Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/880,735

COMPACT OBSERVATION DEVICE CONFIGURED TO OVERLAY AN IMAGE OF AN OBSERVED SCENE AND A PROCESSED IMAGE OF THE OBSERVED SCENE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 02, 2025
Priority
Jul 08, 2022 — FR FR2207015 +1 more
Examiner
GAGNON, GRANT A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Safran S.A.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
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
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 ([0011]: project 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) 1-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hamilton (US 20190324260) herein after referred to as D1. With regard to claim 1, D1 teaches an observation device comprising a mechanical structure, in at least (Fig. 1A-1E); a camera ([0281]) and a display module ([0012]) comprising a first microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably) configured to display an image ([0164]: generating an image) of a spectral piece of information ([0011]: project information) measured by the camera ([0281]), further comprising an optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) and an arrangement of optical components (Fig. 1E, and Fig. 14) configured to direct towards the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) an image ([0164]: generating an image) output by the display module ([0012]) and comprising the spectral piece of information ([0011]: project information) displayed by the first microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably), the arrangement of optical components (Fig. 1E, and Fig. 14) being an arrangement of optical components (Fig. 1E, and Fig. 14) of the free-form type (fig. 15) comprising between one and three optical surfaces (fig. 15, element 320) of the free-form type (fig. 15), the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) directing towards an observation zone ([0168]: visual observation) the superimposition of an image ([0164]: generating an image) of an observed scene ([0168]: observation of the target) and of the image ([0164]: generating an image) output by the display module ([0012]: display system). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) is of the free-form type (Fig. 15). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) comprises a free-form type (fig. 15) dichroic filter ([0598]; light filter) or a free-form type (fig. 15) semi-reflective mirror ([0021]: mirror) or a free-form type (fig. 15) splitter cube ([0501]: beam splitter). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) of the free-form type (fig. 15) comprises a free-form optical component (fig. 15) comprising two identical surfaces (320 and 1230) translated from one another along a line of sight of the scene so as to be of constant thickness (parallel) along the line of sight. 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); comprising a moving attenuating filter ([0598]; light filter) configured to be placed upstream of the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) on an optical path of light rays passing through the optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the arrangement of optical components (Fig. 1E, and Fig. 14) comprises at least two optical surfaces of the free-form type (fig. 15, element 320). 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 1, wherein D1 further teaches an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the arrangement of optical components (Fig. 1E, and Fig. 14) comprises three optical surfaces of the free-form type (fig. 15, element 320). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the first microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably) is also configured to display at least one contextual piece of information ([0011]: project information). 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the display module ([0012]) comprises a second microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably) configured to display at least one contextual piece of information ([0011]: project information) and a second optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner) configured to overlay the image ([0164]: generating an image) of the first microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably) and the image ([0164]: generating an image) of the second microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably) so that the image ([0164]: generating an image) output by the display module ([0012]) also comprises the contextual piece of information ([0011]: project information) displayed by the second microdisplay ([0099]: microdisplay; [0160]: The terms “active display,” “digital display” and “microdisplay” are used interchangeably). With regard to claim 10, 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 an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the display module ([0012]) comprises one or more additional microdisplays ([0284]: plurality of device including displays) each associated with an additional camera ([0281]) and configured to display an image ([0164]: generating an image) of an additional spectral piece of information ([0011]: project information) measured by said associated camera ([0281]), the display module ([0012])comprising one or more additional optical combiner ([0012]: beam combiner)s configured such that the image ([0164]: generating an image) output by the display module ([0012])also comprises the information ([0011]: project information) displayed by the additional microdisplays ([0284]: plurality of device including displays). With regard to claim 11, D1 teaches all of the claimed limitations of the instant invention as have been outlined above with respect to claim 7, wherein D1 further teaches an observation device, in at least (Figs. 1A-1E, 14 and 15); wherein the three optical surfaces of the free-form type (fig. 15) form a free-form type (fig. 15) prism (320). 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 ([0011]: project information) regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information ([0011]: project 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 ([0011]: project information) about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information ([0011]: project 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

Jan 02, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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 (~10m 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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