`
`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.
`
`13/375,324
`
`11/30/2011
`
`Yutaka Yoshihama
`
`MAT-10525US
`
`5041
`
`EXAMINER
`RATNERPRESTIA —
`PO. BOX 980
`NGUYEN, THANG V
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2691
`
`
`
`
`NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/22/2013
`
`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)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`13/375,324
`YOSHIHAMA, YUTAKA
`
`Office Action Summary
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`
`
`2691THANG NGUYEN its“
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
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`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 11/30/11.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|Z| This action is non-final.
`2a)|:l 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) His/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s)_1-7is/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
`I/'/\WIIW.USOI.O. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`hI/index.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)IZI The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Xl The drawing(s) filed on 11/30/11 is/are: a)lX| 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)IXI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)IZl All
`
`b)|:l Some * c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.IXI 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.
`
`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
`1
`St
`I
`D'
`I'
`f
`2 IZI 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. 08-13)
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20131025
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application is being examined under the pre-AlA first to invent
`
`provisions.
`
`Priority
`
`2.
`
`Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35
`
`u.s.c.oo20119 (a)-(d).
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`3.
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on the 30th of November,
`
`2011 and the 30th of July, 2012 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the
`
`provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being
`
`considered by the examiner.
`
`Specification
`
`4.
`
`The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly
`
`indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
`
`5.
`
`The abstract is too long. A new abstract is required that is in compliance with 37
`
`CFR 1.72(b) and MPEP § 608.01 (b).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`6.
`
`The following is a quotation of pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis
`
`for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
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`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2691
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`(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.
`
`7.
`
`Claims 1-4 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Lee et al. (US 2006/0125726 A1) in view Akamatsu et al. (W02008129870 A1 ;
`
`where US 2009/0179877 is the English translation).
`
`As of claim 1, Lee (Fig. 5) teaches driving method for a plasma display panel
`
`comprising:
`
`forming one field using a plurality of subfields [0012] each of which has an
`
`address period, a sustain period, and an erasing period [0067]; and
`
`driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of discharge cells each of which
`
`has a scan electrode, a sustain electrode, and a data electrode [0043, 0060 —
`
`address electrode is data electrode],
`
`wherein, when first voltage (0v) is assumed to be voltage (gnd) derived by
`
`subtracting voltage applied to the data electrode (address electrode) from low-
`
`side voltage (0v) of a sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode in the sustain
`
`period (i.e. gnd — gnd = 0),
`
`second voltage (Vs) is assumed to be voltage derived by subtracting voltage
`
`(gnd) applied to the data electrode (address electrode) from high-side voltage
`
`(Vs) of the sustain pulse applied to the scan electrode in the sustain period (Vs-
`
`gnd = Vs), and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2691
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`third voltage (-Vy) is assumed to be voltage derived by subtracting low-side
`
`voltage (gnd) of an address pulse applied to the data electrode from low-side
`
`voltage (-Vy) of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period
`
`(i.e. —Vy-gnd = -Vy),
`
`voltage (Vy) derived by subtracting the third voltage (-Vy) from the first voltage
`
`(gnd) (O-(-Vy)=Vy) is not lower than a discharge start voltage (-Vy, lowest voltage
`
`applied in the scan electrode during a reset period) where the data electrode is
`
`used as a positive electrode (where gnd is applied to the address electrode) and
`
`the scan electrode is used as a negative electrode (-Vy, where —Vy is applied to
`
`the scan electrode) (differential of -Vy and Vscan is a negative value and will be
`
`less than positive Vy), and
`
`voltage (Vsus-(-Vy) or Vsus +Vy) derived by subtracting the third voltage (-Vy)
`
`from the second voltage (Vsus) does not exceed the sum of a discharge start
`
`voltage (from Vs to -Vy applied to the scan electrode during the reset period)
`
`where the data electrode is used as a positive electrode and the scan electrode
`
`is used as a negative electrode, and a discharge start voltage where the data
`
`electrode is used as a negative electrode and the scan electrode is used as a
`
`positive electrode (where voltage the low side of the reset period is shown as
`
`equal to the lows side of the scan pulse in the address period and the high side
`
`of the reset period set-down period is equal to the high side of the source
`
`electrode in the sustain period, as such the voltage difference between Vsus and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
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`Page 5
`
`Art Unit: 2691
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`-Vy does not exceed the sum of the discharge voltages i.e. voltage difference
`
`between Vs and -Vy in the set-down period of the reset period).
`
`Lee does not teach wherein, in the erasing period, erasing discharge is
`
`selectively generated only in a discharge cell that has undergone address
`
`discharge in an immediately preceding address period,
`
`However, Akamatsu (fig. 4) teaches wherein, in the erasing period (period
`
`where Vr and W4 are applied to the scan electrode), erasing discharge is
`
`selectively generated only in a discharge cell that has undergone address
`
`discharge in an immediately preceding address period [0060],
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skills in
`
`the art at the time of invention to have modified the plasma display method as
`
`taught by Lee with the initialization method of Akamatsu as it would provide for
`
`lower power consumption as no unnecessary power is wasted on uncharged
`
`cells.
