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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/212,241
`
`12/06/2018
`
`Takenobu NISHIGUCHI
`
`20295 .0033US01
`
`3798
`
`HAY
`
`M
`
`LER&
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON P.C.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`FRANK,EMILYJ
`
`2693
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/07/2020
`
`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.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1,3-5,10,12-14,16 and 18-20 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CL) Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,3-5,10,12-14,16 and 18-20 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) O Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 06 December 2018 is/are: a)(¥) accepted or b)L) objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)(1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`cc) None ofthe:
`b)LJ Some**
`a)L) All
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.4) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20200930
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/212,241
`NISHIGUCHI, Takenobu
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`EMILY J FRANK
`2693
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 10 June 2020.
`LC} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)(J This action is FINAL. 2b))This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\(Z 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 Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`2.
`
`A requestfor continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR
`
`1.17(e), wasfiled in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued
`
`examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the
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`finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's
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`submission filed on 04/25/2020 has been entered.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousnessrejections
`
`setforth 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.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1, 10 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tanaka
`
`(United States Patent Application Publication 2008/000751 4) in view of Shi et al. (United States Patent
`
`Application Publication 2020/00351 70 hereinafter referred to as Shi).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Tanaka disclosesa liquid crystal display device (figure 2; liquid crystal display
`
`device 10), comprising:
`
`a first liquid crystal display panel ([0045], lines 3-7; first liquid crystal panel 11) including a
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`plurality of first gate lines ([0046], the first and second liquid crystal panels 11 and 12 each have a panel
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`structure in which a substrate on which unit pixels 5 of a pixel array unit 2 are arranged in the form of a
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`matrix, scanning lines 6-1 to 6-m are arrangedfor each row);
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`a secondliquid crystal display panel ([0045], lines 3-7; first liquid crystal panel 12) including a
`
`plurality of second gate lines ([0046], the first and second liquid crystal panels 11 and 12 each have a
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 3
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`panel structure in which a substrate on which unit pixels 5 of a pixel array unit 2 are arranged in the form
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`of a matrix, scanning lines 6-1 to 6-m are arranged for each row);
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`a backlight (Fig. 3; backlight unit 13) arranged on a side of the first liquid crystal display panel
`
`such thatthe first liquid crystal display panel is adjacent the backlight and between the secondliquid
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`crystal display panel and the backlight ([0045], lines 3-10 and Fig. 3), the backlight including a plurality of
`
`rowsoflight sources ([0045], line 10);
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`a driving circuit (Fig. 4; gate driver 3) configured to supply a drive signal to the plurality of rows of
`
`light sources ([0042]); and
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`a controller (Fig. 4; driving circuit 8) configured to:
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`scan the plurality offirst gate lines ([0052));
`
`scan the plurality of second gate lines ([0052]):
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`control the driving circuit to illuminate a first row of the plurality of rows of light sources after the
`
`scan of a first set of the plurality offirst gate lines or after the scan ofafirst set of the plurality of second
`
`gate lines,
`
`wherein the scan ofthe first set of the plurality offirst gate lines is executed prior to the
`
`scan of the first set of the plurality of second gate lines ([0056], whereby interpretation given to Tanakais
`
`that the “first gate lines” come prior to the “second gate lines” as a given definition in the current
`
`rejection); and
`
`control the driving circuit to not illuminate the first row of the plurality of rows of light sources until
`
`the scan of a secondsetof the plurality of first gate lines is completed or the scan of a secondsetof the
`
`plurality of second gate lines is completed ([0056], whereby “A liquid crystal display device
`
`...performs normaldriving of a secondliquid crystal panel 12 and performs double-speeddriving
`
`of a first liquid crystal panel 11 under driving by a driving circuit 8. In this case, normal driving
`
`refers to driving at a frequency(driving frequency) of an input signal (video signal), that is driving
`
`in which one frame period is not divided. Hence, double-speed driving refers to driving at a
`
`frequency twice the frequency of the input video signal.” Since driving for the LCD panel 12
`
`(claimed second panel) is at normal driving in which one frame period is not divided, it would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the first filing of the claimed invention that
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 4
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`the backlight including the first row of the light sources wouldn’t be illuminated until the scan of
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`gate lines of the 2"? LCD panel 12 including both the first and second sets of second gate lines are
`
`completed; likewise, the backlight including the first row of the light sources wouldn't be
`
`illuminated until the scan of gate lines of the 1st LCD panel 11 including both the first and second
`
`sets of first gate lines are completed. This interpretation of Tanaka meets interpretation of this
`
`claimed limitation, i.e. this claimed limitation has been interpreted as such.).
