throbber
www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/942,073
`
`53148
`
`03/30/2018
`
`Hideyuki NAKANISHI
`
`20326.0134U301
`
`1055
`
`759°
`
`10/24/20”
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON RC.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`LL GRACE Q
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2611
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/24/2019
`
`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):
`PTOMail@hsml.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/942,073
`Examiner
`GRACE Q Li
`
`Applicant(s)
`NAKANISHI et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2611
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f 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). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 10/10/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) C] This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] 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 Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`1—5 and 7—8 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`Claim(s) § is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s) Z is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`E] Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. 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
`
`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentszinit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@g§ptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)D The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`is/are: a)C] accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
`11):] The drawing(s) filed on
`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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)D All
`
`b)U Some**
`
`0). None of the:
`
`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`21:] 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) C] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20191018
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`This is in response to applicant’s amendment/response filed on 10/10/2019, which has
`
`been entered and made of record. Claim(s) 1 has been amended. Claim(s) 6 is canceled, and
`
`claim(s) 8 is added. Claim(s) 1—5, 7—8 are pending in the application. The rejections under 35
`
`USC § 112(b) to claims 1—5, 7 has/have been withdrawn in view of the amendment. The
`
`objection to claim 1 has been withdrawn in view of the amendment.
`
`Priority
`
`Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application
`
`filed in Japan on 3/30/2017. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of
`
`the JP2017068369 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`Claim Objections
`
`Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: “by the first gradation
`
`converter” in line 22 might be corrected as “by the second gradation converter”. Appropriate
`
`correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 103
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
`
`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
`
`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 3
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 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.
`
`Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hirata (US
`
`20100002018 A1) in view of Esashi et al. (US 20170295300 A1), and further in view of Marcu
`
`et al. (US 20120281008) and Safaee-Rad et al. (US 20120056911).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Hirata discloses A liquid crystal display device in Which a plurality
`
`of display panels are disposed While overlapping each other, and an image being displayed
`
`on each of the display panels (Hirata, “[0056] In the liquid crystal display device, when a first
`
`liquid crystal panel is the top most one of the stacked liquid crystal display panels, the first liquid
`
`crystal panel is a color liquid crystal panel and at least one of the other stacked liquid crystal
`
`display panels is a black and white liquid crystal panel”. “[0206] The first and second panels
`
`may be fed with identical image signals, or signals that are associated but different”), the liquid
`
`crystal display device comprising:
`
`a first display panel that displays a first image based on m-bit input image data; a
`
`second display panel that displays a second image based on the m-bit input image data
`
`(Hirata, fig.7. “[0253] The following deals with a concrete example of a driving method in the
`
`display controller of the liquid crystal display device 100 arranged as above, with reference to
`
`FIG. 7. Assume 8 —bit (256 gradation) inputs and 8 —bit liquid crystal drivers. [0256] The first and
`
`second panels handle 8—bit data, and the resultant outputs are also 8—bit images. Each of the
`
`output images corresponds to each of the input signals one to one, so that the input images are
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 4
`
`faithfully reproduced.” Therefore, each of the first and second display panels displays an image
`
`based on the 8—bit input signal); and
`
`an image processor including a first gradation converter that converts a gradation
`
`of the m-bit input image data into an m—bit gradation based on a first gamma characteristic
`
`of the m—bit driving first display panel (Hirata, “[0253] The following deals with a concrete
`
`example of a driving method in the display controller of the liquid crystal display device 100
`
`arranged as above, with reference to FIG. 7. Assume 8 —bit (256 gradation) inputs and 8 —bit
`
`liquid crystal drivers. [0254] The panel driver circuit (1) of the display controller section carries
`
`out drive signal processing such as .gamma.—correction and overshooting with respect to an input
`
`signal (video source) so as to output 8—bit gradation data to a source driver (source driving
`
`means) of the first panel.” Therefore, the gamma correction corresponds to the gradation
`
`conversion based on a gamma characteristic), a second gradation converter that converts a
`
`gradation of the m-bit input image data into an ml-bit (m1>= m) gradation based on a
`
`second gamma characteristic of the second display panel (Hirata, “[0253] The following
`
`deals with a concrete example of a driving method in the display controller of the liquid crystal
`
`display device 100 arranged as above, with reference to FIG. 7. Assume 8 —bit (256 gradation)
`
`inputs and 8 —bit liquid crystal drivers. [0255] Meanwhile, the panel drive circuit (2) carries out
`
`signal processing such as .gamma.—correction and overshooting so as to output 8—bit gradation
`
`data to a source driver (source driving means) of the second panel.” Therefore, ml=m=8 in this
`
`embodiment).
