`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313- 1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`12/000,293
`
`12/11/2007
`
`Mitsuhide Miyamoto
`
`HITA-1049
`
`2699
`
`7590
`“”6”“
`JuanCaflosAMmq —
`c/o Stites & Harbison PLLC
`PATEL, SANJIV D
`1199 North Fairfax Street
`Sulte 900
`Alexandria, VA 223 14- 1437
`
`2697
`
`
`
`
`NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/ 1 6/201 3
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/0r 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):
`
`iplaw @ stites.com
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 12/000,293 MIYAMOTO ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`SANJIV D. PATEL its“ 2697
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event however may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX () MONTHS from 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) MONTHS from 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, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1 .704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 8AQI’i/ 2013.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:l This action is non-final.
`2a)|Z| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:| 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 Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 14 5 73nd 10 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`
`7)|Z| Claim(s) 1 4 5 73nd 10 is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`hit
`:/'/\W¢W.LISI>I‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`hI/index.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgto.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)I:l The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I 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)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:l Some * c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in 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.
`
`Interim copies:
`
`a)|:l All
`
`b)I:I Some
`
`c)I:I None of the:
`
`Interim copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`
`Paper N°ISI/Ma" Date' —
`PTO/SB/08
`t
`t
`St
`I
`D'
`I'
`f
`2 I] I
`)
`4) I:I Other:
`a emen (s) (
`Isc osure
`n orma Ion
`)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 03-13)
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130508
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`Claims 1 and 5 have been amended as per Applicant’s amendment filed on April
`
`8, 2013. Claims 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, and 11-14 have been cancelled. Claims 1, 4, 5, 7, and 10
`
`are pending.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
`
`2.
`
`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.
`
`3.
`
`Claims 1, 5, and the claims depending therefrom are 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
`
`Regarding claims 1 and 5, the claim language recites in part “wherein... flthe
`
`first property value...” The recitation of the condition “if’ renders the claim unclear since
`
`there is no disclosure of what happens should the “if’ condition not be met.
`
`Therefore, Examiner respectfully recommends replacing the word "if" with the
`
`word "when” in both claims 1 and 5 to remedy this defect.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2697
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`5.
`
`Claim 1
`
`is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as obvious over Kondakov et al. (US
`
`7,079,091 B2, Patented July 18, 2006) in view of Winters (US 2008/0085652 A1, Filed
`
`October 10, 2006).
`
`As to claim 1, Kondakov et al. discloses a display unit, including:
`
`a screen on which plural pixels each having an OLED device are arranged in a
`
`matrix (Abstract; col. 6, ll. 59); and
`
`a detection unit which measures a first property value of the OLED device (Fig.
`
`11, measurement circuit/ADC 12; col. 5, II. 30-34) of each of the plural pixels (col. 6, II.
`
`46-48) at a predetermined time interval to reflect a change in the first property value of
`
`the OLED device in an image signal (col. 5, ll. 63 to col. 6,
`
`ll. 6 discloses that
`
`measurement and calculation occurs at predetermined intervals without interfering with
`
`an image perceived by a user. A "signal representative of the accumulated charge" is
`
`analogous to a first property),
`
`wherein the change in the first property value of the OLED device of a subject
`
`pixel is obtained by comparing to the first property value of the OLED device of the
`
`subject pixel with a second property value derived from a statistical processing of the
`
`first property value of the OLED device of each of the plural pixels (col. 4, II. 34-47,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`“adjusting driving current using measured transition voltage and predetermined
`
`parameters (slope and intercept) of a linear correlation between transition voltage
`
`and luminance" implicates statistical processing of the first property value)1 which exist
`
`on a same scanning line as the subject pixel (col. 6, II. 46-48).
