DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
1- This office action is a response to an application filed on 3/26/2025, in which claims 1-20 are currently pending. The Application is a Continuation of 18829173 , filed 09/09/2024
18829173 Claims Priority from Provisional Application 63541575 , filed 09/29/2023
18829173 Claims Priority from Provisional Application 63690516 , filed 09/04/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
2- The submitted information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) is(are) in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is(are) being considered by the examiner.
Specification
3- The specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which application may become aware in the specification.
Drawings
4- The drawings were received on 3/26/2025. These drawings are acceptable.
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 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 (MPEP 706.02(m)).
5- 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.
6- Claims 1-20 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mathai et al. (PGPUB No. 2023/0283396).
As to claim 1, Mathai teaches a light source unit and its method of use (Abstract, Figs. 1-15), comprising: an Echelle grating multiplexer comprising a plurality of inputs, and a plurality of outputs positioned to receive light from the plurality of inputs (¶ 72, 87, 109, 135 for ex.; component 220, 320, 430/432, 530, 620/622, 720, and components post 810 or 910, or equivalent); and a plurality of groups of light sources, wherein each group of light sources is operable to emit a plurality of wavelengths (wavelengths lx, and equivalents, from a first group of the set of sources x10/x12/x14/x16/..N), wherein each light source of the plurality of groups of light sources is connected to a corresponding input of the plurality of inputs (Figs. 2-7), and the plurality of inputs is positioned such that: light generated by a first light source of each of the plurality of groups of light sources is routed to a first output of the plurality of outputs; and light generated by a second light source of each of the plurality of groups of light sources is routed to a second output of the plurality of outputs (since no exclusive routing is claimed for the light from a specific source to a specific output, Fig. 7, for ex; shows the first and second lights from each source of any group of light sources appear to be routed and transmitted to the first and second outputs of any group of light outputs).
(Claims 2-3) wherein the plurality of inputs is positioned such that light generated by a third light source of each the plurality of the light sources is routed to a third output of the plurality of outputs; (Claim 3) wherein the plurality of groups of light sources comprises a first group of light sources; and the first light source and the second light source of the first group of light sources are connected to immediately adjacent inputs of the plurality of inputs (Fig. 7 for ex).
(Claim 4) wherein the plurality of groups of light source comprises a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources; the first light source of the first group of light sources is connected to a first input of the plurality of inputs; the second light source of the first group of light sources is connected to a second input of the plurality of inputs; the first light source of the second group of light sources is connected to a third input of the plurality of inputs; the second light source of the second group of light sources is connected to a fourth input of the plurality of inputs; and the third input is positioned between the first and second input (Fig. 7 for ex; first light source 710a of first group 710/714 for ex, to first input; second light source 714b to second input; first light source 712a of group 712 to third input between first and second input; second light source 712b to fourth input).
(Claim 5) wherein: the plurality of groups of light sources comprises a first group of light sources and a second group of light sources; the first light source of the first group of light sources and the first light source of the second group of light sources are positioned on a first laser chip, and the second light source of the first group of light sources and the second light source of the second group of light sources are positioned on a second laser chip (¶ 42-43, 70 for ex.)
(Claims 6-7) wherein the first output is connected to a first wavelength locking unit and the second output is connected to a second wavelength locking unit; (Claim 7) wherein: wherein the plurality of inputs is positioned such that light generated by a third light source of each the plurality of the light sources is routed to a third output of the plurality of outputs; and the third output is connected to a third wavelength locking unit (Fig. 7 and ¶ 23-25, 30-32, 36-45 for ex; CWDM passband, i.e. filters selecting and locking outputted wavelengths).
(Claims 8, 19) wherein the first light source and the second light source of each of the plurality of groups generate light having a common frequency difference; (Claims 8, 19) wherein the first wavelength of light and the second wavelength of light have a first frequency difference, and the third wavelength of light and the fourth wavelength of light have the first frequency difference (Figs. 1-7; any combination with equal number of wavelengths, and their corresponding frequencies, can be arbitrarily chosen).
As to claims 9 and 16, Mathai teaches a light source unit, and its method of use (Abstract, Figs. 1-15), comprising: a first plurality of light sources (Figs. 2-7 for ex.; any combination of sets 21x, 31x, .. or 71x ) operable to emit a first wavelength and a second wavelength of light, the first and the second wavelengths separated by less than a threshold amount (Fig. 1 for ex.); a second plurality of light sources (Figs. 2-7 for ex.; another combination of sets 21x, 31x, .. or 71x ) operable to emit a third wavelength and a fourth wavelength of light, the third and the fourth wavelengths separated by less than the threshold amount (Fig. 1 for ex.); and a multiplexer (¶ 72, 87, 109, 135 for ex.; component 220, 320, 430/432, 530, 620/622, 720, and components post 810 or 910, or equivalent) comprising: a first input positioned to receive the first wavelength of light emitted by the first plurality of light sources; a second input positioned to receive the second wavelength of light emitted by the first plurality of light sources; a third input positioned to receive the third wavelength of light emitted by the second plurality of light sources; a fourth input positioned to receive the fourth wavelength of light emitted by the second plurality of light sources (see rejection of claims 1 and/or 3-4); a first output; and a second output (outputs from component 220, 320, 430/432, 530, 620/622, 720, and components post 810 or 910, or equivalent), wherein: the multiplexer is configured to route light received from the first input and the third input to the first output; and the multiplexer is configured to route light received from the second input and the fourth input to the second output (see routings in Figs. 4, 6 for ex).
(Claim 10) wherein the multiplexer is an Echelle grating multiplexer (¶ 72, 87, 109, 135 for ex.)
(Claim 11) wherein the third output is positioned between the first input and the second output
(Figs. 4, 6).
(Claim 12) wherein the first wavelength is longer than the second wavelength (Fig. 1 for ex.)
(Claim 13) wherein the second input is positioned between the third input and the fourth input (see similar rationale in rejection of claim 4).
(Claims 14, 18) wherein the first plurality of light sources is positioned on a first laser chip and the second plurality of light sources are positioned on a second laser chip (¶ 42-43, 70 for ex.)
(Claims 15, 20) comprising: a first wavelength locking unit; and a second wavelength locking unit, wherein the first output is connected to a first wavelength locking unit and the second output is connected to a second wavelength locking unit; (Claim 20) wherein the first output is connected to a first wavelength locking unit and the second output is connected to a second wavelength locking unit (Fig. 7 and ¶ 23-25, 30-32, 36-45 for ex; CWDM passband, i.e. filters selecting and locking outputted wavelengths).
(Claim 17) wherein the first wavelength of light is emitted from a first light source and the second wavelength of light is emitted from a second light source (see rejection of claim 9); and the first light source and the second light source connect to immediately adjacent inputs of the multiplexer (Figs. 2-7).
Conclusion
The examiner has pointed out particular references contained in the prior art of record in the body of this action for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. Applicant should consider the entire prior art as applicable as to the limitations of the claims. It is respectfully requested from the applicant, in preparing the response, to consider fully the entire references as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the examiner.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMED K AMARA whose telephone number is (571)272-7847. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday: 9:00-17:00
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tarifur Chowdhury can be reached on (571-272-2287. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Mohamed K AMARA/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2877
Prosecution Insights