Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/599,491

PROJECTOR, CONTROL METHOD FOR PROJECTOR, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 08, 2024
Examiner
BROWN JR, HOWARD D
Art Unit
2488
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 3m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
571 granted / 649 resolved
+30.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
668
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.6%
-35.4% vs TC avg
§103
45.5%
+5.5% vs TC avg
§102
22.7%
-17.3% vs TC avg
§112
6.3%
-33.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 649 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 1. This Office Action is sent in response to Applicant’s communication received on 03/08/2024 for application number 18/599,491. The Office herby acknowledges receipt of the following and placed of record in file: Specification, Drawings, Abstract, Oath/Declaration, and claims. Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Priority 3. Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed. Information Disclosure Statement 4. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/08/2024 is in accordance with provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 5. 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)(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. 6. Claim(s) 2-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Miao [US Pub. No.: 2020/0177854 A1]. Re. Claim 1, Miao [US Pub. No.: 2020/0177854 A1] discloses: A projector [Fig. 2 Projector 100]comprising: an optical device [FIGS 1 & 2 Projection lens 150]; and a processing device [Processor 130], the processing device executing: projecting a projection image including a first image onto a projection surface using the optical device [wherein the processor 130 calculates according to the distance D and obtains the image size of the projected image on the projection plane 190| 0022]; acquiring a first value relating to a first length of the first image on the projection surface [the processor 130 calculates the size of the projected image according to the distance D, a throw ratio predetermined by the projector 100, and a length-width ratio predetermined by the projector 100. Wherein a throw ratio |0022]; and outputting [Fig.4, S402, calculation is made according to the distance to obtain an image size of a projected image on the projection plane |0030], based on the first value [Fig.4, S402, calculation is made according to the distance to obtain an image size of a projected image on the projection plane |0030], information indicating a third value corresponding to a second length of the projection image projected onto the projection surface [Fig. 3 the image size of the projected image is 55in at a first distance, … Fig. 3 the image size of the projected image is 89in at a second distance |0022], the second length being a value at a time when the first length on the projection surface is adjusted to a second value [Fig.3, distance to a projection surface from a projector is adjusted to a value based distance]. Re. Claim 8, This claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason set forth in claim 1. Re. Claim 9, This claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason set forth in claim 1 and 8, including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program [the processor 130 can execute the firmware stored in the storage device 131 |0025], the program causing a projector to execute: projecting a projection image including a first image onto a projection surface [Fig. 3 Projector 100 for projecting on to surface or a plan]; Allowable Subject Matter 7. Claims 2-7 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 HOWARD D BROWN JR whose telephone number is (571)272-4371. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 5:00PM EST. 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, Sathyanarayanan Perungavoor can be reached at 5712727455. 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. HOWARD D. BROWN JR Primary Examiner Art Unit 2488 /HOWARD D BROWN JR/Examiner, Art Unit 2488
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 08, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 649 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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