Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/296,928

ADAPTIVE ILLUMINATOR SEQUENCING

Non-Final OA §102§DOUBLEPATENT
Filed
Aug 11, 2025
Priority
Dec 21, 2018 — provisional 62/783,328 +3 more
Examiner
MONSHI, SAMIRA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Snap Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
405 granted / 506 resolved
+20.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
521
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
§103
50.9%
+10.9% vs TC avg
§102
33.1%
-6.9% vs TC avg
§112
4.4%
-35.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 506 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §DOUBLEPATENT
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 Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting asbeing unpatentable over claims 1-9, 12-19 of U.S. Patent No. US 11196970. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each otherbecause, by comparing the claims, all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the currentapplication are similar and included in claims 1-9, 12-19 of U.S. Patent No. 11196970 with only some obvious wording or terminology variations. That is, claims 1-20 are anticipated by claims 1-9, 12-19 of U.S. Patent No. 11196970. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting asbeing unpatentable over claims 1-7 and 10-20 of U.S. Patent No. US 11818512. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because, by comparing the claims, all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the currentapplication are similar and included in claims 1-7 and 10-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11818512 with only some obvious wording or terminology variations. That is, claims 1-20 are anticipated by claims 1-7 and 10-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11818512. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of no statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 and 11-19 of U.S. Patent No. US 12413692. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because, by comparing the claims, all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the current application are similar and included in claims 1-9 and 11-19 of U.S. Patent No. 12413692 with only some obvious wording or terminology variations. That is, claims 1-20 are anticipated by claims 1-9 and 11-19 of U.S. Patent No. 12413692. 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) 1-5 and 11-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by RAMANATH (US 20200204768 A1). Regarding claim 1, RAMANATH discloses An eyewear device comprising: a lens defining a waveguide; [0016] FIG. 1 depicts an eyewear device 100. Eyewear device 100 includes a support structure that has a frame 102, a right temple 104a, and a left temple 104b. Frame 102 includes a right rim 106a that supports a right lens 108a and left rim 106b that supports a left lens 108b. an illumination device including a plurality of illumination sources configured to emit light at a respective frequency; [0019] FIG. 3 depicts hardware components 300 for use in eyewear device 100. In addition to SLM 110, ALS 112, thermistor 114, and illumination device 200 described above, hardware components 300 include a system controller 302, a memory 304, current controller 312, and three illuminators. projection optics configured to project light from the plurality of illumination sources into the waveguide for routing to a viewing area; [0086] The switch section 55 is comprised of a first switch 55A to light the illumination section 61, and second switches 55B, 55C to light the illumination section 61 with increase light quantities. When the second switches 55B, 55C are operated, the control section 54 controls the current control circuit 62 so as to change the average current value fed to the illumination section 61 from a rated value to an increase value higher than the rated value. a spatial light modulator coupled to the illumination device to control when each of the plurality of illumination sources are on; and [0041] System controller 302 may additionally adjust timing of illuminators if ambient light levels change while the projector is on. a support structure adapted to be worn on the head of a user, the support structure configured to support the lens in a viewing area visible to the user when wearing the support structure and to support the spatial light modulator adjacent the lens. [0016] FIG. 1 . Eyewear device 100 includes a support structure that has a frame 102 an ambient light sensor (ALS) 112, and a temperature sensor 114, which will be described in further detail below. Regarding claim 2, RAMANATH discloses The eyewear device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller; and an ambient light sensor configured to sense an ambient light level, the ambient light sensor supported by the support structure adjacent the lens. [0016] FIG. 1 . Eyewear device 100 includes a support structure that has a frame 102 an ambient light sensor (ALS) 112, and a temperature sensor 114, which will be described in further detail below. Regarding claim 3, RAMANATH discloses The eyewear device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller; and a temperature sensor supported by the support structure, the temperature sensor positioned adjacent the illumination device to sense temperature; [0020] System controller 302 receives temperature values from thermistor 114 and ambient light levels from ALS 112 via transmission lines. System controller retrieves timing information for tuning on the illuminators from memory 304 based on the ambient light levels. wherein the controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and wherein the spatial light modulator adjusts current to at least one of the plurality of illumination sources responsive to the controller based on the sensed temperature. Fig. 6 and [0038]-[40] for [0038] At step 616, determine if temperature is within an acceptable range. System controller 302 may compare the periodically read temperature values to acceptable temperature limits (e.g., a threshold value and if the read temperature is not within the acceptable range, current to the illuminators is reduced. Regarding claim 4, RAMANATH discloses The eyewear device of claim 1, wherein each illumination source includes a first illuminator adapted to emit light at a first frequency, a second illuminator adapted to emit light at a second frequency, and a third illuminator adapted to emit light at a third frequency, wherein the first, second, and third frequencies are different. [0019] FIG. 3 depicts hardware components 300 for use in eyewear device 100. In addition to SLM 110, ALS 112, thermistor 114, and illumination device 200 described above, hardware components 300 include a system controller 302, a memory 304, current controller 312, and three illuminators. [0020] System controller 302 receives temperature values from thermistor 114 and ambient light levels from ALS 112 via transmission lines. System controller retrieves timing information for tuning on the illuminators from memory 304 based on the ambient light levels. Regarding claim 5, RAMANATH discloses The eyewear device of claim 4, wherein the first illuminator is a red light emitting diode (LED), the second illuminator is a green LED, and the third illuminator is a blue LED. [0019] for he three illuminators include a red illuminator 306 such as a red light emitting diode (LED) adapted to emit light at a first frequency associated with the color red, a green illuminator 308 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a second frequency associated with the color green, and a blue illuminator 310 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a third frequency associated with the color red. Regarding claim 11, RAMANATH discloses An illumination method for use with an eyewear device comprising a lens having a viewing area, spatial light modulator, and a support structure adapted to be worn on the head of a user, the support structure configured to support the lens in a viewing area visible to the user when wearing the support structure and to support the spatial light modulator adjacent the lens, the method comprising: [0019] FIG. 3 depicts hardware components 300 for use in eyewear device 100. In addition to SLM 110, ALS 112, thermistor 114, and illumination device 200 described above, hardware components 300 include a system controller 302, a memory 304, current controller 312, and three illuminators. emitting light using an illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination sources configured to emit light at a respective frequency responsive to the spatial light modulator supported adjacent the lens by the support structure; and [0019] FIG. 3 depicts hardware components 300 for use in eyewear device 100. In addition to SLM 110, ALS 112, thermistor 114, and illumination device 200 described above, hardware components 300 include a system controller 302, a memory 304, current controller 312, and three illuminators. projecting light from the plurality of illumination sources into a waveguide for routing to the viewing area. [0086] The switch section 55 is comprised of a first switch 55A to light the illumination section 61, and second switches 55B, 55C to light the illumination section 61 with increase light quantities. When the second switches 55B, 55C are operated, the control section 54 controls the current control circuit 62 so as to change the average current value fed to the illumination section 61 from a rated value to an increase value higher than the rated value. Regarding claim 12, RAMANATH discloses The illumination method of claim 11, further comprising: sensing an ambient light level with an ambient light sensor supported by the support structure adjacent the lens; wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination sources is adjusted responsive to the ambient light level. [0020] System controller 302 receives temperature values from thermistor 114 and ambient light levels from ALS 112 via transmission lines. System controller retrieves timing information for tuning on the illuminators from memory 304 based on the ambient light levels. Regarding claim 13, RAMANATH discloses The illumination method of claim 11, further comprising: sensing temperature; wherein the emitting comprises adjusting current to at least one of the illumination sources based on the sensed temperature. [0020] System controller 302 receives temperature values from thermistor 114 and ambient light levels from ALS 112 via transmission lines. System controller retrieves timing information for tuning on the illuminators from memory 304 based on the ambient light levels. Regarding claim 14, RAMANATH discloses The illumination method of claim 11, wherein each illumination source includes a first illuminator adapted to emit light at a first frequency, a second illuminator adapted to emit light at a second frequency, and a third illuminator adapted to emit light at a third frequency, wherein the first, second, and third frequencies are different. [0019] for he three illuminators include a red illuminator 306 such as a red light emitting diode (LED) adapted to emit light at a first frequency associated with the color red, a green illuminator 308 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a second frequency associated with the color green, and a blue illuminator 310 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a third frequency associated with the color red. Regarding claim 15, RAMANATH discloses The illumination method of claim 14, wherein the first illuminator is a red light emitting diode (LED), the second illuminator is a green LED, and the third illuminator is a blue LED. [0019] for he three illuminators include a red illuminator 306 such as a red light emitting diode (LED) adapted to emit light at a first frequency associated with the color red, a green illuminator 308 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a second frequency associated with the color green, and a blue illuminator 310 such as a green LED adapted to emit light at a third frequency associated with the color red. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 6-10 and 16-20 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMIRA MONSHI whose telephone number is (571)272-0995. The examiner can normally be reached 8 AM-5 PM. 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, John W Miller can be reached on 5712727353. 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. /SAMIRA MONSHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2422
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Prosecution Timeline

Aug 11, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §DOUBLEPATENT (current)

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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
80%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+6.0%)
2y 3m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 506 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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