`
`However Tanaka does not disclose control the driving circuits to illuminate a first row of the
`
`plurality of rows of light sources while a remainder of the plurality of rows of light sources are disabled.
`
`In a similar field of endeavor of display devices, Shi discloses control the driving circuits to
`
`illuminate a first row of the plurality of rows of light sources while a remainder of the plurality of rows of
`
`light sources are disabled ([0048] and Figs. 1-4, Step $10, after a preset time has elapsed from receipt of
`
`a synchronousdisplay signal for displaying one frame of image bya liquid crystal display assembly,
`
`during the period for displaying one frame of image, lighting the light sources row by row; and [0052], the
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`light sources are turned on row by row during the period for displaying one frame of image after the liquid
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`crystal responseis completec).
`
`In view of the teachings by Tanaka and Shi, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art to modify the multi-panel display of Tanaka by specifically providing illuminating a first row of the
`
`plurality of rows while the remainder of the plurality of rows of light sources are disabled, as taught by Shi,
`
`for the purpose of reducing residual image and lessening deterioration of the display (Shi, [0005)).
`
`Regarding claim 10, Tanaka discloses a method of illuminating a liquid crystal display device
`
`includingafirst liquid crystal display panel, a second liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight, the
`
`method comprising:
`
`scanning, with a controller, a plurality of first gate lines, the plurality of first gate lines
`
`correspondingto the first liquid crystal display panel ([0046));
`
`scanning, with the controller, a plurality of second gate lines, the plurality of second gate lines
`
`corresponding to the secondliquid crystal display panel ([0046));
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
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`Page 5
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`enabling a drive signalto a first row of a plurality of rows oflight sources of the backlight before
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`completing scanning ofafirst set of the plurality of first gate lines or in response to completing scanning
`
`of a first set of the plurality of second gatelines,
`
`wherein the scanning ofthe first set of the plurality offirst gate lines is executed prior to
`
`the scanning ofthe first set of the plurality of second gate lines ([0056], wherebyinterpretation
`
`given to Tanakais that the “first gate lines” comeprior to the “second gate lines” as a given
`
`definition in the current rejection); and
`
`disabling the drive signal to the first row of the plurality of rows of light sources of the backlight
`
`before completing scanning of a secondsetof the plurality of first gate lines or completing scanning of a
`
`second setof the plurality of second gate lines ([0056], whereby “A liquid crystal display device
`
`...performs normaldriving of a second liquid crystal panel 12 and performs double-speed driving
`
`of a first liquid crystal panel 11 under driving by a driving circuit 8. In this case, normal driving
`
`refers to driving at a frequency(driving frequency) of an input signal (video signal), that is driving
`
`in which one frame period is not divided. Hence, double-speed driving refers to driving at a
`
`frequency twice the frequency of the input video signal.” Since driving for the LCD panel 12
`
`(claimed second panel) is at normal driving in which one frame period is not divided, it would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the first filing of the claimed invention that
`
`the backlight including thefirst row of the light sources wouldn’t be illuminated until the scan of
`
`gate lines of the 2"? LCD panel 12 including both the first and second sets of second gate lines are
`
`completed; likewise, the backlight including the first row of the light sources wouldn’t be
`
`illuminated until the scan of gate lines of the 1st LCD panel 11 including both thefirst and second
`
`sets of first gate lines are completed. This interpretation of Tanaka meets interpretation of this
`
`claimed limitation, i.e. this claimed limitation has been interpreted as such.).
`
`However Tanaka doesnot disclose enabling a drive signal to only a first row of a plurality of rows
`
`of light sources of the backlight.
`
`In a similar field of endeavor of display devices, Shi discloses enabling a drive signal to only a
`
`first row of a plurality of rows of light sources of the backlight ([0048] and Figs. 1-4, Step S10, after a
`
`presettime has elapsed from receipt of a synchronousdisplay signal for displaying one frame of image by
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 6
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`a liquid crystal display assembly, during the period for displaying one frame of image, lighting the light
`
`sources row by row; and [0052], the light sources are turned on row by row during the period for
`
`displaying one frame of image after the liquid crystal response is completed).
`
`In view of the teachings by Tanaka and Shi, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art to modify the multi-panel display of Tanaka by specifically providing illuminating onlyafirst row of
`
`the plurality of rows of light sources, as taught by Shi, for the purpose of reducing residual image and
`
`lessening deterioration of the display (Shi, [0005)).
