DETAILED ACTION
This Office action is responsive to Applicant’s response submitted 27 April 2026.
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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent 8,995,806 to Lam et al.
In regards to claim 1, Lam recites an optical connection structure (Figures 1A-1F), comprising: a substrate (110); an optical integrated circuit (130 & 140 together), including a reception/emission portion that receives and emits an optical signal, that is electrically connected to the substrate (Column 3, Lines 1-25); a microlens array (140) including a first lens (148) disposed at a position corresponding to the reception/emission portion (Figure 1B); a ferrule (150) including: a fiber hole (154) into which an optical fiber (160) is inserted; and a receptacle (150; ferrule and receptacle integrated together as one piece 150) that holds the ferrule, wherein the optical integrated circuit and the receptacle are fixed (via latch 170) to the microlens array. But Lam fails to expressly recite a second lens into which an optical signal from the optical fiber is input; and the second lens faces the first lens when the receptacle holds the ferrule. However, the inclusion of a second set of lenses on the ferrule and fiber side of the optical connection structure is an obvious matter of common skill and design choice to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Lensed fibers as well as a separate/second set of lenses are features one of ordinary skill would have chosen and aligned in order to provide additional light loss prevention when the light travels to and from the receptacle side and the optical integrated circuit side. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have provided a second lens into which an optical signal from the optical fiber is input; and the second lens faces the first lens when the receptacle holds the ferrule. Furthermore, although Lam does not expressly recite the receptable is formed separately from the ferrule, it has been held that constructing a formerly integral structure in various elements involves only routine skill in the art. Nerwin v Erlichman, 168 USPQ 177, 179 Constructing a formerly integral structure in multiple components would allow for an easy replacement of components, thereby increasing the devices functionality and allowing for a damaged portion of the structure to be easily replaced. Additionally, it is commonly found in the optical art for ferrules to be formed separately from the repeatable for at least the discussed advantages. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date to a person having ordinary skill in the art for the receptable to be formed separately from the ferrule.
In regards to claim 2, Lam recites the receptacle (150) has a first positioning surface, a second positioning surface, and a third positioning surface, and the microlens array (140) is abutted against the first positioning surface (interface 184; Column 6 Lines 27-28), the second positioning surface (interface 182 right side; Figures 1E & 1F), and the third positioning surface (interface 182 left side; Figures 1E & 1F).
In regards to claim 3, Lam recites the receptacle includes an engaged part (142), and the ferrule further includes an engaging part (156) that engages with the engaged part and guides the ferrule to a position in which the first lens faces the second lens.
In regards to claim 4, Lam recites the receptacle includes an elastic holding part (170 latch) that holds the ferrule by an elastic force.
In regards to claim 5, although Lam does not expressly recite the receptacle includes a guide pin, and the ferrule further includes a guide pin hole into which the guide pin is inserted, Lam does recite a stopping surface (152), alignment structures (156), alignment arts (142) and interfaces (182 & 184) for the purpose of alignment. (Column 5) Since guide pins and guide pins holes are commonly chosen in the optical art for alignment and a known alternative alignment configuration in optical connection structures, especially including a ferrule, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have provided either alignment structure, such as the receptacle includes a guide pin, and the ferrule further includes a guide pin hole into which the guide pin is inserted for alignment purposes.
In regards to claim 6, Lam recites the receptacle includes: a recessed part in which the ferrule is accommodated (see Figures), and a lid part (latch 170 covers) covering the ferrule accommodated in the recessed part.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference as currently applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 TINA M WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-2352. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:30.
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/TINA WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
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