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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/044,830
`
`10/01/2020
`
`TAKESHI NAKASHIMA
`
`083710-3231
`
`6812
`
`Rimon PC - Panasonic Corporation
`8300 Greensboro Dr.
`Suite 500
`McLean, VA 22102
`
`CHEN, KUANGYUE
`
`3761
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`09/17/2024
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`USPTOmail @rimonlaw.com
`
`eofficeaction @appcoll.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`171044,830
`NAKASHIMA etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`KUANGYUE CHEN
`3761
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 29 August 2024.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)[¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)(2) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-10 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-10 is/are rejected.
`(] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)( objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)7) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`*“ See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240831
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined
`
`underthefirst inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`2.
`
`Applicant's amendments to the claims filed on 08/29/2024 are acknowledged and
`
`entered. According to the Amendments to the claims, claims 1-2, 5-6 and 9 has /have
`
`been amended. Accordingly, claims 1-10 are pending in the application. An action on
`
`the merits for claims 1-10 are asfollow.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
`
`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis forall
`
`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 effectivefiling
`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.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148
`
`USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining
`
`obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 3
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between theprior art and the claims atissue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating
`
`obviousness or nonobviousness.
`
`This application currently namesjoint inventors.
`
`In considering patentability of the
`
`claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was
`
`commonly ownedasof the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any
`
`evidenceto the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to
`
`point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly
`
`ownedas of the effectivefiling date of the later invention in order for the examiner to
`
`consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)
`
`prior art against the later invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-6 and 9-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Yoon etal. (US 2012/0076350 Al) in view of Abdooetal. (US 2019/0128611 A1),
`
`Watanabe (US 6,496,272 BI) and Smith et al. (US 4,507,529).
`
`Regarding Independent Claim 1, Yoon etal. disclose a heating cooking device
`
`comprising:
`
`a heating chamber (a cooking chamber 11, [0017], Figs 1-3) having a front face
`
`opening (see Fig 1); aheater (heat source 25, [0022], Figs 2-3) that heats an object to
`
`be heated stored in the heating chamber(heats food in the cooking chamber11 ,
`
`[0022));
`
`a camera (an image sensor 27, [0020], Figs 2-3) that has an optical axis inclined
`
`with respect to a vertical direction and is disposed on an upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber (an upper wall of the heating chamber 11 is located above the image sensor
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 4
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`27 and under top surface of the cooker; and the image sensor 27 is disposed on the
`
`upper wall of the heating chamber 11, see details in Figs 1-3) to faceinside of the
`
`heating chamber(see Figs 2-3);
`
`a first illuminator (a lighting device 29, [0017], Figs 2-3) that radiates light toward
`
`the inside of the heating chamber from a position near the upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber(lighting device 29 illuminates the inside of the cooking chamber 11, [0024],
`
`Figs 2-3); and
`
`a top panelthat is disposed below the upper wall of the heating chamber(see a
`
`top panel located under image sensor 27 in Figs 2-3; and the top panel is disposed
`
`below the upper wall of the heating chamber 11), wherein:
`
`the heater includes: generate microwaves (the heat source 25 mayinclude at
`
`least one of a high frequency heat source emitting microwavesinto the cooking
`
`chamber 11, [0022]);
`
`Yoon et al. disclose the invention substantially as claimed and as discussed
`
`above; except does not disclose a camera (Note: "a camera" taught by Yoon etal.
`
`already) that has an optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical direction; and a top
`
`panel that is disposed below the upperwall
`
`of the heating chamber (Note: "a top panel that is disposed below the upperwall of the
`
`heating chamber" taught by Yoon etal. already), includes a semitransparent member
`
`that diffuses the light from thefirst illuminator to illuminate downward, and includes a top
`
`panel opening serving as an opening through which the camera imagesthe inside of the
`
`heating chamber, wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron configured to generate
`
`microwaves; a waveguide disposed above the upperwall of the heating chamber; and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 5
`
`a radiation opening disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber and
`
`configured to radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating
`
`chamber, and the camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper
`
`wall of the heating chamber.