`
`On the other hand, Hirata fails to explicitly disclose but Esashi discloses an n-bit (n<m)
`
`driving first display panel that displays a first image based on m-bit input image data; an
`
`image processor including a first gradation converter that converts a gradation of the m-bit
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 5
`
`input image data into an n-bit gradation based on a first gamma characteristic of the n-bit
`
`driving first display panel, wherein the n-bit driving first display panel displays the first
`
`image based on the n-bit input image data in which the gradation is converted by the first
`
`gradation converter (Esashi, fig.4. “[0035] In the case of displaying the generated X—ray image
`
`on the display 106, the display system receives the multi—gradation X—ray image, applies a color
`
`reduction LUT for display, and performs monitor gamma processing to convert the gradation of
`
`the X—ray image from "10 —bits" to "8 —bits". A video card putouts the "8 —bits" X—ray image from
`
`the display 106.” Therefore, n=8, and m=10 in this embodiment);
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Hirata and Esashi. That is, replacing the gamma
`
`correction of the first display panel of Hirata with the gamma processing of Esashi. The
`
`motivation/ suggestion would have been in the case of displaying the X—ray image having a
`
`larger number of gradation levels than the number of gradation levels displayed by the display
`
`106, the X—ray diagnostic apparatus 1 simply thins the number of gradation levels according to
`
`the LUT kept in the display 106, and displays the X—ray image (Esashi [0035]).
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in View of Esashi fails to explicitly disclose but Marcu
`
`discloses an n-bit driving second display panel that displays a second image based on the m-
`
`bit input image data; and a second gradation converter that converts a gradation of the m-
`
`bit input image data into an ml-bit (m1>= m) gradation based on a second gamma
`
`characteristic of the n-bit driving second display panel, and an extension processor that
`
`performs extension processing of extending gradation expression with the 11 bits on the
`
`input image data converted into the ml-bit gradation, and the n-bit driving second display
`
`panel displays the second image based on n-bit input image data in which the gradation is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 6
`
`converted by the first gradation converter in RGB format, subjected to the extension
`
`processing (Marcu, fig.3 and fig.5, “[0008] the so—called gamma correction may also include
`
`what is referred to in the field as gray tracking compensation. [0045] Dithering circuit 30'
`
`reduces the input 12 bits of data (per pixel, per color channel) to 8 bits as is conventional since
`
`typically the display driver (not shown) can only accept these 8 bits. Further, the reference here
`
`to the number of bits refers to each color channel such as red, where typically there are three
`
`color channels——red, green, blue (RGB). [0046] FIG. 3 shows the result of the process of FIG. 2;
`
`where additionally the gamma and gray tracking correction are carried out in element 46 at 40.
`
`Here the gamma and gray tracking compensation 40 add two bits (per color channel per pixel)
`
`and the dithering component 30 reduces its 12 —bit input to an 8 —bit output for each color
`
`channel.” Therefore, the dithering of Marcu corresponds to the extension processing. M=10,
`
`m1=12, and n=8 in this embodiment).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Marcu into the combination of Hirata and
`
`Esashi. That is, replacing the controller of the process in fig.3 of Marcu with the processor of the
`
`second display panel of Hirata. The motivation/ suggestion would have been to provide Method
`
`and apparatus for adjusting the display characteristics of an electronic display, such as a
`
`computer or television display. Thereby when the display is in use, it performs compensation for
`
`white point, gray tracking and gain correction as the display warms up, each time it is powered
`
`up or when its thermal operation conditions change (Marcu, abstract).
