Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/895,336

LENS ASSEMBLY, CAMERA MODULE, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 24, 2024
Priority
Apr 08, 2022 — CN 202210367876.4 +1 more
Examiner
LIU, SHAN
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
449 granted / 621 resolved
+12.3% vs TC avg
Strong +39% interview lift
Without
With
+38.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
648
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
84.3%
+44.3% vs TC avg
§102
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§112
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 621 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Objections Claims 17-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 17, line 1, " The lens assembly according to claim 17" should read - - The lens assembly according to claim 1- - In claim 18, line 1, " The lens assembly according to claim 18" should read - - The lens assembly according to claim 1- - In claim 19, line 2, and claim 20, line 4, " the image side" should read -- an image side - - In claim 19, line 5, and claim 20, line 7, " an image side" should read – the image side - - Appropriate correction is required. 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 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claims 1-2, 4-9, 13-14, 17 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huh (US 2019/0129147). Regarding claim 1, Huh teaches a lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), comprising a plurality of lenses (Fig. 5), wherein the plurality of lenses comprise at least a first lens (310 in Fig. 5), a second lens (320 in Fig. 5), a third lens (330 in Fig. 5), a fourth lens (340 in Fig. 5), a fifth lens (350 in Fig. 5), and a sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) that are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis (Fig. 5); the lens assembly meets a conditional expression: 0.85≤2×IMH/(TTL×F#)≤1.5 (Tables 5 and 7, TTL=5.1664, TTL/IMH=1.3926, F#=1.550; therefore, IMH=5.1664/1.3926=3.7099; 2×IMH/(TTL×F#)=2*3.7099/(5.1664*1.550)=0.9266), wherein IMH is an image height half of the lens assembly ([0045]), F #is an F-number of the lens assembly (Table 5 and 7, [0016, 0076]), and TTL is a total track length of the lens assembly ([0045]); a refractive index nd1 of the first lens and a refractive index nd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0.1<nd2−nd1<0.15 (Table 5, nd2−nd1=1.661-1.544=0.117), and an Abbe number vd1 of the first lens and an Abbe number vd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0<vd1−vd2<40 (Table 5, vd1−vd2=56.1-20.4=35.7); and a focal length f3 of the third lens and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: |f3/f4|>2.5 (Table 5, |f3/f4|=|(-223.645)/7.552|=29.614); wherein the plurality of lenses further comprise a seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5), the seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5) is located on a side that is of the sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) and that faces the image side (Fig. 5), and the seventh lens has a negative focal power (Table 5, f7=-9.340). Regarding claims 2, 4-9, 13-14 and 17, Huh also teaches the following elements: (Claim 2) a distance d45 from an image side surface of the fourth lens to an object side surface of the fifth lens in the optical axis direction meets a conditional expression: 0.03<d45/TTL<0.25 (Table 5, d45/TTL=0.4601/5.1664=0.089). (Claim 4) the Abbe number vd2 of the second lens, an Abbe number vd3 of the third lens, and an Abbe number vd4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: vd2+vd3+vd4>92 (Table 5, vd2+vd3+vd4=20.4+56.1+56.1=132.6). (Claim 5) a refractive index nd4 of the fourth lens is less than 1.69 (Table 5, nd4=1.544). (Claim 6) at least the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens are plastic lenses ([0049, 0051, 0053, 0055, 0057]). (Claim 7) the first lens has a positive focal power, and the second lens has a negative focal power (Table 5, f1=3.999, f2=-6.959). (Claim 8) at least a part that is of an image side surface of the first lens (310 in Fig. 5) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a concave surface (Fig. 5, Table 5) (Claim 9) the third lens has a negative focal power, and the fourth lens has a positive focal power (Table 5, f3=-223.645, f4=7.552). (Claim 13) the focal length f4 of the fourth lens and a total focal length f of the lens assembly meet a conditional expression: 0≤f4/f≤10 (Table 5, f=4.29, f4=7.552; f4/f=7.552/4.29=1.76). (Claim 14) a quantity N of the lenses meets a conditional expression: 7≤N≤10 (Fig. 5, N=7). (Claim 17) a curvature radius R13 of the object side surface of the seventh lens and the total focal length f of the lens assembly meet a conditional expression: 0≤|R13/f|≤1.8 (Table 5, f=4.29, R13=1.9095; |R13/f|=|1.9095/4.29|=0.445). Regarding claim 19, Huh teaches a camera module (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), comprising at least an image sensor (390 in Fig. 5) and a lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), wherein the image sensor(390 in Fig. 5) is located on a side that is of the lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]) and that faces the image side (Fig. 5); wherein the lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), comprising a plurality of lenses (Fig. 5), wherein the plurality of lenses comprise at least a first lens (310 in Fig. 5), a second lens (320 in Fig. 5), a third lens (330 in Fig. 5), a fourth lens (340 in Fig. 5), a fifth lens (350 in Fig. 5), and a sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) that are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis (Fig. 5); the lens assembly meets a conditional expression: 0.85≤2×IMH/(TTL×F#)≤1.5 (Tables 5 and 7, TTL=5.1664, TTL/IMH=1.3926, F#=1.550; therefore, IMH=5.1664/1.3926=3.7099; 2×IMH/(TTL×F#)=2*3.7099/(5.1664*1.550)=0.9266), wherein IMH is an image height half of the lens assembly ([0045]), F #is an F-number of the lens assembly (Table 5 and 7, [0016, 0076]), and TTL is a total track length of the lens assembly ([0045]); a refractive index nd1 of the first lens and a refractive index nd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0.1<nd2−nd1<0.15 (Table 5, nd2−nd1=1.661-1.544=0.117), and an Abbe number vd1 of the first lens and an Abbe number vd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0<vd1−vd2<40 (Table 5, vd1−vd2=56.1-20.4=35.7); and a focal length f3 of the third lens and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: |f3/f4|>2.5 (Table 5, |f3/f4|=|(-223.645)/7.552|=29.614); wherein the plurality of lenses further comprise a seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5), the seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5) is located on a side that is of the sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) and that faces the image side 9Fig. 5), and the seventh lens has a negative focal power (Table 5, f7=-9.340). Regarding claim 20, Huh teaches an electronic device (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0003, 0089-0103]), comprising at least a housing ([0003], the inherent house corresponding to the house/frame/case/shell of the wireless terminal, in which the camera modules is mounted) and a camera module (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0003, 0089-0103]), wherein the camera module is disposed on the housing ([0003]); Wherein the camera module (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0003, 0089-0103]), comprising at least an image sensor (390 in Fig. 5) and a lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), wherein the image sensor(390 in Fig. 5) is located on a side that is of the lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]) and that faces the image side (Fig. 5); wherein the lens assembly (Fig. 5-6, Tables 5-7, [0089-0103]), comprising a plurality of lenses (Fig. 5), wherein the plurality of lenses comprise at least a first lens (310 in Fig. 5), a second lens (320 in Fig. 5), a third lens (330 in Fig. 5), a fourth lens (340 in Fig. 5), a fifth lens (350 in Fig. 5), and a sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) that are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis (Fig. 5); the lens assembly meets a conditional expression: 0.85≤2×IMH/(TTL×F#)≤1.5 (Tables 5 and 7, TTL=5.1664, TTL/IMH=1.3926, F#=1.550; therefore, IMH=5.1664/1.3926=3.7099; 2×IMH/(TTL×F#)=2*3.7099/(5.1664*1.550)=0.9266), wherein IMH is an image height half of the lens assembly ([0045]), F #is an F-number of the lens assembly (Table 5 and 7, [0016, 0076]), and TTL is a total track length of the lens assembly ([0045]); a refractive index nd1 of the first lens and a refractive index nd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0.1<nd2−nd1<0.15 (Table 5, nd2−nd1=1.661-1.544=0.117), and an Abbe number vd1 of the first lens and an Abbe number vd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0<vd1−vd2<40 (Table 5, vd1−vd2=56.1-20.4=35.7); and a focal length f3 of the third lens and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: |f3/f4|>2.5 (Table 5, |f3/f4|=|(-223.645)/7.552|=29.614); wherein the plurality of lenses further comprise a seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5), the seventh lens (370 in Fig. 5) is located on a side that is of the sixth lens (360 in Fig. 5) and that faces the image side 9Fig. 5), and the seventh lens has a negative focal power (Table 5, f7=-9.340). Claims 1, 3, 7, 9-12, 14-15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang (CN114047595A, 1st interpretation). Regarding claim 1, Zhang teaches a lens assembly (Fig. 1-2 and Fig. 28-31a, Tables 19-21, Pages 28-30 of English translation of CN114047595A), comprising a plurality of lenses (Fig. 28), wherein the plurality of lenses comprise at least a first lens (211 in Fig. 28), a second lens (212 in Fig. 28), a third lens (213 in Fig. 28), a fourth lens (214 in Fig. 28), a fifth lens (215 in Fig. 28), and a sixth lens (217 in Fig. 28) that are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis (Fig. 28); the lens assembly meets a conditional expression: 0.85≤2×IMH/(TTL×F#)≤1.5 (Tables 19 and 21, Page 28, Paragraph 7, TTL=7.3, 2xIMH=IH=11.6, F#=1.4; therefore, 2×IMH/(TTL×F#)=11.6/(7.3*1.4)=1.135), wherein IMH is an image height half of the lens assembly (Table 21, Page 28, Paragraph 7), F #is an F-number of the lens assembly (Table 21, Page 28, Paragraph 7), and TTL is a total track length of the lens assembly (Table 21, Page 28, Paragraph 7); a refractive index nd1 of the first lens and a refractive index nd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0.1<nd2−nd1<0.15 (Table 19, nd2−nd1=1.687-1.546=0.141), and an Abbe number vd1 of the first lens and an Abbe number vd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0<vd1−vd2<40 (Table 19, vd1−vd2=56.13-18.1=38.03); and a focal length f3 of the third lens and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: |f3/f4|>2.5 (Page 29, , Paragraph 3, Table 19 and 21, |f3/f4|=2.63); wherein the plurality of lenses further comprise a seventh lens (218 in Fig. 28), the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 28) is located on a side that is of the sixth lens (217 in Fig. 28) and that faces the image side (Fig. 28), and the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 28) has a negative focal power (Page 29, Paragraph 7, the lens 218 has a negative focal power). Regarding claims 3, 7, 9-12, 14-15 and 18, Huh also teaches the following elements: (Claim 3) an Abbe number vd3 of the third lens and an Abbe number vd5 of the fifth lens meet a conditional expression: vd3/vd5<1 (Table 19, vd3/vd5=18.1/56.13=0.322) (Claim 7) the first lens (211 in Fig. 28) has a positive focal power (Table 19, Page 28, Paragraph 8), and the second lens (211 in Fig. 28) has a negative focal power (Table 19, Page 28, Paragraph 10). (Claim 9) the third lens (213 in Fig. 28) has a negative focal power (Table 19, Page 28, Paragraph 13), and the fourth lens (214 in Fig. 28) has a positive focal power (Table 19, Page 29, Paragraph 2). (Claim 10) at least a part that is of an object side surface of the third lens (213 in Fig. 28) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a concave surface (Table 19, Fig. 28), and at least a part that is of an image side surface of the third lens (213 in Fig. 28) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a convex surface (Table 19, Fig. 28). (Claim 11) at least a part that is of the image side surface of the fourth lens (214 