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 § 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.
Claims 1-3, 5-7, 11-12, 15 and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by BALACHANDRESWARAN et al. (US Pub No. 2017/0184863 A1 and BALA hereinafter)
Regarding Claim 1, BALA discloses (1-16B) a head-mounted display comprising: a main body housing (102) defining a first through-hole (114), a second through-hole (114), and a space (space inside 102) inside the main body housing;
a display panel (118) positioned in the main body housing;
a lens (1030) positioned in the main body housing;
a mounting band (104) that supports the main body housing and that is mounted on a head of a user; and a duct (1001) positioned in the main body housing,
wherein the duct: includes: a first exhaust portion (1104) fluidly coupled to the first through-hole; a second exhaust portion (1104) fluidly coupled to the second through- hole; and an intake portion (1102) fluidly coupled to the space, the first exhaust portion, and the second exhaust portion; and defines:
a first flow path (e) that discharges air from the space in the main body housing into the intake portion, through the first exhaust portion, and through the first through-hole to an outside thereof; and
a second flow path (e) that discharges air from the space in the main body housing into the intake portion, through the second exhaust portion, and through the second through-hole to the outside thereof (fig.13).
Regarding Claim 2, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 1, further comprising a blower (1014) positioned in the main body housing and configured to discharge air from the space in the main body housing to the outside of the main body housing through first flow path and the second flow path defined by the duct ([0074]).
Regarding Claim 3, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 2, further comprising a circuit board (200) accommodated in the main body housing and having an electronic part mounted thereon, wherein the blower is arranged so as to send air toward the electronic part ([0043]).
Regarding Claim 5, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 2, further comprising a heat sink (1026) that radiates heat generated from the electronic part, wherein the blower is arranged to send air toward the heat sink.
Regarding Claim 6, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 5, wherein the heat sink is arranged on the first flow path and the second flow path (fig.12).
Regarding Claim 7, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 2, wherein the blower is arranged in the intake portion.
Regarding Claim 11, BALA discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the space is a first space (S1); and the head-mounted display further comprises a support wall (SW) that defines the first space including a space in which the lens is arranged and a second space (S2) in which the duct is arranged, wherein the support wall has formed therein a third through-hole (H3) that serves as a third flow path (a) of air that flows from the first space to the second space.
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Regarding Claim 12, BALA discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 11, further comprising a flexible circuit board ([0043]) fitted in the third through-hole and electrically connected to an predetermined electronic part mounted on a circuit board (figs. 2-3 and 5).
Regarding Claim 15, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the intake portion is positioned between the first exhaust portion and the second exhaust portion (fig.11).
Regarding Claim 17, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the lens is a first lens (1030); and the head-mounted display further comprises a second lens, wherein: the first exhaust portion is adjacent the first lens; and the second exhaust portion is adjacent the second lens (figs. 10-11).
Regarding Claim 18, BALA discloses (1-16B) the head-mounted display according to claim 1, wherein the duct is a physical component coupled to the main body housing (figs.1 and 10).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 4 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over BALA et al in view of Kim et al (US Patent No. 9839166 B2 and Kim hereinafter)
Regarding Claim 4, BALA discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 2, but fails to explicitly disclose wherein the blower includes a rotatable shaft portion and a vane portion extending from the shaft portion and is arranged such that an axial line of the shaft portion extends in a manner being inclined to the circuit board. However, Kim teaches (figs. 1-24) wherein the blower (410) includes a rotatable shaft portion and a
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vane portion extending from the shaft portion and the blower is arranged such that an axial line of the shaft portion extends inclined to the circuit board (300). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the blower includes a rotatable shaft portion and a vane portion extending from the shaft portion of Kim to device of BALA in order to suck air from the outside and supplies the air in to the frame, thus controlling cooling of the portable electronic device (Kim, and col 12, lines 60-65)
Regarding Claim 16, BALA discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 1,
fails to disclose a guide rail positioned between the first exhaust portion and the second exhaust portion, wherein the guide rail is configured to adjust a position of the main body housing relative to the head of the user. However, Kim teaches (figs. 1-20) a guide rail (218) positioned between the first exhaust portion and the second exhaust portion, wherein the guide rail is configured to adjust a position of the main body housing relative to the head of the user (fig.7). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine a guide rail of Kim to device of BALA in order to a position adjustor for the device components (Kim and col 12, lines 60-65)
Claims 8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over BALA et al in view of Selvakumar et al (US Pub No. 2019/0075689 A1 and Sel hereinafter)
Regarding Claim 8, BALA discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 2, but fails to explicitly disclose comprising one or more movable members provided in the main body housing in a movable manner relative to the main body housing, wherein the blower is arranged to discharge air, which enters the main body housing from the outside through a gap between the main body housing and the one or more movable members, to the outside of the main body housing through the duct. However, Sel teaches (figs. 1-3) one or more movable members (318) provided in the main body housing in a movable manner relative to the main body housing (102), wherein the blower is arranged to discharge air (fig.3), which enters the main body housing from the outside through a gap between the main body housing and the one or more movable members, to the outside of the main body housing through the duct (343). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine one or more movable members of Sel to device of BALA in order to provide an eye relief adjustment mechanism (Bala, and [0030])
Regarding Claim 10, BALA/Sel discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 8. Se further teaches (fig.3) wherein the one or more of the movable members include a lens barrel (316) that holds the lens. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine one or more movable members of Sel to device of BALA in order to support the lens (Bala, and [0030])
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over BALA et al in view of Sel et al and further in view of Chae et al (US Pub No. 2020/0278556 A1 and Chae hereinafter)
Regarding Claim 9, BALA/Sel discloses the head-mounted display according to claim 8, but fails to disclose wherein the one or more movable members include a supporting portion that is part of the mounting band and that is connected to an upper portion of the main body housing and supports the main body housing. However, Chae teaches (figs. 1-4) wherein the one or more movable members (1241) include a supporting portion (111) that is part of the mounting band (112) and that is connected to an upper portion of the main body housing and supports the main body housing (123). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine a supporting portion of Chae to device of BALA/Sel in order to provide a grasping means disposed on the outer side of the band portion (Chae, and [0068])
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 ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)272-1602. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8 AM - 4:30 PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Allen L Parker can be reached at 303-297-4722. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROCKSHANA D CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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