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 .
Preliminary Amendment
2. Preliminary amendment to claims filed on 12/31/2024 are accepted and examined below.
Claim Interpretation
3. 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.
4. Claims 1, 7-10, 16, 19-20, 22-24, 26-27, 29, 33, 44, and 46 are interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) because claim 1 recites a first optical means, an optical conversion means, and a second optical means and claim 33 recites a first optical means and a second optical means.
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 § 112
5. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
6. Claims 1, 7-10, 16, 19-20, 22-24, 26-27, and 29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
7. Claim 1 recites the limitation an optical conversion means at line 5 and the optical conversion unit at lines 9-10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation the optical conversion unit in the claim and it is unclear whether the optical conversion unit refers back to an optical conversion means.
8. Proper amendment is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
9. Claims 1, 7-10, 16, 19-20, 22-24, 26-27, 29, 33, 44, and 46 are allowed over cited references.
10. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claim 1 recites the limitation a first optical means configured such that virtual image light output from an image output unit propagates through an inside thereof; an optical conversion means embedded and disposed inside the first optical means, and configured to transfer the virtual image light, propagating through the inside of the first optical means, to first optical elements; the plurality of first optical elements embedded and disposed inside the first optical means, and configured to output the virtual image light, transferred from the optical conversion unit, to a second optical means; the second optical means configured to transfer real object image light, output from a real object, to a pupil of a user's eye by transmitting the real object image light therethrough, and also configured to allow the virtual image light, output from the first optical elements, to propagate through an inside thereof; and a plurality of second optical elements embedded and disposed inside the second optical means, and configured to provide a virtual image to the user by transferring the virtual image light, propagating through the inside of the second optical means, to the pupil of the user's eye; wherein the plurality of first optical elements are arranged at intervals in a first direction inside the first optical means; and wherein the plurality of second optical elements are arranged at intervals in a second direction inside the second optical means which is neither disclosed nor suggested by the cited references, either singly or in combination.
11. Claim 33 recites the limitation a first optical means configured such that virtual image light output from an image output unit propagates through an inside thereof; a first optical element disposed in the first optical means, and configured to output the virtual image light, propagating through the inside of the first optical means, to a second optical means; the second optical means configured to transfer real object image light, output from a real object, to a pupil of a user's eye by transmitting the real object image light therethrough, and also configured to allow the virtual image light, output from the first optical element, to propagate through an inside thereof; and a plurality of second optical elements embedded and disposed inside the second optical means, and configured to provide a virtual image to the user by transferring the virtual image light, propagating through the inside of the second optical means, to the pupil of the user's eye; wherein the first optical element is a diffractive optical element or a holographic optical element; Preliminary Amendment wherein the first optical element is extended in a first direction and arranged in the first optical means; andwherein the plurality of second optical elements are arranged at intervals in a second direction inside the second optical means which is neither disclosed nor suggested by the cited references, either singly or in combination.
12. A close art of record is Peng et al. (US Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0183169 A1) which discloses headsets with pinhole mirror arrays. While Peng discloses plurality of tilted pin-mirrors configured inside a light box, Peng fails to disclose the above cited limitation.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
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
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