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 .
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.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 16 April 2024 by the applicant has been considered and is included in the file.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by Suehiro et al. (hereinafter Suehiro, JPH01241184A).
Regarding claim 1, Suehiro anticipates a reflective optical sensor comprising
a light emitting element (pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9, line 8; Figs. 1, 2, light-emitting element (1)) and a light receiving element (pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9, line 8; Figs. 1, 2, light-receiving element (2)),
and detecting an object to be detected by reflected light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by the object to be detected with the light receiving element (pg. 2 lines 1-4; Figs. 1, 2, object (15) has emitted light incident upon it and reflects light towards receiving element (2));
wherein provided is a case of an open box shape with a first concave mirror and a second concave mirror integrally formed at a bottom thereof (pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9, line 8; Figs. 1, 2, case (10) houses both light emitting unit(11) which includes first concave surface (6a), and light receiving unit (12) which includes second light reflecting surface (6b)),
the first concave mirror and the second concave mirror each have a parabolic surface including an apex of a parabola formed by rotating the parabola around a symmetry axis of the parabola as a reflecting surface (pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9, line 8; Figs. 1, 2, each reflecting surface (6a, 6b) is parabolic in shape, with the apex directed to the non-open end of case (10), and aligned along an axis (A, B) respectively),
and are formed with these reflective surfaces facing an open side of the case so that the symmetry axis of the first concave mirror and the symmetry axis of the second concave mirror intersect with a predetermined intersection angle on opposite side to the apex of the first concave mirror with respect to a first focal point of the first concave mirror and opposite side to the apex of the second concave mirror with respect to a second focal point of the second concave mirror (pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9, line 8; Figs. 1, 2, axes of symmetry (A, B) align and intersect with one another, and where the light emitting element (1) and light-receiving element (2) are situated at or near the focal points of the concave surfaces (6a) and (6b), respectively),
light emitted by the light emitting element toward the first concave mirror from a position at or near the first focal point is reflected by the first concave mirror and irradiated to the object to be detected (Figs. 1, 2, light-emitting element (1) emits light towards first concave surface (6a) where the light is then reflected towards the object (15)),
the reflected light reflected by the object to be detected is irradiated on the second concave mirror,
and the light receiving element is configured to detect reflected light reflected by the second concave mirror so as to focus on the second focal point (Figs. 1, 2, where the light is then reflected by the object (15) is directed towards second concave surface (6b), which then directs the light to light-receiving element (2)).
Regarding claim 2, Suehiro anticipates the reflective optical sensor according to claim 1; wherein
the light emitting element and the light receiving element are housed in the case, and the case is filled with sealing resin through which the light from the light emitting element is transmitted (pg. 3 lines 18-20, pg. 7 line 14 - pg. 9 line 8; Figs. 1, 2, case (10) houses both light emitting unit (11) and light receiving unit (12), where areas within each are filled with a light-transmitting material (5), which may be formed of resin).
Regarding claim 3, Suehiro anticipates the reflective optical sensor according to claim 1; wherein
the first concave mirror and the second concave mirror have a light blocking wall between them that prevents light from the light emitting element from entering directly into the second concave mirror and light reflected from the first concave mirror from entering directly into the light receiving element (Figs. 1, 14, where a portion of the case (10) is shown to extend between the light emitting unit (11) and light receiving unit (12), which would act as a barrier to prevent light from emitter (1) to enter receiver (2) directly).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kunimi (JP 2006135057 A) teaches an optical sensor which includes emitter and photodetector sections held within a housing, where each section includes a concave parabolic reflective surface for directing light.
Kato et al. (US 20210310835 A1) teaches a tactile and proximity sensor which includes a light source and receiver, where embodiments include multiple concave mirrors for use in directing emitted light towards an object, and reflected light towards the receiver.
Silvergate (US 4770514 A) teaches an optical component for use in systems such as reflective object sensors, where an emitter/detector pair may both be imbedded in a double lens package which includes multiple parabolically shaped reflecting surfaces.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Kara Richter whose telephone number is (571)272-2763. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday, 8A-5P EST, Fridays are variable.
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/K.M.R./Examiner, Art Unit 3645
/HELAL A ALGAHAIM/SPE , Art Unit 3645
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