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 .
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.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-16 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 12050317. Although the claims at issue are not identical (differences underlined below), they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1, 3-16 are anticipated by claims 2-15 of the issued patent and the subject matter of claim 2 is an obvious variation of that of claim 1 of the patent as short wavelength blue light is well known to and widely used by those of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention for phosphor conversion.
Application 19/001713
U.S. Patent 12050317
1. A light source device comprising: a light source configured to generate white light by irradiating a phosphor with light emitted from a solid-state light source; a collimating optical system configured to convert a divergent light flux of the white light emitted from the light source into parallel light; and a light guide configured to cause the light emitted from the collimating optical system to be incident as incident light and emit the incident light in a direction different from an incident direction, wherein the collimating optical system has
a filter configured to reflect light in a blue region of the parallel light to irradiate the phosphor.
2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light in the blue region of the parallel light, which is reflected by the filter, is the light in a short-wavelength blue region of the parallel light.
3. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is provided on an emission surface of the collimating optical system.
4. The light source device according to claim 1, further comprising: a diffusion block between the collimating optical system and the light guide and configured to diffuse the parallel light, wherein the filter is provided on an incidence surface of the diffusion block.
5. The light source device according to claim 4, wherein the filter is provided on each of an emission surface of the collimating optical system and the incidence surface of the diffusion block.
6. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein a divergence angle of a light source emitted from a light source that generates white light by irradiating a phosphor with light emitted from the solid-state light source is 80 degrees or more.
7. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective film has a cutoff wavelength of 435 (nm) or less at which a reflectance is 50%.
8. The light source device according to claim 1, further comprising: a polarization conversion element between the collimating optical system and the light guide and configured to align a polarization direction of light in one direction.
9. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide includes an incidence portion on which the incident light is incident, a reflection portion which reflects the incident light, and an emission portion which emits light reflected by the reflection portion, and wherein the reflection portion includes a plurality of reflection surfaces that reflect the incident light and a plurality of connection surfaces that connect the plurality of reflection surfaces, and the incidence portion has a structure that deflects light in a direction in which an incidence angle of the incident light that is incident on the reflection surface of the reflection portion becomes larger.
10. The light source device according to claim 9, further comprising: a scatterer between the collimating optical system and the light guide, wherein the connection surface is inclined with respect to the incident light at an angle at which a shadow is formed within a range of a half-value angle of the scatterer.
11. The light source device according to claim 9, wherein the incidence surface is an inclined surface disposed obliquely with respect to the incident light.
12. The light source device according to claim 11, wherein at least a part of the incidence surface is a curved surface.
13. The light source device according to claim 10, wherein an elevation angle of the reflection surface varies depending on a location, and a relative angle between the reflection surface and the connection surface adjacent to each other is 90 degrees or more.
14. The light source device according to claim 13, wherein the relative angle is a constant value regardless of location.
15. The light source device according to claim 9, wherein a structure that diffuses light is formed on an emission surface of the collimating optical system.
16. An electronic device using the light source device according to claim 1 as an image display device.
1. A light source device comprising: a light source configured to generate white light by irradiating a phosphor with light emitted from a solid-state light source; a collimating optical system configured to convert a divergent light flux of the white light emitted from the light source into parallel light; a light guide configured to cause the light emitted from the collimating optical system to be incident as incident light and emit the incident light in a direction different from an incident direction; and
a filter configured to reflect light in a blue region of the parallel light to irradiate the phosphor.
2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is provided on an emission surface of the collimating optical system.
3. The light source device according to claim 1, comprising a diffusion block between the collimating optical system and the light guide and configured to diffuse the parallel light, wherein the filter is provided on an incidence surface of the diffusion block.
4. The light source device according to claim 3, wherein the filter is provided on each of an emission surface of the collimating optical system and the incidence surface of the diffusion block.
5. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein a divergence angle of a light source emitted from a light source that generates white light by irradiating a phosphor with light emitted from the solid-state light source is 80 degrees or more.
6. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective film has a cutoff wavelength of 435 (nm) or less at which a reflectance is 50%.
7. The light source device according to claim 1, comprising a polarization conversion element between the collimating optical system and the light guide and configured to align a polarization direction of light in one direction.
8. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide includes an incidence portion on which the incident light is incident, a reflection portion which reflects the incident light, and an emission portion which emits light reflected by the reflection portion, and wherein the reflection portion includes a plurality of reflection surfaces that reflect the incident light and a plurality of connection surfaces that connect the plurality of reflection surfaces, and the incidence portion has a structure that deflects light in a direction in which an incidence angle of the incident light that is incident on the reflection surface of the reflection portion becomes larger.
9. The light source device according to claim 8, comprising a scatterer between the collimating optical system and the light guide, wherein the connection surface is inclined with respect to the incident light at an angle at which a shadow is formed within a range of a half-value angle of the scatterer.
10. The light source device according to claim 8, wherein the incidence surface is an inclined surface disposed obliquely with respect to the incident light.
11. The light source device according to claim 10, wherein at least a part of the incidence surface is a curved surface.
12. The light source device according to claim 9, wherein an elevation angle of the reflection surface varies depending on a location, and a relative angle between the reflection surface and the connection surface adjacent to each other is 90 degrees or more.
13. The light source device according to claim 12, wherein the relative angle is a constant value regardless of location.
14. The light source device according to claim 8, wherein a structure that diffuses light is formed on an emission surface of the collimating optical system.
15. An electronic device using the light source device according to claim 1 as an image display device.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. USPN 2026/0086272.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christopher Raabe whose telephone number is (571)272-8434. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 0530-1430.
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, James R Greece can be reached at (571)272-3711. 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.
/CHRISTOPHER M RAABE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875