Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/958,336

DETECTION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 25, 2024
Priority
May 27, 2022 — JP 2022-086830 +1 more
Examiner
BERHAN, AHMED A
Art Unit
2639
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Japan Display Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
950 granted / 1086 resolved
+25.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
1104
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
69.7%
+29.7% vs TC avg
§102
18.0%
-22.0% vs TC avg
§112
3.7%
-36.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1086 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Objections Claim [7-8, 11-12, 16-17, 20-21, objected to because of the following informalities: the claims recites the limitation “the virtual reference value”, in lines [2, 3, 2, 3, , 2, 3, 2 and 3-4] respectively; it is meant to be “ the preset virtual reference value”, in order to be consistent with the preceding limitation. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) [1 and 28] is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a1) as being anticipated by Yu (US. 2008/0054159). Reclaim [1], A detection device (see fig. 1) comprising: an optical sensor (see 110 fig. 1); a light source configured to emit light to the optical sensor (see fig. 1, ambient light source); a detection signal amplifying circuit configured to convert a variation of current supplied from the optical sensor into a variation of voltage (see 130 fig. 1 and ¶¶ 0032-0033, an amplification unit 130); and an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit (see 140 fig. 1 ) configured to convert an output voltage signal after being converted into the voltage variation into a digital detection value (see 130, 140 fig. 1), wherein the A/D conversion circuit (140 fig. 1) is configured to limit the detection value to a maximum digital gradation value or a minimum digital gradation value when the light source is off. (see ¶0033, analog-to-digital converter 140 and classifies the digital signals into predetermined sections divided in response to the luminous intensity of the ambient light, [based on the amplification factor the analog to digital convertor of the prior art in to different bits based on the amplification factor after the exposure is ended, which is equated to the claimed light source off, as for example depicted in fig. 4 of the prior art, thus based on luminous intensity outputs minimal stages or higher stages]. Reclaim [28] Yu discloses a detection device ( see fig. 1) comprising: an optical sensor (see 110 fig. 1); a light source configured to emit light to the optical sensor (see fig. 1, ambient light source): a detection signal amplifying circuit configured to convert a variation of current supplied from the optical sensor into a variation of voltage (see 130 fig. 1 sand ¶¶ 0032-0033, an amplification unit 130); and an output circuit configured to convert an output voltage signal after being converted into the voltage variation into a detection value (140 fig. 1), wherein the output circuit is configured to limit the detection value to a maximum detection value or a minimum detection value when the light source is off (see ¶0033, analog-to-digital converter 140 and classifies the digital signals into predetermined sections divided in response to the luminous intensity of the ambient light, [based on the amplification factor the analog to digital convertor of the prior art in to different bits or stage based on the amplification factor after the exposure is ended, which is equated to the claimed light source off, as for example depicted in fig. 4 of the prior art, thus based on luminous intensity outputs minimal stages or higher stages). Allowable Subject Matter Claims [2-27] are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Reclaim [2], none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: . The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is an organic photodiode and comprises: an active layer; an upper electrode provided with an upper buffer layer interposed between the upper electrode and the active layer; and a lower electrode provided with a lower buffer layer interposed between the lower electrode and the active layer. Reclaim [3], none of the prior art on the record either singularly or in combination teaches or reasonably suggests: . The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the detection device has an exposure period during which the light is emitted from the light source to the optical sensor; and a readout period during which the detection value is acquired based on an electric charge stored in the optical sensor during the exposure period, and the detection signal amplifying circuit comprises: a differential amplifying circuit in which a reference potential is applied to a non-inverting input terminal and the optical sensor is coupled to an inverting input terminal; and a negative feedback capacitor coupled between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the differential amplifying circuit. Claims [4-27] due to their direct or indirect dependency on claim [3]. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Nakamura (US. PAT. No. 7, 800, 594) discloses: a modulation circuit configured to convert the imaged image into a multi-gradation image; an edge detection circuit configured to detect edges by using the multi-gradation image; an inter-frame difference processing circuit configured to obtain a difference image formed by taking a difference between the multi-gradation image in a current frame and the multi-gradation image in a past frame. In col. 2-3 lines 67 – 6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED A BERHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5094. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00Am-5:00pm (MAX- Flex). 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, Twyler Haskins can be reached at 571-272-7406. 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. /AHMED A BERHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 25, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
88%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+11.4%)
2y 3m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1086 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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