DETAILED ACTION
America Invents Act
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Priority
Applicant’s claim for priority under 35 USC §119(e), 35 USC §120 and 35 USC §371 is acknowledged.
This application, filed on 22-November-2024, is a continuation of application 17/986,518 (Parent), filed 14-November-2022, and subsequently issued as patent # US 12,188,756 B2
Application 17/986,518, is a continuation of application 16/036,428 (Grandparent), filed 16-July-2018, and subsequently issued as patent # US 11,499,816 B2
Application 16/036,428 is a continuation of application 15/394,573 (G2Parent), filed 29-December-2016, and subsequently issued as patent # US 10,024,651 B2.
Application 15/394,573 is a continuation of application 14/365,498 (G3Parent), filed 13-June-2014, and subsequently issued as patent # US 9,534,884 B2.
Application 14/365,498 is a national stage entry of WIPO application PCT/US2013/020154, filed 3-January-2013, and which claims priority from:
Provisional application # 61/631,389, filed 3-January-2012
Provisional application # 61/634,421, filed 29-February-2012
Provisional application # 61/634,936, filed 8-March-2012
Provisional application # 61/685,866, filed 23-March-2012
Provisional application # 61/686,728, filed 11-April-2012
Provisional application # 61/687,885, filed 3-May-2012
Provisional application # 61/655,740, filed 5-June-2012
Provisional application # 61/673,098, filed 18-July-2012
Provisional application # 61/692,540, filed 23-August-2012
Provisional application # 61/720,550, filed 31-October-2012
Provisional application # 61/729,045, filed 21-November-2012
The present application therefore has a prima facie effective filing date from 3-January-2012 unless otherwise specified based on the specific subject matter of the claim.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement IDS#1 submitted on 15-January-2025 (134 references) has been considered by the Examiner and made of record in the application file, with exceptions and notations as follow:
Copies of foreign references 6 and 7 were found in application 14/365,498 (G3Parent).
Copies of foreign references 6-9 and NPL references 1-3, 5-8, 11, 12, 14, 16-32 and 41-48 were found in application 15/394,573 (G2Parent).
Copies of foreign references 1 and 5 and NPL references 4, 9, 10 and 13 were found in application 15/394,573 (GrandParent).
Copies of foreign references 2-4 were found in this application.
Copies of NPL references 15, 39, and 40 could not be found in this application file, or predecessor application files, and have not been considered.
Double Patenting
Claims 1-9 are rejected for non-statutory double patenting:
The non-statutory 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 non-statutory 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 non-statutory 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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Consider non-statutory double patenting with respect to United States Patent # US 12,188,756 B2 (Parent):
Current Application
US 12,188,756 B2 (Parent)
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (a) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective multi-pixel detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective multi-pixel detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (a) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 2: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including a single pixel.
Claim 2: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 3: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including multiple pixels.
Claim 3: The coded localization system of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 4: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of nonoverlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that do not overlap.
Claim 4: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claim 5: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 5: The coded localization system of claim 1, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective multi-pixel detector.
Claim 6: The coded localization system of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 6: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 7: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claim 7: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (i) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (ii) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of nonoverlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that do not overlap.
Claim 8: The coded localization system of claim 1, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective detector.
Claim 8: The coded localization system of claim 7, the plurality of optical channels further including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 9: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 9: The coded localization system of claim 7, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 10: The coded localization system of claim 7, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including a single pixel.
Claim 11: The coded localization system of claim 7, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including multiple pixels.
Claim 12: The coded localization system of claim 7, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 13: The coded localization system of claim 7, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective detector.
Claim 14: The coded localization system of claim 7, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claims 1-9 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as unpatentable over claims 1-14 of Johnson, et al. (United States Patent # US 12,188,756 B2), hereinafter Parent.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Consider independent claim 1: The limitations of this claim are identical to the Parent, claim 1, except that the present application recites “a respective detector” and the Parent recites “a respective multi-pixel detector” and where a detector may be a multi-pixel detector. The limitations are similarly taught by Parent claim 7.
Consider claim 2, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claim 10 and as applied to claims 1 and 7.
Consider claim 3, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claim 11 and as applied to claims 1 and 7.
Consider claim 4, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claim 7.
Consider claim 5, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claims 2 and 8, and as applied to claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Consider claim 6, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claims 3 and 9, and as applied to claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Consider claim 7, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claims 4 and 14, and as applied to claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Consider claim 8, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claims 5 and 13, and as applied to claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Consider claim 9, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by Parent claims 6 and 12, and as applied to claims 1 and 7, respectively.
Consider non-statutory double patenting with respect to United States Patent # US 11,499,816 B2 (GrandParent):
Current Application
US 11,499,816 B2 (GrandParent)
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (a) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from an object, each optical channel including:
a respective detector;
a respective localization code, located between the detector and the object, and configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough,
each localization code
(a) being at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and
(b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 2: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including a single pixel.
Claim 2: The system of claim 1, the localization code being an amplitude mask having spatially-varying opacity that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claim 3: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including multiple pixels.