`
`As of claim 2, Lee in view of Akamatsu teaches the driving method for the
`
`plasma display panel of claim 1,
`
`Lee (Fig. 5) teaches wherein voltage (Vsus) that is not less than the low-
`
`side voltage of the scan pulse and not more than the high-side voltage of the
`
`sustain pulse is applied to the scan electrode (Vsus is not outside of the range).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
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`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2691
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`As of claim 3, Lee in view of Akamatsu teaches the driving method for the
`
`plasma display panel of claim 1,
`
`Lee teaches wherein, an absolute value of the low-side voltage of the
`
`scan pulse is larger than an absolute value of the high-side voltage of the sustain
`
`pulse [0042, where in order to have 1.5 to 3 times the voltage of the sustain
`
`pulse in the sustain period the negative voltage applied the scan electrode must
`
`be greater than the high side voltage of the sustain pulse].
`
`As of claim 4, Lee (Fig.4, 5) teaches a plasma display apparatus comprising:
`
`a plasma display panel having a plurality of discharge cells each of which has a
`
`scan electrode (Y), a sustain electrode (Z), and a data electrode (X); and
`
`a driver circuit (122) that forms one field using a plurality of subfields each of
`
`which has an address period (address period), a sustain period (sustain period),
`
`and an erasing period (reset period), generates a driving voltage waveform, and
`
`applies the driving voltage waveform to each electrode of the plasma display
`
`panel (where each electrode is driven by waveform),
`
`, and wherein, when
`
`first voltage (CV) is assumed to be voltage derived by subtracting voltage (gnd)
`
`applied to the data electrode from low-side voltage (gnd) of a sustain pulse
`
`applied to the scan electrode in the sustain period (i.e. gnd-gnd = O),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
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`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`second voltage (Vs) is assumed to be voltage derived by subtracting voltage
`
`(gnd) applied to the data electrode from high-side voltage (Vs) of the sustain
`
`pulse applied to the scan electrode in the sustain period (i.e. Vs-gnd = Vs), and
`
`third voltage (-Vy) is assumed to be voltage derived by subtracting low-side
`
`voltage (gnd) of an address pulse applied to the data electrode from low-side
`
`voltage (-Vy) of a scan pulse applied to the scan electrode in the address period
`
`(i.e. —Vy-O = -Vy),
`
`the driver circuit sets that voltage derived by subtracting the third voltage (-Vy)
`
`from the first voltage (0) is not lower than a discharge start voltage (-Vy, lowest
`
`voltage applied in the scan electrode during a reset period) where the data
`
`electrode is used as a positive electrode and the scan electrode is used as a
`
`negative electrode (where gnd is applied to the address electrode) (differential of
`
`-Vy and Vscan is a negative value and will be less than positive Vy), and
`
`the driver circuit sets that voltage (Vsus-(-Vy) or Vsus+Vy) derived by subtracting
`
`the third voltage (-Vy) from the second voltage (Vsus) does not exceed the sum
`
`of a discharge start voltage (from Vs to —Vy applied to the scan electrode during
`
`the reset period) where the data electrode is used as a positive electrode and the
`
`scan electrode is used as a negative electrode, and a discharge start voltage
`
`where the data electrode is used as a negative electrode and the scan electrode
`
`is used as a positive electrode (where voltage the low side of the reset period is
`
`shown as equal to the lows side of the scan pulse in the address period and the
`
`high side of the reset period set-down period is equal to the high side of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`source electrode in the sustain period, as such the voltage difference between
`
`Vsus and -Vy does not exceed the sum of the discharge voltages i.e. voltage
`
`difference between Vs and -Vy in the set-down period of the reset period).
`
`Lee does not teach wherein the driver circuit, in the erasing period (reset
`
`period), drives the plasma display panel by selectively causing the erasing
`
`discharge only in a discharge cell that has undergone address discharge in an
`
`immediately preceding address period.
`
`However, Akamatsu teaches wherein the driver circuit, in the erasing
`
`period (reset period), drives the plasma display panel by selectively causing the
`
`erasing discharge only in a discharge cell that has undergone address discharge
`
`in an immediately preceding address period [0060].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skills in
`
`the art at the time of invention to have modified the plasma display as taught by
`
`Lee with the initialization period of Akamatsu as it would provide for lower power
`
`consumption as no unnecessary power is wasted on uncharged cells.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 5-7 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Lee (US 2006/0125726 A1) in view Akamatsu et al. (W02008129871 A1; where
`
`US 2009/0179877 is the English translation), further in view of Shiozaki et al. (US
`
`6,710,755 B1).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`As of claim 5, Lee (Fig. 5) teaches a driving method for a plasma display panel
`
`comprising:
`
`driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of discharge cells each of which
`
`has a scan electrode, a sustain electrode, and a data electrode [0043, 0060 —
`
`address electrode is data electrode],
`
`wherein each of a plurality of fields is formed using a plurality of subfields, each
`
`subfield having an address period in which address discharge is caused by
`
`applying a scan pulse to the scan electrode and applying an address pulse to the
`
`data electrode, a sustain period in which sustain discharge is caused by
`
`alternately applying a sustain pulse corresponding to luminance weight to the
`
`scan electrode and the sustain electrode [0038], and an erasing period in which
`
`erasing discharge is caused by applying a predetermined voltage to the scan
`
`electrode and the sustain electrode [0043, reset period], and
`
`wherein the plurality of fields includes a first field in which a scan pulse is
`
`sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the order from
`
`one-side scan electrode to the-other-side scan electrode in the address period of
`
`a subfield with the lowest luminance weight [0039].
