vs! “111%
`\.\_:
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`wwwusptogov
`
`
`
`
`
`15/223,696
`
`07/29/2016
`
`Toshiyuki KUMAGAI
`
`20326.0083USW1
`
`9954
`
`“’06’20” —HAMRE, SCHUMANN,MUELLER&LARSONP.C. m
`7590
`53148
`45 South Seventh Street
`JOSEPH, DENNIS P
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402- 1683
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2621
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/06/2017
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/0r attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMail @hsml.com
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/223,696 KUMAGIAI, TOSHIYUKI
`
`
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`Dennis Joseph $22” 2621
`-- 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 of 37 CFR1. 136( a).
`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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 7/29/2016.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|ZI 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 CIaim(s)1;8is/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| CIaim(s)_1-8is/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’vaIW.useI‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`iindex.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Xl The drawing(s) filed on 7/29/2016is/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)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-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
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20171101
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This Office Action is responsive to claims filed for App. 15/223,696 on July 29, 2016.
`
`Claims 1—8 are pending.
`
`America Invents Act
`
`2.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`3.
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on July 29, 2016 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.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 USC. 102 that form the
`
`basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public
`use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the
`claimed invention.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 1 and 8 are rejected under 35 USC. 102(a)(l) as being anticipated by Kim et al.
`
`(US 2011/0037746 A1 ).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 1:
`
`Page 3
`
`A liquid crystal display device ( [0003] discloses a liquid crystal display ) comprising:
`
`a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines ( Figures 3 and 4, [0032] disclose a
`
`plurality of gate and data lines );
`
`a plurality of source drivers that supply a data signal to the plurality of data lines ( Figure
`
`3, [0031] disclose a plurality of source drive ICs SICl to SDIC3 which provide signals to
`
`the data lines );
`
`a gate driver that supplies a scanning signal to the plurality of scanning lines ( Figure 3,
`
`[0031] disclose a gate driving circuit GD which applies signals to the gate lines); and
`
`a display control circuit that controls the plurality of source drivers and the gate driver (
`
`Figure 3, [0031], [0036] disclose a timing controller TCON which provides signals to the
`
`gate driving circuit GD and the plurality of source drive ICs ),
`
`wherein the display control circuit includes an image determinator that determines
`
`whether an extemally—input image includes a pattern image and a polarity signal generator that
`
`generates a polarity signal deciding a voltage polarity of the data signal in each source driver
`
`based on a determination result of the data signal, and the polarity signal generator individually
`
`outputs each of the plurality of generated polarity signals to the corresponding source driver. (
`
`Figure 12, [0049] disclose a step S1 of analyzing an input image in which white and black
`
`gray scale data are regularly arranged and determining the type of polarity/inversion
`
`driving to do in response. Depending on the matching/analysis of the pattern, different
`
`polarity signals can be applied individually to the different ICs, as shown in Figures 10 and
`
`11, [0050] )
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 4
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 8:
`
`A liquid crystal display device ( [0003] discloses a liquid crystal display ) comprising:
`
`a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines Figures 3 and 4, [0032] disclose a
`
`plurality of gate and data lines );
`
`a plurality of source drivers that supply a data signal to the plurality of data lines ( Figure
`
`3, [0031] disclose a plurality of source drive ICs SICl to SDIC3 which provide signals to
`
`the data lines ), each of the plurality of source drivers includes a switch that switches between a
`
`one—column inversion drive and a two—column inversion drive ( Figure 12 disclose selecting
`
`between H1 and H2 dot inversion );
`
`a gate driver that supplies a scanning signal to the plurality of scanning lines ( Figure 3,
`
`[0031] disclose a gate driving circuit GD which applies signals to the gate lines); and
`
`a display control circuit that controls the plurality of source drivers and the gate driver (
`
`Figure 3, [0031], [0036] disclose a timing controller TCON which provides signals to the
`
`gate driving circuit GD and the plurality of source drive ICs ),
`
`wherein the display control circuit includes: an image determinator that determines
`
`whether an extemally—input image includes a pattern image, and a control signal generator that
`
`generates a control signal switching between the one—column inversion drive and the two—column
`
`inversion drive in each source driver based on a determination result of the image determinator,
`
`and the control signal generator outputs each of the plurality of generated control signals to the
`
`switch of the corresponding source driver. ( Figure 12, [0049] disclose a step S1 of analyzing
`
`an input image in which white and black gray scale data are regularly arranged and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 5
`
`determining the type of polarity/inversion driving to do in response. Depending on the
`
`matching/analysis of the pattern, different polarity signals can be applied individually to
`
`the different ICs, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, [0050]. As for the switch, please note
`
`Figure 3 which discloses individual signals to the individual source drivers )
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`6.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 USC. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the
`claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the
`differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the
`claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing
`date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which
`the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in
`which the invention was made.
