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 .
Claims 1-11 are currently pending in the present application.
Claim 1 is currently amended; claims 2-10 are original; and claim 11 is new.
Response to Amendment
The amendment dated 26 May 2026 has been entered into the record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues that the rejection of record of claim 1 as being indefinite has been overcome with the current amendments. However, as more fully set forth in the new rejection below, two clauses in the claim remain indefinite.
Specification
The new title of the invention, “Objective Including First, Second, and Third Lens Groups,” is accepted.
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 1-10 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.
Re: claim 1, the meaning of the limitation “a surface situated closest to the object side…is a surface of the second lens group…situated closest to the object side” is unclear. The limitation is unclear because the sentence is circular; it defines a surface’s situation in terms of the surface’s situation. For the purpose examining the present claim, the limitation has been construed as meaning “the second lens group has a first surface situated closest to the object side, the first surface of the second lens group having an effective radius less than or equal to ER1F/2.”
In addition, the meaning of the limitation “a surface situated closest to the object side…is a surface of the third lens group…situated closest to the object side” is unclear. . The limitation is unclear because the sentence is circular; it defines a surface’s situation in terms of the surface’s situation. For the purpose examining the present claim, the limitation has been construed as meaning “the third lens group has a first surface situated closest to the object side, the first surface of the third lens group having an effective radius greater than or equal to 1.29 x ER2R.”
When addressing the rejections above, applicant is reminded to review the remainder of the claim to ensure consistent terminology throughout the claim.
Re: claims 2-10, because they depend upon claim 1, they are likewise rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claims 2-10 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 ANGELA MEDICH whose telephone number is (313)446-4819. The examiner can normally be reached M-T & Th-F 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jennifer Carruth can be reached at 571-272-9791. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANGELA M. MEDICH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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