Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/819,713

CORRECTION METHOD, PROJECTOR, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 29, 2024
Priority
Aug 30, 2023 — JP 2023-140335
Examiner
CRUZ, MAGDA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
754 granted / 865 resolved
+27.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
9 currently pending
Career history
874
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
54.4%
+14.4% vs TC avg
§102
30.3%
-9.7% vs TC avg
§112
8.6%
-31.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 865 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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/29/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner. 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. Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chiba. Chiba (US Pub. No. 2019/0087946 A1) discloses: Regarding claim 1, a correction method comprising (page 1, paragraph 0010, lines 1-10): obtaining a normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp) of a screen surface (Figure 2, element 200); obtaining a first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) orthogonal to both a gravity vector obtained from output of an acceleration sensor (Figure 1, element 22B) associated with a coordinate system of an optical device of a projector (element 1A illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and the normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp); obtaining a second vector (Figure 2, element Xp) contained in the screen surface (Figure 2, element 200) and being orthogonal to the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp); and obtaining a correction parameter (i.e. image for calibration) for correction of a shape of a projected image (element Dc) projected on the screen surface (page 3, paragraph 0039, lines 1-4) based on the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) and the second vector (Figure 2, element Xp). Regarding claim 2, obtaining a plane (Figure 2, element 30) representing the screen surface (Figure 2, element 200), wherein the obtaining the normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp) includes obtaining the normal vector from the plane (Figure 2, element 30). Regarding claim 3, obtaining the plane (Figure 2, element 30) includes obtaining the plane based on an image (element SO) obtained by imaging of a measurement pattern (i.e. shape/distortion) projected on the screen surface (Figure 2, element 200). Regarding claim 4, the acceleration sensor (Figure 1, element 22B) is disposed in a camera (Figure 1, element 1B) that images the measurement pattern (i.e. shape/distortion). Regarding claim 5, obtaining the plane using a time-of-flight sensor (page 4, paragraph 0054, lines 1-3). Regarding claim 6, obtaining the correction parameter (i.e. image for calibration) using the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) and the second vector (Figure 2, element Xp), which are normalized. Regarding claim 7, a projector (Figure 1, element 1A) comprising: an optical device (Figure 1, element 13); and one or more processors (Figure 1, element 19), the one or more processors (Figure 1, element 19) executing obtaining a normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp) of a screen surface (Figure 2, element 200), obtaining a first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) orthogonal to both a gravity vector obtained from output of an acceleration sensor (Figure 1, element 22B) associated with a coordinate system of the optical device (Figure 1, element 13) and the normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp), obtaining a second vector (Figure 2, element Xp) contained in the screen surface (Figure 2, element 200) and being orthogonal to the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp), and obtaining a correction parameter (i.e. image for calibration) for correction of a shape of a projected image (element Dc) projected on the screen surface (page 3, paragraph 0039, lines 1-4) based on the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) and the second vector (Figure 2, element Xp). Regarding claim 8, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program (page 3, paragraph 0036, lines 2-3), the program for controlling a computer (i.e. FPGA or GPU) to execute: obtaining a normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp) of a screen surface (Figure 2, element 200); obtaining a first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) orthogonal to both a gravity vector obtained from output of an acceleration sensor (Figure 1, element 22B) associated with a coordinate system of an optical device (Figure 1, element 13) of a projector (Figure 1, element 1A) and the normal vector (Figure 2, element Zp); obtaining a second vector (Figure 2, element Xp) contained in the screen surface (Figure 2, element 200) and orthogonal to the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp); and obtaining a correction parameter (i.e. image for calibration) for correction of a shape of a projected image (element Dc) projected on the screen surface (page 3, paragraph 0039, lines 1-4) based on the first vector (Figure 2, element Yp) and the second vector (Figure 2, element Xp). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Inoue et al. (US Pub. No. 2014/0285778 A1) discloses a CPU of a projector determining whether or not a correction mode in which the aspect ratio of an input image is changed to correct distortion is set and, if the correction mode is set, determines distortion correction process parameters for changing the aspect ratio of the image to be projected onto a screen to project the image in the form of a rectangular image, and the image converter performs geometric correction on the input image on the basis of the distortion correction process parameters to project the image subjected to distortion correction. Inoue (US Pub. No. 2014/0285776 A1) teaches a CPU controlling an attitude adjustment unit to change the lengths of legs of an electric leg part independently of each other so that a roll angle is changed to roll a projected image, and controls an image converter to correct the projected image to be a rectangular image on a projection target based on the changed roll angle. Nishida (US Pub. No. 2006/0290896 A1) shows a projector apparatus having a projection device for projecting an image onto a projection surface; at least two displacement sensors for detecting horizontal displacements of the projector apparatus, the displacement sensors being spaced a predetermined distance from each other; a rotational angle calculator for calculating a rotational angle of the projector apparatus in a horizontal plane using the predetermined distance and the horizontal displacements, the horizontal displacements being detected by the displacement sensors; and a distortion corrector for correcting distortion of the image by using the rotational angle, the image being projected by the projection device, wherein the rotational angle is calculated by the rotational angle calculator as a horizontal corrective angle. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAGDA CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)272-2114. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 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, Toan Ton can be reached at 571-272-2303. 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. /MAGDA CRUZ/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 2882 06/26/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 29, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 30, 2026
Non-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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+9.6%)
2y 3m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 865 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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