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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
The claims 1-3 recitations of “host of the car” are unclear, as it is unknown exactly what such a “host” element should be. Exactly what structure/configuration is sought? Please review/revise/clarify.
Claims 4-5 are rejected as depending (directly or indirectly) from rejected independent claim 1.
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 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 7,175,321 to Lopez (“Lopez”).
Regarding claim 1, Lopez anticipates a rearview mirror projection device (e.g. projector system 100, as shown in figs. 1-2, and discussed at col. 4, lines 11-15) comprising: i) a rearview mirror housing (e.g. outer shell of exterior rear-view mirror 176, as shown in fig. 1), a micro projection host (e.g. controller 140, as shown in fig. 4), and a projection lens (e.g. projecting lens 130, as shown in fig. 3); ii) wherein: 1) the rearview mirror housing (aforementioned outer shell of exterior rear-view mirror 176) is secured on (fig. 2) and covers (fig. 1) a rearview mirror (e.g. reflective glass portion of rear-view mirror 176, as shown in fig. 2) of a car (e.g. vehicle 104, as shown in fig. 1); 2) the rearview mirror housing (aforementioned outer shell of exterior rear-view mirror 176) has an outside (e.g. external periphery, as shown in figs. 1-2) having a lower edge (e.g. lower external edge, as shown in fig. 2) provided with a circular hole (e.g. aperture necessary to house projector 102; compare figs. 2-3); 3) the micro projection host (140) is mounted in (col. 6, lines 52-53) the car (104); 4) the micro projection host (140) is connected with (col. 6, lines 44-46) a host (e.g. portable computer 150, as discussed at para. 7, lines 22-24) of the car (104); 5) the micro projection host (140) is provided with (compare figs. 3-4) an electric wire (e.g. wiring 128, as shown in fig. 3) electrically connected with (fig. 3) the projection lens (130); 6) the projection lens (130) is mounted in (compare figs. 2-3) the circular hole (aforementioned aperture necessary to house projector 102) of the rearview mirror housing (aforementioned outer shell of exterior rear-view mirror 176); and 7) the projection lens (130) has an adjustable angle (col. 6, lines 10-15) and projects (fig. 2) an image or a picture (e.g. decorative design 106, as shown in fig. 2) toward an outside of a car body (e.g. vehicle side 114, as shown in fig. 2) of the car (104).
Regarding claim 2, Lopez anticipates the rearview mirror projection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the micro projection host (140) is connected with the host (150) of the car (104) through Bluetooth or WIFI (col. 7, line 37).
Regarding claim 3, Lopez anticipates the rearview mirror projection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the micro projection host (140) is connected with the host (150) of the car (104) through a wireless or wire connection (col. 7, line 37).
Regarding claim 4, Lopez anticipates the rearview mirror projection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the micro projection host (140) projects a static picture (106) or a dynamic picture on a door (fig. 2) of the car (104).
Regarding claim 5, Lopez anticipates the rearview mirror projection device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the static picture (106) includes characters or figures (fig. 2), and the dynamic picture includes a film (e.g. animated images discussed at col. 4, line 38).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUSTIN V LEWIS whose telephone number is (571)270-5052. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30AM-5:00PM.
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/JUSTIN V LEWIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637