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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 4-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. The expressions 1.27 ≤ d1/TTL ≤ 5.72, 0.44 ≤ d3/TTL ≤ 4.97, 0.7 ≤ d5/TTL ≤ 10.64, and 3.47 ≤ d7/TTL ≤ 16.14 of claims 4-7, respectively, do not accurately convey the camera optical system embodiments presented in the application (see also paragraphs 17, 22, 27, 32, 77, 81, 85 and 88 of the specification). The data tables presented in the specification for each embodiment produces values outside of the recited expressions. It is assumed that the decimal points are likely misplaced.
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.
Claims 1-3, 5 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Asami et al. (USPG Pub No. 2018/0024320), hereinafter “Asami”.
Regarding claim 1, Asami discloses a camera optical lens (see Fig. 7), comprising: from an object side to an image side, a first lens (L1) having positive refractive power (Paragraph 57), a second lens (L2) having negative refractive power (Paragraph 57), a third lens (L3) having positive refractive power (Paragraph 57), and a fourth lens (L4) having positive refractive power (Paragraph 57); wherein a focal length of the optical camera lens is defined as f (Table 13), a focal length of the first lens is defined as f1, a focal length of the second lens is defined as f2, an on-axis thickness of the second lens is defined as d3, an on-axis thickness of the third lens is d5, an on-axis thickness of the fourth lens is defined as d7, a total optical length from an object side surface of the first lens to an image plane of the camera optical lens along an optic axis of the camera optical lens is defined as TTL, and a refractive index of the first lens is defined as n1, and following relational expressions are satisfied: 1.50≤TTL/f≤2.50; 1.00≤f1/f≤1.50; -12.00≤f2/d3<-4.00; n1≥1.70; and 1.50≤d7/d5≤5.00 (Table 13).
Regarding claim 2, Asami discloses wherein a central curvature radius of an object side surface of the third lens is defined as R5, and a central curvature radius of an image side surface of the third lens is defined as R6, and a following relational expression is satisfied: 1.00≤R5/R6≤5.00 (Table 13).
Regarding claim 3, Asami discloses wherein an on-axis distance from an image side surface of the first lens to an object side surface of the second lens is defined as d2, and a following relational expression is satisfied: 1.00≤d3/d2≤5.00 (Table 13).
Regarding claim 5, Asami discloses wherein an object side surface of the second lens (L2) is concave in a paraxial region, and an image side surface of the second lens (L2) is concave in the paraxial region (see Fig. 7, Table 13); a central curvature radius of the object side surface of the second lens is defined as R3, a central curvature radius of the image side surface of the second lens is defined as R4, and following relational expressions are satisfied: -2.24≤f2/f≤-0.41 (Table 13); 0.01≤(R3+R4)/(R3-R4)≤0.66 (Tables 7, 9, 15, 19); and 0.044≤d3/TTL≤0.497 (Table 13).
Regarding claim 6, Asami discloses wherein an object side surface of the third lens (L3) is concave in a paraxial region, and an image side surface of the third lens (L3) is convex in the paraxial region (see Fig. 7, Table 13); a focal length of the third lens is defined as f3, a central curvature radius of an object side surface of the third lens is defined as R5, a central curvature radius of an image side surface of the third lens is defined as R6, and following relational expressions are satisfied: 0.77≤f3/f≤8.67 (Table 13); 0.75≤(R5+R6)/(R5-R6)≤120.93 (Table 13); and 0.070≤d5/TTL≤1.064 (Table 13).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 4 and 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Asami (USPG Pub No. 2018/0024320) in view of Tang et al. (USP No. 8,358,473), hereinafter “Tang”.
Regarding claim 4, Asami discloses wherein the object side surface of the first lens (L1) is convex in a paraxial region (see Fig. 7, Table 13); an on-axis thickness of the first lens is defined as d1, a central curvature radius of an object side surface of the first lens is defined as R1, a central curvature radius of an image side surface of the first lens is defined as R2, and following relational expressions are satisfied: and 0.127≤d1/TTL≤0.572 (Table 13). Asami discloses the claimed invention except for -3.68≤(R1+R2)/(R1-R2)≤-0.62. In the same field of endeavor, Tang discloses -3.68≤(R1+R2)/(R1-R2)≤-0.62 (Table 1). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the camera optical lens of Asami with -3.68≤(R1+R2)/(R1-R2)≤-0.62 of Tang for the purpose of providing a lens having good correction results in aspects of the longitudinal spherical aberration, astigmatic field curving, and distortion (Col. 9, Lines 34-67).
Regarding claim 8, Asami discloses the claimed invention except for wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens and the fourth lens are made of glass, respectively. In the same field of endeavor, Tang discloses wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens and the fourth lens are made of glass, respectively (Col. 31, Lines 29-32). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the camera optical lens of Asami with wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens and the fourth lens are made of glass, respectively of Tang for the purpose of providing flexibility in selecting refractive power (Col. 31, Lines 29-32).
Regarding claim 9, Asami further discloses wherein an F-number FNO of the camera optical lens is smaller than or equal to 2 (Table 13).
Regarding claim 10, Asami discloses the claimed invention except for wherein an image height of the camera optical lens is defined as IH, and a following relational expression is satisfied: TTL/IH≤6.93. In the same field of endeavor, Tang discloses wherein an image height of the camera optical lens is defined as IH, and a following relational expression is satisfied: TTL/IH≤6.93 (Table 3). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the camera optical lens of Asami with wherein an image height of the camera optical lens is defined as IH, and a following relational expression is satisfied: TTL/IH≤6.93 of Tang for the purpose of providing a lens having good correction results in aspects of the longitudinal spherical aberration, astigmatic field curving, and distortion (Col. 9, Lines 34-67).
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Asami (USPG Pub No. 2018/0024320) in view of Amanai (USP No. 7,092,172).
Regarding claim 7, Asami discloses wherein an object side surface of the fourth lens (L4) is convex in a paraxial region (see Fig. 7, Table 13); a focal length of the fourth lens is defined as f4, a central curvature radius of an object side surface of the fourth lens is defined as R7, a central curvature radius of an image side surface of the fourth lens is defined as R8, and following relational expressions are satisfied: 0.45≤f4/f≤2.63 (Table 13); -4.89≤(R7+R8)/(R7-R8)≤-0.28 (Table 13). Asami discloses the claimed invention except for and 0.347≤d7/TTL≤1.614. In the same field of endeavor, Amanai discloses and 0.347≤d7/TTL≤1.614 (The First Embodiment: Numerical Data 1). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the camera optical lens of Asami with and 0.347≤d7/TTL≤1.614 of Amanai for the purpose of providing a miniaturized and light-weight lens (Col. 1, Lines 30-31).
Prior Art Citations
Kubota et al. (USPG Pub No. 2012/0229922) is being cited herein to show a camera optical lens relevant to the claimed invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHIDERE S SAHLE whose telephone number is (571)270-3329. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ricky Mack can be reached at 571 272-2333. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MAHIDERE S SAHLE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872 2/21/2026