Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 19/277,942

IMAGE QUALITY CONTROL METHOD, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM, AND PROJECTOR

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Jul 23, 2025
Priority
Jul 24, 2024 — JP 2024-118504
Examiner
ALATA, YASSIN
Art Unit
2426
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 8m
Est. Remaining
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
564 granted / 846 resolved
+8.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
893
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.9%
-32.1% vs TC avg
§103
57.9%
+17.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.1%
-19.9% vs TC avg
§112
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 846 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-10 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claims 1 and 9-10 have been amended. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claims 1-4, 6 and 8-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ito (US 2004/0075665) in view of Tomono (US 2019/0278468). Regarding claim 1, Ito discloses an image quality control method comprising: acquiring first information indicating image quality of a first display device, the first information including information indicating a first image quality for controlling image quality of the first display device (image quality adjustment values are transmitted from projectors to a host computer HPC; see at least paragraphs 0100, 0105 and 0115); acquiring second information indicating image quality, which corresponds to the first information, of a second display device different from the first display device from a database that stores the first information and the second information in association with each other, the second information including information indicating a second image quality of the second display device associated with the first image quality in the database (image quality adjustment values are transmitted from projectors to a host computer HPC; see at least paragraphs 0100, 0105 and 0115); and setting the second information in the second display device (the image quality adjustment values are downloaded by any projector to perform a predetermined image quality adjustment function; see at least paragraphs 0113 and 0120-0122). Ito is not clear about the image quality mode and the table format. Tomono discloses the above missing limitations; quality modes such dynamic, cinema and natural and a table format; see at least paragraphs 0080-0081, 0084 and 0110. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ito by the teachings of Tomono by having the above limitations so to be able to performing setting of a projector in accordance with a type of the projector; see at least the Abstract Regarding claim 2, Ito in view of Tomono disclose image quality control method according to claim 1, further comprising: the first display device displaying a first image based on the first information; and the second display device displaying a second image based on the second information (see at least paragraphs 0092-0093). Regarding claim 3, Ito in view of Tomono disclose image quality control method according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes information indicating a first image quality mode for controlling image quality of the first display device (the image quality adjustment values; see at least the rejection of claim 1). Regarding claim 4, Ito in view of Tomono disclose image quality control method according to claim 3, wherein the first image quality mode is defined by a plurality of setting values preset in the first display device (the image quality adjustment values; see at least the rejection of claim 1). Regarding claim 6, Ito in view of Tomono disclose image quality control method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the first information includes acquiring the first information based on operation of a user (see at least paragraph 0012). Regarding claim 8, Ito in view of Tomono disclose image quality control method according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes model information of the first display device (see at least paragraphs 0067 and 0069). Claim 9 is rejected on the same grounds as claim 1. Claim 10 is rejected on the same grounds as claim 1, wherein projecting the projection image from the optical device based on the second information is met by Ito; paragraphs 0092-0093. Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ito in view of Tomono and further in view of Rabii (US 2016/0174272). Regarding claim 7, Ito in view of Tomono disclose the image quality control method according to claim 6, wherein the acquiring the first information includes: acquiring manufacturer information and model information of the first display device based on the operation of the user (Ito; see at least paragraphs 0012, 0067 and 0069), but are not clear about manufacturer information and selectabley displaying a plurality of candidates based on the manufacturer and model information. Rabii discloses the above missing limitation; selecting from a list of manufactured and model information; see at least paragraph 0081. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ito in view of Tomono by the teachings of Rabii by having the above limitations so to be able to allow the user to select a specific model/manufacturer infrared power on command to send to a display device; see at least paragraph 0081. Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ito in view of Tomono and further in view of Tsuji (US 2024/0333896). Regarding claim 5, Ito in view of Tomono disclose the image quality control method according to claim 1, and discloses wherein the acquiring the first information includes acquiring the first information; see at least the rejection of claim 1, but are not clear about a captured image obtained by capturing an image including first information displayed by a first display device. Tsuji discloses the above missing limitation; a camera is used to capture an image of a video projected by a projector; see at least paragraphs 0002 and 0026. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Ito in view of Tomono by the teachings of Tsuji by having the above limitations so to enable adjustment of the projected video; see at least paragraph 0026. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YASSIN ALATA whose telephone number is (571)270-5683. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7-4 ET. 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, Nasser Goodarzi can be reached at 571-272-4195. 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. /YASSIN ALATA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2426
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 23, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 17, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 08, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+14.6%)
2y 11m (~1y 8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 846 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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