`
`Attorney Docket No. EGQ—005CP3C3
`
`PATENT
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`APPLICANT:
`
`Smith
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.:
`
`5575
`
`APPLICATION NO‘:
`
`14/510,959
`
`GROUP NO.:
`
`2881
`
`FILING DATE:
`
`October 9, 2014
`
`EXAMINER :
`
`McCormack, Jason L.
`
`TITLE:
`
`Laser—DriVen Light Source
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Madam:
`
`AMENDMENT AND RESPONSE
`
`This paper is submitted in response to the Office Action mailed from the Patent Office on
`
`November 12, 2014. In the event any fees are due, the Commissioner is hereby authorized to
`
`charge them to Attorney’s Deposit Account No. 50-3081.
`
`Applicant respectfully requests entry of this Amendment and Response, in which:
`
`Amendments to the Specification begin on page 2,
`
`Amendments to the Claims begin on page 3, and
`
`Applicant’s Remarks begin on page 9.
`
`ASML 1109
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 2 of 12
`
`Amendments to the Specification
`
`Please amend the title of the application as indicated below, in conformance with 37
`
`C.F.R. § 1.121.
`
`Light Source for Generating Light from a Laser Sustained Plasma in an Above-
`
`Atmospheric Pressure Chamber Dri=ven—I:ight—Seuree
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 3 of 12
`
`Amendments to the Claims
`
`Please amend the claims as follows, in compliance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.121. This listing
`
`of claims will replace all prior Versions, and listings, of claims in the application:
`
`Listing of the Claims:
`
`
`
`an ignition source for ionizing
`
`,.1
`
`gas within the chamber; and
`
`0‘
`
`~’€
`at least <_, "~.
`
`
`_laser for providing energy
`
`
`
`to the ionized gas to sustain a plasma within the chamber
`
`
`
`
`____light source of claim 1, comprising at least one
`
`optical element for modifying a property of the laser energy provided to the ionized gas.
`
` ‘ light source of claim 1 wherein the pressurized
`
`chamber or a window in the chamber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of
`
`quartz, Suprasil quartz, sapphire, MgF2, diamond, and CaF2.
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 4 of 12
`
`C
`
`.1...hhh6WWWuh%ix111H1ix..asd.co-1nmmmtwm.maaaE1a.1111u1«I.CCCpCpfffVa:1m.000a0.wwwmpwwaIIIumIC..DUUUHaUCm000a10raSSShSUhtttS:St%Chhh6ahcocoasdflweMdHHH.Oa1.00ch_...n.UaH.HCCxu.bmxusA...CU.:_S..xfORE0s.P
`.NoaMmCCCC:pmmmmamnnnude.1.1.1OnhCCCSaIIIaW.CCCnT.
`mmCCCN“.VIn1uStS0ndms«.9.a1mw.nWmP1HCSC3w.
`
`..2345
`.mm6,u0mdfluMMmCa6OhMm.m...
`
`Hma
`
`CVP.UawmaIdp00m0C.g
`
`C
`
`gm.m.uS.1
`
`.1HSSg.1m.1n
`
`
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 5 of 12
`
`OrnT.teumw.mmtnonueWOn0ws.mdW.Mn.mMw.woaW\Lbr1“haQm.wu..ugdscmmt.mhPw.mmumhT.1SIn6V.,.6Mmmmumf6soWnm.1nmeLcm.mmmmwmm0Pau.za6dO1Hhp.1«I.ucmum0$6OCCm.nb.nrH3hPn.wMPMPPT.Sa.1eaSW«MSSCCWh.S.SumiHHs0mm.em..mmmNwmm
`
`.1hMmwmmmum53Mm0tPa,mmmmna.mtmmW016t
`eam1m6,
`.mamC0hSI0CS626m1mdme.PnnVkaubC53.1.Uf..H1SeCOCmmaethCfltp
`
`
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 6 of 12
`
`an ignition source for ionizing a gas within the
`
`
`
`curved reflective surface receiving and reflecting at least a portion of the
`
`electromagnetic energy toward the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a plasma that
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` generates plasma—generated light”; ‘ r ' r ’ g’ M « " mg, the curved reflective
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`surface also receiving at least a portion of the plasma— generated light emitted by the plasma and
`
` ;,light source of claim 20, wherein the curved
`
`reflective surface focuses the electromagnetic energy on a region in the chamber where the
`
`plasma is located.
`
`
`
`pressurized chamber.
`
`
`
`23.
`
` :__light source of claim 20, wherein the pressurized
`
`chamber comprises the curved reflective surface and a window that is transparent to the emitted
`
`light and laser energy.
