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 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.
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Matsuda, et al. (US 4,853,725).
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Regarding claims 1-4, Matsuda discloses “a mount portion (Fig. 5, ref.# 3), and a plurality of terminals (Fig. 5, ref.# 3a1 – 3a10) disposed in a circumferential direction (Fig. 10, 3a) of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory (Fig. 11, ref.# 8), wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting (Fig. 5, ref.# 3a3) of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal (Fig. 5, ref.# 3a1) via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion (See Fig. 5: height difference; column 6, lines 31-37, 51-56 and 57-59).
Regarding claim 4, Matsuda also discloses “”wherein the plurality of terminals of the accessory include a first terminal configured to be used to indicate a predetermined voltage level when the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus in electrical connection…”. (column 6, lines 31-37)
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,591,807. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Current application U.S. Patent No. 10,591,807
1. A mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, comprising:
a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in
a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory,
wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
2. An imaging apparatus having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
3. An adapter device having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
4. An accessory being mountable on and dismountable from a mount apparatus comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the mount apparatus, and wherein the plurality of terminals of the accessory include a first terminal configured to be used to indicate a predetermined voltage level when the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus in electrical connection, and a second terminal via which electrical power is received, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
1. A mount apparatus comprising
a second mount configured to allow coupling to a first mount included in an accessory, the accessory being mountable on and dismountable from the mount apparatus by rotating a plurality of claw portions of the first mount relative to a plurality of claw portions of the second mount in a mount direction substantially orthogonal to a center-axis direction of the second mount,
wherein the mount apparatus includes a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the second mount and configured to be used in electrical connection, and a terminal holder configured to hold the plurality of terminals, the terminal holder has a height level difference for holding the plurality of terminals at different positions in the center-axis direction of the second mount, the plurality of terminals include a first terminal configured to be used to supply power for driving an internal component of the accessory, a second terminal configured to indicate a ground level corresponding to the first terminal, and a third terminal configured to detect a type of the accessory mounted on the mount apparatus, the terminal holder has a first stage and a second stage at different positions in the center-axis direction of the second mount, in a state where the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus, the second stage projects toward the accessory in the center-axis direction further than the first stage, the first stage is located nearer than the second stage in a mount direction of the accessory, wherein, among the plurality of terminals, the first terminal and the third terminal are disposed adjacent to each other and the second terminal and the third terminal are disposed adjacent to each other on the second stage of the terminal holder, and the second terminal is disposed nearer in the mount direction of the accessory than the first terminal and the third terminal of the plurality of terminals on the second stage of the terminal holder.
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,599,018. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Current application U.S. Patent No. 10,599,018
1. A mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
2. An imaging apparatus having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
3. An adapter device having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
4. An accessory being mountable on and dismountable from a mount apparatus comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the mount apparatus, and wherein the plurality of terminals of the accessory include a first terminal configured to be used to indicate a predetermined voltage level when the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus in electrical connection, and a second terminal via which electrical power is received, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
1. A mount apparatus comprising: a second mount configured to allow coupling to a first mount included in an accessory, the accessory being mountable on and dismountable from the mount apparatus by rotating a plurality of claw portions of the first mount relative to a plurality of claw portions of the second mount in a mount direction substantially orthogonal to a center-axis direction of the second mount, wherein the mount apparatus includes a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the second mount and configured to be used in electrical connection, and a terminal holder configured to hold the plurality of terminals, each of the plurality of terminals is electrically connectable to a corresponding one of a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the first mount in the accessory, the terminal holder has a height level difference in the center-axis direction of the second mount, the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the image capturing apparatus, and a second terminal configured to supply communication power to the accessory from the mount apparatus, the terminal holder has at least a first stage and a second stage at a different position in the center-axis direction of the second mount from the first stage, the first terminal is disposed on the first stage and disposed further in the mount direction of the accessory than the other terminals among the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus that are on the first stage of the terminal holder, and the second terminal is disposed on the second stage of the terminal holder.
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,782,597. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Current application U.S. Patent No. 10,782,597
1. A mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
2. An imaging apparatus having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
3. An adapter device having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
4. An accessory being mountable on and dismountable from a mount apparatus comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the mount apparatus, and wherein the plurality of terminals of the accessory include a first terminal configured to be used to indicate a predetermined voltage level when the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus in electrical connection, and a second terminal via which electrical power is received, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
1. A mount apparatus comprising a second mount configured to allow coupling to a first mount included in an accessory, the accessory being mountable on and dismountable from the mount apparatus by rotating a plurality of claw portions of the first mount relative to a plurality of claw portions of the second mount in a mount direction substantially orthogonal to a center-axis direction of the second mount, wherein the mount apparatus includes a plurality of terminals configured to be used in electrical connection, and a terminal holder configured to hold the plurality of terminals, the terminal holder has a height level difference for holding the plurality of terminals at different positions in the center-axis direction of the second mount, the plurality of terminals include a first terminal configured to be used to supply power for driving an internal component of the accessory, and a second terminal configured to be used to supply power for controlling communication with the accessory, wherein the terminal holder has a first stage and a second stage at different positions in the center-axis direction, in a state where the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus, the second stage projects toward the accessory in the center-axis direction further that the first stage, the first stage is located nearer than the second stage in the mount direction, among the plurality of terminals, the first terminal and the second terminal are adjacent to each other and are disposed further in the mount direction than the other terminals of the plurality of terminals on the second stage of the terminal holder, the second terminal is disposed further than the first terminal in the mount direction on the second stage, and an inter-terminal pitch between the first terminal and the second terminal is wider than at least one pitch among inter-terminal pitches of terminals other than the first terminal and the second terminal.
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,378,870. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Current application U.S. Patent No. 11,378,870
1. A mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
2. An imaging apparatus having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
3. An adapter device having a mount apparatus on and from which an accessory is mountable and dismountable, wherein the mount apparatus includes, a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the accessory, wherein the plurality of terminals of the mount apparatus include a first terminal configured to be used to detect mounting of the accessory on the mount apparatus, and a second terminal via which electrical power to the accessory is supplied, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the accessory, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
4. An accessory being mountable on and dismountable from a mount apparatus comprising: a mount portion, and a plurality of terminals disposed in a circumferential direction of the mount portion and each configured to be used in electrical connection with a corresponding terminal among terminals disposed on the mount apparatus, and wherein the plurality of terminals of the accessory include a first terminal configured to be used to indicate a predetermined voltage level when the accessory is mounted on the mount apparatus in electrical connection, and a second terminal via which electrical power is received, wherein the first terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus at a position different from a position at which the second terminal becomes in contact with a terminal of the mount apparatus, in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
1. A mounting apparatus on which an accessory including a first mount is mountable, the mounting apparatus comprising: a second mount that is capable of coupling to the first mount of the accessory; a plurality of terminals disposed along a circumferential direction of the second mount and used for electrical connection with corresponding terminals provided on the accessory; a terminal holder that holds the plurality of terminals; and a plurality of mount claws for engaging with a plurality of claws provided in the accessory, wherein the terminal holder has a first stage, a second stage, and a boundary portion between the first stage and the second stage, where the first stage and the second stages are at different positions in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the second mount and the plurality of terminals is disposed over the first stage and the second stage, wherein the plurality of terminals includes a first terminal used to detect mounting of the accessory and a second terminal used to supply communication control power to the accessory, wherein the second stage is projecting toward the accessory further than the first stage in a state where the accessory is mounted on the mounting apparatus, wherein, among plural terminals disposed on the first stage of the terminal holder, the first terminal is disposed to be closest to the boundary portion, and wherein, among plural terminals disposed on the second stage of the terminal holder, the second terminal is disposed to be farthest from the boundary portion.
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
(See Claim 1)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Ifuku, et al. (US 2018/0107098), Kohno, et al. (US 5,177,520), Kuhno, et al. (US 5,079,578), Kuhno, et al. (US 5,021,812), Aihara, et al. (US 4,924,249) and Fukui (US 4,922,283) teach a mount portion with a plurality of terminals with a first and second terminal that are in a different position in a direction parallel to a center-axis direction of the mount portion.
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/RODNEY E FULLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
August 21, 2026
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