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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d).
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because in line 6 of the abstract, the additional spaces in the phrase “bottom frame includes at least one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped” needs to be deleted. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show at least one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement as described in the specification. Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-10 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.
Regarding claims 1-10, the limitation "a bottom frame fixed onto the circuit board and including at least one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement” in claim 1 is a limitation which renders the claim indefinite. The claim, in light of the specification, it is unclear on what is meant by one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement. Figure 7 shows a plurality of one-way mirrors are arranged in a square shape (not in a ring shape). ¶0038 states “two of the one-way mirrors 311 can be connected to each other in other manners; or, the quantity of the at least one one-way mirror 311 in the bottom frame 31 can be only one, and the one-way mirror 311 can be ring-shaped for omitting the light-absorption adhesives 312”. Does the phrase mean that the mirror is in the shape of an annulus (or a ring), or by ring shaped arrangement, the phrase means the one-way mirror forms an enclosed the space? For the sake of compact prosecution, the limitation “at least one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement” is understood by the examiner to mean “the one-way mirror forms an enclosed space”.
Regarding claims 1-6, the limitation " a ring-shaped supporting layer disposed on the carrying region and surrounding the sensing region” in claim 1 is a limitation which renders the claim indefinite. The claim, in light of the specification, it is unclear on what is meant by ring-shaped. Does the phrase mean that the mirror is in the shape of an annulus (or a ring), or by ring shaped, the phrase means supporting layer forms an enclosed the space? For the sake of compact prosecution, the limitation “at least one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement” is understood by the examiner to mean “the one-way mirror forms an enclosed space”.
Regarding claims 1-6, the limitation " wherein the sensing module is located in a space surrounded by the at least one one-way mirror” in claim 1 is a limitation which renders the claim indefinite. The claim, in light of the specification, is unclear on how the at least one, one-way mirror (a single mirror) can surround the sensing module. For the sake of compact prosecution, the limitation “wherein the sensing module is located in a space surrounded by the at least one one-way mirror” is understood by the examiner to mean “wherein the sensing module is located in a space surrounded by a plurality of one-way mirrors”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The prior art fails to teach all of the limitations of independent claims 1 and 7 which includes a lens lid including: a bottom frame fixed onto the circuit board and including at least one one-way mirror in a ring-shaped arrangement, when light travels into the at least one one-way mirror by passing through the at least one lens and the enclosed arrangement space, the light is reflected in the at least one one-way mirror for multiple times.
Regarding claims 2-6 and 8-10 has dependency on independent claims 1 and 7.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Chang (US Patent Publication Number 2022/0390703 A1) teaches a sensor lens assembly, comprising: a circuit board; a sensing module including a sensor chip mounted on and electrically coupled to the circuit board, wherein a top surface of the sensor chip has a sensing region and a carrying region that is arranged outside of the sensing region.
Czepowicz (US Patent Publication Number 2015/0326766 A1) teaches a sensor lens assembly, comprising: a circuit board; a sensing module including a sensor chip mounted on and electrically coupled to the circuit board.
Wang (US Patent Publication Number 2019/0037129 A1) teaches a sensor lens assembly, comprising: a circuit board a sensing module including: a sensor chip mounted on and electrically coupled to the circuit board.
Noui (US Patent Publication Number 2022/0373804 A1) teaches an optical device with a plurality of one-way mirrors.
Bueler (US Patent Publication Number 2022/0066182 A1) teaches an optical device with a plurality of one-way mirrors.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOURNEY F SUMLAR whose telephone number is (571)270-0656. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ricky 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.
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JOURNEY F. SUMLAR
Examiner
Art Unit 2872
15 May 2026
/RICKY L MACK/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2872
Prosecution Insights