Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/806,056

OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Aug 15, 2024
Priority
Dec 20, 2016 — RE 10-2016-0174950 +4 more
Examiner
COLLINS, DARRYL J
Art Unit
2872
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1264 granted / 1419 resolved
+21.1% vs TC avg
Minimal +5% lift
Without
With
+4.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
1432
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
34.2%
-5.8% vs TC avg
§102
41.7%
+1.7% vs TC avg
§112
11.1%
-28.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1419 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-12 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 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)(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. Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lin et al (U.S. Patent Publication 2017/0212332). With regard to independent claim 1, Lin et al teaches an optical imaging system (page 1, paragraph [0003] and Figure 1), comprising: a first lens (Figure 14, element 110) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0059], lines 1-2); a second lens (Figure 1, element 120) having a concave image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0060], line 3 and Figure 1, element 122); a third lens (Figure 1, element 130) having positive refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0061], lines 1-2); a fourth lens (Figure 1, element 140) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0062], lines 1-2); a fifth lens (Figure 1, element 150) having negative refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0063], lines 1-2); and a sixth lens (Figure 1, element 160) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0064], lines 1-2), wherein the first to sixth lenses are sequentially disposed from an object side toward an imaging plane (Figure 1), wherein the optical imaging system has a total number of six lenses with refractive power (Figure 1), wherein R1/f < 0.370, where f is a focal length of the optical imaging system and R1 is a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 1, wherein R1 = -8.810; f = 1.94 mm; and R1/f = -4.54), and wherein an absolute value of an object-side surface of the fourth lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 8 = 5.884) is greater than an absolute value of an image-side surface of the third lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 7 = -1.099, such that |5.884| > |-1.099|). With regard to dependent claim 2, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the first lens has a concave image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0059], lines 3-4 and Figure 1, element 112). With regard to dependent claim 3, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the second lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0060], lines 1-2 and Figure 1, element 121). With regard to dependent claim 4, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the third lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0061], line 2 and Figure 1, element 131). With regard to dependent claim 5, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the fourth lens has a convex image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0062], line 3 and Figure 1, element 132). With regard to dependent claim 6, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the sixth lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0064], line 2 and Figure 1, element 161). With regard to dependent claim 7, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 1, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the sixth lens has a concave image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0064], lines 3-4 and Figure 1, element 162). With regard to independent claim 8, Lin et al teaches an optical imaging system (page 1, paragraph [0003] and Figure 1), comprising: a first lens (Figure 14, element 110) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0059], lines 1-2); a second lens (Figure 1, element 120) having a concave image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0060], line 3 and Figure 1, element 122); a third lens (Figure 1, element 130) having positive refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0061], lines 1-2); a fourth lens (Figure 1, element 140) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0062], lines 1-2); a fifth lens (Figure 1, element 150) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0063], lines 1-2); and a sixth lens (Figure 1, element 160) having a refractive power (page 4, paragraph [0064], lines 1-2), wherein the first to sixth lenses are sequentially disposed from an object side toward an imaging plane (Figure 1), wherein the optical imaging system has a total number of six lenses with refractive power (Figure 1), wherein a thickness of the second lens (page 5, Table 1, Thickness data for Surface 4 = 0.220) is greater than a distance from the image-side surface of the second lens to an object-side surface of the third lens (page 5, Table 1, Thickness data for Surface 5 = 0.061, wherein 0.220 > 0.061), wherein R1/f < 0.370, where f is a focal length of the optical imaging system and R1 is a radius of curvature of an object-side surface of the first lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 1, wherein R1 = -8.810; f = 1.94 mm; and R1/f = -4.54), and wherein an absolute value of an object-side surface of the fourth lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 8 = 5.884) is greater than an absolute value of an image-side surface of the third lens (page 5, Table 1, Curvature Radius data for Surface 7 = -1.099, such that |5.884| > |-1.099|). With regard to dependent claim 9, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 8, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the first lens has a concave image-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0059], lines 3-4 and Figure 1, element 112). With regard to dependent claim 10, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 8, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the second lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0060], lines 1-2 and Figure 1, element 121). With regard to dependent claim 11, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 8, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the third lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0061], line 2 and Figure 1, element 131). With regard to dependent claim 12, Lin et al teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as outlined above with respect to independent claim 8, and further teaches such an optical imaging system wherein the sixth lens has a convex object-side surface (page 4, paragraph [0064], line 2 and Figure 1, element 161). 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 DARRYL J COLLINS whose telephone number is (571) 272-2325. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 5:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 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, Ricky L Mack can be reached at 571-272-2333. 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. /DARRYL J COLLINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872 11 August 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 15, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 23, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 13, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+4.9%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1419 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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