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in View of Esashi and Marcu fails to explicitly disclose but
`
`Safaee—Rad discloses a first signal converter that converts the input image data having an
`
`RGB format into the input image data having an HSV format and a second signal
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 7
`
`converter that converts the input image data converted into the HSV format into the input
`
`image data having the RGB format (Safaee—Rad, fig. 7. “[0093] In some examples, a color
`
`space conversion unit 703 may convert the image to another color space, e. g., from sRGB to
`
`HSV, which expresses image data in hue, saturation, and value (or brightness). [0095] Once the
`
`contrast has been enhanced according to the lookup table from ABL unit 711, the image may be
`
`converted back from the "hue, saturation, brightness" (HSV) space to the standard RGB (sRGB)
`
`color space (as most displays accept RGB values) in color space conversion unit 719.”
`
`Therefore, the input image 701 of Safaee—Rad corresponds to the m—bit input image data).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Safaee—Rad into the combination of Hirata and
`
`Esashi, Marcu, to include all limitations of claim 1. That is, adding the RGB/HSV conversion
`
`and the HSV/RGB conversions of Safaee—Rad prior to and after the gradation conversion of the
`
`first display panel of Hirata, Esashi and Marcu. The motivation/ suggestion would have been
`
`Conversion to HSV, for example, allows for HSIC (hue, saturation, intensity, contrast)
`
`adjustments in response to user selections 707. HSIC unit 705 may adjust hue, saturation,
`
`intensity, and contrast of the incoming image, in response to user selections 707 (Safaee—Rad
`
`[0093]).
`
`Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hirata in view
`
`of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee-Rad, and further in View of Sawabe (US 20090284518).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Hirata in view of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad discloses The liquid
`
`crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first gradation converter converts the
`
`m-bit gradation into the n-bit gradation using a first gamma value, the second gradation
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 8
`
`converter converts the m-bit gradation into the ml-bit gradation using a second gamma
`
`value, has been disclosed.
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in View of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad fails to explicitly
`
`disclose but Sawabe discloses the first gamma value and the second gamma value are equal
`
`to each other (Sawabe “[0229] As described above, in the present embodiment, examples are
`
`made under a condition where both of two panels are set to ".gamma.=1.1" independently. The
`
`present invention, however, is not limited to this. Two panels may differ in . gamma. value in
`
`such a manner that the . gamma. value becomes " .gamma.=2.2" as a whole.”).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Sawabe into the combination of Hirata and
`
`Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. That is, applying the gamma value setting of Sawabe to the dual
`
`display panels of of Hirata, Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. The motivation/ suggestion would
`
`have been to provide a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof, both of which
`
`can reduce a response period. (Sawabe, [0230]).
`
`Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hirata in View
`
`of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee-Rad, and further in View of Hayashi (US 20150210100).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Hirata in View of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad discloses The liquid
`
`crystal display device according to claim 1.
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in View of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad fails to explicitly
`
`disclose but Hayashi discloses the extension processing is dithering of extending the
`
`gradation With an average of an area direction (Hayashi, “[0099] In this case, as one example,
`
`an average of gradation values of pixels in the region within the image data to which the dither
`
`mask 210 is applied is obtained and used as a gradation value D”).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 9
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Hayashi into the combination of Hirata and
`
`Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. That is, applying the dithering of Hayashi to the dual display
`
`panels of Hirata, Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. The motivation/ suggestion would have been to
`
`reduce resources required for a dither mask and prevent deterioration of gradation due to dither
`
`processing (Hayashi, [0007]).
`
`Claim(s) 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hirata in view
`
`of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee-Rad, and further in view of Sakaigawa et al. (US 20150294441
`
`A1).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Hirata in view of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad discloses The liquid
`
`crystal display device according to claim 1.
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in view of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad fails to explicitly
`
`disclose but Sakaigawa discloses the extension processing is frame rate controlling of
`
`extending the gradation with an average of a time axis direction (Sakaigawa “[0115] The
`
`FRC 16 performs a dithering process by switching plural frames which make up one gradation
`
`image at a high speed, and outputs a signal including bits the number of which is smaller than
`
`that of bits included in a signal outputted from the reverse gamma conversion section 14. [0116]
`
`The FRC 16 performs a dithering process by displaying one gradation image while switching n
`
`frames. At this time M.times.M pixels in the gradation image are considered as one block for
`
`which luminance representation is changed. Positions at which M.times.M pixels light are
`
`changed in each of the 11 frames”).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Sakaigawa into the combination of Hirata and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 10
`
`Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. That is, applying the FRC of Sakaigawa to the extension
`
`processing of Hirata, Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. The motivation/ suggestion would have
`
`been gradation errors convoluted into data outputted from the reverse gamma conversion section
`
`14 are spatially dispersed (Sakaigawa, [0125]).