`
`Abdooetal. teach an oven (see Title) with a camera (an imaging device 40 can
`
`be in the form of a camera,[0011], Figs 3-4) that has an optical axis inclined with
`
`respect to a vertical direction of a bottom of the heating chamber (an oven body 12 of
`
`the oven 10 in FIG. 1... camera 40... has afield of view 42, [0018], Fig 3. Note: "a
`
`bottom of the heating chamber" taught by Yoonetal. already); such that the camera
`
`faces a direction that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (see Fig 3); and the
`
`camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber (the camera 40 is disposed at a position other than the center of the upper wall
`
`18 of the heating chamber32, Fig 3).
`
`Watanabeteaches a top panel (diffusion plate 58, Col 8 line 12, Fig 4) that is
`
`disposed below the upper wall of the heating chamber (58 is disposed below a wallof
`
`cover 59, Col 7 line 10, Fig 3B; Note: "the upper wall of the heating chamber" taught by
`
`Yoon et al. already), includes a semitransparent member(58, comprising a ring-shaped
`
`semi-transparent flat plate member, Col 8 line 12) that diffuses the light from thefirst
`
`illuminator to illuminate downward (diffuses the light emitted, Col 8 line 13. Note: "the
`
`light from thefirst illuminator to illuminate downward" taught by Yoonetal. already),
`
`and includes a top panel opening (an aperture 58a, Col 8 line 14, Fig 5B) serving as an
`
`opening through which the camera images theinside of the heating chamber (camera
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 6
`
`65 imagesthe inside of cover 59, Col 7 line 11. Note: "the camera imagestheinside of
`
`the heating chamber" taught by Yoon etal. already).
`
`And Smith et al. teach an oven (a microwave oven designated generally 10, Col
`
`3 line 25, Figs 1-4) and wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron (a magnetron 40, Col
`
`3 line 38, Fig 2) configured to generate microwaves; a waveguide disposed above the
`
`upper wall of the heating chamber (a waveguide 44 disposed above the upper wall 28 of
`
`the heating chamber 24, Fig 2); and aradiation opening (coupling apertures 46, Col 3
`
`line 52, Fig 2) disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber (see Fig 2)
`
`and configured to radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating
`
`chamber (Energy is 50 transmitted from waveguide 44 to cooking cavity 24 via coupling
`
`apertures 46 formed in cavity wall 28, Col 3 line 50-52).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effectivefilling date of the
`
`claimedinvention to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Yoonet al. with Abdooet
`
`al.’s teaching of a camera that has an optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical
`
`direction of a bottom of the heating chamber, such that the camera faces a direction that
`
`is inclined with respect to the vertical direction; and the camera is disposed at a position
`
`other than the center of the upper wall of the heating chamber; because Abdooetal.
`
`teach, in Para. [0024], of providing an excellent monitoring way to monitor contents to
`
`be cooked during cooking in an oven without the need for opening the oven doorto view
`
`additional angles of the contents to be cooked; further modify Yoonetal. in view of
`
`Abdooet al. with Watanabe’s teaching of a top panel that is disposed below the upper
`
`wall of the heating chamber, includes a semitransparent memberthat diffuses the light
`
`from thefirst illuminator to illuminate downward, and includes a top panel opening
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 7
`
`serving as an opening through which the camera imagestheinside of the heating
`
`chamber; because Watanabeteaches,in Abstract, of providing an excellentilluminator
`
`for the convenienceofilluminate a to-be-mounted component during operation; and
`
`further modify Yoon et al. in view of Abdooet al. and Watanabe with Smithetal.’s
`
`teaching of wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron configured to generate
`
`microwaves; a waveguide disposed above the upperwall of the heating chamber; and a
`
`radiation opening disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber and
`
`configured to radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating
`
`chamber, and the camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper
`
`wall of the heating chamber; because Smith etal. teach, in Col 3 line 47-52, of
`
`providing excellent microwave energy from magnetron output prob 42 of magnetron 40
`
`coupled to cooking cavity 24 via rectangular feed waveguide 44 which extends
`
`generally centrally along the upper cavity wall 28 for a better cooking.
