Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 19/025,870

SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 16, 2025
Priority
Sep 30, 2013 — provisional 61/960,945 +7 more
Examiner
MOTSINGER, SEAN T
Art Unit
2673
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Duelight LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
550 granted / 700 resolved
+16.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
734
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
§103
40.2%
+0.2% vs TC avg
§102
19.2%
-20.8% vs TC avg
§112
19.3%
-20.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 700 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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) 31-34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Crow US 2012/0277914. Re claim 31 Crow discloses An apparatus, comprising: an image sensor (see paragraph 21 note that the robot includes camera that captures images the robot is the image sensor) that generates a first image utilizing a first exposure parameter, a second image utilizing a second exposure parameter (see paragraph 67 note that multiple images with different exposures are calculated at each camera position), and a third image ( see paragraph 67 note that multiple exposures are calculated at each camera position) so that at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image are combined to generate a fourth image (see paragraph 69 note that for each rotational position multiple images at that position are combined to generate a HDR images) that is generated so that at least a portion of the third image and at least a portion of the fourth image are capable of being combined to generate at least a portion of a combined image (see paragraph 69 note that 4 HDR images which are combined images generate for each rotational position are combined to generate a panoramic image). Re claim 32 Crow discloses A computer-implemented method, comprising :at an apparatus: generating a first image ;generating a second image; generating a third image; (see paragraph 67 note that multiple images with different exposures are calculated at each camera position) and communicating the first image, the second image, and the third image, (see figure 1 and paragraphs 67 and 69 note that multiple images are captured by the camera then communicated presentation mechanism 126 ) for combining at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image to generate a fourth image (see paragraph 67 and 69 note that for each rotational position multiple images at that position with different exposures are combined to generate a HDR images), for combining at least a portion third image and at least a portion of the fourth image to generate at least a portion of a combined image(see paragraph 69 note that 4 HDR images which are each combined images from each rotational position are combined to generate a panoramic image). Re claim 33 Crow discloses An apparatus, comprising :a display (see paragraph 24 “With respect to robot output, the user interface logic 114 outputs information to the user via the display”); one or more memories (see paragraphs 82 and 83); one or more processors in communication with the display and the one or more memories (see figure 1 and paragraph 89 82 and 83 and note that the elements may be implemented by a processor running software); and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the one or more memories and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for causing(see figure 1 and paragraph 89 82 and 83 and note that the elements may be implemented by a processor running software): identification of a combined image that is a combination of at least a portion of a first image that exhibits a first exposure parameter and at least a portion of a second image that exhibits a second exposure parameter (see paragraph 67 and 69 note that for each rotational position multiple images at that position with different exposures are combined to generate HDR images); identification of a third image; and combination of at least a portion of the third image and at least a portion of the combined image to generate at least a portion of a high dynamic range (HDR) image(see paragraph 69 note that 4 HDR images which are each combined images from each rotational position are combined to generate a panoramic image) for being output via the display (see paragraph 69 “The resulting high resolution HDR panoramic image is then processed to produce a tone-mapped version that can be displayed using conventional image viewing techniques”) Re claim 34 discloses A computer-implemented method, comprising: at an apparatus: identifying a combined image that is a combination of at least a portion of a first image that exhibits a first exposure parameter and at least a portion of a second image that exhibits a second exposure parameter (see paragraph 67 and 69 note that for each rotational position multiple images at that position with different exposures are combined to generate HDR images); identifying of third image; and combining at least a portion of the third image and at least a portion of the combined image to generate at least a portion of a high dynamic range (HDR) image(see paragraph 69 note that 4 HDR images which are each combined images from each rotational position are combined to generate a HDR panoramic image). Cited Art The following is a listing of cited art considered relevant but not cited in a rejection above: Ninan US 2015/0256752 discloses ” Techniques are described to combine image data from multiple images with different exposures into a relatively high dynamic range image. A first image of a scene may be generated with a first operational mode of an image processing system. A second image of the scene may be generated with a second different operational mode of the image processing system. The first image may be of a first spatial resolution, while the second image may be of a second spatial resolution. For example, the first spatial resolution may be higher than the second spatial resolution. The first image and the second image may be combined into an output image of the scene. The output image may be of a higher dynamic range than either of the first image and the second image and may be of a spatial resolution higher than the second spatial resolution.” Song US 2014/0098259 discloses “A photographing apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of continuously captured images is provided. The photographing apparatus includes a photographing unit that captures a plurality of images by continuously photographing an object; an input unit that receives a selection of a reference image from the plurality of captured images and a modification section in the reference image; a display unit that displays the reference image; a controller that, when the modification section is selected in the reference image and an image for replacing the modification section is determined, generates a mask image based on the modification section and generates a final image by synthesizing the reference image and the image for replacing the modification section using the mask image; and a storage unit that stores a data file including information of the mask image, the plurality of captured images, and the final image.” Jang US 2012/0038800 discloses “A method of image processing includes: providing a radiance map, generating a first image in which an edge part is preserved and a flat part is smoothed by applying an edge preservation smoothing filter to the radiance map, generating a second image having a visually perceivable dynamic range by applying a correction curve to the first image, and generating a display image having corrected lightness by adjusting a hue value and a chroma value of the second image.” (see abstract). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEAN T MOTSINGER whose telephone number is (571)270-1237. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM. 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, Chineyere Wills-Burns can be reached at (571) 272-9752. 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. /SEAN T MOTSINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2673
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 16, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 23, 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
79%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+11.8%)
2y 11m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 700 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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