`
`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
`wwwnsptogov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`12/262,244
`
`10/31/2008
`
`Junichi MARUYAMA
`
`1497.49364X00
`
`5858
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`04/02/2013
`
`ANTONELLLTERRY,STOUT&KRAUS,LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON, VA 22209-3873
`
`
`
`
`HERMANN, K {KW
`
`2694
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`04/02/2013
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`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.
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`12/262,244
`
`Examiner
`KIRK HERMANN
`
`MARUYAMA ET AL.
`
`Art Unit
`2694
`
`-- 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 CFR1. 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)|Zl Responsive to communication(s) filed on 08 August 2012.
`
`2a)IZ| This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)I:l This action is non-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)|:l 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) 3-79 and 11-20 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.
`
`3- 7 9 and 11 2—0 is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)IX| The drawing(s) filed on 31 October 2008 is/are: a)lZ| accepted or b)|:l 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).
`
`12)I:I The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`13)I:I Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`
`a)|:l All
`
`b)I:I Some * c)|:l None of:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. _
`
`3.|:I 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.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) I] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2) D Notice of Draftsperson‘s Patent Drawing Review (PTO-948)
`3) IZI Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/OS)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Datem.
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`4) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper N°(5 )/Mai| Date. _
`5)I:I Notice of Informal Patent Application
`)6|:| Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-11)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130325
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`RESPONSE TO CLAIM AMENDMENT
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`1.
`
`Acknowledgement is made of the response filed on January 2, 2012 (hereinafter
`
`referred to as the “01/02/13 Response”), in which: (a) claim 4 is currently amended; (b)
`
`claims 3, 6-7, 9 and 16-20 are previously presented; (c) claims 5 and 11-15 are
`
`original; (d) claims 1-2, 8 and 10 are canceled; and (e) the grounds for rejection set
`
`forth in the October 2, 2012 office action are traversed. Claims 3-7, 9 and 11-20 are
`
`currently pending and an office action on the merits follows.
`
`WITHDRAWAL OF PREVIOUSLY-STATED OBJECTION TO THE DRAWINGS
`
`2.
`
`In response to applicants’ amendment of claim 4, the previously-stated objection
`
`to the drawings is hereby withdrawn.
`
`Claim Rejections — 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`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.
`
`4.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148
`
`USPQ 459 (1966), which are applied for establishing a background for determining
`
`obviousness under 3.5. U.S.C. 103(a), are summarized as follows:
`
`Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`1.
`Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`2.
`Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`3.
`Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`4.
`nonobviousness.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`5.
`
`This application currently names joint inventors.
`
`In considering patentability of
`
`the claims under 35 U.S.C. 103(a), the examiner presumes that the subject matter of
`
`the various claims was commonly owned at the time any inventions covered therein
`
`were made absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation
`
`under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and invention dates of each claim that was
`
`not commonly owned at the time a later invention was made in order for the examiner to
`
`consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 103(c) and potential 35 U.S.C. 102(e), (f) or (g)
`
`prior art under 35 U.S.C. 103(a).
`
`6.
`
`Independent claim 11 and claims 3-5, 7, 19 and claim 9 that depends on it as
`
`well as claim 20 that depends upon it are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. (U.S. Patent Publication No.
`
`2005/0259064 A1) in view of FENG (U.S. Patent No. 2006/0202945 A1 ).