`
`7.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0., 383 US. 1, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`USC. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`8.
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 USC. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al.
`
`( US 2011/0037746 A1 ), as applied to Claim 1, further in View of Sohn et al.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`(US 2013/0314450 A1 ).
`
`As per Claim 2:
`
`Page 6
`
`Kim may not explicitly teach "wherein the pattern image is an image in a region where a
`
`pixel group having a brightness difference between adjacent pixels that is greater than or equal to
`
`a predetermined value is continued over an area greater than or equal to a predetermined area.”
`
`However, [0049] discloses white and black gray scale data are regularly arranged and the pattern
`
`is compared with this in mind. Clearly the differences between adjacent pixels would be large
`
`then giving the extremes.
`
`Regardless, in the same field of endeavor, image analysis in displays, Sohn teaches of analyzing
`
`image data in the form of a data mapper to control application to multiple display drivers, ( Sohn,
`
`Figures 1 and 2, [001 l] ). In particular, the goal is to come up with corrected RGB data from the
`
`original and this process includes looking at two adjacent pixels which are greater than or equal
`
`to a threshold value h and adjusting accordingly (read as a predetermined value over a
`
`predetermined area (adj acent)).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the effective filed
`
`date of the invention, to implement the compensation, as taught by Sohn, with the motivation
`
`that the proper signals can be applied to the data drivers (akin to Kim), avoiding overheating, (
`
`Sohn, [0008]—[0009] ).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 7
`
`9.
`
`Claims 3—7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al.
`
`( US 2011/0037746 A1 ), as applied to Claim 1, further in view of Kim2 et al. ( US
`
`2011/0292099 A1 ).
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 3:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the source drivers
`
`is connected to a respective driving region and the image determinator determines which one of
`
`the driving regions includes the pattern image, and based on the determination result of the
`
`image determinator, the polarity signal generator outputs a first polarity signal to the source
`
`driver that drives the driving region including the pattern image, ( Figure 10, [0049] discloses
`
`the individual source drivers control different segments and they each receive a unique
`
`polarity signal, designed for that region. This is based on the analysis of the patterns, i.e. if
`
`it weak or not, [0062]. See the different regions receiving either POL1 or POL2 ); but
`
`Kim may not explicitly teach of outputting based on where the pattern images correlate to,
`
`specifically, which signal are applied where. However, as noted above, different polarities are
`
`applied based on an analysis of the image data.
`
`To emphasize, in the same field of endeavor, polarity driving, Kim2 teaches of inputting image
`
`data and comparing it, ( Kim2, Figure 14, step 810 ), to a reference data pattern. Depending on
`
`matching, it will select a particular inversion scheme, akin to Kim. In particular, Figure 10,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 8
`
`[0043] disclose the frame data across the display and breaking it down to subsets of four pixels.
`
`Depending on where the input data is recognizing as a flicker pattern is where it is determined
`
`there is a common voltage shift. In response, the polarity scheme is altered in that region.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the effective filed
`
`date of the invention, to implement the subset driving/analysis, as taught by Kim2, with the
`
`motivation that by compensating for common voltage shifts, crosstalk, flicker, smear, etc, can be
`
`avoided, ( Kim2, [0006] ).
