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 § 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)(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.
Claim(s) [1-3, 7-10 and 15-16] is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipate by Robles-Kelly (US. 2019/0019829)hereinafter Robles.
Reclaim [1], Robles discloses a light detection device (see fig. 3, a hyperspectral imaging device) comprising: a filter array including filters (see 306 fig. 3); and an image sensor including pixels (see 302 fig. 3), the image sensor detecting light transmitted through the filter array (see ¶0057, FIG. 3 illustrates such a sensor 300 for acquiring hyperspectral image data using colour filters. Sensor 300 comprises multiple imaging elements in a detector layer 302), wherein the filters include a first filter and a second filter (see ¶0060, shows six spectral bands only, this pattern with corresponding lenses is repeated to cover the entire image sensor [ examiner is referring to the 310 and 306 as depicted in fig. 3]) , wherein a first transmission spectrum of the first filter differs from a second transmission spectrum of the second filter (see ¶0060, FIG. 3 shows six spectral bands), wherein the first transmission spectrum has local maxima (see,¶0060, FIG. 3 shows six spectral bands ,[each color filter has its own local maximum]), wherein the second transmission spectrum has local maxima (see, ¶0060, FIG. 3 shows six spectral bands ,[each color filter has its own local maximum]), wherein the filters are arranged in a matrix pattern along a first direction and a second direction crossing each other(see 300 fig. 3, horizontal being first and vertical being second as depicted in fig. 3), wherein the pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern along a third direction and a fourth direction crossing each other (see 302 fig. 3, horizontal being third and vertical being fourth, since the claim language is broad, it doesn’t require a specific orientation or direction]), wherein Rp1 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the first direction by a pitch of the pixels in the third direction (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3) , wherein Rp2 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the second direction by a pitch of the pixels in the fourth direction (see fig. 3, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3), and wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 differs from 1, (Rp1 and Rp2 are 1/3, as depicted in fig. 3 and discussed above).
Reclaim[2], Robles further discloses , wherein the Rp1 and the Rp2 both differ from 1 (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3).
Reclaim[3], Robles further discloses wherein the Rp1 and the Rp2 are equal to each other (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3).
.
Reclaim[7], Robles further discloses, wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 is less than or equal to 0.998 or greater than or equal to 1.002 (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3, 1/3 is < 0.998).
Reclaim[8], Robles further discloses, wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 is less than or equal to 0.99 or greater than or equal to 1.01 (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3, 1/3 is < 0.99 ).
Reclaim[9], Robles further discloses, wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 is less than or equal to 1.5 (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3, 1/3 is < 1.5 ).
Reclaim[10], Robles further discloses, wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 is less than 1 (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3, in fig. 3 also, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3, 1/3 is < 1).
Reclaim[15], Robles further discloses A light detection system comprising: the light detection device according to claim 1 (see fig. 3); and a processing circuit, wherein the processing circuit reconstructs spectral images corresponding one-to-one to four or more wavelength bands from an image acquired by the image sensor (see ¶0060, FIG. 3 shows six spectral bands) .
Reclaim [16], except a few changes in wording has substantially same limitation as claim [1], and thus analyzed and rejected by the same reasoning.
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.
Claim(s) [17] is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oganesian (US. 2015/0303231) in view of Robles-Kelly (US. 2019/0019829)herein after Robles.
