Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 19/208,893

ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, REPRODUCTION DEVICE, REPRODUCTION METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND RECORDING METHOD

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
May 15, 2025
Priority
Sep 30, 2014 — JP 2014-201951 +4 more
Examiner
BERHAN, AHMED A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
NIKON Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
962 granted / 1099 resolved
+27.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
1117
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
§103
51.1%
+11.1% vs TC avg
§102
24.4%
-15.6% vs TC avg
§112
10.2%
-29.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1099 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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 . Double Patenting A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. Claim [1] is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claim[1] of prior U.S. Patent No.[11, 006, 067]. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. Below is the table showing the conflicting claims US. 19/208,893 US Pat. No. 11, 006, 067 1. An electronic apparatus comprising: an input unit, of an image sensor having a plurality of imaging regions at which different imaging conditions can be set, into which there are input (i) first image data of a subject imaged in a first imaging region of the plurality of imaging regions and at which a first imaging condition of the image sensor is set, (ii) second image data of a subject imaged in a second imaging region of the plurality of imaging regions and at which a second imaging condition of the image sensor is set, (iii) first position information showing a position of the first imaging region at which the first imaging condition is set, (iv) second position information showing a position of the second imaging region at which the second imaging condition is set, (v) first subject information showing a type of the subject imaged in the first imaging region at which the first imaging condition is set, and (vi) second subject information showing a type of the subject imaged in the second imaging region at which the second imaging condition is set; and a recording control unit that records, in association with each other, (1) the first image data, (2) the first position information, and (3) the first subject information that have been input to the input unit, and also records, in association with each other, (4) the second image data, (5) the second position information, and (6) the second subject information that have been input to the input unit. 1. An electronic apparatus comprising: an input unit, of an image sensor having a plurality of imaging regions at which different imaging conditions can be set, into which there are input (i) first image data of a subject imaged in a first imaging region of the plurality of imaging regions and at which a first imaging condition of the image sensor is set, (ii) second image data of a subject imaged in a second imaging region of the plurality of imaging regions and at which a second imaging condition of the image sensor is set, (iii) first position information showing a position of the first imaging region at which the first imaging condition is set, (iv) second position information showing a position of the second imaging region at which the second imaging condition is set, (v) first subject information showing a type of the subject imaged in the first imaging region at which the first imaging condition is set, and (vi) second subject information showing a type of the subject imaged in the second imaging region at which the second imaging condition is set; and a recording control unit that records, in association with each other, (1) the first image data, (2) the first position information, and (3) the first subject information that have been input to the input unit, and also records, in association with each other, (4) the second image data, (5) the second position information, and (6) the second subject information that have been input to the input unit. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Border (US. Pat. No. 8, 605,185) discloses: Multiple different capture rates (or frame rates) of regions or groups of pixels on an image sensor can be supported simultaneously on some types of image sensors such as CMOS image sensors. Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0084486 describes a method of using an image sensor in an image capture device to provide at least two different video signals at different capture rates. In col. 4 lines 3-10. Kitano (US. Pat. No. 8, 841, 628) discloses: a recording unit (image capturing history recording unit) 216 for recording the image data transferred from the electronic cassette 20 through the communication unit 214, a program, and the like, and a database 220 having a table 218, which stores image capturing conditions including irradiation times of the radiation 16 associated with imaging areas and diagnostic sites. In col. 38 lines 13-19. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED A BERHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5094. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00Am-5:00pm (MAX- Flex). 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, 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. 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. /AHMED A BERHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 15, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12701322
INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM
2y 2m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12701341
IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD
2y 0m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12695996
LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED) FLICKER MITIGATION (LFM) USING SPATIALLY MULTIPLEXED IMAGE SENSOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12689825
DETECTION METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM
2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12689813
Systems, Apparatus, and Methods for Generating Enhanced Images
1y 10m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
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
88%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+11.4%)
2y 3m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1099 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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