`
`Kim and Kim2 teach in Claim 4:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern image is a
`
`checkered pattern image in which black and white are alternately changed in each pixel, the first
`
`polarity signal is a signal in which a high level and a low level are switched in each frame, and
`
`the second polarity signal is a signal in which a high level and a low level are switched in each
`
`horizontal scanning period in a period during which the pattern image is displayed, and is an in—
`
`phase signal of the first polarity signal in a period during which the pattern image is not
`
`displayed. ( Kim, [0049] discloses white and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As
`
`for the two polarity signals, Kim and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving,
`
`(for example, Kim, Figure 12 and Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and
`
`as well as dot inversion in general. Respectfully, dot, column, row inversion, etc are all well
`
`known in the art and examiner asserts Official Notice to this. Kim and Kim2 teach of many
`
`types of driving as well, depending on What is appropriate )
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 9
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 5:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the source driver to which
`
`the first polarity signal is input performs column inversion drive, and the source driver to which
`
`the second polarity signal is input performs the column inversion drive in the period during
`
`which the pattern image is not displayed, and performs dot inversion drive in the period during
`
`which the pattern image is displayed. ( The same reasoning in Claim 4 is also applicable here:
`
`Kim, [0049] discloses white and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As for the two
`
`polarity signals, Kim and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving, (for example,
`
`Kim, Figure 12 and Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and as well as dot
`
`inversion in general. See Figure 9 for when the polarity signals are applied and when they
`
`are not applied, i.e. high and low levels. Respectfully, dot, column, row inversion, etc are all
`
`well known in the art and examiner asserts Official Notice to this. Kim and Kim2 teach of
`
`many types of driving as well, depending on what is appropriate)
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 6:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern image is a
`
`checkered pattern image in which black and white are alternately changed in each pixel, the first
`
`polarity signal is a signal in which a high level and a low level are switched in each frame, and
`
`the second polarity signal is an anti—phase signal of the first polarity signal in a period during
`
`which the pattern image is displayed, and is a signal having an in—phase signal of the first
`
`polarity signal in a period during which the pattern image is not displayed. ( Kim, [0049]
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 10
`
`discloses white and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As for the two polarity
`
`signals, Kim and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving, (for example, Kim,
`
`Figure 12 and Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and as well as dot
`
`inversion in general. As for the anti-phase, please note Figure 12, step S5, which generates
`
`polarity POL2 in opposite phase of POL1 (read as anti-phase). Figures 9 and 11 show two
`
`different schemes for driving and it can be seen when they are driven in-phase (Figure 9)
`
`and when they are anti-phase (Figure 11). Respectfully, dot, column, row inversion, etc are
`
`all well known in the art and examiner asserts Official Notice to this. Kim and Kim2 teach
`
`of many types of driving as well, depending on what is appropriate )
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 7:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of
`
`source drivers performs the column inversion drive, and the pixel in the driving region of the
`
`source driver to which the second polarity signal is input and the pixel in the driving region of
`
`the source driver to which the first polarity signal is input differ from each other in the voltage
`
`polarity. ( The same reasoning in Claim 6 is also applicable here: Kim, [0049] discloses
`
`white and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As for the two polarity signals, Kim
`
`and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving, (for example, Kim, Figure 12 and
`
`Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and as well as dot inversion in
`
`general. See Figure 9 for when the polarity signals are applied and when they are not
`
`applied, i.e. high and low levels. Respectfully, dot, column, row inversion, etc are all well
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 11
`
`known in the art and examiner asserts Official Notice to this. Kim and Kim2 teach of many
`
`types of driving as well, depending on what is appropriate )
`
`Conclusion
`
`10.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Dennis Joseph whose telephone number is (571)270—1459. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Friday, 8am—5pm.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in—person, and video conferencing using
`
`a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
`
`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Amr Awad can be reached on 571—272—7764. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571—273—8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent
`
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications
`
`may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
`
`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
`
`system, see http://pair—direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR
`
`system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866—217—9197 (toll—free). If you would
`
`like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated
`
`information system, call 800—786—9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571—272—1000.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 12
`
`/Dennis J oseph/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2621
`
`