`
`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.
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`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
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`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
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`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
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`12/446,626
`
`04/22/2009
`
`Kazuki Sawa
`
`MAT— 10254US
`
`7820
`
`7590
`52473
`RATNERPRESTIA
`PO. BOX 980
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`06/18/2014
`
`t
`EXAMIN:R
`
`PIZIALI, JEEREYJ
`
`ART UNIT
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`2625
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`
`
`
`NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/ 1 8/2014
`
`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):
`
`ptocorrespondence @ratnerprestia.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 12/446,626 SAWA, KAZUKI
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2625Jeff Piziali first“
`
`-- 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 g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions 0137 CFR 1.136(a).
`after SIX (6) 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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`
`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 5/24/2012.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2b)lX| This action is non-final.
`2a)I:| 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)|:I 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 EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PT0_413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`—
`4) I:I Other'
`2) E Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date .
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20140612
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)|XI Claim(s) flis/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`s E is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`) )
`
`_
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|:l 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
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atentS/init events"
`h/index.‘s
`
`
`
`
`
`, or send an inquiry to PF"I-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Z| The drawing(s) filed on 4/22/2009 is/are: a)lZl 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)IZI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some” c)I:I None of the:
`a)le All
`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.
`33.le 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)
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: l2/446,626
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`1.
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`The present application is being examined under the pre—AIA first to invent provisions.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`2.
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR l.ll4, including the fee set forth in
`
`37 CFR l.l7(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is
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`eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR l.l7(e)
`
`has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to
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`37 CFR 1.1 14. Applicant's submission filed on 24 May 2012 has been entered.
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`Priority
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`3.
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`Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. ll9(a)—(d), which papers
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`have been placed of record in the file.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. ll2(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.7The 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. ll2 (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.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. ll2(b) or 35 U.S.C. ll2 (pre—AIA), second
`
`paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre—AIA the applicant regards as the
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`invention.
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`6.
`
`Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre—AIA), second
`
`paragraph, due to the claimed subject matter: “a plurality ofpixels” (line 2); “neighboring
`
`pixels” (line 12) and “pixels” (line 23).
`
`It would be unclear to one having ordinary skill in the art whether the above limitations
`
`are intended to be identical to, common to, or distinct from one another.
`
`7.
`
`Claim 1 recites the limitation “light emission” (line 4). There is insufficient antecedent
`
`basis for this limitation in the claim.
`
`Due to the lack of a preceding grammatical article, it would be unclear to one having
`
`ordinary skill in the art whether the above limitation is intended to refer to an earlier recited
`
`element.
`
`8.
`
`The term “neighboring pixels” in claim 1 (line 12) is a relative term which renders the
`
`claim indefinite. The term “neighboring pixels” is not defined by the claim, the specification
`
`does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the
`
`art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
`
`The commonly accepted definition of “neighboring” is “situated near” (e.g., see Random
`
`House dictionary, Dictionarycom).
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`It would be unclear to one having ordinary skill in the art precisely how “near” the
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`corresponding “pixels” must be before they would be considered “neighboring,” as instantly
`
`claimed.
`
`9.
`
`Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre—AIA), second
`
`paragraph, due to the claimed subject matter: “the error replacement period including: a
`
`number of lines in one vertical scan period of the input image signal before the output image
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`signal is displayed in the display area; and a number 0
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`ixels in one horizontal scan eriod o
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`the input image signal before the output image signal is displayed in the display area” (line
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`23).
`
`It would be unclear to one haVing ordinary skill in the art how a structureless time
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`“period” can include elements having structure, such as “lines” and “pixels” as instantly claimed.
`
`It’s not physically possible for a “period” to include “lines,” as instantly claimed.
`
`It’s not physically possible for “lines” to be in a “period,” as instantly claimed.
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`It’s not physically possible for a “period” to be of a “signal,” as instantly claimed.
`
`It’s not physically possible for a “period” to include “pixels,” as instantly claimed.
`
`It’s not physically possible for “pixels” to be in a “period,” as instantly claimed.
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`10.
`
`Claim 2 recites the limitation “the plurality ofpixels” (line 2). There is insufficient
`
`antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`It would be unclear to one having ordinary skill in the art whether the above limitation is
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`intended to refer to the earlier recited, “a plurality ofpixels” (claim 1, line 2); “neighboring
`
`pixels” (claim 1, line 12) and/or “pixels” (claim 1, line 23).
`
`ll.
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`Claim 3 recites the limitation “the plurality ofpixels” (line 2). There is insufficient
`
`antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
`
`It would be unclear to one having ordinary skill in the art whether the above limitation is
`
`intended to refer to the earlier recited, “a plurality ofpixels” (claim 1, line 2); “neighboring
`
`pixels” (claim 1, line 12) and/or “pixels” (claim 1, line 23).
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`12.
`
`Any remaining claim(s) is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. ll2(b) or 35 U.S.C. ll2 (pre-
`
`AIA), second paragraph, as being dependent upon one or more rejected base claims.