`
`In the event that it is found that Kondakov et al. does not disclose the claimed
`
`aspect of “which exist on a same scanning line as the subject pixel," then given the
`
`disclosure by Kondakov et al. that the present invention can use 1) a single test pixel in
`
`the OLED device, or 2) representative pixels in the array of OLED pixels, or 3) every
`
`pixel in the array of OLED pixels (col. 6, II. 46-48), it would have been obvious to a
`
`person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to try and compare to the
`
`first property value of the OLED device of the subject pixel with a second property value
`
`derived from a statistical processing of the first property value of the OLED device of
`
`each of the plural pixels which exist on a same scanning line as the subject pixel, since
`
`the number of representative pixel combinations is ostensibly finite.
`
`Kondakov et al. does not disclose that for each of the pixels that exist on the
`
`same scanning line as the subject pixel, if the first property value of the OLED device of
`
`the pixel is not within a predetermined range, the first property value of the OLED
`
`device of the pixel is not used in the statistical processing to derive the second property
`
`value for the scanning line.
`
`However, Winters does disclose that for each of the pixels that exist on the same
`
`scanning line as the subject pixel, if the first property value of the OLED device of the
`
`1 See also Kabe et al. at 1] [0010]—[001 1] which discloses computing an average — or statistical mean — of
`brightness of a plurality of pixels comprising an image. See also Final Office Action dated July 18, 2012
`at pages 3-4.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`pixel is not within a predetermined range (Fig. 2, Step 520; ‘|j [0051] discloses “Defective
`
`light producing elements can include light producing elements that produce abnormal
`
`brightness, such as light producing elements that are dim or overly bright... If such
`
`defective light producing elements were utilized in the pixels of the final OLED display,
`
`these pixels would be defective dead pixels"),
`
`the first property value of the OLED device of the pixel is not used in the
`
`statistical processing to derive the second property value for the scanning line (Fig. 2,
`
`Step 530-560; 11 [0054]-[0055] discloses recording the location of the defective pixel and
`
`adjusting the color filter pattern to account for the defective pixel(s). The adjusting of
`
`the color filter pattern is tantamount to removing the first property value of the OLED
`
`from the statistical processing to drive the second property).
`
`Kondakov et al. discloses a base organic light emitting diode (OLED) display
`
`device upon which the claimed invention is an improvement. Winters discloses a
`
`comparable OLED display device which has been improved in the same way as the
`
`claimed invention. Hence, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill
`
`in the art at the time of invention to add the teachings of Winters to that of Kondakov et
`
`al. for the predictable result of providing a high quality image even when one or more of
`
`the light producing elements are defective pixels (Winters at 11 [0011]-[0012]).
`
`6.
`
`Claims 4, 5, 7 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Kondakov et al. (US 7,079,091 B2, Patented July 18, 2006) in view of Winters (US
`
`2008/0085652 A1, Filed October 10, 2006) as applied to claim 1 above, and in further
`
`view of Kabe et al. (JP 2002-278513-A, Published September 27, 2002).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2697
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`As to claim 4, the combination of Kondakov et al. and Winters discloses the
`
`display unit according to claim 1. Kondakov et al. implies but does not expressly
`
`disclose a line memory for storing the first property value of the OLED device of each of
`
`the plural pixels that exist on the scanning line (See Fig. 11; col. 6, ll. 9-13, it is well
`
`known in the art that microcontrollers/microprocessors have memory in the form of
`
`registers and caches).
`
`However, Kabe et al. does disclose a line memory for storing the first property
`
`value of the OLED device of each of the plural pixels that exist on the scanning line (11
`
`[0030] affirmatively discloses "First, it describes about the method of measuring the
`
`current value which flows into Lo!) organic EL device... The current amount which
`
`flows into L0!) organic EL device at this time is measured by a current measurement
`
`element, and a memory device is made to memorize a test result"; See also 11 [0060]
`
`which describes how current which flows into each organic EL element is measured).
`
`Kondakov et al. discloses a base OLED display device upon which the claimed
`
`invention is an improvement. Kabe et al. discloses a comparable OLED display device
`
`which has been improved in the same way as the claimed invention. Hence, it would
`
`have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to
`
`add the teachings of Kabe et al. to that of Kondakov et al. for the predictable result of
`
`minimizing luminance variation among pixels (Kabe et al. at 1] [0010]-[0011]).
