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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant has elected Invention I, claims 1-5. Applicant’s traversal of the restriction requirement is Applicant's election with traverse of Invention 1, claims 1-5, in the reply filed on 5/26/2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that Inventions I and III are sufficiently related that it would not impose a serious burden. This is not found persuasive because the inventions are distinct enough that a serious burden would in fact exist.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
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.
Claim 4 recites the limitation “another light directing element” and "the lens" in the claim language. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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, 2, 3, 4, 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shibuya (US 20150146204).
Regarding claim 1, A smoke detector, comprising: a substrate; (Shibuya: figure 2)
a light source, arranged on an upper surface of the substrate; (Light emitting element 8, Shibuya: figure 2)
a ring wall, arranged on the upper surface of the substrate, and comprising an accommodation space for accommodating the light source therein, (Light emitting element accommodation portion 11, Shibuya: figure 2)
and an opening connecting to the accommodation space and opposite to the light source, wherein a cross section of the opening is smaller than that of the accommodation space; (hole seen in front of the light emitting element, Shibuya: figure 2; optical window portion 12, Shibuya: figure 1)
and a light sensor, arranged on the upper surface of the substrate. (light receiving element 9, Shibuya: figure 2)
Regarding claim 2, The smoke detector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light directing element, mounted on the ring wall and comprising: a lens, arranged upon the opening, and an optical axis thereof being tilted toward the light sensor; and a light reflecting member, arranged on a peripheral surface of the lens at a side of the lens farther from the light sensor. (Figure 2, Shibuya)
Regarding claim 3, The smoke detector as claimed in claim 2, wherein a tilted angle of the optical axis of the lens is larger than 20 degrees and smaller than 45 degrees. (Figure 2, Shibuya)
Regarding claim 4, The smoke detector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another light directing element arranged on the peripheral surface of the lens at a side of the lens closer to the light sensor. (Figure 2, Shibuya)
Regarding claim 5, The smoke detector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring wall surrounding the light source has a same height. (Shibuya: figure 2)
Conclusion
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAVIS R HUNNINGS whose telephone number is (571)272-3118. The examiner can normally be reached M: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p, 8:30-10p; T: 6-7:30a, 12-4p, 7:30p-12a; W: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p; H: 6-7:30a, 8:15a-4:45p; F: 12:00-4:45p.
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/TRAVIS R HUNNINGS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
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