`
`Claim 16 is a system claim drawnto the device of claim 1 and is therefore interpreted and
`
`rejected based on similar reasoning.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 3-5, 12-14 and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Tanaka and Shi further in view of Lee et al. (United States Patent Application Publication 2018/0182304
`
`hereinafter referred to as Lee).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Tanakafails to disclose wherein the controller is configured to scan the first
`
`set of the plurality of second gate lines in response to completing the scanofthe first set of the plurality of
`
`first gate lines.
`
`Lee discloses wherein the controller is configured to scan the first set of the plurality of second
`
`gate lines in response to completing the scanofthe first set of the plurality of first gate lines ([0064] and
`
`Fig. 6).
`
`Tanaka and Lee are in a similar field of endeavor of multi-layer display devices.
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
`
`wasfiled to modify Tanaka by specifically providing wherein the controller is configured to scan the first
`
`set of the plurality of second gate lines in response to completing the scan ofthe first set of the plurality of
`
`first gate lines, as taught by Lee, as a knownalternative, analogous method of display driving.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 7
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`Regarding claim 4, Tanakafails to disclose wherein the controller is configured to notilluminate
`
`the first row of the plurality of rows of light sources prior to at least one of the scan of the second setof
`
`the plurality of first gate lines and the scan of the second setof the plurality of second gatelines.
`
`Lee discloses wherein the controller is configured to notilluminate the first row of the plurality of
`
`rowsoflight sourcesprior to at least one of the scan of the secondsetof the plurality of first gate lines
`
`and the scan of the second setof the plurality of second gate lines ([0064] and Fig. 6).
`
`Tanaka and Leeare in a similar field of endeavor of multi-layer display devices.
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
`
`wasfiled to modify Tanaka by specifically providing wherein the controller is configured to notilluminate
`
`the first row of the plurality of rows of light sources prior to at least one of the scan of the second setof
`
`the plurality of first gate lines and the scan of the second setof the plurality of second gate lines, as
`
`taught by Lee, as a knownalternative, analogous methodof display driving.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Tanakafails to disclose wherein the controller is configured toilluminate the
`
`first row of the plurality of rows of light sources until the scan of the secondsetof the plurality offirst gate
`
`lines and the scan of the secondsetof the plurality of second gate lines is complete.
`
`Lee discloses wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the first row of the plurality of rows
`
`of light sources until the scan of the secondsetof the plurality of first gate lines and the scan of the
`
`second setof the plurality of second gate lines is complete ([0064] and Fig. 6).
`
`Tanaka and Leeare in a similar field of endeavor of multi-layer display devices.
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention
`
`wasfiled to modify Tanaka by specifically providing wherein the controller is configured toilluminate the
`
`first row of the plurality of rows of light sources until the scan of the second setof the plurality offirst gate
`
`lines and the scan of the secondsetof the plurality of second gate lines is complete, as taught by Lee, as
`
`a knownalternative, analogous method of display driving.
`
`Claims 12-14 are method claims drawnto the device of claims 3-5 respectively and are therefore
`
`interpreted and rejected based on similar reasoning.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 8
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`Claims 18-20 are system claims drawnto the device of claims 3-5 respectively and are therefore
`
`interpreted and rejected based on similar reasoning.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`6.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to newly amendedportion of claims 1, 10 and 16 have been
`
`considered, but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the new reference combinations
`
`including new reference of Shi being used in the current rejection that addressesall the arguments.
`
`Please refer to rejection abovefor full detail.
`
`Conclusion
`
`7.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
`
`Hussain et al. (United States Patent Application Publication 2014/0176352) discloses as the
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`scanning control circuitry 66 addresses one row of the shared matrix 48 per row interval, one row of LEDs
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`62 may bedriven to backlight one row of keys 38 during the row interval, while the remaining rows of
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`LEDs 62 are not driven (e.g., turned -off) during the row interval ([0048]).
`
`8.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to EMILY J FRANK whosetelephone number is (571)270-7255. The examiner can normally
`
`be reached on Monday-Thursday 8AM-6PM.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
`USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration 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,
`
`Benjamin C. Lee can be reached on (571)272-2963. 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
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`either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/212,241
`Art Unit: 2693
`
`Page 9
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`Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-
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`
`/EJF/
`
`/BENJAMIN C LEE/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2693
`
`