`
`Lee does not teach wherein, in the erasing period, erasing discharge is
`
`selectively caused only in a discharge cell that has undergone address discharge
`
`in an immediately preceding address period, and a second field in which a scan
`
`pulse is sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`order from the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the
`
`address period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight.
`
`However, Akamatsu teaches wherein, in the erasing period, erasing
`
`discharge is selectively caused only in a discharge cell that has undergone
`
`address discharge in an immediately preceding address period [0060].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skills in
`
`the art at the time of invention to have modified the plasma display driving
`
`method as taught by Lee with the initializing period as taught by Akamatsu as it
`
`would provide for lower power consumption.
`
`Lee in view of Akamatsu does not teach a second field in which a scan
`
`pulse is sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the
`
`order from the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the
`
`address period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight.
`
`However, Shiozaki (Figs. 22-23) teaches a second field in which a scan
`
`pulse is sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the
`
`order from the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the
`
`address period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight (column 30, lines
`
`19-34).
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in
`
`the art at the time of invention to modify the plasma display method as taught by
`
`Lee in view of Akamatsu with the emission drive format as taught by Shiozaki as
`
`it would prevent differences in luminosity on the screen.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`As of claim 6, Lee in view of Akamatsu further in view of Shiozaki teaches the
`
`driving method for the plasma display panel of claim 5, but does not teach
`
`wherein, the first field and the second field are used alternately.
`
`However Shiozaki teaches the first field and the second field are used
`
`alternately (column 30, lines 19-24).
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in
`
`the art at the time of invention to modify the plasma display method as taught by
`
`Lee in view of Akamatsu with the emission drive format as taught by Shiozaki as
`
`it would prevent differences in luminosity on the screen.
`
`As of claim 7, Lee (Fig.4, 5) teaches a plasma display apparatus comprising:
`
`a plasma display panel having a plurality of discharge cells each of which has a
`
`scan electrode (Y), a sustain electrode (Z), and a data electrode (X); and
`
`a driver circuit (122) that forms one field using a plurality of subfields, each
`
`subfield having an address period in which address discharge is caused by
`
`applying a scan pulse to the scan electrode and applying an address pulse to the
`
`data electrode, a sustain period in which sustain discharge is caused by
`
`alternately applying a sustain pulse corresponding to luminance weight to the
`
`scan electrode and the sustain electrode [0038], and an erasing period (reset
`
`period) in which erasing discharge is caused by applying a predetermined
`
`voltage to the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, generates a driving
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 12
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`voltage waveform, and applies the driving voltage waveform to each electrode of
`
`the plasma display panel [0043],
`
`,and wherein the plurality of fields includes a first field in which a scan pulse is
`
`sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the order from
`
`one-side scan electrode to the-other-side scan electrode in the address period of
`
`a subfield with the lowest luminance weight [0039].
`
`Lee does not teach wherein the driver circuit, in the erasing period, drives
`
`the plasma display panel by selectively causing erasing discharge only in a
`
`discharge cell that has undergone address discharge in an immediately
`
`preceding address period, and a second field in which a scan pulse is
`
`sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the order from
`
`the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the address
`
`period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight.
`
`However, Akamatsu teaches wherein the driver circuit, in the erasing
`
`period, drives the plasma display panel by selectively causing erasing discharge
`
`only in a discharge cell that has undergone address discharge in an immediately
`
`preceding address period [0060].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skills in
`
`the art at the time of invention to have modified the plasma display driving
`
`method as taught by Lee with the initializing period as taught by Akamatsu as it
`
`would provide for lower power consumption.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 13
`
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Lee in view of Akamatsu does not teach a second field in which a scan
`
`pulse is sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the
`
`order from the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the
`
`address period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight.
`
`However, Shiozaki (Figs. 22-23) teaches a second field in which a scan
`
`pulse is sequentially applied to the plurality of arranged scan electrodes in the
`
`order from the the-other-side scan electrode to the one-side scan electrode in the
`
`address period of the subfield with the lowest luminance weight (column 30, lines
`
`19-34).
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in
`
`the art at the time of invention to modify the plasma display method as taught by
`
`Lee in view of Akamatsu with the emission drive format as taught by Shiozaki as
`
`it would prevent differences in luminosity on the screen.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to THANG NGUYEN whose telephone number is
`
`(571 )272-4542. The examiner can normally be reached on m-f: 8-5.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached on 5712727772. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/375,324
`
`Page 14
`
`Art Unit: 2691
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`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.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
`
`/THANG NGUYEN/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2691
`
`/CHANH NGUYEN/
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2691
`
`