DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 6/3/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 6/3/2026 is acknowledged. Accordingly, claims 5-6 have been cancelled, claims 1-2, 4 and 15 have been amended, thus currently claims 1-4, 6-7 and 9-15 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-4, 6-7 and 9-15 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 1, and similarly in claim 15, the phrase “wherein curvatures of the curved shape of the open front surface and the re-incidence surface are configured to be adjusted to form an optical path” is unclear because:
Figures 1-4 shows a one-piece optical device already manufactured. The written specification agrees with the figures in that the optical device is integrally formed (see ¶ 31) therefore, it is unclear how any part of the optical device is “adjusted”.
Although, the specification recites mentions “the size of the opening 1222 may be adjusted. In addition, the quantity of light 112 leakage may be adjusted by adjusting the size of the opening 1222.” see ¶ 64, or “The quantity of light 112 incident on the re-incidence surface 1225 after leaking through the opening 1222 may be adjusted by adjusting the width w1 of the opening 1222 in the leftward-rightward direction (the x-axis direction) or the width w2 of the re-incidence surface 1225 in the leftward-rightward direction (the x-axis direction)” see ¶ 65. It is clear any adjustment was done during the manufacturing of the optical device, that is in a previous step to the device shown in the figures.
For purpose of examination the phrase above has been interpreted to mean -- wherein curvatures of the curved shape of the open front surface and the re-incidence surface are configured to form an optical path –.
Claims 2-4, 6-7 and 9-15 are rejected as they depend from claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Dong et al. (WO 2022001087 A1 discloses an optical device having a light source, a light guide and a light emission lens. The light guide further includes an first and second optical path portions, and two convexly curved surfaces for exiting and r entering of light.
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/OMAR ROJAS CADIMA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875
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