`
`Regarding Claims 2-6 and 10, Yoonetal. in view of Abdooet al., Watanabe
`
`and Smith etal. teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above, and further
`
`teach:
`
`Claim 2, wherein, when seeing from a top view, the camera is disposed closer to
`
`the front face opening than the center of the upper wall is (see Figs 2-3, Yoonetal.),
`
`and the optical axis is inclined toward a rear side of the heating chamberwith respect to
`
`the vertical direction (Clearly, "the optical axis" capable of "inclined toward a rear side of
`
`the heating chamber with respect to a vertical direction", Fig 3, Abdooetal.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 8
`
`Claim 3, wherein thefirst illuminator includes a light emitting diode as a light
`
`source(light emitting diodes LEDs 54, Col 7 line 17, Watanabe. Note:"thefirst
`
`illuminator" taught by Yoon etal. already).
`
`Claim 4, wherein thefirst illuminator includes a light emitting diode as a light
`
`source(light emitting diodes LEDs 54, Col 7 line 17, Watanabe. Note:"thefirst
`
`illuminator" taught by Yoon etal. already).
`
`Claim 5, wherein, when seeing from a top view,thefirst illuminator is disposed
`
`farther from the front face opening than the center of the upper wall is (Clearly, "thefirst
`
`illuminator" capable of "disposed farther from the front face opening than a center of the
`
`upper wall is" as claimed, Figs 2-3, Yoon et al.).
`
`Claim 6, wherein the camera andthefirstilluminator are disposed to face each
`
`other with the center of the upper wall interposed between the camera andthefirst
`
`illuminator (image sensor 27 and lighting device 29 are disposed to face each other with
`
`a center of the upper wall interposed between 27 and 29, Figs 2-3, Yoonetal.).
`
`Regarding Independent Claim 9, Yoonet al. disclose a heating cooking device
`
`comprising:
`
`a heating chamber (a cooking chamber 11, [0017], Figs 1-3) having an opening
`
`on a front face of the heating chamber( see Fig 1);
`
`a heater (heat source 25, [0022], Figs 2-3) that heats an object to be heated
`
`stored in the heating chamber (heats food in the cooking chamber 11 , [0022));
`
`a camera (an image sensor 27, [0020], Figs 2-3) that has an optical axis inclined
`
`with respect to a vertical direction and is disposed on an upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber (an upper wall of the heating chamber 11 is located above the image sensor
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 9
`
`27 and under top surface of the cooker; and the image sensor 27 is disposed on the
`
`upper wall of the heating chamber 11, see details in Figs 1-3) to faceinside of the
`
`heating chamber(see Figs 2-3);
`
`an illumination opening (lighting opening 15, [0018], Figs 2-3) that is opened in
`
`the upper wall of the heating chamber(details in Figs 2-3);
`
`a first illuminator (a lighting device 29, [0017], Figs 2-3) that is disposed more
`
`outside the heating chamber than the upper wall of the heating chamber(details in Figs
`
`2-3) and radiates light into the heating chamberthrough theillumination opening
`
`(Lighting device 29illuminates the inside of the cooking chamber11 ... over thelighting
`
`opening 15, [0024], Figs 2-3);
`
`a top panel that is disposed moreinside the heating chamber than the upper wall
`
`of the heating chamber (see a top panel located under image sensor 27 in Figs 2-3; and
`
`the top panel is disposed moreinside the heating chamber 11 than the upper wall of the
`
`heating chamber 11, Figs 1-3);
`
`Yoon et al. disclose the invention substantially as claimed and as discussed
`
`above; except does not disclose a camera (Note: "a camera" taught by Yoon etal.
`
`already) that has an optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical direction; and a top
`
`panel that is disposed more inside the heating chamberthan the upper wall of the
`
`heating chamber (Note: "a top panel that is disposed more inside the heating chamber
`
`than the upper wall of the heating chamber" taught by Yoonet al. already), has a larger
`
`area as seen from abovethantheillumination opening,
`
`is formed not to overlap with the
`
`camera as seen from above,and is formed of a semitransparent material to allow light
`
`radiated from thefirst illuminator to pass through downward while diffusing the light,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 10
`
`wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron configured to generate microwaves; a
`
`waveguide disposed above the upper wall of the heating chamber; and a radiation
`
`opening disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber and configured to
`
`radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating chamber, and the
`
`camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber.
