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 .
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) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Smyth (U.S. Pub. No. 20220014677).
Regarding claim 10, Smyth discloses:
A lens driving device comprising:
a stationary part (base structure 214 may be in a fixed position relative to movement of the X stage 208, the Y stage 210, and/or the Z stage 212, par. 33, 67);
a first movable part disposed in the stationary part (movement of the X stage 208 and the Y stage 210 as part of suspension arrangements 108, where OIS bearing suspension arrangement may include multiple stages (e.g., the X stage 208 and the Y stage 210 in FIG. 2, par. 27, 30, 31, 34 and Figs. 1, 2A, 2B);
a second movable part disposed in the first movable part (Z stage 212 may be configured to translate in the Z-axis direction, e.g., via Z-translation ball bearings 240 disposed between a first portion of the of the Z stage 212 and a side of the base structure 214, par. 42 and Figs. 1, 2A, and 2B);
a first drive part configured to move the first movable part in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis (OIS-X VCM actuator may include one or more OIS-X coils 224 and one or more OIS-X magnets 226, where OIS-X magnet 226 and the OIS-X coil 224 may be positioned proximate one another so that they can electromagnetically interact with each other to shift the image sensor 206 together with the X stage 208 (e.g., relative to the lens group 202 and/or the base structure 214) in the X-axis direction and OIS-Y VCM actuator may include one or more OIS-Y coils 228 and one or more OIS-Y magnets 230, where OIS-Y magnet 230 and the OIS-Y coil 228 may be positioned proximate one another so that they can electromagnetically interact with each other to shift the image sensor 206 together with the X stage 208 and the Y stage 210 (e.g., relative to the lens group 202 and/or the base structure 214) in the Y-axis direction, par. 35, 36, and Figs. 1, 2A, and 2B); and
a second drive part configured to move the second movable part in an optical axis direction (AF VCM actuator may include one or more AF coils 232 and one or more AF magnets 234, where AF magnet 234 and the AF coil 232 may be positioned proximate one another so that they can electromagnetically interact with each other to shift the lens group 202 together with the Z stage 212 (e.g., relative to the image sensor 206 and/or the base structure 214) in the Z-axis direction, to provide AF movement of an image on the image sensor 206, par. 37),
wherein the second drive part comprises a first magnet disposed on the second movable part (AF magnet 234 may be attached to the Z stage 212, par. 37) and a first coil disposed to face the first magnet and disposed on the stationary part (AF coil 232 may be attached to the base structure 214, where AF magnet 234 and the AF coil 232 may be positioned proximate one another so that they can electromagnetically interact with each other to shift the lens group 202 together with the Z stage 212 (e.g., relative to the image sensor 206 and/or the base structure 214) in the Z-axis direction, par. 37).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 and 11-20 are allowed.
Regarding claim 1, no prior art could be located that teaches or fairly suggests a first carrier movable in an x-axis perpendicular to an optical axis direction; a second carrier movable in a y-axis perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a bobbin disposed in the second carrier; a first magnet disposed on the bobbin; a second magnet disposed on the first carrier; a third magnet disposed on the second carrier; a first ball disposed between the housing and the first carrier; and a second ball disposed between the first carrier and the second carrier, wherein the coil part comprises a second coil disposed to face the second magnet in the optical axis direction and a third coil disposed to face the third magnet in the optical axis direction, in combination with the rest of the limitations of the claim.
Claims 2-9 and 11-19 depend on claim 1 and therefore are allowed.
Regarding claim 20, no prior art could be located that teaches or fairly suggests a first movable part comprising a first carrier movable in an x-axis perpendicular to an optical axis direction and a second carrier movable in a y-axis perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a second movable part disposed in the first movable part and movable in the optical axis direction; a first magnet disposed on the second movable part; a second magnet disposed on the first carrier; a third magnet disposed on the second carrier; a first coil disposed to face the first magnet; a second coil disposed to face the second magnet in the optical axis direction; and a third coil disposed to face the third magnet in the optical axis direction, wherein the first coil is disposed on a first side of the stationary part, in combination with the rest of the limitations of the claim.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Pub. No. 20150146025 and Pat. No. 9544482 – directed to an image stabilization base where magnets and coils face each other in the optical axis direction and a lens movable in an optical axis direction.
U.S. Pub. No. 20190238728 – directed to a first carrier that moves in an X or Y direction with an attached lens and a lens carrier that moves in an optical axis direction.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICHOLAS G GILES whose telephone number is (571)272-2824. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:45AM-3:15PM EST (HOTELING).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Twyler Haskins can be reached at 571-272-7406. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NICHOLAS G GILES/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639
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