`
`
`
`least one optical element comprises a reflector that at least substantially reflects a first set of
`
`predefined wavelengths of the electromagnetic energy generated by the at least one laser and at
`
`least substantially allows a second set of wavelengths of the plasma—generated light to pass
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 7 of 12
`
`through the optical element thereby separating the beam of electromagnetic energy provided by
`
`the laser from the beam of plasma— generated light generated within the pressurized chamber.
`
`26.
`_~___light source of claim 20:’
`
`
`
`least one optical element comprises a reflector that at least substantially allows a first set of
`
`predefined wavelengths of the electromagnetic energy generated by the at least one laser to pass
`
`through the optical element and at least substantially reflects a second set of wavelengths of the
`
`plasma— generated light thereby separating the beam of electromagnetic energy provided by the
`
`laser from the beam of plasma— generated light generated within the pressurized chamber.
`
`27. ;_light source of claim 20, wherein the pressurized
`
`chamber has a pressure of at least 10 atmospheres during operation.
`
`28. 1 _light source of claim 20, wherein the pressurized
`
`chamber has a pressure between about 10 atmospheres and 200 atmospheres during operation.
`
`29. :__light source of claim 20, wherein the ignition
`
`source includes electrodes within the chamber.
`
` ‘light source of claim 20 wherein the plasma-
`
`generated light is sustained by a continuous wave laser.
`
`
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.’ 14/510,959
`Page 8 of 12
`
`..__“
`E
`
`i \"M-.1
`,\u!-..
`
`ii.“an“_.Ii_Lii:,_2
` ““_,_,_,_,_2..._,“FLN3N.EW.:I_i,i“«Nx“.0:“L““\_‘_,iI““..E.m12..,,
`
`
`
`—\
`E,.
`
`‘:
`
`4
`-ww-x
`(4.1
`11:1:
`
`4
`l
`
`.
`,.
`.
`‘-.\.~t
`
`E _....<. \
`
`‘
`‘:\.:
`
`3113” E1
`
`Ir\ avcn ;\
`ilk. ! L Ln:
`
`..
`L
`
`-
`Em.»
`:..~ A.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 9 of 12
`
`REMARKS
`
`Claims 1-30 were pending in the application. Claims 4, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 23 are
`
`canceled, claims 1-3, 5-9, 12, 15-22 and 24-30 are amended, and new dependent claims 31-36
`
`are added. Support for the new and amended claims can be found in the canceled claims and in
`
`the specification at least at paragraphs 0011, 0030, 0069, 0143, 0164 and 0249. Applicant
`
`submits that no new matter is added to the application by these amendments.
`
`Examiner Interview
`
`The following is intended to provide an accurate summary of the telephonic examiner
`
`interview that took place yesterday, pursuant to MPEP 713.04. Applicant’s representatives thank
`
`the Examiner for his comments and suggestions offered during the telephonic interview held on
`
`December 4, 2014. Differences of the invention over Cross and Hunt were discussed, and the
`
`Examiner suggested additional features that could clarify the claims. The claim amendments
`
`submitted herewith include those features.
`
`E
`
`The Office Action objects to the title of the invention. As suggested by the Office
`
`Action, Applicant hereby amends the title to “Light Source for Generating Light from a Laser
`
`from a Laser-Sustained Plasma in an Above-Atmospheric Pressure Chamber.” Applicant
`
`respectfully submits that the new title is “clearly indicative” of the claimed invention and
`
`requests withdrawal of this objection.
`
`Re'ection under 35 U.S.C.
`
`102
`
`The Office Action rejections claim 15 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by
`
`U.S. Patent No. 4,780,608 (Cross).
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 10 of 12
`
`Re'ections under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103
`
`The Office Action rejects claims 1-4, 7-10, 13 and 14 oVer USPN 6,541,924 (Kane) in
`
`View of Cross. The Office Action rejects claim 5 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) oVer Kane in View of
`
`Cross, further in View of U.S. Publication No. 2003/0147499 (Kondo). The Office Action rejects
`
`claims 6, 20-22, 24, 29 and 30 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) 0Ver Kane in View of Cross, further in
`
`View of U.S. Publication No. 2006/0192152 (ErshoV). The Office Action rejects claims 11 and
`
`12 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) oVer Kane in View of Cross and further in View of U.S. Publication
`
`No. 2003/0052609 (Eastlund). The Office Action rejects claim 16 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
`
`0Ver Cross in View of Eastlund. The Office Action rejects claims 17 and 18 under 35 U.S.C. §
`
`103(a) oVer Cross in View of Kane. The Office Action rejects claim 19 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
`
`oVer Cross in View of Kane, and further in View of Kondo. The Office Action rejects claim 23
`
`under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) oVer Kane in View of Cross, further in View of ErshoV, and further in
`
`View of U.S. Publication No. 2006/0218857 (ErshoV II). The Office Action rejects claims 25 and
`
`26 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) 0Ver Kane in View of Cross, further in View of ErshoV and U.S.