`
`Abdooetal. teach an oven (see Title) with a camera (an imaging device 40 can
`
`be in the form of a camera,[0011], Figs 3-4) that has an optical axis inclined with
`
`respect to a vertical direction of a bottom of the heating chamber (an oven body 12 of
`
`the oven 10 in FIG. 1... camera 40... has a field of view 42, [0018], Fig 3. Note: "a
`
`bottom of the heating chamber" taught by Yoonet al. already); such that the camera
`
`faces a direction that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (see Fig 3); and the
`
`camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper wall of the heating
`
`chamber (the camera 40 is disposed at a position other than the center of the upper wall
`
`18 of the heating chamber32, Fig 3).
`
`Watanabeteachesa top panel (diffusion plate 58, Col 8 line 12, Fig 4) that is
`
`disposed moreinside the heating chamber than the upper wall of the heating chamber
`
`(58 is disposed inside of a cover 59, Col 7 line 10, Fig 3B), has a larger area as seen
`
`from abovethan theillumination opening (58 has a larger area than opening 53a, Col 7
`
`line 51, Figs 4-5B. Note: "the illumination opening" taught by Yoon etal. already), is
`
`formed not to overlap with the camera as seen from above (Clearly, the top panel 58 of
`
`capable of "not to overlap with the camera as seen from above"as claimed. Note: "the
`
`camera" taught by Yoon et al. already), and is formed of a semitransparent material (58,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 11
`
`comprising a ring-shaped semi-transparent flat plate member, Col 8 line 12) to allow
`
`light to pass through downward while diffusing the light (diffusion plate 58 ... diffuses the
`
`light emitted, Col 8 line 14).
`
`And Smith et al. teach an oven (a microwave oven designated generally 10, Col
`
`3 line 25, Figs 1-4) and wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron (a magnetron 40, Col
`
`3 line 38, Fig 2) configured to generate microwaves; a waveguide disposed above the
`
`upper wall of the heating chamber (a waveguide 44 disposed above upper wall 28 of
`
`heating chamber 24, Fig 2); and a radiation opening (coupling apertures 46, Col 3 line
`
`52, Fig 2) disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber (see Fig 2) and
`
`configured to radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating
`
`chamber (Energy is 50 transmitted from waveguide 44 to cooking cavity 24 via coupling
`
`apertures 46 formed in cavity wall 28, Col 3 line 50-52).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effectivefilling date of the
`
`claimedinvention to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Yoonet al. with Abdooet
`
`al.’s teaching of a camera that has an optical axis inclined with respect to a vertical
`
`direction of a bottom of the heating chamber, such that the camera faces a direction that
`
`is inclined with respect to the vertical direction; and the camera is disposed at a position
`
`other than the center of the upper wall of the heating chamber; because Abdooetal.
`
`teach, in Para. [0024], of providing an excellent monitoring way to monitor contents to
`
`be cooked during cooking in an oven without the need for opening the oven doorto view
`
`additional angles of the contents to be cooked; further modify Yoon etal. in view of
`
`Abdooet al. with Watanabe’s teaching of a top panel that is disposed below the upper
`
`wall of the heating chamber, includes a semitransparent memberthat diffuses the light
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 12
`
`from thefirst illuminator to illuminate downward, and includes a top panel opening
`
`serving as an opening through which the camera imagesthe inside of the heating
`
`chamber; because Watanabeteaches,in Abstract, of providing an excellentilluminator
`
`for the convenienceofilluminate a to-be-mounted component during operation; and
`
`further modify Yoon et al. in view of Abdooet al. and Watanabe with Smithetal.’s
`
`teaching of wherein: the heater includes: a magnetron configured to generate
`
`microwaves; a waveguide disposed above the upperwall of the heating chamber; and a
`
`radiation opening disposed at a center of the upper wall of the heating chamber and
`
`configured to radiate the microwavestransmitted by the waveguide to the heating
`
`chamber, and the camerais disposed at a position other than the center of the upper
`
`wall of the heating chamber; because Smithet al. teach, in Col 3 line 47-52, of
`
`providing excellent microwave energy from magnetron output prob 42 of magnetron 40
`
`coupled to cooking cavity 24 via rectangular feed waveguide 44 which extends
`
`generally centrally along the upper cavity wall 28 for a better cooking.