Claim 3: The system of claim 1, the localization code being a phase mask configured to impose, on the electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, a phase delay that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claim 4: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of nonoverlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that do not overlap.
Claim 4: The system of claim 1, the localization code being a polarizer configured to impose, on the electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, a polarization that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claim 5: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 5: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from an object, each optical channel including:
a respective plurality of detectors;
a respective localization code, located between the detectors and the object, and configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough,
each localization code
(a) being at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and
(b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 6: The coded localization system of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 6: The system of claim 5, each of the plurality of detectors being configured such that each of the plurality of optical channels is an imaging channel.
Claim 7: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claim 7: The system of claim 5, the localization code being an amplitude mask having spatially-varying opacity that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claim 8: The coded localization system of claim 1, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective detector.
Claim 8: The system of claim 5, the localization code being a phase mask configured to impose, on the electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, a phase delay that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claim 9: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 9: The system of claim 5, the localization code being a polarizer configured to impose, on the electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, a polarization that varies, in a first direction, as either a random function or a pseudorandom function.
Claims 1, 7 and 9 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as unpatentable over claims 1-9 of Johnson, et al. (United States Patent # US 11,499,816 B2), hereinafter GrandParent.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Consider independent claim 1: The limitations of this claim are identical to the GrandParent, claim 1, except GrandParent recites capture of information from an object rather than a scene, but whereas a scene, broadly interpreted, may be a collection of objects or a single object, The limitations are similarly taught by GrandParent claim 5.
Consider claim 7, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by GrandParent claims 1 and 5.
Consider claim 9, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by GrandParent claims 1 and 5.
Consider non-statutory double patenting with respect to United States Patent # US 10,024,651 B2 (G2Parent):
Current Application
US 10,024,651 B2 (G2Parent)
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (a) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 1: A navigation system for a repositionable object, comprising:
a first optical motion unit having a first plurality of optical channels and configured to capture information from a first portion of a moving scene;
a second optical motion unit having a second plurality of optical channels and configured to capture information from a second portion of the moving scene, the second optical motion unit being displaced from the first optical motion unit by a first distance in a first direction; and
a processing subsystem configured to determine a two dimensional change in motion of the scene based upon data output from the first and second motion units and the first direction and distances;
each of the first plurality of optical channels and the second plurality of optical channels including:
a detector configured to receive electromagnetic energy incident thereon and propagating from the moving scene; and
a localization code that is (i) configured to optically modify the electromagnetic energy passing therethrough to the detector, (ii) one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and (iii) different from the localization code of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 2: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including a single pixel.
Claim 2: The navigation system of claim 1, the first and second portion of the moving scene being at least partially overlapping.
Claim 3: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including multiple pixels.
Claim 3: The navigation system of claim 1, the first and second optical motion units being rigidly positioned with respect to each other such that the first distance and the first direction are unchanging.
Claim 4: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of nonoverlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that do not overlap.
Claim 4: A method for controlling motion of a repositionable object, comprising:
determining a present heading of the repositionable object by capturing information from a moving scene using a plurality of optical channels each collocated with the repositionable object and having a detector and a localization code configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough from the scene to the detector,
each localization code (a) being one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels;
determining a current location of the repositionable object using a satellite navigation system;
determining a desired heading for the repositionable object by comparing the current location of the repositionable object with a desired destination; and
adjusting the heading of the repositionable object from the present heading to the desired heading.
Claim 5: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 5: The method of claim 4, the step of determining a current location further comprising determining a relative position of the repositionable object with respect to a known position of a reference object.
Claim 6: The coded localization system of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 6: The method of claim 5, the reference object being located on a surface upon which the repositionable object is traveling.
Claim 7: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claim 7: A navigation system for a repositionable object, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a moving scene, each of the optical channels being collocated with the repositionable object and having (i) a detector and (ii) a localization code configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough from the moving scene to the detector, the localization code being one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and differing from the localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels;
a receiver configured to communicate with a satellite navigation system; and
a digital signal processor configured to:
determine a present heading of the repositionable object from the information captured by the plurality of optical channels;
determine a current location of the repositionable object using the receiver; and
determine a desired heading for the repositionable object by comparing the current location of the repositionable object with a desired destination.
Claim 8: The coded localization system of claim 1, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective detector.
Claim 8: The navigation system of claim 7, wherein in the step of determining location, the digital signal processor is further configured to determine a relative position of the repositionable object with respect to a known position of a reference object.
Claim 9: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 9: The navigation system of claim 8, the reference object being located on a surface upon which the repositionable object is traveling.
Claims 1 and 5-7 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as unpatentable over claims 1-9 of Johnson, et al. (United States Patent # US 10,024,651 B2), hereinafter G2Parent.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Consider independent claim 1: The limitations of this claim are identical to the G2Parent, claim 1, except G2Parent recites capture of information from portions of a moving scene, rather than a scene, but whereas a scene, broadly interpreted, may comprise one or more scenes, moving or static. The limitations are similarly taught by G2Parent claim 5.
Consider claim 5, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by G2Parent claim. 2 , and as applied to claim 1.
Consider claim 6, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by G2Parent claim. 2 , and as applied to claim 1.
Consider claim 7, and as applied to claim 1: The additional limitations of this claim are taught by G2Parent claim 1, which teaches both first and second pluralities of channels.
Consider non-statutory double patenting with respect to United States Patent # US 9,534,884 B2 (G3Parent):
Current Application
US 9,534,884 B2 (G3Parent)
Claim 1: A coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from a scene, each optical channel including (a) a respective detector and (b) a respective localization code, located between the respective detector and the scene, that modifies electromagnetic energy propagating through the respective localization code,
each localization code (a) including at least one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, and a polarizer, and (b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 1: Coded localization system, comprising:
a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from an object, each optical channel including:
a respective detector;
a respective localization code, located between the detector and the object, and configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, each localization code
(a) being one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and
(b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 2: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including a single pixel.
Claim 2: The system of claim 1, the localization code being an amplitude mask having, in a first direction, spatially-varying opacity that varies as a periodic function having a period less than a spatial dimension of the detector in the first direction, the localization code and the detector being of the same channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 3: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the respective detector including multiple pixels.
Claim 3: The system of claim 1, further comprising a channel having no localization code and configured to measure an average value of electromagnetic energy incident on the channel's detector.
Claim 4: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of nonoverlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that do not overlap.
Claim 4: The system of claim 1, further comprising a processing subsystem having a plurality of algorithms configured to process said data and provide at least one of a range estimate for the object and localization information for the object.
Claim 5: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including a pair of overlapping optical channels having respective fields of view that overlap.
Claim 5: The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of second optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from the object,
each second optical channel including:
a detector;
a second localization code located between the detector and the object, configured to optically modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough, each second localization code
(a) being one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and
(b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of second optical channels.
Claim 6: The coded localization system of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, overlaps each respective field of view of each other optical channel of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 6: Coded localization polarization measurement system, comprising:
plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively capture information from an object, each channel including:
a respective detector;
a respective polarizer, located between the detector and the object, and configured, such that the polarization of electromagnetic energy transmitted therethrough differs from polarization of electromagnetic energy transmitted through a respective polarizer of each other of the plurality of optical channels,
such that output data from the detectors are processable, to determine a polarization pattern and determine if said pattern differs from a model.
Claim 7: The coded localization system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including more than two optical channels.
Claim 7: The polarization measurement system of claim 6, the object including at least a portion of the sky, the output data sampling polarization pattern of the sky.
Claim 8: The coded localization system of claim 1, each of the plurality of optical channels including a respective lens, the respective localization code being located between the respective lens and the respective detector.
Claim 8: The polarization measurement system of claim 6, further comprising a processing subsystem having a plurality of algorithms and configured to process said data and provide compass heading.
Claim 9: The coded localization system of claim 1, in an optical channel of the plurality of optical channels, the localization code including both the amplitude mask and the polarizer.
Claim 9: The polarization measurement system of claim 8, the processing subsystem comprising at least one of Fourier processing and an inner product with a signal of interest.
Claim 10: The polarization measurement system of claim 8, the processing subsystem adjusting exposure to maximize partial polarization signal-to-noise ratio.
Claim 11: The polarization measurement system of claim 8, wherein the compass heading is usable in
(a) a vehicle as feedback to stabilize heading,
(b) a machine that affects local magnetic field to determine heading.
Claim 12: The system of claim 1, the plurality of optical channels including
(i) a first channel with a first localization code having a first spatially-varying sinusoidal attenuation, and
(ii) a second channel with a second localization code having a second spatially-varying sinusoidal attenuation that is in quadrature with the first spatially-varying sinusoidal attenuation such that the plurality of optical channels optimize Fisher information.
Claim 13: A method of localizing optical data, comprising:
cooperatively imaging an object onto a plurality of detectors of a respective plurality of optical channels each having a localization code between its detector and the object each localization code
(a) being one of an amplitude mask, a phase mask, an aperture pattern, and a polarizer, and
(b) differing from the respective localization code of each other of the plurality of optical channels.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as unpatentable over claims 1-13 of Johnson, et al. (United States Patent # US 9,534,884 B2 hereinafter G3Parent.
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Consider independent claim 1: The limitations of this claim are identical to the G3Parent, claim 1, except G3Parent recites capture of information from an object rather than a scene, but whereas a scene, broadly interpreted, may be a collection of objects or a single object, The limitations are similarly taught by G3Parent claims 5 and 6.
Conclusion
Prior art made of record and not relied upon, but is considered pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure:
Lanza et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # US 2002/0075990 A1) disclosing coded aperture imaging.
Zelakiewicz et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # US 2012/0025092 A1) disclosing a mask for coded aperture systems.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the Examiner should be directed to STEPHEN R BURGDORF whose telephone number is (571)270-7328. The Examiner can normally be reached on 11-8 EDT M, F/EDT.
If attempts to reach the Examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the Examiner’s supervisor, Quan-Zhen Wang can be reached on (571)272-31143114. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/STEPHEN R BURGDORF/ Examiner, Art Unit 2685
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