Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/875,177

HEAD-UP DISPLAY APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Dec 16, 2024
Priority
Jun 28, 2022 — JP 2022-103330 +1 more
Examiner
GAGNON, GRANT A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Maxell Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
395 granted / 477 resolved
+22.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
509
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
44.4%
+4.4% vs TC avg
§102
42.6%
+2.6% vs TC avg
§112
5.1%
-34.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 477 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The IDS filed to date have been considered. 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) 1-6, 8 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim (US 20170336628) herein after referred to as D1. With regard to claim 1, D1 teaches a head-up display apparatus, in at least (Fig. 1); comprising: an image forming unit (11) configured to emit video light ([0030]); an optical element (12) provided in the image forming unit (11) and configured to generate video light ([0030]) divided into a first video light (S) and a second video light (P) as the video light ([0030]); a first returning mirror (4) configured to reflect the first video light (S); a second returning mirror (5) configured to reflect the second video light (P); and a video projector (3) configured to reflect the first video light (S) from the first returning mirror (4) and the second video light (P) from the second returning mirror (5), wherein a first display region (M) which is a first display area (M) capable of displaying a first virtual image (M) is formed based on the first video light (S) from the video projector (3), and wherein a second display region (K) which is a second display area (K) capable of displaying a second virtual image (K) is formed based on the second video light (P) from the video projector (3). With regard to claim 2, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the image forming unit (11) includes a light source device (16); and a display panel (15); configured to generate the video light ([0030]) based on source light from the light source device (16); wherein a display surface of the display panel (15); is divided into a first region (12); and a second region (14); and the optical element is disposed so as to correspond to the second region (14); on a back surface side or a front surface side of the display panel (15), and wherein the first video light (S) is emitted from the first region (12); and the second video light (P) is emitted from the second region (14);. With regard to claim 3, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the first display region (M) and the second display region (K) are formed on a front side relative to a transparent member (6) when viewed from a viewpoint of a driver (J) of a vehicle so as to be separated from each other (M and K shown separate; [0103]) or overlap each other in an up-down direction. With regard to claim 4, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the first display region (M) and the second display region (K) are formed on a front side relative to a transparent member (6) when viewed from a viewpoint of a driver (J) of a vehicle such that the first display region (M) is disposed relatively farther ([0059]; relatively far) than the second display region (K) in a front-rear direction ([0059]; is close). With regard to claim 5, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the video projector (3) is composed of a mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3), and a region where the first video light (S) is irradiated and a region where the second video light (P) is irradiated are separated from each other or overlap each other on a reflection surface (3). With regard to claim 6, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the video projector (3) is composed of a mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3) and has a drive mechanism configured to rotate ([0023]; polarizing reflection mirror of a head up display for a vehicle according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is rotated) the mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3) around a rotating shaft ([0132]; rotating shaft) extending in a lateral direction, and wherein the mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3) is rotated ([0023]; polarizing reflection mirror of a head up display for a vehicle according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is rotated) in a protection mode with respect to a normal display mode, and when external light enters the mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3) in an opposite direction to a direction of the video light ([0030]), directions of the external light from the mirror ([0060]; the first reflection mirror 3) to the first returning mirror (4) and the second returning mirror (5) are changed such that the external light reflected by the mirror does not enter a display surface of the image forming unit (11). With regard to claim 8, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the first returning mirror (4) is composed of a concave mirror ([0044]), wherein the second returning mirror (5) is composed of a plane mirror (5), and wherein the first video light (S) enters the video projector (3) after being reflected by the concave mirror (4) and collected at a predetermined light collecting position (3). With regard to claim 9, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 1, wherein D1 further teaches a head up display, in at least (Fig. 1); wherein the image forming unit (11) includes a light source device (16); and a display panel (15); configured to generate the video light ([0030]) based on source light from the light source device (16), and wherein a reflective polarizing element (14) or an absorptive polarizing element (14) is disposed on a front surface side of the display panel (15); of the image forming unit (11). 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) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 20170336628) herein after referred to as D1, as applied to claim 6 above, and further in view of Miyake (US 20210129671, of record) herein after referred to as D2. With regard to claim 7, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 6, however, D1 does not expressly disclose a HUD, comprising an insolation sensor or a temperature sensor, wherein, when entrance of the external light is detected based on detection information of the insolation sensor or the temperature sensor, the normal display mode is switched to the protection mode. in a related endeavor, D2 teaches a HUD device, in at least (Fig. 1 and [0004]); further comprising an insolation sensor or a temperature sensor ([0004] temperature sensor), wherein, when entrance of the external light ([0004]; external light) is detected based on detection information ([0004]; threshold) of the insolation sensor or the temperature sensor ([0004]; temp sensor), the normal display mode is switched to the protection mode ([0004]; dims or turns off lighting of the display device). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the invention of D1 with an insolation sensor or a temperature sensor, wherein, when entrance of the external light is detected based on detection information of the insolation sensor or the temperature sensor, the normal display mode is switched to the protection mode, for the purpose of protecting the display and making it more visible due during adverse lighting conditions. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GRANT A GAGNON whose telephone number is (571)270-0642. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-5:30. 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, Bumsuk Won can be reached at (571) 272-2713. 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. /GRANT A GAGNON/Examiner, Art Unit 2872 /BUMSUK WON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2872
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 16, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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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
83%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 7m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 477 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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