Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/651,884

OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
May 01, 2024
Priority
Jan 23, 2018 — RE 10-2018-0008289 +2 more
Examiner
WILKES, ZACHARY W
Art Unit
2872
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
5 (Non-Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
616 granted / 925 resolved
-1.4% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
47 currently pending
Career history
983
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
40.5%
+0.5% vs TC avg
§102
28.5%
-11.5% vs TC avg
§112
24.0%
-16.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 925 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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. Response to Amendment Applicant’s amendment to include the condition of 4.0 < |f3/f| appears to be taught by Chung para. [0030]. Specifically, Chung teaches 0 < |f/f3| < 0.45 which is 2.22 < |f3/f| which is a an overlapping range of sufficient specificity (MPEP 2131.03) and prima facie obvious (MPEP 2144.05). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Chung et al. (US 2015/0098137 - Chung; of record). Examiner’s note: the USC 102 rejection includes an overlapping range of sufficient specificity (MPEP 2131.03). As to claim 1, Chung teaches an optical imaging system (Chung Fig. 8A) comprising a first lens having negative refractive power and a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 810, 812; Table 15) a second lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 820; Table 15); a third lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 830; Table 15); a fourth lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 840; Table 15) and a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 841); a fifth lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 850; Table 15); the first to fifth lenses are sequentially disposed in numerical order from an object side to an image side (Chung Fig. 8A); the optical imaging system has a total number of five lenses with refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A); wherein an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the second lens is greater than an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (Chung Table 15 - |S4| = 4.6538; |S1| = 1.8377); a distance from an image side surface of the second lens to an object side surface of the third lens is greater than a distance from an image side surface of the fourth lens to an object side surface of the fifth lens (Chung Table 15 - D5 = 0.13; D9 = 0.03); TTL is in a range of 3.8mm to 4.8mm (Chung Table 15 - TTL = ∑d ≈ 4.7mm); TTL/ImgH < 2.0 (Chung Table 15 - TTL ≈ 4.7mm; Fig. 8B - ImgH ≈ 2.86mm); 4.0 < |f3/f| (Chung para. [0030] - teaching 0 < |f/f3| < 0.45 which is 2.2 < |f3/f| which is an overlapping range of sufficient specificity (MPEP 2131.03) to anticipate the claimed range). As to claim 2, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 821). As to claim 3, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 822). As to claim 4, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 831; Table 15). As to claim 5, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 832; Table 15). As to claim 6, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fourth lens has a convex image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 842). As to claim 7, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 851; Table 15). As to claim 8, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 852). As to claim 9, Chung teaches an optical imaging system (Chung Fig. 8A) comprising a first lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 810; Table 15) a second lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 820; Table 15); a third lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 830; Table 15); a fourth lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 840; Table 15) and a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 841); a fifth lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 850; Table 15); the first to fifth lenses are sequentially disposed in numerical order from an object side to an image side (Chung Fig. 8A); the optical imaging system has a total number of five lenses with refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A); wherein an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the second lens is greater than an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (Chung Table 15 - |S4| = 4.6538; |S1| = 1.8377); TTL is in a range of 3.8mm to 4.8mm (Chung Table 15 - TTL = ∑d ≈ 4.7mm); TTL/ImgH < 2.0 (Chung Table 15 - TTL ≈ 4.7mm; Fig. 8B - ImgH ≈ 2.86mm); 4.0 < |f3/f| (Chung para. [0030] - teaching 0 < |f/f3| < 0.45 which is 2.2 < |f3/f| which is an overlapping range of sufficient specificity (MPEP 2131.03) to anticipate the claimed range). As to claim 10, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the first lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 811). As to claim 11, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 821). As to claim 12, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 832; Table 15). As to claim 13, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 851; Table 15). As to claim 14, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 852). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chung (cited above). Examiner’s note: the USC 103 rejection is directed to an overlapping range and thus prima facie obvious (MPEP 2144.05). As to claim 1, Chung teaches an optical imaging system (Chung Fig. 8A) comprising a first lens having negative refractive power and a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 810, 812; Table 15) a second lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 820; Table 15); a third lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 830; Table 15); a fourth lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 840; Table 15) and a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 841); a fifth lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 850; Table 15); the first to fifth lenses are sequentially disposed in numerical order from an object side to an image side (Chung Fig. 8A); the optical imaging system has a total number of five lenses with refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A); wherein an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the second lens is greater than an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (Chung Table 15 - |S4| = 4.6538; |S1| = 1.8377); a distance from an image side surface of the second lens to an object side surface of the third lens is greater than a distance from an image side surface of the fourth lens to an object side surface of the fifth lens (Chung Table 15 - D5 = 0.13; D9 = 0.03); TTL is in a range of 3.8mm to 4.8mm (Chung Table 15 - TTL = ∑d ≈ 4.7mm); TTL/ImgH < 2.0 (Chung Table 15 - TTL ≈ 4.7mm; Fig. 8B - ImgH ≈ 2.86mm); 4.0 < |f3/f| (Chung para. [0030] - teaching 0 < |f/f3| < 0.45 which is 2.2 < |f3/f| which is an overlapping range of and thus prima facie obvious (MPEP 2144.05)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to satisfy 4.0 < |f3/f| since, as taught by Chung, such features allow for reducing distortion (Chung para. [0030]). As to claim 2, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 821). As to claim 3, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 822). As to claim 4, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 831; Table 15). As to claim 5, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 832; Table 15). As to claim 6, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fourth lens has a convex image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 842). As to claim 7, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 851; Table 15). As to claim 8, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 852). As to claim 9, Chung teaches an optical imaging system (Chung Fig. 8A) comprising a first lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 810; Table 15) a second lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 820; Table 15); a third lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 830; Table 15); a fourth lens having positive refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 840; Table 15) and a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 841); a fifth lens having negative refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A - 850; Table 15); the first to fifth lenses are sequentially disposed in numerical order from an object side to an image side (Chung Fig. 8A); the optical imaging system has a total number of five lenses with refractive power (Chung Fig. 8A); wherein an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the second lens is greater than an absolute value of a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (Chung Table 15 - |S4| = 4.6538; |S1| = 1.8377); TTL is in a range of 3.8mm to 4.8mm (Chung Table 15 - TTL = ∑d ≈ 4.7mm); TTL/ImgH < 2.0 (Chung Table 15 - TTL ≈ 4.7mm; Fig. 8B - ImgH ≈ 2.86mm); 4.0 < |f3/f| (Chung para. [0030] - teaching 0 < |f/f3| < 0.45 which is 2.2 < |f3/f| which is an overlapping range of and thus prima facie obvious (MPEP 2144.05)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to satisfy 4.0 < |f3/f| since, as taught by Chung, such features allow for reducing distortion (Chung para. [0030]). As to claim 10, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the first lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 811). As to claim 11, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the second lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 821). As to claim 12, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the third lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 832; Table 15). As to claim 13, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a convex object side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 851; Table 15). As to claim 14, Chung teaches all the limitations of the instant invention as detailed above with respect to claim 9, and Chung further teaches the fifth lens has a concave image side surface (Chung Fig. 8A - 852). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZACHARY W WILKES whose telephone number is (571)270-7540. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-4 (Pacific). 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. 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. /ZACHARY W WILKES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872 July 14, 2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 4 earlier events
Feb 12, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 24, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
May 17, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 17, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Sep 17, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Sep 19, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+22.4%)
2y 10m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 925 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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