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 .
This action is in response to the Application filed on 05/08/2025
This application is a CON of 18/364,792 now a patent 12,302,028 which is a CON of 17/536,699 now a patent 11,722,631 which is a CON of 17/075,923 now a patent 11,190,709 which is a CON of 16/456,613 now a patent 10,819,918 which is a CON of 16/023,675 now a patent 10,368,013 which is a CON of 15/492,738 now a patent 10,015,413 which is a CON of 15/011,253 now a patent 9,674,429 which is a CON of 14/536,315 now a patent 9,294,671 which is a CON of 14/180,887 now a patent 8,917,329 which claims benefit of 61/869,029 08/22/2013
The application has a Domestic Priority date of 08/22/2013
Claims 1, 3 and 12 are independent
Claims 1-28 are pending
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/13/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98(a)(4). Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 6 recites “wherein the non-linear warping is represented by a multi- order polynomial function”. Nowhere in the Specification filed on 08/03/2023 discloses “wherein the non-linear warping is represented by a multi- order polynomial function.”
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, because the best mode contemplated by the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s) has not been disclosed. Evidence of concealment of the best mode is based upon the fact that the independent claims recite “wherein the non-linear warping is represented by a multi- order polynomial function.” which is not disclosed in the instant Specification.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. Claim 1 recites “wherein pixel movement from the input positions to the output positions changes based on distances between the input positions of the pixels and a center of the portion within the input image”. Nowhere in the Specification filed on 08/03/2023 discloses “wherein the non-linear warping is represented by a multi- order polynomial function.”
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 claims at issue 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this 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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/forms/. The 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 http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-28 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent Number 12,302,028 B2, U.S. Patent Number 11,722,631 B2, U.S. Patent Number 11,190,709 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,819,918 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,368,013 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,015,413 B1, U.S. Patent Number 9,674,429 B2, U.S. Patent Number 9,294,671 B2, U.S. Patent Number 8,917,329 B1. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other as shown in the following table.
1. Application: A camera, comprising:
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: A camera, comprising:
an image sensor configured to capture a video, the video including video frames having a source aspect ratio, the video frames including pixels located at input positions defined along a first axis and a second axis, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis;
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: an image sensor configured to capture an input image having a source aspect ratio, the input image including pixels located at input positions defined along a first axis and a second axis, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis, wherein a portion of the input image includes a subset of the pixels;
a display coupled to one or more physical processors; and the one or more physical processors configured to: obtain the video frames of the video captured by the image sensor of the camera
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: a display coupled to one or more physical processors; and the one or more physical processors configured to: obtain the input image;
generate output video frames by applying a transformation to the video frames of the video captured by the image sensor of the camera, the output video frames having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output video frames including the pixels located at output positions defined along the first axis and the second axis; and present the output video frames on the display;
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: generate an output image by applying a transformation to the input image, the output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio, the output image including the pixels located at output positions defined along the first axis and the second axis; and
present the output image on the display;
wherein: the transformation non-uniformly shifts the pixels from being located at the input positions in the video frames to the output positions in the output video frames based on (1) the input positions along the first axis, and (2) the input positions along the second axis,
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein: the transformation changes the pixels from being located at the input positions in the input image to the output positions in the output image based on (1) the input positions along the first axis, and (2) the input positions along the second axis,
wherein a target portion of a given video frame includes a subset of the pixels and differences between the input positions and the output positions of the subset of the pixels within the target portion are less than differences between the input positions and the output positions of others of the pixels.
1. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein differences between the input positions and the output positions of the subset of the pixels within the portion are less than differences between the input positions and the output positions of others of the pixels.
2. Application: wherein the video is captured through an ultra-wide-angle lens.
2. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the input image is captured through an ultra-wide-angle lens.
3. Application: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera includes: a linear scaling to uniformly stretch or compress the video frames along the first axis; and
3. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera includes: a linear scaling to uniformly stretch or compress the input image along the first axis; and
non-linear warping to non-uniformly warp the video frames along the second axis.
3. Patent 12,320,028 B2: non-linear warping to non-uniformly warp the input image along the second axis.
4. Application: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera includes non-linear warping to non-uniformly warp the video frames along both the first and second axes.
3. Patent 11,190,709 B2: a warping function to non-uniformly warp the input image along a second axis, the first axis perpendicular to the second axis.
5. Application: wherein the linear scaling applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera changes the source aspect ratio to the target aspect ratio.
4. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the linear scaling applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera changes the source aspect ratio to the target aspect ratio.
7. Application: wherein a portion of a given output video frame corresponding to the target portion of the given video frame does not include geometrical distortion, and
5. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein a portion of the output image corresponding to the portion of the input image does not include geometrical distortion.
the geometrical distortion increases towards boundary of the given output video frame.
6. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein geometrical distortion increases towards boundary of the output image.
8. Application: wherein the target portion of different ones of the video frames is dynamically determined by the one or more physical processors of the camera.
10. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the portion of the input image is determined by the one or more physical processors of the camera…
9. Application: wherein the target portion of the different ones of the video frames is determined by the one or more physical processors of the camera based on a location of an object within the different ones of the video frames.
10. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the portion of the input image is determined by the one or more physical processors of the camera based on a location of an object within the input image.
10. Application: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera preserves full field of view of the video frames in the output video frames.
7. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera preserves full field of view of the input image in the output image.
11. Application: wherein the source aspect ratio makes use of available height of the image sensor.
12. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the source aspect ratio makes use of available height of the image sensor.
12. Application: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera changes optical lens distortion between the video frames and the video frames.
13. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the transformation applied by the one or more physical processors of the camera changes optical lens distortion between the input image and the output image.
13. Application: wherein the optical lens distortion includes barrel distortion or pincushion distortion.
14 & 15. Patent 12,320,028 B2: wherein the optical lens distortion includes barrel distortion or pincushion distortion
14. Application: wherein pixel shifting from the input positions to the output positions changes based on distances between the input positions of the pixels and a center of the target portion within the given video frame.
1. Patent 11,190,709 B2: the transformation non-uniformly shifts the pixels from the input positions to the output positions based on distance between the input position of the pixels and a center of the portion within the input image.
Claims 15-28 are similarly rejected on the grounds of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent Number 12,320,028 B2, U.S. Patent Number 11,722,631 B2, U.S. Patent Number 11,190,709 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,819,918 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,368,013 B2, U.S. Patent Number 10,015,413 B1, U.S. Patent Number 9,674,429 B2, U.S. Patent Number 9,294,671 B2, U.S. Patent Number 8,917,329 B1.
Reference Cited
The following prior art made of record but not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Lachine et al. (U.S Patent Number 7,064,770 B2) discloses a method and system for circularly symmetric anisotropic filtering over an extended elliptical or rectangular footprint in single-pass digital image warping are disclosed. The filtering is performed by first finding and adjusting an ellipse that approximates a non-uniform image scaling function in a mapped position of an output pixel in the input image space. A linear transformation from this ellipse to a unit circle in the output image space is determined to calculate input pixel radii inside the footprint and corresponding filter coefficient as a function of the radius. The shape of the footprint is determined as a trade-off between image quality and processing speed. In one implementation, profiles of smoothing and warping components are combined to produce sharper or detail enhanced output image. The method and system of the invention produce natural output image without jagging artifacts, while maintaining or enhancing the sharpness of the input image.
Segmam (U.S. Patent Number 6,178,272 B1) discloses a method of non-linear and linear scale-up or scale-down image resolution conversion of digital images. The method is based on using non-linear or linear pixel position control functions relating an output image pixel grid to an input image pixel grid, where resolution of each grid is different. The pixel position control functions enable calculation of real pixel position coordinates of output image pixels, embedded within the input image grid. A connection grid is set up as a graphical representation of using the pixel position control functions. Delta functional differences between real valued position coordinates of output pixels located in the connection grid, and neighbor pixel position coordinates located in the input image grid are defined and calculated. Linear combinations of known values of neighbor pixels in the input image grid, surrounding real valued pixel positions of output image pixels located in the connection grid, are used for calculating a new set of local coefficients for each output image pixel. A new value for each output pixel located in the output image grid is calculated by following a differential prescription for a two dimensional image using n neighbors, featuring an inner multiplication between a vector of the delta functional differences between pixel position coordinates, and a vector of the local coefficients. The method of this invention is applicable to cases of non-linear or linear, scale-up, scale-down, or mixed mode scale-up/scale-down image resolution conversion, and is extendable to a u dimensional image using v neighbors. Moreover, the method of this invention is applicable to interlaced or non-interlaced displays, featuring real time or still, digital color, grayscale, or black and white video images.
Conclusion
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/PADMA HALIYUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639 August 18, 2026
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