`
`Regarding independent claim 11, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. [a]
`
`display device (See e.g., Figs. 9-10; para [0116]; and [0151]) having a display panel
`
`arrayed with a plurality of pixels (See e.g., Fig. 8, reference number 6 — “liquid crystal
`
`display panel”; para [0118]; and [0124]), and a backlight for illuminating the display
`
`panel (See e.g., para [0119] — “The device further includes: a bottom-emitting backlight
`
`7 arranged on the back of the liquid crystal display panel 6”), wherein image data is
`
`received as input and displayed on the display panel (See e.g., para [0118])
`
`comprising: a plurality of backlight areas that constitute the backlight (See e.g.,
`
`para [0177]); and a lighting drive circuit in which the backlight areas are
`
`associated so as to illuminate the plurality of pixels of the display panel (See e.g.,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`FIG. 8, reference number 8; para [0122]; and [0177), the backlight areas within a
`
`single frame time of the image data can be switched on and off at least one time
`
`or more (See e.g., para [0136]; and [0177]), the lighting periods of each of the
`
`backlight areas can be varied (See e.g., para [0120]; [0136]-[0137]; and [0179]), the
`
`backlight areas are switched on after a predetermined standby time has elapsed
`
`after the display data of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight areas
`
`has been updated (See e.g., para [0119]; [0127]; and [0131]), the backlight areas are
`
`switched off after the lighting periods has elapsed (See e.g., para [0131]), the
`
`predetermined standby time is adjusted in accordance with the length of the
`
`lighting periods of the backlight areas (See e.g., FIGS. 9(a)-9(c) shown as the time
`
`between the LC response time and the “Backlight illumination duration time” on the
`
`horizontal axis; para [0131]; [0133]; and [0135]) and the amount of light emitted per
`
`unit of time in a lighting period can be varied (See e.g., para [0014]; [0122]; [0125]
`
`and [0137]), wherein: the lighting drive circuit comprises a circuit for extracting
`
`characteristics of an entire single frame of the image data (See e.g., para [0119]-
`
`[0121]); the length of the lighting period of the backlight is adjusted in accordance
`
`with the characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data (See e.g., para
`
`[0122] — [0123]); and the amount of light emitted per unit of time in the lighting
`
`period is adjusted (See e.g., para [0144]) and the characteristics of the entire
`
`single frame of the image data for each area of the backlight (See e.g., para [0122];
`
`[0125]; and [0128]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`However, SUGINO ET AL. does not explicitly disclose and a circuit for
`
`extracting for each backlight area the characteristics of a plurality of pixels for
`
`illuminating the backlight areas of image data; and the amount of light emitted per
`
`unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the
`
`characteristics of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight.
`
`However, FENG does disclose and a circuit for extracting for each backlight
`
`area the characteristics of a plurality of pixels for illuminating the backlight areas
`
`of image data (See e.g., Figs. 7 and 9; para [0057]-[0058]); and the amount of light
`
`emitted per unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the
`
`characteristics of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight (See e.g.,
`
`Figs. 7 and 9; para [0057]-[0058]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
`
`invention to modify the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. [a] display device having
`
`a display panel arrayed with a plurality of pixels, and a backlight for illuminating
`
`the display panel, wherein image data is received as input and displayed on the
`
`display panel comprising: a plurality of backlight areas that constitute the
`
`backlight; and a lighting drive circuit in which the backlight areas are associated
`
`so as to illuminate the plurality of pixels of the display panel, the backlight areas
`
`within a single frame time of the image data can be switched on and off at least
`
`one time or more, the lighting periods of each of the backlight areas can be
`
`varied, the backlight areas are switched on after a predetermined standby time
`
`has elapsed after the display data of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
`
`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`backlight areas has been updated, the backlight areas are switched off after the
`
`lighting periods has elapsed, the predetermined standby time is adjusted in
`
`accordance with the length of the lighting periods of the backlight areas and the
`
`amount of light emitted per unit of time in a lighting period can be varied,
`
`wherein: the lighting drive circuit comprises a circuit for extracting
`
`characteristics of an entire single frame of the image data; the length of the
`
`lighting period of the backlight is adjusted in accordance with the characteristics
`
`of the entire single frame of the image data; and the amount of light emitted per
`
`unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted and the characteristics of the entire
`
`single frame of the image data for each area of the backlight to include FENG’s
`
`teaching of and a circuit for extracting for each backlight area the characteristics
`
`of a plurality of pixels for illuminating the backlight areas of image data; and the
`
`amount of light emitted per unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in
`
`accordance with the characteristics of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the
`
`backlight, for example, to compensate for timing differences between different portions
`
`of the backlight as taught by FENG (See e.g., para [0057j-[0058]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 3, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 23 as applied above.
`
`The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses comprising: a data
`
`converting circuit for converting the image data in accordance with the
`
`characteristics of the image data extracted in the circuit for extracting the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2694
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`characteristics of the image data (See e.g., para [O155]—[O156]); and a circuit for
`
`displaying the converted image data on the display panel (See e.g., para [0157]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 4, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 11 as applied
`
`above. The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses comprising: a
`
`circuit for receiving as input an externally set brightness signal for adjusting the
`
`brightness of the backlight—frem—an—eaetemal—deviee (See e.g., para [0308]-[0309])
`
`and a circuit for adjusting the length of the lighting period of the backlight in
`
`accordance with the externally set brightness signal (See e.g., para [0308]-[0309]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 5, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 4 as applied above.
