Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/406,241

HEAD-UP DISPLAY FOR VEHICLE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 02, 2025
Priority
Dec 02, 2016 — RE 10-2016-0163753 +3 more
Examiner
LAMB, CHRISTOPHER RAY
Art Unit
2622
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
LG Electronics Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
52%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
Est. Remaining
62%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 52% of resolved cases
52%
Career Allowance Rate
367 granted / 701 resolved
-9.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
729
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.6%
-37.4% vs TC avg
§103
56.1%
+16.1% vs TC avg
§102
22.5%
-17.5% vs TC avg
§112
15.0%
-25.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 701 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
CTNF 19/406,241 CTNF 81624 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-01 AIA 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. 07-31-02 AIA Claim s 1-20 are 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. Regarding claim 1: This claim recites: "wherein the second image light, after traveling back to the second mirror, is reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror" This does not appear to be described in the specification at all. The specification has a number of embodiments, but that the second image light is not reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror in any of them. To understand this. it is necessary to go through all the elements of the claim and relate them to elements in the specification. The embodiment of Fig. 8 will be used as an example but it could be any of them. Claim 1 Fig. 8 1. A head-up display for a vehicle, comprising: a single image generator configured to emit a first image light and a second image light; and Fig. 8: image generator 1 a mirror unit including: a first mirror configured to reflect the first and second image lights toward a windshield of the vehicle, Fig. 8: 3 a second mirror separated from the first mirror and configured to transmit light linearly polarized in a first direction and reflect light linearly polarized in a second direction toward the first mirror, and Fig. 8: 4 -- as can be seen in the figure the S-polarized light is reflected and the P-polarized light is transmitted a third mirror separated from the second mirror and configured to reflect the light linearly polarized in the first direction, which has transmitted through the second mirror, toward the first mirror, Fig. 8: 5 -- as can be seen in the figure it transmits the P-polarized light toward the first mirror 3 wherein a first optical path in which the first image light emitted from the single image generator is reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror, This is the path of the S-polarized light wherein a second optical path in which the second image light passes through the second mirror, is reflected by the third mirror, and travels back to the second mirror, This is the path of the P-polarized light wherein the second image light, after traveling back to the second mirror, is reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror, This does not happen. The second image light -- the P-polarized light -- passes through the second mirror. It is never reflected by it. wherein a first virtual image formed by the first optical path is positioned closer to a driver of the vehicle, and Fig. 8: K wherein a second virtual image formed by the second optical path is positioned farther from a first region of the windshield and farther from the driver than the first virtual image. Fig. 8: M Now, there are other embodiments, and in some the second image light is reflected by the second mirror -- for example, in Fig. 11, where the light bounces back and forth between the second and third mirrors. But in this embodiment although the second mirror does reflect the second image light, it does not reflect it "toward the first mirror" as claimed. Instead it reflects it back to the third mirror, where it is reflected again and transmitted through the second mirror toward the first mirror. It is never reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror. The same is true of the other embodiments. Perhaps this claim should state “wherein the second image light, after traveling back to the second mirror, is reflected by transmitted through the second mirror toward the first mirror,” Regarding claims 2-20: They are dependent on claim 1 . 07-30-02 AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. 07-34-01 Claims 1-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Regarding claim 1: As just discussed above, the claim recites "wherein the second image light, after traveling back to the second mirror, is reflected by the second mirror toward the first mirror.” This does not appear to be described in the specification at all, so it can hardly said to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention. Regarding claims 2-20: They are dependent on claim 1. Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ferri (US 2015/0061976); Kuzuhara et al. (US 2016/0202482); Saisho et al. (US 2016/0313562); Kishigami et al. (US 2017/0146803) . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER RAY LAMB whose telephone number is (571)272-5264. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30-5:00 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, Patrick Edouard can be reached at 571-272-7603. 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 R LAMB/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2622 Application/Control Number: 19/406,241 Page 2 Art Unit: 2622 Application/Control Number: 19/406,241 Page 3 Art Unit: 2622 Application/Control Number: 19/406,241 Page 4 Art Unit: 2622 Application/Control Number: 19/406,241 Page 5 Art Unit: 2622 Application/Control Number: 19/406,241 Page 6 Art Unit: 2622
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 02, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
52%
Grant Probability
62%
With Interview (+9.1%)
3y 3m (~2y 7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 701 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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