CTNF 18/678,750 CTNF 78581 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07 April 2025 complies with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the examiner has considered the information disclosure statement; please see attached forms PTO-1449. Drawings The drawings submitted have been reviewed and determined to facilitate understanding of the invention. The drawings are accepted as submitted. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1-7, 9-13, and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by US Patent Application Publication US 2022/0187601 A1 to Morozov et al. (“US1”) . Regarding Claim 1, US1 describes a device (see Figs 1, 2, 4, 6, 8-10, 12, 14, and 19), comprising: an optical waveguide (2, 830); first (21, 811, 821, 831) and second (23, 813, 822, 833) ports on the optical waveguide, the second port larger than the first port; a first set of lenses (15, 801) optically coupled to the first port; and a second set of lenses (LA1, LA2) optically coupled to the second port. Regarding Claim 2, US1 describes the first and second ports on opposing sides of the optical waveguide (see Fig 8C). Regarding Claim 3, US1 describes the first and second ports on a same side of the optical waveguide (see Fig 6). Regarding Claim 4, US1 describes the first set of lenses configured to couple light passing through the first set of lenses into the optical waveguide through the first port (see [0093], [0111]). Regarding Claim 5, US1 describes a diffractive structure on the optical waveguide at the first port (see [0111], [0127], [0134]). Regarding Claim 6, US1 describes the second set of lenses configured to couple light from the second port to form an image between the second set of lenses and a network of mirrors (954; see Fig 19B and [0245]). Regarding Claim 7, US1 describes a diffractive structure on the optical waveguide at the second port (see [0111], [0127], [0134]). Regarding Claim 9, US1 describes the first set of lenses configured to receive light emitted by a spatial light modulator (14) and provide the light to the optical waveguide through the first port (see Fig 6). Regarding Claim 10, US1 describes the optical waveguide configured to receive the light through the first port and to provide the light to the second set of lenses through the second port (see Figs 6 and 8 and [0111], [0135]). Regarding Claim 11, US1 describes the second set of lenses configured to receive the light through the second port and to provide the light to a network of head-up display (HUD) mirrors (1954) in an automobile (see Figs 1, 2, and 19B, and [0083], [0099], [0114], [0237]-[0239], and [0245]). Regarding Claim 12, US1 describes a device (see Figs 1, 2, 4, 6, 8-10, 12, 14, and 19), comprising: a light source (10) configured to provide light; a light modulator (14) configured to modulate the light to provide modulated light; an optical waveguide (2, 830), a first set of lenses (15, 801) optically coupled between the light modulator and the optical waveguide, and a first port (21, 811, 821, 831) optically coupled between the first set of lenses and the optical waveguide, the first set of lenses configured to provide the modulated light to the optical waveguide through the first port (see [0111], [0128]-[0135]); and a second set of lenses (LA1, LA2) and a second port (23, 813, 822, 833) optically coupled between the optical waveguide and the second set of lenses, the second set of lenses configured to receive the modulated light from the optical waveguide through the second port and to provide the modulated light (see [0111]-[0112], [0128]-[0135]), wherein the second port is larger than the first port (see Figs 6 and 8A-8C). Regarding Claim 13, US1 describes one or more optical elements (1403) between the first set of lenses (1408) and the light modulator (1404-1407; see Fig 14). Regarding Claim 15, US1 describes a diffractive structure on the optical waveguide at the first port, at the second port, or a combination thereof (see [0111], [0127], [0134]). Regarding Claim 16, US1 describes the optical waveguide comprising multiple partially reflective mirrors (see [0127], [0134]) Regarding Claim 17, US1 describes a vehicle (see Figs 1, 2, and 19 and [0083], [0099], [0114], [0237]-[0239], and [0245]), comprising: a projector device (see Figs 4, 6, 8-10, 12, and 14), comprising: a waveguide (2, 830) having a first port (21, 811, 821, 831) and a second port (23, 813, 822, 833), the second port larger than the first port (see Figs 6 and 8A-8C); a light modulator (14); a first set of lenses (15, 801)optically coupled between the first port and the light modulator; and a second set of lenses (LA2) optically coupled to the second port; a glass surface (1904, 1954); and a network of mirrors (LA1, see Fig 12B and [0179]-[0180]) optically coupled between the second set of lenses and the glass surface. Regarding Claim 18, US1 further describes a light source, wherein: the light source (10) is configured to provide light to the light modulator (see [0089]-[0091], [0109]); the light modulator is configured to modulate the light and direct the modulated light towards the first set of lenses (see [0091]-[0093]. [0188]-[0192]); the first set of lenses is configured to provide the light to the waveguide through the first port (see [0111]); the waveguide is configured to provide the light from the first port to the second port (see [0111]-[0112]); the second set of lenses is configured to provide the light from the second port toward the network of mirrors (see [0179]); the network of mirrors is configured to provide the light toward the glass surface (see [0179]-[0180]); and the glass surface is a windshield of the vehicle (see Fig 2 and [0084]). Regarding Claim 19, US1 describes the first and second ports on opposing sides of the optical waveguide (see Fig 8C). Regarding Claim 20, US1 describes the first and second ports on a same side of the optical waveguide (see Fig 6) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-20-02-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim s 8 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US1 as applied to Claims 1 and 12 above . US1 describes a device having a first set of lenses and a second set of lenses, as discussed herein with respect to Claims 1 and 12. US1 is silent as to the actual or relative sizes or dimensions of the lenses of the first and second sets of lenses. It is well-known in the art that lenses of a variety of sizes and dimensions may be used in coupling optical signals to/from optical elements, depending on the desired operation of the lens and the desired characteristics of the overall device (e.g. the size of the device). Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to form each of the lenses in the second set of lenses of US1 as larger and/or having a greater diameter than each of the lenses of the lenses of the first set of lenses, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose , 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955). The motivation for doing so would have been to allow for fewer lenses in the second set to couple the light from the second port, which is larger than the first port. Conclusion The prior art cited in the attached form PTO-892 are made of record and considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art describes various projection devices including waveguides, lenses, and/or glass surfaces. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERRY RAHLL whose telephone number is (571)272-2356. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00am-5:00pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Uyen-Chau Le can be reached at 571-272-2397. 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. /JERRY RAHLL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 2 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 4 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 5 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 6 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 7 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 8 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/678,750 Page 9 Art Unit: 2874
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