`
`The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses further comprising: a data
`
`converting circuit for converting the image data (See e.g., Fig. 8, reference
`
`numbers 3-4 and 10; para [O118]-[O119]) and a circuit for displaying the image data
`
`on the display panel (See e.g., Fig. 8, reference number 8; para [0119]).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
`
`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`Regarding dependent claim 7, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 11 as applied
`
`above. The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses comprising: a
`
`circuit for adjusting the brightness of the backlight in accordance with brightness
`
`information of the image data (See e.g., para [O122]—[O124]); and a circuit for
`
`controlling so that the lighting period of the backlight in the lighting drive circuit
`
`is shortened as the brightness of the backlight is reduced (See e.g., para [0122]-
`
`[0124]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 19, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 11 as applied
`
`above. The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses comprising: a
`
`circuit for determining a target brightness value in accordance with a
`
`combination of the characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data
`
`and an externally set brightness signal by an external device (See e.g., para
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2694
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`[0308]-[0309]), for adjusting the length of the lighting period of the backlight in
`
`accordance with the target brightness information (See e.g., para [0308]-[0309]),
`
`and for adjusting the amount of light emitted per unit of time in the lighting period
`
`in accordance with the target brightness information and the characteristics of
`
`the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight for each area of the backlight
`
`(See e.g., para [0308]-[0309]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 9, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 19 as applied
`
`above. The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses comprising a circuit
`
`for controlling so that the lighting period of the backlight is shortened in the
`
`lighting drive circuit as the brightness of the backlight is reduced according to
`
`the brightness information (See e.g. para [0122]-[0124]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 20, the first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. as
`
`modified by FENG teaches [a] display device according to claim 11, as applied
`
`above. The first embodiment of SUGINO ET AL. further discloses wherein the lighting
`
`drive circuit controls the length of the lighting period of the backlight and the
`
`amount of light emitted per unit of time in the lighting period so as to improve
`
`moving imaging blur (See e.g., FIG. 2, para [OOO7]-[OOO8]; and [0120]) and
`
`substantially prevent generation of an area step which occurs when lengths of a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`lighting period of different areas of the backlight are different (See e.g., FIG. 2;
`
`para [0007] —[0008]).
`
`7.
`
`Independent claim 11 and claims 3-7 and 12-13 that depend on it are rejected
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over the third embodiment of BABA ET
`
`AL. (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0003522 A1) in view of the eighth embodiment of
`
`BABA ET AL. in further view of the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. in still further
`
`view of the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.
`
`
`
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`
`Regarding independent claim 11, a third embodiment of BABA ET AL. discloses
`
`[a] display device (See e.g., Figs. 11-12; para [0054] — [0055]; and [0127]) having a
`
`display panel arrayed with a plurality of pixels (See e.g., Fig. 12; para [0129]), and a
`
`backlight for illuminating the display panel (See e.g., Fig. 11, reference number 21;
`
`para [0116] — [0117]; and [0127]), wherein image data is received as input and
`
`displayed on the display panel (See e.g., para [0128]-[0129]) comprising: a plurality
`
`of backlight areas that constitute the backlight (See e.g., FIG. 2, reference numbers
`
`12-13; para [0095]; [0117]; and [0127]); and a lighting drive circuit in which the
`
`backlight areas are associated so as to illuminate the plurality of pixels of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2694
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`display panel (See e.g., FIG. 2 reference labels “Light source lightening control circuit”
`
`and “Light source control signal”; para [0095]; [0117]; and [0127]), the backlight areas
`
`within a single frame time of the image data can be switched on and off at least
`
`one time or more (See e.g., para [0130]; and [0145]).