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`13.
`
`The claims are rejected under 35 U.S.C. ll2(b) or 35 U.S.C. ll2 (pre—AIA), second
`
`paragraph, as being indefinite. As a courtesy to the Applicant, the examiner has attempted to also
`
`make rejections over prior art —— based on the examiner's best guess interpretations of the
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`invention that the Applicant is intending to claim.
`
`However, the indefinite nature of the claimed subject matter naturally hinders the Office's
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`ability to search and examine the application.
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`Any instantly distinguishing features and subject matter that the Applicant considers to be
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`absent from the cited prior art is more than likely a result of the indefinite nature of the claims.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`The Applicant is respectfully requested to correct the indefinite nature of the claims,
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`which should going forward result in a more precise search and examination.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`14.
`
`The following is a quotation of pre—AIA 35 USC. 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.
`
`15.
`
`Claims 1-3 are rejected under pre—AIA 35 USC. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Yamamoto et al (US 2007/0230813 A1) in View of Riddle et al (US 5,747,931 A).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Yamamoto discloses an image display device [e.g., Fig. 1],
`
`comprising:
`
`a display screen [e.g., Fig. I: 3] having a plurality of pixels [e.g., Fig. I: Cij],
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`the display screen being driven by a plurality of subfields [e.g., Fig. 3: SF1 -SFn] forming
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`one field [e.g., Fig. 3: FD],
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`the image display device displaying an image [e.g., Fig. 7] on the display screen in multi—
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`gradations [e.g., Fig. 7: 701, 702] by controlling light emission of each pixel of the display
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`screen in each of the subfields,
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`the display screen including
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`a display area [e.g., Fig. 1: area including the bottom row ofpixels Cij -- i.e., the last row
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`ofpixels to be scanned in a frame] for displaying the image and
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`an error replacement region [e.g., Fig. 1: area including 7, 10; Fig. 8: area including
`
`800, 813-816] outside of the display area, and
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`an error diffusion circuit [e.g., Fig. I: 7] for separating an input image signal [e.g., Fig. 8:
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`16-bit IN] into
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`an output image signal [e.g., Fig. 8: 8-bit OUT] and
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`error data [e.g., Figs. 5, 8: Ea],
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`the output image signal limiting [e.g., via 16-bit to 8-bit conversion] an input grayscale
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`level of the input image signal to an output grayscale level displayable on the display screen as
`
`the image,
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`the error diffusion circuit, for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, diffusing [e.g., Figs. 5,
`
`8: Eb, Ec, Ed, Ee, Ef, C0] the error data to neighboring pixels [e.g., Fig. 5: PA, PB, PC, PD, PE]
`
`and combining [e.g., Figs. 4, 8: via 402] the diffused error data with the input image signal to
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`produce the output image signal,
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`the error diffusion circuit comprising: an error replacement unit [e.g., Fig. I : 10; Fig. 8]
`
`for replacing the diffused error data with fixed—value data [e.g., Fig. 8: Eaa] during an error
`
`replacement period [e.g., period for error difi‘usion processing and scanning all but the bottom
`
`row ofpixels Cij -- i. e., the last row ofpixels to be scanned in a frame] in the error replacement
`
`region before the output image signal is displayed in the display area of the display screen [e.g.,
`
`period for scanning the bottom row ofpixels Cij -- i. e., the last row ofpixels to be scanned in a
`
`frame],
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`the error replacement period including:
`
`a number of lines [e.g., scanning the top two row ofpixels Cij -- i. e., the first rows of
`
`pixels to be scanned in a frame] in one vertical scan period [e.g., frame scan period] of the input
`
`image signal before the output image signal is displayed in the display area; and
`
`a number of pixels [e.g., scanning the 3 rd row ofpixels Cij] in one horizontal scan period
`
`[e.g., row scan period within the frame scan period] of the input image signal before the output
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`image signal is displayed in the display area
`
`(see the entire document, including Paragraphs 20-55).
`
`Should it be shown that Yamamoto discloses a display screen, as instantly claimed, with
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`insufficient specificity:
`
`Riddle discloses an image display device [e.g., Fig. 2: 30], comprising:
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`a display screen [e.g., Fig. 2: 38, 48, 60] having a plurality of pixels [e.g., Fig. 2: 40],
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`the display screen including
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`a display area [e.g., Fig. 2: area including pixels 40] for displaying the image and
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`an error replacement region [e.g., Fig. 2: area including drive and control circuits 60]
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`outside of the display area (see the entire document, including Column 2, Line 50 — Column 3,
`
`Line 7).
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`Yamamoto and Riddle are analogous art, because they are from the shared inventive field
`
`of driving plasma display devices.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time
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`of invention to use Riddle ’s chip—on—glass technique to form Yamamoto ’s drive and control
`
`circuits on the same display screen as the pixels, so as to provide reliable interconnectivity
`
`between the pixels and the driving/control circuits and simplify the manufacturing process.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Yamamoto discloses for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, a sum of
`
`the fixed—value data for all of the neighboring pixels is greater than half of a maximum value of
`
`the error data and less than the maximum value (e. g., see Paragraph 50).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Yamamoto discloses the error diffusion circuit replaces the diffused
`
`error data from at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels in the neighboring pixels with the
`
`fixed—value data in the error replacement period (e. g., see Paragraph 50).
`
`l6.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed on 24 May 2012 have been fully considered but they are not
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`Response to Arguments
`
`persuasive.
`
`The Applicant contends, “On page 7 of the Ofi‘ice Action, the Examiner asserts that the
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`term ‘neighboring pixels ’ is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. Applicant
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`respectfully disagrees. Based on the description at page I 6, lines I 7-21; page 19, line 20 - page
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`21, line 8 and Fig. 8A of the subject specification, the skilled person would understand what is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`meant by neighboring pixels” (see Page 5 of the Response filed on 24 May 2012). However, the
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`Office respectfully disagrees.
`
`The term “neighboring pixels” in claim 1 (line 12) is a relative term which renders the
`
`claim indefinite. The term “neighboring pixels” is not defined by the claim, the specification
`
`does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the
`
`art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
`
`The commonly accepted definition of “neighboring” is “situated near” (e. g., see Random
`
`House dictionary, Dictionary.com).
`
`It would be unclear to one having ordinary skill in the art precisely how “near” the
`
`corresponding “pixels” must be before they would be considered “neighboring,” as instantly
`
`claimed.
`
`The Applicant contends, “Yamamoto discloses, in Figs. 8 and 9, error difi‘usion
`
`processing circuit 10 having delay circuit 403 and flip-flops 404-406, for error difi”usion
`
`processing of transmission error data EF (for target pixel PA) to adjacent pixels (PB, PC, PD
`
`and PE). Circuit 10 also includes correction circuit 800 having zero detection circuits 803 - 806
`
`(for detecting whether the transmission error data Ef is zero) and selection signal generation
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`circuit 8]]. Selection signal generation circuit 822 substitutes error data Ea (of target pixel PA)
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`when the transmission error data of an adjacent pixel is zero. (Paragraphs [p0039-0048] and
`
`Fig. 10.)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 11
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`Yamamoto, however, does not disclose or suggest replacing difi‘used error data with
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`fixed-value data during an error replacement period in the error replacement region (outside of
`
`the display area) before the output image signal is displayed in the display area of the display
`
`screen, where the error replacement period includes .Q number of lines in one vet] :ical scan
`
`period and a number ofpixels in one horizontal scan period, as required by claim I (emphasis
`
`added). Instead, Yamamoto replaces dijfused error data of adjacent pixels (i.e., neighboring
`
`pixels) of a target pixel when the transmission error data of the adjacent pixels is zero. Thus,
`
`Yamamoto does not include all of the features of claim I ” (see Page 6 of the Response filed on
`
`24 May 2012). However, the Office respectfully disagrees.
`
`Yamamoto discloses replacing the diffused error data [e.g., Figs. 5, 8: Eb, Ec, Ed, Ee, Ef,
`
`CO] with fixed—value data [e.g., Fig. 8: Eaa] during an error replacement period [e.g., period for
`
`error dijfusion processing and scanning all but the bottom row ofpixels Cij -- i. e., the last row of
`
`pixels to be scanned in a frame] in the error replacement region [e.g., Fig. I : area including 7,
`
`10; Fig. 8: area including 800, 813 -8I6] before the output image signal [e.g., Fig. 8: 8-bit OUT]
`
`is displayed in the display area [e.g., Fig. I : area including the bottom row ofpixels Cij -- i. e.,
`
`the last row ofpixels to be scanned in a frame] of the display screen [e.g., period for scanning
`
`the bottom row ofpixels Cij -- i.e., the last row ofpixels to be scanned in a frame],
`
`the error replacement period including:
`
`a number of lines [e.g., scanning the top two row ofpixels Cij -- i. e., the first rows of
`
`pixels to be scanned in a frame] in one vertical scan period [e.g., frame scan period] of the input
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`image signal [e.g., Fig. 8: 16-bit IN] before the output image signal is displayed in the display
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`area; and
`
`a number of pixels [e.g., scanning the 3 rd row ofpixels Cif] in one horizontal scan period
`
`[e.g., row scan period within the frame scan period] of the input image signal before the output
`
`image signal is displayed in the display area
`
`(see the entire document, including Paragraphs 20-55).
`
`17.
`
`Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1-3 have been considered but are moot in
`
`View of any new ground(s) of rejection.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/446,626
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2625
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Jeff Piziali Whose telephone number is (571) 272—7678. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on Monday — Friday (7:30AM — 4PM).
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, William Boddie can be reached on (571) 272—0666. The fax phone number for the
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`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.
`
`/Jeff Piziali/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2625
`12 June 2014
`
`