Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/896,489

OPTICAL DEVICE WITH FLOWING EFFECT

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Sep 25, 2024
Priority
Apr 19, 2024 — CN 202420834414.3
Examiner
APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
Art Unit
2875
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Lonvis Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
OA Round
5 (Non-Final)
65%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 65% — above average
65%
Career Allowance Rate
647 granted / 990 resolved
-2.6% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+18.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
1054
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
62.5%
+22.5% vs TC avg
§102
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
§112
6.6%
-33.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 990 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 1 is identified as currently amended but was presented previously in the claim set dated 11/11/2025. Claim 1 should be identified as previously presently.. Appropriate correction is required. 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, 2 and 7-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (US 2017/0241623 A1) in view of Bretschneider et al. (US 2023/0313958 A1) and Hyun-Jo (US 5,806,956) and Zhang (CN 112050140 A), hereinafter referred to as Zhang’140. Regarding claim 1, Zhang teaches an optical device with a flowing effect, comprising: PNG media_image1.png 602 489 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 344 303 media_image2.png Greyscale a light bead (62; see at least figure 2); a first cover body (1; see at least figure 2), having a first internal space (see at least figure 2), wherein the light bead (62) is located in the first internal space (see at least figure 2); a second cover body (5; see at least figure 2), located outside the first cover body (see 1 in at least figure 2), wherein textures are provided on a surface of the second cover body (refractive lens 5 is interpreted as the second cover body; see refractive convex lenses 51 on a top surface of 5 in at least figure 8); a driving mechanism (motor 7; see at least figure 2), wherein the first cover body (1) and the second cover (5) body undergo relative motion under the driving of the driving mechanism (motor 7); and a stand body (71), wherein the light bead (62) and the driving mechanism (7) are both fixed on the stand body (71; see at least figure 2) and a relative motion that is axial relative motion and the driving mechanism (7) is connected to the second cover body (5) and is configured to drive the second cover body (5) to perform rotation motion by using a vertical line (see figure 2), where a center line of the second cover body (5) is located, as a rotation axis. Zhang does not explicitly teach wherein textures are provided on a surface of the first cover body . However, Zhang does disclose textures on an inner surface of the first cover body (1; see figure 2 where refractive convex lenses 111 are inside of lens 1 which is interpreted as the first cover body). PNG media_image3.png 246 114 media_image3.png Greyscale Bretschneider et al. teaches textures are provided on a surface of the first cover body (figure 6F; paragraph [0071] which discloses protective cover 602 may be produced with a variety of decorative textures. Decorative textures may be smooth or made of a composition of different shapes) are provided on a surface of the first cover body (protective cover 602; figure 6F). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first cover of Zhang to have textures on a surface thereof as taught by Bretschneider et al. so that the light escaping the lighting device may produce a desired decorative effect (paragraph [0071] of Bretschneider et al.). Zhang modified by Bretschneider et al. does not explicitly teach wherein the [driving mechanism] is connected to the [first cover body] and is configured to drive the [first cover body] to perform rotation motion by using an axial horizontal line as a rotation axis. PNG media_image4.png 516 721 media_image4.png Greyscale Hyun-Jo teaches a relative motion that is axial relative motion and the driving mechanism (right and left driving motor 22; see figures 1 and 2 and column 2, lines 1-16) is connected to the first cover body (20) to perform rotation motion by using an axial horizontal line as a rotation axis (column 2, lines 1-16 where right and left rotation of the searchlight cover 20 upon the operation of the right and left driving motor 22 is disclosed). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first cover of Zhang to rotate along an horizontal axis as taught by Hyun-Jo to illuminate multiple areas surrounding the optical device (see column 2, lines 1-16 of Hyun-Jo). Zhang further silent about wherein the driving mechanism comprises a first driving structure and a second driving structure; the first driving structure is connected to the first cover body and is configured to drive the first cover body to perform rotation motion by using [an axial horizontal line] as a rotation axis; and the second driving structure is connected to the second cover body and is configured to drive the second cover body to perform rotation motion by using a vertical line, where a center line of the second cover body is located, as a rotation axis. PNG media_image5.png 469 524 media_image5.png Greyscale Zhang’140 teaches a driving mechanism comprising a first driving structure (first motor; not shown but disclosed in abstract of Zhang) that is connected to the first cover body (16; figure 3) configured to drive the cover body (16) to perform rotation motion and the second driving structure (second motor 2) is connected to the second cover body (19) and is configured to drive the second cover body (19) to perform rotation motion by using a vertical line (see figure 3), where a center line of the second cover body (19) is located, as a rotation axis. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filing date of the invention to modify the Zhang to include a first and second driving structure as taught by Zhang’140 for a convenient use and good adjusting effect of the optical device (see abstract of translation of Zhang’140). Regarding claim 2, Zhang further teaches the optical device with the flowing effect wherein the first cover body (1) is in any of a cylindrical shape, a columnar shape, an olive shape, a drum shape, a cone shape, a step shape, and a spherical shape (see shape of 1 in at least figure 2). Regarding claim 7, Zhang further teaches the optical device with the flowing effect wherein the second cover body (5) is a cambered cover body (see at least figure 2). Regarding claim 8, Zhang further teaches the optical device with the flowing effect further comprising an interferometer plate (2), wherein the interferometer plate (2; see at least figure 2) is located between the first cover body (1) and the second cover body (5), or is arranged between the light bead and the first cover body. Regarding claim 9, Zhang further teaches the optical device with the flowing effect wherein the second cover body (5; see at least figures 2 and 8) is a sheetlike cover body (see shape of 5 in at least figures 2 and 8 ); and a condensing lens (lens 1; see at least figure 2) is arranged on an upper side (see at least figure 2) or a lower side of the second cover body. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 2, and 7-9 have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection after further consideration of prior art of record. A new reference, Zhang (CN 112050140 A), teaches the limitation, “wherein the driving mechanism comprises a first driving structure and a second driving structure; the first driving structure is connected to the first cover body and is configured to drive the first cover body to perform rotation motion by using an axial horizontal line as a rotation axis; and the second driving structure is connected to the second cover body and is configured to drive the second cover body to perform rotation motion by using a vertical line, where a center line of the second cover body is located, as a rotation axis.”. See rejection above. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JESSICA MCMILLAN APENTENG whose telephone number is (571)272-5510. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm. 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, ABDULMAJEED AZIZ can be reached at 571-270-5046. 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. /JESSICA M APENTENG/ Examiner, Art Unit 2875 /EVAN P DZIERZYNSKI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Jun 16, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Aug 27, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 31, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Nov 11, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jun 02, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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METHOD OF MAKING WAVEGUIDE ILLUMINATION PANELS WITH ALTERNATING DENSITY EXTRACTION PATTERNS FOR IMAGE DISPLAY
1y 6m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12736737
VEHICLE INTERIOR ILLUMINATION LAMP
2y 1m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12723747
INTEGRATED LIGHTING MODULE
1y 7m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12721454
REFRIGERATOR HAVING PANEL ASSEMBLY COVERING OPENING OF OUTER PLATE OF DOOR
1y 0m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12717071
LIGHT-REFLECTING MEMBER AND LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE
4y 5m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
65%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+18.8%)
2y 7m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 990 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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