`
`However, the third embodiment of BABA ET AL. does not explicitly disclose the
`
`lighting periods of each of the backlight areas can be varied, the backlight areas
`
`are switched on after a predetermined standby time has elapsed after the display
`
`data of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight areas has been updated,
`
`the backlight areas are switched off after the lighting periods has elapsed, the
`
`predetermined standby time is adjusted in accordance with the length of the
`
`lighting periods of the backlight areas and the amount of light emitted per unit of
`
`time in a lighting period can be varied, wherein: the lighting drive circuit
`
`comprises a circuit for extracting characteristics of an entire single frame of the
`
`image data and a circuit for extracting for each backlight area the characteristics
`
`of a plurality of pixels for illuminating the backlight areas of image data; the
`
`length of the lighting period of the backlight is adjusted in accordance with the
`
`characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data; and the amount of
`
`light emitted per unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in accordance with
`
`the characteristics of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight and the
`
`characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data for each area of the
`
`backlight.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
`
`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`However, the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. does disclose the lighting
`
`periods of each of the backlight areas can be varied (See e.g., Fig. 30; para [0169];
`
`[0171]; and [0174]; [0176]); and a circuit for extracting for each backlight area the
`
`characteristics of a plurality of pixels for illuminating the backlight areas of image
`
`data (See e.g., para [0169]; [0171]; [0172]; and [0173]); and the amount of light
`
`emitted per unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the
`
`characteristics of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight (See e.g., Fig.
`
`32; para [0173]-[0176]).
`
`However, the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. does disclose the backlight
`
`areas are switched on after a predetermined standby time has elapsed after the
`
`display data of the plurality of pixels illuminated by the backlight areas has been
`
`updated (See e.g., para [0142]-[0144]).
`
`However, the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. does disclose the backlight
`
`areas are switched off after the lighting periods has elapsed (See e.g., para [0047]-
`
`[0048]; and [0100]), the predetermined standby time is adjusted in accordance with
`
`the length of the lighting periods of the backlight areas (See e.g., para [0100]-
`
`[0101]) and the amount of light emitted per unit of time in a lighting period can be
`
`varied (See e.g., para [0101]), wherein: the lighting drive circuit comprises a circuit
`
`for extracting characteristics of an entire single frame of the image data (See e.g.,
`
`para [0096]) the length of the lighting period of the backlight is adjusted in
`
`accordance with the characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data
`
`(See e.g., para [0096]) and the amount of light emitted per unit of time in the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/262,244
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the entire
`
`single frame of the image data for each area of the backlight (See e.g., para
`
`[0096D.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
`
`invention to modify the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s disclosure of [a] display
`
`device having a display panel arrayed with a plurality of pixels, and a backlight
`
`for illuminating the display panel, wherein image data is received as input and
`
`displayed on the display panel comprising: a plurality of backlight areas that
`
`constitute the backlight; and a lighting drive circuit in which the backlight areas
`
`are associated so as to illuminate the plurality of pixels of the display panel, the
`
`backlight areas within a single frame time of the image data can be switched on
`
`and off at least one time or more to include: (i) the eighth embodiment of BABA ET
`
`AL.’s teaching of the lighting periods of each of the backlight areas can be varied,
`
`for example, to improve the sharpness of the image quality as taught by the eight
`
`embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0177]); (ii) the fourth embodiment of
`
`BABA ET AL.’s teaching of the backlight areas are switched on after a
`
`predetermined standby time has elapsed after the display data of the plurality of
`
`pixels illuminated by the backlight areas has been updated, for example, “to display
`
`the image with high quality” as taught by the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See
`
`e.g., para [0144]); (iii) the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of the backlight
`
`areas are switched off after the lighting periods has elapsed, for example, to
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`enhance the maximum brightness level of the displayed image as taught by the first
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]); (iv) the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL.’s teaching of the predetermined standby time is adjusted in accordance
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`with the length of the lighting periods of the backlight areas, for example, to
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`enhance the maximum brightness level of the displayed image as taught by the first
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]); (v) the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL.’s teaching of and the amount of light emitted per unit of time in a lighting
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`period can be varied, for example, to enhance the maximum brightness level of the
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`displayed image as taught by the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para
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`[0096]); (vi) the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of wherein: the lighting
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`drive circuit comprises a circuit for extracting characteristics of an entire single
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`frame of the image data, for example, “to enhance the display brightness of the image”
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`as taught by the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]); (vi) the
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`eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of and a circuit for extracting for each
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`backlight area the characteristics of a plurality of pixels for illuminating the
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`backlight areas of image data, for example, to provide detailed control of the image
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`displayed as well as improved picture quality as taught by the eighth embodiment of
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`BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0174] — [0177]); (vii) the first embodiment of BABA ET
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`AL.’s teaching of the length of the lighting period of the backlight is adjusted in
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`accordance with the characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data,
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`for example, “[t]o enhance the display brightness of the image as taught by the first
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]);(viii) the eighth embodiment of
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`BABA ET AL.’s teaching of and the amount of light emitted per unit of time in the
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`lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the plurality
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`of pixels illuminated by the backlight, for example, to provide detailed control of the
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`image displayed as well as improved picture quality as taught by the eighth embodiment
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`of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0174] — [0177]); and (ix) and the amount of light
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`emitted per unit of time in the lighting period is adjusted in accordance with the
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`characteristics of the entire single frame of the image data for each area of the
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`backlight, for example, “[t]o enhance the display brightness of the image as taught by
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`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]).
