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 Amendments/Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pg. 6-7, filed 05/11/2026, with respect to claims 1-6 under 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1, 3-4 and 6 has been withdrawn. Claims 2 and 5 have been canceled. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Yao et al. (CN 111555803 B) and Boscher et al. (US 6366347 B1).
Given the relevance of Yao in the new rejection, and in response to applicant's argument that Yao’s calculations apply only under certain conditions disclosed in step S201 (see Pg. 6 of the remarks filed 05/11/2026), it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., the calculation conditions of the invention to go beyond the limited conditions in Yao’s method) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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) 1, 3-4 and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yao et al. (CN 111555803 B – portions of the translation, submitted 02/26/2026, are being cited) in view of Boscher et al. (US 6366347 B1).
Regarding claim 1, Yao discloses an optical fiber testing apparatus comprising:
a measurement device which inputs an optical signal (P0 - see Fig. 4) from one end of a non-coupled multicore fiber to one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measures a first light intensity of backscattered light (Pbi - see Fig. 4) output from the one core at the one end, and inputs an optical signal from the one end of the non-coupled multi-core fiber to one of two cores including the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measures a second light intensity of the backscattered light (Pbj - see Fig. 4) output from the other of the two cores at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16); and
a calculator (503) which calculates, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49);
wherein the calculator calculates a light intensity of the optical pulse having passed through the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber as a signal light intensity from the first light intensity, defines a product of a Rayleigh scattering coefficient, a backscattered light capture rate, and an integrated value obtained by integrating the second light intensity by a distance in the longitudinal direction of the non-coupled multicore fiber as leakage light intensity (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49).
Yao does not explicitly disclose that the optical signal is an optical pulse;
a calculator which calculates, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different; and
and defines a ratio of the signal light intensity to the leakage light intensity as the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency.
However, Boscher, in the same field of endeavor of optical time domain reflectometry, discloses an optical pulse (Abstract);
a calculator (160) which calculates, from a first light intensity and a second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of a non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 2, lines 19-34 and 41-65); and
and defines a ratio of the signal light intensity to the leakage light intensity as the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 3, lines 14-47).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Yao’s measurement system with a means for measuring the distribution of crosstalk along the fiber, increasing functionality of the measurement system by providing a way to evaluate characteristics of a multi-core fiber which would lead to optical losses and lower the overall accuracy in data transmission.
Regarding claim 3, Yao discloses an optical fiber testing apparatus comprising:
a measurement device which inputs an optical signal (P0 - see Fig. 4) from one end of a non-coupled multicore fiber to one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measures a first light intensity of backscattered light (Pbi - see Fig. 4) output from the one core at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16), and
inputs an optical signal from the one end of the non-coupled multi-core fiber to one of two cores including the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measures a second light intensity of the backscattered light (Pbj - see Fig. 4) output from the other of the two cores at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16); and
a calculator (503) which calculates, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49);
wherein the calculator calculates crosstalk between the two cores of the non-coupled multicore fiber when performing unidirectional transmission in which the transmission direction of light is the same between the two cores from the first light intensity and the second light intensity (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 7, lines 9-12 – which implies that the calculation applies to unidirectional transmission; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 7-16, 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49), calculates a power coupling coefficient from the crosstalk, calculates a loss coefficient from the light intensity of the optical pulse incident from the one end of the non-coupled multicore fiber to the one core and the first light intensity, and calculates the inter-core crosstalk by substituting the Rayleigh scattering coefficient, the backscattered light capture rate, and the loss coefficient into a power coupling equation of Math. C1:
[Math. C1]
X
T
b
≅
α
s
α
B
h
[
sinh
α
L
α
-
L
e
x
p
(
-
α
L
)
]
(C1)
where
α
is the loss coefficient,
α
s
is the Rayleigh scattering coefficient,
B
is the backscattered light capture rate,
h
is the power coupling coefficient, and
L
is the fiber length of the non-coupled multicore fiber (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49).
Yao does not explicitly disclose that the optical signal is an optical pulse;
a calculator which calculates, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different; and
calculates the inter-core crosstalk distance by substituting the Rayleigh scattering coefficient, the backscattered light capture rate, and the loss coefficient into a power coupling equation of Math. C1:
[Math. C1]
X
T
b
≅
α
s
α
B
h
[
sinh
α
L
α
-
L
e
x
p
(
-
α
L
)
]
(C1)
where
α
is the loss coefficient,
α
s
is the Rayleigh scattering coefficient,
B
is the backscattered light capture rate,
h
is the power coupling coefficient, and
L
is the fiber length of the non-coupled multicore fiber (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49).
However, Boscher, in the same field of endeavor of optical time domain reflectometry, discloses an optical pulse (Abstract);
a calculator (160) which calculates, from a first light intensity and a second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of a non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 2, lines 19-34 and 41-65).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Yao’s measurement system with a means for measuring the distribution of crosstalk along the fiber, increasing functionality of the measurement system by providing a way to evaluate characteristics of a multi-core fiber which would lead to optical losses and lower the overall accuracy in data transmission.