`
`Claim 10, wherein the semitransparent memberis made of a microwave
`
`transmissible material (a diffusion plate 58 which diffuses light emitted from the LEDs
`
`54, Col 7 line 25, taught by Watanabe. According to the Specification page 2 line 11
`
`stating that "a semitransparent memberthat diffuses the light from thefirst illuminator to
`
`illuminate downwara"; clearly, that's exactly taught by diffusion plate 58 of Watanabe.
`
`(Note: According to https://physics.stackexchange.com/; every sort of material (metal,
`
`wood, plastic, stone, glass, ceramic, concrete, sea water, you name it) possesses a
`
`certain amountof electrical conductivity and a certain amountof dielectric behavior;
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 13
`
`taken in combination, this means that a beam of electromagnetic radiation may be
`
`reflected, refracted, absorbed, or transmitted without loss by the materials it impinges
`
`on- and all of that is frequency dependent).
`
`5.
`
`Claims 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Yoon et al. (US 2012/0076350 Al) in view of Abdooetal. (US 2019/0128611 A1),
`
`Watanabe (US 6,496,272 BI) and Smith et al. (US 4,507,529). applied to claims shown
`
`above, further in view of Do (US 2012/0170247 Al).
`
`Regarding Claims 7-8, Yoonetal. in view of Abdooet al., Watanabe and
`
`Smith et al. teach the invention as claimed and as discussed above; except does not
`
`teach Claims 7-8.
`
`Dofurther teaches a heating cooking device (microwave oven 12, [0025], Figs 1-
`
`3), and: Claim 7, further comprising a second illuminator andathird illuminator (Diode
`
`(LED) light panels 10, [0025], Figs 1-3) that are disposed below the top panel (see Fig
`
`1), the secondilluminator and the third illuminator each illuminating the inside of the
`
`heating chamber (Diode (LED) light panels 10 each illuminating the inside 18 and 20 of
`
`heating chamber, [0025], Fig 1). Claim 8, wherein the secondilluminator is disposed at
`
`a position onaleft side wall of the heating chamber (Diode (LED) light panel 10 is
`
`disposed at a position onaleft side wall 18 of the heating chamber, [0025], Fig 1), the
`
`position of the secondilluminator being closer to the front face opening than a centerof
`
`the left side wall when viewed from a top view (see details in Fig 1), and
`
`the third illuminator is disposed at a position on a right side wall of the heating
`
`chamber (Diode (LED) light panel 10 is disposed at a position on a right side wall 20 of
`
`the heating chamber, [0025], Fig 1), the position of the third illuminator being closer to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 14
`
`the front face opening than a center of the right side wall when viewed from the top
`
`view,the right side wall facing the left side wall (see details in Fig 1).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effectivefilling date of the
`
`claimedinvention to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Yoonetal. in view of
`
`Abdooet al., Watanabe and Smith etal. with De’s further teaching of Claims 7-8;
`
`because Doteaches, in Para. [0007], of providing an excellent high-intensity light-
`
`emitting diode (LED) light within the cooking cavity, so that the contents of the oven are
`
`fully illuminated with an intensity sufficient to provide a good contrast ratio for viewing
`
`the contents through the access window.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`6.
`
`Applicant's arguments with respect to Claims 1-10 have been considered but are
`
`moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in any
`
`claims of the current rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`7.
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
`
`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
`
`§ 706.07(a). 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 eventafirst 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-MONTHshortened statutory period, then the
`
`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 15
`
`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
`
`the advisory action.
`
`Inno event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
`
`than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
`
`The prior art made of record and notrelied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`applicant's disclosure. Applicant is advised to refer to the Notice of References Cited for
`
`pertinent prior art.
`
`Anyinquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to KUANGYUE CHEN whosetelephone numberis
`
`571/272-8224. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9:00-5:00 EST.
`
`Examinerinterviews 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 AutomatedInterview Request
`
`(AIR) at http:/Avwww.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, supervisor
`
`Dana Ross can be reached on 571/272-4480, supervisor Kosanovic Helena can be
`
`reached on 571/272-9059, or supervisor Nathaniel Wiehe can be reached on 571/270-
`
`5569. The fax phone numberfor the organization where this application or proceeding
`
`is assigned is 571/273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/044,830
`Art Unit: 3761
`
`Page 16
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866/217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800/786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571/272-1000.
`
`/KUANGYUE CHEN/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 3761
`
`/DANA ROSS/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3761
`
`

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