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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-12 in the reply filed on 7/21/26 is acknowledged.
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.
Claim(s) 1-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Borthakur et al (US 2021/0175272).
A photodetector comprising:
a plurality of pixels [0037-0038], each pixel of the plurality of pixels comprising:
a plurality of photo-sensing elements (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]);
at least one micro-lens (Fig.7-8/13 (286-1/286-2) and [0060]) on the plurality of photo-sensing elements (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]); and
a refractive element (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]) between the plurality of photo-sensing elements (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]) and the at least one micro-lens(Fig.7-8/13 (286-1/286-2) and [0060]), wherein an optical center of the at least one micro-lens (Fig.13 (286-1/286-2) and [0060]) is offset from a center of each of the plurality of sensing elements (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]).
The photodetector of claim 1, wherein a number of the at least one micro-lens (Fig.7-8/13 (286-1/286-2) and [0060- 2]) is less than a number of the plurality of photo-sensing elements (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050-3]).
3. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the refractive element comprises a material having a refractive index greater than 1.5 [0057].
4. The photodetector of claim 3, wherein the material of the refractive element is selected from the group consisting of SiO2 ,Si3N4, Si, Ge, GaN, GaAs, InAs, InP, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, PbTe, PbSe, PbS, Te, HfO2, TiO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, Ta2O5, LiNbO3 , and a high refractive index polymer material [0053-0056].
5. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the refractive element is a multi-facet prism (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]).
6. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the refractive element is a Fresnel prism (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]).
7. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the refractive element is a nanostructure prism (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]).
8. The photodetector of claim 5, wherein a number of facets of the multi-facet prism (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]) is equal to a number of sensing elements in the pixel (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]).
9. The photodetector of claim 8, wherein facets of the multi-facet prism are angled at least two different angles (Fig.7-8/13 (270) and [0058-0067]).
10. The photodetector of claim 9, wherein an angle of a first facet of the multi-facet prism is substantially zero (Fig.8 (270) and [0058-0067]).
11. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of photo-sensing elements is a plurality of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) (Fig.7-8/13 (204-1/204-2/204-3) and [0050]).
12. The photodetector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of photo-sensing elements is a plurality of photodiodes [0027].
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Borthakur et al (US 2021/0175380; US 20230215960 and US 11652176) teach similar SPAD pixels which contain refractive elements.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA M MENZ whose telephone number is (571)272-1697. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:00-3:30.
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/LAURA M MENZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2813
8/2/26
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