`
`As to claim 5, Kondakov et al. discloses a display unit including a screen on
`
`which plural pixels each having an OLED device are arranged in a matrix (Abstract; col.
`
`6, ||. 59), which measures a first property value of the OLED device (Fig. 11,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2697
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`measurement circuit/ADC 12; col. 5, II. 30-34) of each of the plural pixels (col. 6, ll. 46-
`
`48) at a predetermined time interval to reflect a change in the first property value of the
`
`OLED device in an image signal (col. 5, ll. 63 to col. 6, ll. 6 discloses that measurement
`
`and calculation occurs at predetermined intervals without interfering with an image
`
`perceived by a user. A "signal representative of the accumulated charge" is analogous
`
`to a first property),
`
`wherein the change in the first property value of the OLED device of a subject
`
`pixel is obtained by comparing the first property value of the OLED device of the subject
`
`pixel with a second property value derived from a statistical processing of the first
`
`property values of the OLED devices of the pixels of the plural pixels (col. 4, II. 34-47,
`
`“adjusting driving current using measured transition voltage and predetermined
`
`parameters (slope and intercept) of a linear correlation between transition voltage
`
`and luminance" implicates statistical processing of the first property value) which exist
`
`on a same scanning line as the subject pixel (col. 6, II. 46-48).
`
`While Kondakov et al. reasonably suggests comparing the subject pixel with
`
`each of the plural pixels which exist on a same scanning line as the subject pixel,
`
`Kondakov et al. does not expressly disclose this aspect and that the first property value
`
`of the OLED device of each of the plural pixels that exist on the same scanning line as
`
`the subject pixel that is used in the statistical processing to derive the second property
`
`value for the scanning line is in a predetermined range of the first property value of the
`
`OLED device of the subject pixel.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`However, Kabe et al. does disclose comparing the subject pixel with each of the
`
`plural pixels which exist on a same scanning line as the subject pixel that is used in the
`
`statistical processing to derive the second property value for the scanning line (Figs. 6-
`
`11 & 11 [0028j-[0050] also describe, for example, how current in three OLED pixels on
`
`the same line are measured, averaged - statistically processed, then used to correct a
`
`subject OLED pixel on the same line), and that the first property value of the OLED
`
`device of each of the plural pixels that exist on the same scanning line as the subject
`
`pixel is in a predetermined range of the first property value of the OLED device of the
`
`subject pixel (11 [0010]-[0011], in particular, discloses computing an average — or
`
`statistical mean — of brightness of a plurality of pixels comprising an image such that the
`
`average is subsequently used to generate correction information to compensate
`
`individual OLEDs such that their emitted brightness is uniform.
`
`It follows that the first
`
`property of each of the plurality of pixels is necessarily within a predetermined range of
`
`the subject pixel in order that the brightness remain uniform).
`
`Kondakov et al. discloses a base OLED display device upon which the claimed
`
`invention is an improvement. Kabe et al. discloses a comparable OLED display device
`
`which has been improved in the same way as the claimed invention. Hence, it would
`
`have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to
`
`add the teachings of Kabe et al. to that of Kondakov et al. for the predictable result of
`
`minimizing luminance variation among pixels (Kabe et al. at 1] [0010]—[0011]).
`
`The combination of Kondakov et al. and Kabe et al. does not disclose that for
`
`each of the pixels that exist on the same scanning line as the subject pixel, if the first
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`property value of the OLED device of the pixel is not within a predetermined range, the
`
`first property value of the OLED device of the pixel is not used in the statistical
`
`processing to derive the second property value for the scanning line.
`
`However, Winters does disclose that for each of the pixels that exist on the same
`
`scanning line as the subject pixel, if the first property value of the OLED device of the
`
`pixel is not within a predetermined range (Fig. 2, Step 520; ‘|j [0051] discloses “Defective
`
`light producing elements can include light producing elements that produce abnormal
`
`brightness, such as light producing elements that are dim or overly bright... If such
`
`defective light producing elements were utilized in the pixels of the final OLED display,
`
`these pixels would be defective dead pixels"),
`
`the first property value of the OLED device of the pixel is not used in the
`
`statistical processing to derive the second property value for the scanning line (Fig. 2,
`
`Step 530-560; 11 [0054]-[0055] discloses recording the location of the defective pixel and
`
`adjusting the color filter pattern to account for the defective pixel(s). The adjusting of
`
`the color filter pattern is tantamount to removing the first property value of the OLED
`
`from the statistical processing to drive the second property).