`
`Publication No. 2001/0016430 (Nakano). The Office Action rejects claims 27 and 28 under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 103(a) oVer Cross in View of ErshoV and Eastlund.
`
`Claim 1
`
`Independent claim 1 and the claims that depend therefrom are rejected oVer combinations
`
`of Cross, Kane, Kondo, ErshoV and Eastlund.
`
`Claim 1 is amended to recite a laser driVen light source that includes a sealed chamber
`
`haVing a gas pressure greater than 10 atmospheres during operation, a laser proViding energy
`
`within a waVelength range from about 700 to 2000 nm to produce plasma generated light haVing
`
`output waVelengths of greater than 50 nm, and a region of transparent material that allows at least
`
`a portion of the plasma generated light to exit the chamber.
`
`As discussed with the Examiner, the features recited in these amendments are lacking
`
`from these references and distinguish the art of record. For example, none of the references of
`
`record produce a plasma generated light haVing output waVelengths greater than 50 nm. This
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 11 of 12
`
`response is provided to make the record complete. Applicant submits that for at least these
`
`reasons claim 1, and the claims that depend therefrom, define patentable subject matter.
`
`Claim 13
`
`Independent claim 13 and the claims that depend therefrom are canceled by this paper.
`
`Claim 15
`
`Independent claim 15 is rejected over Cross. Claims that depend from Cross are rejected
`
`over Cross with combinations of Eastlund, Kane and Kondo.
`
`Claim 15 is amended to recite a laser driven light source having a light bulb defining a
`
`sealed chamber having a gas pressure greater than 10 atmospheres during operation, a laser
`
`providing energy within a wavelength range of up to about 2000 nm to produce plasma generated
`
`light having output wavelengths of greater than 50 nm, and a region of transparent material that
`
`allows at least a portion of the plasma generated light to exit.
`
`As discussed with the Examiner, the features recited in these amendments are lacking
`
`from Cross and distinguish the art of record. For example, none of the references of record
`
`produce a plasma generated light having output wavelengths greater than 50 nm. Neither
`
`Eastlund, Kane nor Kondo cure these deficiencies. This response is provided to make the record
`
`complete. Applicant submits that for at least these reasons claim 15, and the claims that depend
`
`therefrom, define patentable subject matter.
`
`Claim 20
`
`Independent claim 20 and the claims that depend therefrom are rejected over
`
`combinations of Cross, Kane, Ershov, Ershov II, Nankano and Eastlund.
`
`Claim 20 is amended to recite a laser driven light source that includes a sealed
`
`pressurized chamber having a window and a wall that forms a curved reflective surface, the
`
`reflective surface receiving and reflecting electromagnetic energy from a laser to produce a
`
`
`
`Response to Office Action
`Application No.: 14/510,959
`Page 12 of 12
`
`plasma- generated light having output wavelengths greater than 50 nm, and to reflect the plasma
`
`generated light to the window to exit the light source.
`
`As discussed with the Examiner, the features recited in these amendments are lacking
`
`from these references and distinguish the art of record. For example, none of the references of
`
`record produce a plasma generated light having output wavelength s greater than 50 nm. This
`
`response is provided to make the record complete. Applicant submits that for at least these
`
`reasons claim 20, and the claims that depend therefrom, define patentable subject matter.
`
`The new claims
`
`New dependent claims 31-36 are added by this paper. Applicant submits that these
`
`claims also are patentable at least because they depend from allowable independent claims.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`Applicant requests that the Examiner reconsider the application and claims in light of the
`
`foregoing amendment and response, and respectfully submits that the pending claims are in
`
`condition for allowance. The Examiner is invited to call the undersigned attorney at (617) 526-
`
`9626 to discuss the application.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/Gerald E. Worth 45 .238/
`
`Gerald E. Worth, P.E.
`Proskauer Rose LLP
`
`Attorney for the Applicant
`One International Place
`
`Boston, MA 02110
`
`Date: December 17, 2014
`
`Reg. No.: 45,238
`
`Tel. No.: (617) 526-9626
`Fax No.: (617) 526-9899
`
`46523428V1