CTNF 18/774,068 CTNF 84378 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 – 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15-03-aia AIA Claim s 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jia et al. (US 20220052778) . Regarding claim 1, Jia discloses (Figs. 1-14; in particular Figs. 13A-13B) a wavelength selective switch comprising: one or more input ports (3011); one or more output ports (3071, 3101); a polarization controller (904) that adjusts a polarization state of light incident from the input ports; a dispersive element (202, 206, 1101, 1102) that demultiplexes wavelength-multiplexed light incident from the input ports; and a deflection element (204, 205, 209) that controls deflection of the demultiplexed light, wherein the deflection element is configured by a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) (sections 0160-0161), and an optical compensation layer (901) is disposed in a peripheral part of the liquid crystal on silicon. Regarding claim 2, Jia discloses (Figs. 1-14; in particular Figs. 13A-13B) the optical compensation layer (901) is a λ/2 plate (section 0235). Regarding claim 3, Jia discloses (Figs. 1-14; in particular Figs. 13A-13B) the optical compensation layer (901) is a liquid crystal diffraction element (section 0235) . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure : Frisken (US 20150208143), Ishikawa (US 20190324212), and Holmes (US 20150208144) . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARLES S CHANG whose telephone number is (571)270-5024. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 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, Michael Caley can be reached at (571) 272-2286. 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. /CHARLES S CHANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871 Application/Control Number: 18/774,068 Page 2 Art Unit: 2871
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