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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/13/2024 was compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Boross et al. (US 2012/0050484 A1) hereinafter Boross.
Regarding Claim 1, Boross teaches a method comprising: in a first mode (fig.1), determining depth information by (fig.1; Para.0035): detecting angle of arrival of incident light by modulating the incident light such that an amount of light reaching one or more positions within a first image sensor array is based on angle of arrival of the incident light (fig.1; Para.0062; image sensor 222); generating an electric signal based on an intensity of the light incident upon at least one photodetector of the image sensor array (fig.1; Para.0035; image sensor 222); and computing a distance to an object based at least in part on the generated electric signal; and in a second mode, determining depth information at least in part with a second image sensor (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 2, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: estimating distance to an object (Para.0039; determine distance of the object).
Regarding Claim 3, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: selectively operating in the first mode when an estimated distance to the object is below a threshold amount (fig.3-4; para.0077-0079; determining distance of the object).
Regarding Claim 4, Boross teaches the method of claim 3, wherein: the threshold amount is five meters or less (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 5, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises in a third mode, determining depth information (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 6, Boross teaches the method of claim 5, wherein: determining depth information in the third mode is based at least in part on a time of flight of IR light (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 7, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein: in a first mode, determining depth information comprises using at least one angle-of-arrival to-intensity converter (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 8, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein: in a second mode, determining depth information comprises processing multiple images stereoscopically (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 9, Boross teaches the method of claim 8, wherein: processing multiple images stereoscopically comprises using at least the first image sensor and a second image sensor (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 10, Boross teaches the method of claim 1, wherein: computing the distance to the object is based at least in part on computing a location of the object (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 11, Boross teaches the method of claim 10, wherein: computing the location of the object is based at least in part on computing a distance from a user (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 12, Boross teaches same reason as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 13, Boross teaches the system of claim 12, wherein: the at least one processor is further configured to estimate a distance to an object (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 14, Boross teaches the system of claim 13, wherein: the at least one processor is further configured to selectively operate in the first mode when the estimated distance to the object is below a threshold amount (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 15, Boross teaches the system of claim 12, wherein: in the second mode, determining depth information comprises processing multiple images stereoscopically (fig.1; Para.0066-0068; depth sensor 226; distance to an object from depth information from the depth sensor).
Regarding Claim 16, Boross teaches the system of claim 12, comprising a head-mounted display, wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are mounted to the head-mounted display (Para.0043; display).
Regarding Claim 17, Boross teaches same reason as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 18, Boross teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of computer executable instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the at least one processor to estimate distance to an object based on the depth information determined in the first mode or the second mode (fig.3-4; depth information).
Regarding Claim 19, Boross teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of computer executable instructions are further configured to, when executed, cause the at least one processor to: selectively operate in the first mode when the distance to the object is below a threshold amount (fig.1; Para.0072-0076; distance to the object).
Regarding Claim 20, Boross teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein: in the second mode, determining depth information comprises processing multiple images stereoscopically (fig.1; Para.0037-38).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FAYEZ A BHUIYAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1562. The examiner can normally be reached on 9:00 - 6:00 M-F.
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/FAYEZ BHUIYAN/
Examiner, Art Unit 2639
/LIN YE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2638