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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/26/25 was filed in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 6-8, 10, and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kalman et al. (US 2021/0376932 A1) and Trezza (US 6,527,456 B1).
Re. Claim 1, Kalman et al. discloses a microLED-based communication system, comprising:
an array 311 of microLEDs 321 (Fig. 3; [0028]-[0029]);
an array 319 of photodetectors 320 (Fig. 3; [0028]-[0029]); and
an optical-fiber bundle 315 including a plurality of fiber elements, with first end faces of the fiber elements positioned to receive light generated by the array 311 of microLEDs 321, and with a second end face of the fiber elements positioned to provide light to the array 319 of photodetectors 320 (Fig. 3; [0028]-[0029]).
However, Kalman et al. does not disclose the bundle 315 having a structure wherein the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another, with the optical-fiber bundle having a 90 degree away from the end faces of the fiber elements, the fiber elements not fixed in position relative to one another within the 90-degree bend.
Trezza discloses an optical fiber bundle 1 including a plurality of fiber elements, with a first end face of the fiber elements positioned to receive light generated by an array of emitters 2, and with a second end face of the fiber elements positioned to provide light to the array of photodetectors 3 (Fig. 1; col. 11 lines 26-42). The first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another, with the optical-fiber bundle having a 90-degree away from the end faces of the fiber elements, the fiber elements not fixed in position relative to one another within the 90-degree bend (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 56-67; col. 12 lines 1-11).
The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, as Trezza discloses the arrangement enables ring network topology (col. 12 lines 1-11).
Re. Claim 6, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Trezza also discloses a ferrule 5, the ferrule configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 62-67). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 7, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Trezza also discloses a portion of an assembly fixture 5, the portion of the assembly fixture configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 62-67). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 8, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Trezza also discloses the portion of the assembly fixture comprises a circumferential wall (e.g., surrounding bundle 1; Fig. 2). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 10, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Trezza also discloses a frame 5, the frame configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 62-67). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 11, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Trezza also discloses the frame includes a circumferential wall (e.g., surrounding bundle 1; Fig. 2), with the circumferential wall configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 62-67). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Claim(s) 2-5, 9, and 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kalman et al. (US 2021/0376932 A1) and Trezza (US 6,527,456 B1), in further view of Tourne (US 6,594,435 B2).
Re. Claim 2, Kalman et al. and Trezza render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. As discussed above, Trezza discloses a connector 5 housing a portion of the optical fiber bundle 1 about the first end faces of the fiber elements (Fig. 2; col. 11 lines 62-67).
However, Trezza does not disclose a connector arrangement wherein the optical-fiber bundle having a 90-degree bend within the connector.
Tourne discloses a connector 100 for coupling an optical fiber bundle to a backplane 200 (Figs. 1-2; col. 3 lines 1-11), wherein the connector houses a portion of the optical fiber bundle about the first end faces of the fiber elements, wherein optical fiber bundle has a 90-degree bend within the connector housed in cavity 120 (Fig. 3; col. 3 lines 12-19).
The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, as Tourne discloses the connector cavity provides stable connection that reduces strain on the fiber bundle (Tourne: col. 1 lines 48-61).
Re. Claim 3, Kalman et al., Trezza, and Tourne render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Tourne also discloses the connector 100 includes at least one alignment pin 130 proximate to the first end faces of the fiber elements (Figs. 3-4; col. 3 lines 18-21). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 4, Kalman et al., Trezza, and Tourne render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Tourne also discloses a ferrule 110, the ferrule configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 3; col. 3 lines 14-16). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 5, Kalman et al., Trezza, and Tourne render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Tourne also discloses the ferrule is within the housing (Fig. 3; col. 3 lines 14-16). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 9, Kalman et al., Trezza, and Tourne render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Tourne also discloses the first end faces of the fiber elements are fixed in position relative to one another by adhesive (e.g., glue section; Fig. 3). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Re. Claim 12, Kalman et al., Trezza, and Tourne render obvious the microLED-based communication system as discussed above. Tourne also discloses the connector (e.g., “frame”) includes a circumferential wall and interior walls extending between different sides of the circumferential wall (e.g., silicon V-groove substrate 110 inherently comprise a circumferential wall and interior walls between different sides of the circumferential wall) with the circumferential wall and the interior walls configured to maintain the first end faces of the fiber elements fixed in position relative to one another (Fig. 3; col. 3 lines 14-16). The claimed arrangement would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the reasons discussed above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See the attached PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to R. PEACE whose telephone number is (571)272-8580. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5 pm.
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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.
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/RHONDA S PEACE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874 6/18/26
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