach to a configuration such that focal length becomes shorter when the temperature rises.
In an alternate embodiment of Okuno as shown in Figs. 19a, Okuno teaches:
when the focal length of the lens becomes shorter due to a rise in temperature (“As shown in Figure 19 (A), when the temperature of the light receiving lens 132B rises by a temperature ΔT from the above-mentioned predetermined temperature T, the focal position moves in a direction closer to the light receiving lens 132B”; [0215]), the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the temperature compensation member (1341) is greater than the linear expansion coefficient in the direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens barrel (1342) (“In this configuration example, the linear expansion coefficient of the first member 1341 is greater than the linear expansion coefficient of the second member 1342”; [0211]).
Furthermore, Okuna teaches this configuration such that the disclosure provides “a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range, and an optical assembly for a three-dimensional measuring device that is equipped therewith” (Okuna, [0006]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the embodiments of Okuna to provide a device in which the optical assembly is capable of correction for a shortened and lengthened focal length using differing linear expansion coefficients, for the purpose of providing a three-dimensional measuring device that can ensure a wide measurement range in a specified temperature range (Okuna, [0006]).
Claims 5 and 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Okuno (WO2020246265A1) and Kimura (US 20100165492 A1) as in claims 3, 10, and 11, and further in view of Saito (JP-S58203405-A), previously cited.
Regarding claim 5, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 3. Okuno further teaches: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (133) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (1342) (“the material of the first member and the second member that should have a smaller linear expansion coefficient is not particularly limited, and can be made of various metallic materials, for example, a stainless steel alloy”; [0243]).
Okuno does not explicitly state that that the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel.
However in a related invention in the field of temperature compensation mechanisms for lens systems, xxx teaches in Fig. 5: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (“lens holder 112 … made of a material with a relatively small thermal expansion coefficient, such as metal or glass fiber plastic”; first para, page 12) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (“temperature compensation holder 113 is made of a material with a relatively large thermal expansion coefficient, such as plastic”; first para, page 12).
Furthermore, Saito teaches this configuration such that “by appropriately setting the relationship between the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens material and the thermal expansion coefficient of the collimator holder 3 and the lens barrel 9, it is possible to eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes in the position of the light receiving surface and the circle of least confusion in the reading optical system” (Saito, first para, page 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Okuno to incorporate the teachings of Saito to provide a device in which the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel, for the purpose of eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes (Saito, first para, page 5).
Regarding claim 12, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 10. Okuno further teaches: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (133) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (1342) (“the material of the first member and the second member that should have a smaller linear expansion coefficient is not particularly limited, and can be made of various metallic materials, for example, a stainless steel alloy”; [0243]).
Okuno does not explicitly state that that the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel.
However in a related invention in the field of temperature compensation mechanisms for lens systems, xxx teaches in Fig. 5: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (“lens holder 112 … made of a material with a relatively small thermal expansion coefficient, such as metal or glass fiber plastic”; first para, page 12) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (“temperature compensation holder 113 is made of a material with a relatively large thermal expansion coefficient, such as plastic”; first para, page 12).
Furthermore, Saito teaches this configuration such that “by appropriately setting the relationship between the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens material and the thermal expansion coefficient of the collimator holder 3 and the lens barrel 9, it is possible to eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes in the position of the light receiving surface and the circle of least confusion in the reading optical system” (Saito, first para, page 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Okuno to incorporate the teachings of Saito to provide a device in which the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel, for the purpose of eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes (Saito, first para, page 5).
Regarding claim 13, Okuno and Kimura teach the lens unit according to claim 11. Okuno further teaches: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (133) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (1342) (“the material of the first member and the second member that should have a smaller linear expansion coefficient is not particularly limited, and can be made of various metallic materials, for example, a stainless steel alloy”; [0243]).
Okuno does not explicitly state that that the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel.
However in a related invention in the field of temperature compensation mechanisms for lens systems, xxx teaches in Fig. 5: a material of at least a part of the lens frame (“lens holder 112 … made of a material with a relatively small thermal expansion coefficient, such as metal or glass fiber plastic”; first para, page 12) differs from a material of at least a part of the lens barrel (“temperature compensation holder 113 is made of a material with a relatively large thermal expansion coefficient, such as plastic”; first para, page 12).
Furthermore, Saito teaches this configuration such that “by appropriately setting the relationship between the thermal expansion coefficient of the lens material and the thermal expansion coefficient of the collimator holder 3 and the lens barrel 9, it is possible to eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes in the position of the light receiving surface and the circle of least confusion in the reading optical system” (Saito, first para, page 5).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Okuno to incorporate the teachings of Saito to provide a device in which the lens frame is a different material than that of the lens barrel, for the purpose of eliminate the deviation caused by temperature changes (Saito, first para, page 5).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/RUBY L KAUFFMAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2872
/THOMAS K PHAM/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2872
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