in Fig. 28) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a convex surface (Table 19, Fig. 28). (Claim 12) a curvature radius R2 of the image side surface of the first lens and a curvature radius R3 of an object side surface of the second lens meet a conditional expression: R2/R3>1.4 (Table 19, R2/R3=20.79/7.38=2.817). (Claim 14) a quantity N of the lenses meets a conditional expression: 7≤N≤10 (Fig. 28, N=8). (Claim 15) a focal length fi of each lens and the total focal length f of the lens assembly meet a conditional expression: Σi=1…N|f/fi|>3, wherein fi is a focal length of an ith lens, and i=1 . . . N (Pages 28-29, Table 19 and 21, f=6.14, f1=0.95*6.14=5.833, f2=-2.95*6.14=-18.113, f3=-12.59*6.14=77.303, f4=4.78*6.14=29.349; f5=9.9*6.14=60.786, f6=-2.4*6.14=-14.736, f7=1.05*6.14=6.447, f8=-0.69*6.14=-4.237; therefore, Σi=1…N|f/fi|=4.6). (Claim 18) a focal length f1 of the first lens (211 in Fig. 28, f1 of 211 is 0.95*6.14=5.833), a focal length f6 of the sixth lens (217 in Fig. 28, f6 of 217 is 1.05*6.14=6.447), and a focal length f7 of the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 28, f7 of 218 is 0.69*6.14=-4.237) meet a conditional expression: f1/(f6+f7)>1.4 (Pages 28-29, Table 19 and 21, f1/(f6+f7)=5.833/(6.447+(-4.237))=2.639). Claims 1 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang (CN114047595A, 2nd interpretation). Regarding claim 1, Zhang teaches a lens assembly (Fig. 1-2 and Fig. 20, Tables 13-15, Pages 23-25 of English translation of CN114047595A), comprising a plurality of lenses (Fig. 28), wherein the plurality of lenses comprise at least a first lens (211 in Fig. 20), a second lens (212 in Fig. 20), a third lens (213 in Fig. 20), a fourth lens (214 in Fig. 20), a fifth lens (215 in Fig. 20), and a sixth lens (216 or 217 in Fig. 20) that are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis (Fig. 20); the lens assembly meets a conditional expression: 0.85≤2×IMH/(TTL×F#)≤1.5 (Tables 13 and 15, Page 23, 2×IMH/(TTL×F#)=1.336), wherein IMH is an image height half of the lens assembly (Tables 13 and 15, Page 23), F #is an F-number of the lens assembly (Tables 13 and 15, Page 23), and TTL is a total track length of the lens assembly (Tables 13 and 15, Page 23); a refractive index nd1 of the first lens and a refractive index nd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0.1<nd2−nd1<0.15 (Table 13, nd2−nd1=1.691-1.5517=0.139), and an Abbe number vd1 of the first lens and an Abbe number vd2 of the second lens meet a conditional expression: 0<vd1−vd2<40 (Table 13, vd1−vd2=65.6-28.7=36.9); and a focal length f3 of the third lens and a focal length f4 of the fourth lens meet a conditional expression: |f3/f4|>2.5 (Page 24, Table 13 and 15, |f3/f4|=7.64); wherein the plurality of lenses further comprise a seventh lens (218 in Fig. 20), the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 20) is located on a side that is of the sixth lens (216 or 217 in Fig. 20) and that faces the image side (Fig. 20), and the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 20) has a negative focal power (Page 24, the lens 218 has a negative focal power). Regarding claim 16, Huh also teaches the following elements: (Claim 16) at least a part that is of an object side surface of the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 20) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a concave surface (Fig. 20), and at least a part that is of an image side surface of the seventh lens (218 in Fig. 20) and that corresponds to the optical axis is a concave surface (Fig. 20). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAN LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-0383. The examiner can normally be reached on 9am-5pm EST M-F. 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, Jennifer Carruth can be reached on 571-272-9791. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Shan Liu/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 24, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
72%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+38.9%)
2y 1m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
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