`
`The combination of Kondakov et al. and Kabe et al. discloses a base organic
`
`light emitting diode (OLED) display device upon which the claimed invention is an
`
`improvement. Winters discloses a comparable OLED display device which has been
`
`improved in the same way as the claimed invention. Hence, it would have been obvious
`
`to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to add the teachings of
`
`Winters to that of the combination of Kondakov et al. and Kabe et al.
`
`for the predictable
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2697
`
`result of providing a high quality image even when one or more of the light producing
`
`elements are defective pixels (Winters at 1i [0011]—[0012]).
`
`As to claim 7, the combination of Kondakov et al., Kabe et al., and Winters
`
`discloses the display unit according to claim 5. Kondakov et al. further discloses that
`
`the first property value of the OLED device of the subject pixel is represented by a
`
`voltage between terminals of the OLED device (col. 4, II. 34-51, The “transition voltage”
`
`is measured between the terminals of an OLED device; col. 6, II. 46-48).
`
`wherein the first property value of the OLED device of each of the plural pixels
`
`that exist on the same scanning line as the subject pixel is represented by a voltage
`
`between terminals of the OLED device (Fig. 11; col. 4, II. 34-51, The “transition voltage”
`
`is measured between the terminals of an OLED device; col. 6, II. 46-48), and
`
`wherein the first property value of the OLED device of each of the plural pixels
`
`that exist on the same scanning line as the subject pixel is represented by the voltage
`
`between terminals of the OLED device for receiving a specific current application within
`
`a predetermined range (Fig. 11 ; col. 4, II. 34-51, The “transition voltage” is measured
`
`between the terminals of an OLED device; col. 6, II. 46-48).
`
`As to claim 10, the combination of Kondakov et al., Kabe et al., and Winters
`
`discloses the display unit according to claim 5. Kabe et al. further discloses a line
`
`memory for storing the first property value of the OLED device of each of the plural
`
`pixels (1i [0030] affirmatively discloses "First, it describes about the method of
`
`measuring the current value which flows into L0!) organic EL device... The current
`
`amount which flows into each organic EL device at this time is measured by a current
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2697
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`measurement element, and a memory device is made to memorize a test result.";)
`
`that exist on the scanning line (Figs. 6-11 & 1i [0028]-[0050] also describe, for example,
`
`how current in three OLED pixels on the same line are measured, averaged -
`
`statistically processed, then used to correct a subject OLED pixel on the same line).
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`7.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 4, 5, 7 and 10 have been
`
`considered but they are believed to be addressed above, and therefore, are moot in
`
`view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`8.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`applicant's disclosure.
`
`Cok (US 2005/0110728 A1, Published May 26, 2005) is made of record for its
`
`method of aging compensation in an OLED display (Fig. 1).
`
`Noh (US 2008/0079826 A1, Filed October 2, 2006) is made of record for its
`
`disclosure of an apparatus for detecting a dead pixel and compensating for the dead
`
`pixel to maintain good image quality (Title; Abstract; Fig. 3).
`
`Baharav et al. (US 2003/0001078 A1, Published January 2, 2003) is made of
`
`record for its disclosure of a bad pixel detection apparatus and correction in an imaging
`
`device (Title; Figs. 6 and 8).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/000,293
`
`Page 12
`
`Art Unit: 2697
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SANJIV D. PATEL whose telephone number is
`
`(571 )270-5731. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday, 8:30AM
`
`to 5PM.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Alexander Eisen can be reached on 571 -272-7687. The fax phone number
`
`for 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
`
`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.
`
`/SANJIV D PATEL/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2697
`
`05/09/2013
`
`/A Iexander Eisen/
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2697
`
`