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`Regarding dependent claim 3, the third embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
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`modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as further modified by the fourth
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as yet further modified by the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL. teaches [a] display device according to claim 23 as applied above. The first
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. further discloses comprising: a data converting circuit
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`for converting the image data in accordance with the characteristics of the image
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`data extracted in the circuit for extracting the characteristics of the image data
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`(See e.g., para [0096] — [0097]); and a circuit for displaying the converted image
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`data on the display panel (See e.g., para [0096]).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
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`invention to modify the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s disclosure of the third
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
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`further modified by the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as yet further modified by
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`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of [a] display device according to
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`claim 11 to include the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of comprising: a
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`data converting circuit for converting the image data in accordance with the
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`characteristics of the image data extracted in the circuit for extracting the
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`characteristics of the image data and a circuit for displaying the converted image
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`data on the display panel, for example, to display the image according to the desired
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`frequency and grayscale as taught by the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g.,
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`para [0096] — [0097]).
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`Regarding dependent claim 4, the third embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
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`modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as further modified by the fourth
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as still further modified by the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL. teaches [a] display device according to claim 4 u as applied above. The first
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. further discloses comprising: a circuit for receiving as
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`input an externally set brightness signal for adjusting the brightness of the
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`backlight—frem—an—extemal—deviee—(See e.g., Fig. 2 — “Light source lightening control
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`circuit”; para [0096]) and a circuit for adjusting the length of the lighting period of
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`the backlight in accordance with the externally set brightness signal (See e.g.,
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`para [0096]-[0097]).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
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`invention to modify the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s disclosure of the third
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
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`further modified by the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as yet further modified by
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`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. teaching of [a] display device according to
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`claim 11 to include: (i) the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of comprising:
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`a circuit for receiving as input an externally set brightness signal for adjusting
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`the brightness of the backlight, for example, to provide enhanced display brightness
`
`when a user or photodetector adjusts the brightness level of the backlight as taught by
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`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]); and (ii) and a circuit for
`
`adjusting the length of the lighting period of the backlight in accordance with the
`
`externally set brightness signal, for example, to provide enhanced display brightness
`
`when a user or photodetector adjusts the brightness level of the backlight as taught by
`
`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL. (See e.g., para [0096]).
`
`Regarding dependent claim 5, the third embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
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`modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as further modified by the fourth
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as still further modified by the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL. [a] display device according to claim 4 as applied above. The third
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. further discloses and a circuit for displaying the image
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`data on the display panel (See e.g., Fig. 12; para [0129]).
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`The first embodiment of BABA ET AL. further discloses comprising: a data
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`converting circuit for converting the image data in accordance with the externally
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`set brightness signal (See e.g., para [0096]).
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`Art Unit: 2694
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
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`invention to modify the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s disclosure of the third
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
`
`further modified by the fourth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as still further modified by
`
`the first embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of [a] display device according to
`
`claim 4 with the third embodiment of BABA ET AL.’s teaching of and a circuit for
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`displaying the image data on the display panel to include the first embodiment of
`
`BABA ET AL.’s teaching of comprising: a data converting circuit for converting the
`
`image data in accordance with the externally set brightness signal, for example, to
`
`provide enhanced display brightness when a user or photodetector adjusts the
`
`brightness level of the backlight as taught by the first embodiment of B ABA ET AL.
`
`(See e.g., para [0096]).
`
`
`
`Regarding dependent claim 6, the third embodiment of BABA ET AL. as
`
`modified by the eighth embodiment of BABA ET AL. as further modified by the fourth
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`embodiment of BABA ET AL. as yet further modified by the first embodiment of BABA
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`ET AL. teaches [a] display device according to claim 11 as applied above. The first
`
`embodiment of BABA ET AL. further discloses and