Regarding claim 4, Yao discloses an optical fiber testing method comprising:
inputting an optical signal (P0 - see Fig. 4) from one end of a non-coupled multicore fiber to one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measuring a first light intensity of backscattered light (Pbi - see Fig. 4) output from the one core at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16);
inputting the optical signal from the one end of the non-coupled multi-core fiber to one of two cores including the one core, and measuring a second light intensity of the backscattered light (Pbj - see Fig. 4) output from the other of the two cores at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16); and
calculating, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49);
wherein, in the calculation of the inter-core crosstalk, the light intensity of the optical pulse having passed through the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber is calculated as a signal light intensity from the first light intensity, a product of a Rayleigh scattering coefficient, a backscattered light capture rate, and an integral value of the second light intensity integrated in a distance direction of a longitudinal direction of the non-coupled multi-core fiber is defined as leakage light intensity (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49).
Yao does not explicitly disclose that the optical signal is an optical pulse;
calculating, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different; wherein, in the calculation of the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency, the light intensity of the optical pulse having passed through the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber is calculated as a signal light intensity from the first light intensity,
a ratio of the signal light intensity to the leakage light intensity is defined as the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency.
However, Boscher, in the same field of endeavor of optical time domain reflectometry, discloses an optical pulse (Abstract);
calculating, from a first light intensity and a second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of a non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 2, lines 19-34 and 41-65);
wherein, in the calculation of the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency, the light intensity of the optical pulse having passed through the one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber is calculated as a signal light intensity from the first light intensity (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 2, lines 19-34 and 41-65); and
a ratio of the signal light intensity to the leakage light intensity is defined as the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 3, lines 14-47).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Yao’s measurement system with a means for measuring the distribution of crosstalk along the fiber, increasing functionality of the measurement system by providing a way to evaluate characteristics of a multi-core fiber which would lead to optical losses and lower the overall accuracy in data transmission.
Regarding claim 6, Yao discloses an optical fiber testing method comprising:
inputting an optical signal (P0 - see Fig. 4) from one end of a non-coupled multicore fiber to one core of the non-coupled multicore fiber, and measuring a first light intensity of backscattered light (Pbi - see Fig. 4) output from the one core at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16);
inputting the optical signal from the one end of the non-coupled multi-core fiber to one of two cores including the one core, and measuring a second light intensity of the backscattered light (Pbj- see Fig. 4) output from the other of the two cores at the one end (Fig. 3-5; Pg. 6, lines 1-6; Pg. 13, lines 7-16); and
calculating, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49);
wherein, in the calculation of the inter-core crosstalk, crosstalk between the two cores of the non-coupled multicore fiber when performing unidirectional transmission in which the transmission direction of light is the same between the two cores is calculated from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, a power coupling coefficient is calculated from the crosstalk, a loss coefficient is calculated from a light intensity of the optical pulse incident from the one end of the non-coupled multicore fiber to the one core and the first light intensity, and the inter-core crosstalk distance dependency is calculated by substituting the Rayleigh scattering coefficient, the backscattered light capture rate, and the loss coefficient into a power coupling equation of Math. C1:
[Math. C1]
X
T
b
≅
α
s
α
B
h
[
sinh
α
L
α
-
L
e
x
p
(
-
α
L
)
]
(C1)
where
α
is the loss coefficient,
α
s
is the Rayleigh scattering coefficient,
B
is the backscattered light capture rate,
h
is the power coupling coefficient, and
L
is the fiber length of the non-coupled multicore fiber (Fig. 3-5; Abstract; see equation for crosstalk in paragraph [0029] of the original document; Pg. 2, lines 6-31; Pg. 13, lines 24-27, 37-38 and 47-49).
Yao does not explicitly disclose that the optical signal is an optical pulse;
calculating, from the first light intensity and the second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between the two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of the non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different.
However, Boscher, in the same field of endeavor of optical time domain reflectometry, discloses an optical pulse (Abstract);
calculating, from a first light intensity and a second light intensity, inter-core crosstalk distance dependency between two cores when bidirectional transmission is performed between the two cores of a non-coupled multi-core fiber in which transmission directions of light are different (Fig. 1-3; Abstract; Col. 2, lines 19-34 and 41-65; Col. 3, lines 14-47).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Yao’s measurement system with a means for measuring the distribution of crosstalk along the fiber, increasing functionality of the measurement system by providing a way to evaluate characteristics of a multi-core fiber which would lead to optical losses and lower the overall accuracy in data transmission.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHER YAZBACK whose telephone number is (703)756-1456. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.
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/MAHER YAZBACK/Examiner, Art Unit 2877 /MICHELLE M IACOLETTI/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2877
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