Reclaim [17], Oganesian discloses a light detection device (see for example fig. 5 and ¶0029, exemplary pixels 16a, 16b, 16c together with their overlaying color filters 11a, 11b, 11c) comprising: a filter array including filters (see 11a-11c form the correctional view as depicted in fig. 5 and ¶0029, color filters 11a, 11b, 11c); and an image sensor including pixels see fig. 5 and ¶0029, Each pixel 16 includes a photo detector 20), the image sensor detecting light transmitted through the filter array (see fig.5 the light passing through the col9or filter array 11a-11c are detected by the photodiode 20aa-20c as depicted in fig. 5 and described in the text of paragraph [0029]), wherein the filters include first filters and second filters (see for example 11a and 11b as depicted in fig. 5), wherein each of the first filters has a first transmission spectrum (see ¶0024, color filters 11 arranged in an array, preferably but not necessarily formed contiguously together. Each color filter has a color transmission characteristic that dictates which color of light it will pass while, [ by the virtue of transmitting different spectrum of light]), wherein each of the second filters has a second transmission spectrum (,see ¶0024, color filters 11 arranged in an array, preferably but not necessarily formed contiguously together. Each color filter has a color transmission characteristic that dictates which color of light it will pass while, [ by the virtue of transmitting different spectrum of light])) wherein the first transmission spectrum differs from the second transmission spectrum (see ¶0024, ach color filter has a color transmission characteristic that dictates which color of light it will pass while blocking other colors of light) , wherein the first filters are arranged irregularly in the filter array (see ¶0024, arranged in an array, preferably but not necessarily formed contiguously, [11b in fig. 5 is arranged irregularly in the pixel array, for example between larger size pixel arrays as depicted in fig. 5])), wherein the second filters are arranged irregularly in the filter array (see ¶0024, arranged in an array, preferably but not necessarily formed contiguously, [11a in fig. 5 is arranged irregularly in the pixel array, for example 11b is between 11a and 11c, as depicted in fig. 5]), wherein the filters are arranged in a matrix pattern along a first direction and a second direction crossing each other (see¶0024, color filters 11 arranged in an array, [the vertical and horizontal direction of the filter in the array are equated to the claimed first and second direction]), wherein the pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern along a third direction and a fourth direction crossing each other (see fig. 5 and ¶0029, Each pixel 16 includes a photo detector 20, [ the portion of pixel array as depicted in fig. 5, the vertical and horizontal direction of the photodiodes in the array are equated to a third fourth direction crossing each other, sine the claim language is broader, it doesn’t require any specific layout]),
Oganesian doesn’t seem to explicitly discloses wherein Rp1 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the first direction by a pitch of the pixels in the third direction , wherein Rp2 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the second direction by a pitch of the pixels in the fourth direction, and wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 differs from 1.
Nonetheless in the same field of endeavor Robles discloses an image processing system as Oganesian (see Robles fig. 3). Robles further discloses wherein Rp1 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the first direction by a pitch of the pixels in the third direction (see fig. 3, Rp1= 1/3, as a single filter is covering 3 pix in the horizontal direction as depicted in fig. 3) , wherein Rp2 is a quotient obtained by dividing a pitch of the filters in the second direction by a pitch of the pixels in the fourth direction (see fig. 3, Rp2= 1/3, as a single filter of other spectrum is covering 3 pix in the vertical direction as depicted in fig. 3), and wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 differs from 1, (Rp1 and Rp2 are 1/3, as depicted in fig. 3).
Hence it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have been motivated to modify Oganesian before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, for example by configuring the imaging system of Oganesian, depicted in fig. 5, by the teaching of Robles, since this would allow to correctly reconstruct the multi spectral image of Oganesian (see ¶0086).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims [4-6, 11 and 12-14] are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Reclaim [4] none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: The light detection device according to claim 1, wherein, in plan view, an effective region of the filter array includes a first portion that overlaps an entirety of an effective region of the image sensor and a second portion that does not overlap the effective region of the image sensor.
Claims [5-6] are allowed due to their direct or indirect dependency on claim [4].
Reclaim [11] none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: The light detection device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the Rp1 or the Rp2 is greater than or equal to 0.55.
Reclaim [12] none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: The light detection device according to claim 1, wherein the filter array includes a light incident surface and an uneven surface positioned opposite to the light incident surface, and wherein the uneven surface faces a light detection surface of the image sensor.
Claims [13-14] are allowed due to their direct or indirect dependency on claim [12].
Reclaims [18-20] none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: . The light detection device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between the third direction and the first direction is greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 45°, and an angle between the fourth direction and the second direction is greater than or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 45°.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED A BERHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5094. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00Am-5:00pm (MAX- Flex).
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/AHMED A BERHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639