DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Interpretation
2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
3. This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitations are: detection unit and transmission control unit in claims 1-3.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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.
5. Claims 1 and 4-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Miura et al. (US Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0192799 A1).
6. Regarding Claim 1, Miura discloses A display device comprising: (see FIG. 1 wherein HMD 112 is a display device.) a display unit that displays an image of a virtual space; (see FIG. 1 wherein 130 corresponds to display unit displaying virtual reality environment.)
a detecting unit (paragraph [0062] reciting “… In the specific example of FIG. 4, however, and in a manner similar to FIG. 3, HMD 112 includes one or more processors 302 and memory 304 that, in some examples, provide a computer platform for executing an operation system 305, which may be an embedded multitasking operating system. In turn, operating system 305 provides an operating environment for executing one or more software components 417. Moreover, processor(s) 302 are coupled to electronic display 203, motion sensors 206, and sensor devices 208.) that detects an object present in a real space; (see FIG. 1 wherein arrow 152 detects a real object 111 (physical controllers).) and a transmission control unit (paragraph [0062] reciting “… In the specific example of FIG. 4, however, and in a manner similar to FIG. 3, HMD 112 includes one or more processors 302 and memory 304 that, in some examples, provide a computer platform for executing an operation system 305, which may be an embedded multitasking operating system. In turn, operating system 305 provides an operating environment for executing one or more software components 417. Moreover, processor(s) 302 are coupled to electronic display 203, motion sensors 206, and sensor devices 208.) that changes a transmission state of a region of the display unit in which the object detected by the detecting unit is visually recognized, transmitted through the display unit. (see FIG. 1 wherein passthrough area 151 is created based on recognition of the physical real-world object as indicated by message 136.)
7. Regarding Claim 4, Miura discloses A display method (paragraph [0103] reciting “… Accordingly, other example or alternative implementations of systems, methods or techniques described herein, beyond those illustrated in the Figures, …”) comprising: displaying an image of a virtual space on a display unit; (see FIG. 1 wherein 130 corresponds to display unit displaying virtual reality environment.)
detecting an object present in a real space; (see FIG. 1 wherein arrow 152 detects a real object 111 (physical controllers).) and changing a transmission state of a region of the display unit in which the detected object is visually recognized, transmitted through the display unit. (see FIG. 1 wherein passthrough area 151 is created based on recognition of the physical real-world object as indicated by message 136.)
8. Regarding Claim 5, Miura discloses A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing therein a computer program that causes a computer serving as a display device to execute: (paragraph [0110] reciting “The techniques described in this disclosure may also be embodied or encoded in a computer-readable medium, such as a computer-readable storage medium, containing instructions. Instructions embedded or encoded in a computer-readable storage medium may cause a programmable processor, or other processor, to perform the method, e.g., when the instructions are executed. Computer readable storage media may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a cassette, magnetic media, optical media, or other computer readable media.”) displaying an image of a virtual space on a display unit; (see FIG. 1 wherein 130 corresponds to display unit displaying virtual reality environment.)
detecting an object present in a real space; (see FIG. 1 wherein arrow 152 detects a real object 111 (physical controllers).) and changing a transmission state of a region of the display unit in which the detected object is visually recognized, transmitted through the display unit. (see FIG. 1 wherein passthrough area 151 is created based on recognition of the physical real-world object as indicated by message 136.)
Allowable Subject Matter
9. Claims 2-3 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.
10. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 2 recites the limitation wherein the transmission control unit increases the region or increases the transmittance of the display unit when a degree of change of an image in the virtual space is lower than a first threshold set in advance which is neither disclosed nor suggested by the cited references, either singly or in combination.
11. Claim 3 recites the limitation The display device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit increases the region or increases the transmittance of the display unit when a degree of change of an image in the virtual space is lower than a first threshold, and a degree of change of a image in the real space is larger than a second threshold set in advance which is neither disclosed nor suggested by the cited references, either singly or in combination.
CONTACT
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FRANK S CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7993. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8-11:30 and 1:30-6.
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, Kee Tung can be reached at 5712727794. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FRANK S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2611