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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8/18/2025 was filed and is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, as based on a disclosure which is not enabling. The disclosure does not enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without the humidity sensor of claim 5, the temperature sensor of claim 9, and the outside temperature sensor of claim 11, which is/are critical or essential to the practice of the invention but not included in the claim(s). See In re Mayhew, 527 F.2d 1229, 188 USPQ 356 (CCPA 1976).
In regard of claim 1, the applicant recites a condensation protection system for a vehicle headlight which determines the sorbed state of the lamp interior. However, this sorbed state cannot be determine with the humidity and temperature sensors of claims 5, 9, and 11—these elements are critical to the applicant’s invention and must be included in claim 1.
Claims 2-14 are further rejected for depending on claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Robertson et al (US 12,455,060) disclose a vehicle headlamp.
Akin et al (US 2025/0207751 A1) disclose a vehicle headlamp.
Lee (US 2023/0341104 A1) disclose a vehicle headlamp.
Chaudhari et al (US 2023/0264656 A1) disclose a vehicle headlamp.
Li (US 2021/0356094 A1) disclose a vehicle headlamp.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER E DUNAY whose telephone number is (571)270-1222. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00 am - 6:00 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, James (Jong-Suk) Lee can be reached at 571-272-7044. 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.
/CHRISTOPHER E DUNAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875
Prosecution Insights