`
`Claim(s) 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hirata in view
`
`of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee-Rad, and further in view of Kobayashi (US 20160347006 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Hirata in view of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad discloses The liquid
`
`crystal display device according to claim 1.
`
`On the other hand, Hirata in view of Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad fails to explicitly
`
`disclose but Kobayashi discloses the extension processing is smoothing of smoothing a
`
`boundary Where luminance changes using an average value filter (Kobayashi, “[0046] For
`
`example, a moving average filter, a Gaussian filter, or a median filter may be used to smooth and
`
`blur the boundary region 43.”).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to have combined Kobayashi into the combination of Hirata and
`
`Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. That is, applying the moving average filter of Kobayashi to the
`
`extension processing of Hirata, Esashi, Marcu and Safaee—Rad. The motivation/ suggestion
`
`would have been to provide a mathematical tool to smooth and blur the boundary region
`
`(Kobayashi [0046]).
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claim 7 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be
`
`allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and
`
`any intervening claims.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 11
`
`The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
`
`Regarding claim 7, it recites, the first gamma value and the second gamma value are
`
`0.5, and a combined gamma value of a display image in which the first image and the
`
`second image are combined is 2.2.
`
`None of the prior arts on the record or any of the prior arts searched, alone or in
`
`combination, renders the above claimed invention obvious.
`
`Claim 8 is allowed.
`
`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
`
`Regarding claim 8, it recites, inter alia, the first gamma value and the second gamma
`
`value are 0.5, and a combined gamma value of a display image in which the first image and
`
`the second image are combined is 2.2.
`
`None of the prior arts on the record or any of the prior arts searched, alone or in
`
`combination, renders the above claimed invention obvious.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 10/10/2019 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`persuasive.
`
`The applicant submits: The references, even when considered in combination, do not
`
`suggest the features of claim 1 discussed above. Even if Hirai discloses a liquid crystal display
`
`device including two liquid crystal panels that are stacked with each other, Hirai does not suggest
`
`a display device in which, in the gradation conversion processing for the individual panels, signal
`
`data of different formats are input into each gradation converter. Esashi and Marcu are cited for
`
`purposes unrelated to this aspect of claim 1 and do not remedy the deficiencies of Hirai. The
`
`rejection refers to Saface—Rad for features concerning RGB and HSV formats. However, Fig. 7
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 12
`
`and paragraphs [0093] and [0095] of the reference, cited for support by the rejection, do not
`
`suggest that different formats should be applied to different gradation converters in the same
`
`display device. Therefore, Saface—Rad also does not remedy the deficiencies of Hirai and the
`
`rejection should be Withdrawn (Remarks, page 7, 2‘101 paragraph).
`
`The examiner respectfully disagrees. Hirata ([0313]) discloses “The analogue RGB
`
`signals are supplied to the A/D converter 502, and converted into digital RGB signals. The
`
`digital RGB signals are then sent to the liquid crystal controller 503.” Therefore, the input signal
`
`is in RGB format. When Saface—Rad is combined with Hirata, Esashi and Marcu, the conversions
`
`of RGB—>HSV and HSV->RGB are added prior to and after the gradation conversion of the first
`
`display panel of Hirata, Esashi and Marcu. Therefore, the input signal for gradation conversion
`
`in the first display panel is HSV format, While the input signal for gradation conversion in the
`
`second display panel is RGB format. Therefore, the combination of Hirata, Esashi and Marcu,
`
`Saface—Rad teaches all limitations of claim 1.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this
`
`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a).
`
`Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed Within TWO
`
`MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after
`
`the end of the THREE—MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period
`
`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
`
`CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/942,073
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 13
`
`however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this
`
`final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to GRACE Q LI whose telephone number is (571)270—0497. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on Monday — Friday, 8:00 am—5:00 pm.
`
`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, Kee Tung can be reached on (571)—272—7794. 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.
`
`/GRACE Q LI/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2611
`10/ 18/2019
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket