www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/390,852
`
`04/22/2019
`
`Koji MIMURA
`
`20326.0111USC1
`
`7363
`
`HAY
`
`M
`
`TLERS
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON P.C.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`CHIEN, LUCY P
`
`2871
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/16/2020
`
`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)
`
`

`

`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/390,852
`Examiner
`LUCY P CHIEN
`
`Applicant(s)
`MIMURA, Koji
`Art Unit
`2871
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`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 4/13/2020.
`LC} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)l¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J 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.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`17-26 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CJ] Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 17-26 is/are rejected.
`OO Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`CC) Claim(s)
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`* 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)L) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 4/22/2019 is/are: a)(¥) accepted or b)() 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) 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)Y) All
`1.4) 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 20200610
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application,filedonor after March 16, 2013,
`
`is being examined underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`1.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 17-25 have beenconsidered but are moot
`
`because the argumentsdo not apply to any of the references being used in the current
`
`rejection.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`In the eventthe determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subjectto pre-AlA 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.
`
`3.
`
`Claim(s) 17-26 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a as being anticipated by Kimura (US
`
`20080002079)
`
`Regarding Claim 17,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted below) a first
`
`substrate (200) includinga first display electrode (lighter shaded region) and a second display
`
`electrode (darker shaded region) that is disposed opposite the first display electrode with an
`
`insulator (the insulator between 203e and 4401) interposed between the first display electrode
`
`(4401) and the second display electrode (203e); a second substrate (209) disposed opposite the
`
`first substrate (200); andaliquid crystal layer (207) disposed between the first substrate and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
`
`the second substrate, wherein the first display electrode (4401) includes a first opening (see
`
`below circledin blue) and a second opening (see below circledin blue) being adjacent to the
`
`first openingin eachpixel, the first opening and the second openingare arranged ina first
`
`direction (vertically) the second display electrode includes a third opening (see below circled in
`
`red) and a fourth opening (see belowcircledin red) being adjacent to the third opening in each
`
`pixel, the third opening and the fourth opening are arranged in a second direction
`
`(horizontally)(the third and fourth opening are arranged in the firstand second direction)
`
`differentfrom the first direction (vertically)(the horizontal
`
`part of the third and fourth openin
`
`are arranged differentfrom the first direction) and the third opening and the fourth opening
`
`are disposed between the first opening and the second opening in planar view.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`FIG. 60A
`
`Page 4
`
`2086("Bosep08
`
`i.
`
`6
`
`1s.
`
`ee
`
`Fourth
`
`of the 24 First
`
`
`opening
`
`1 NejNerr
`opening
`SNg
` AreeTe EE
`
`
`
`
`of 1st
`LF
`TE nme
`&AAR
`
`electrode
`ISSRtb AS SERNWS|
`
`
`
`AA
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`WWWecm\
`EES
`4401
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`
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`
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`opening
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`
`electrode
`
`203e
`
`electrode
`
`4401
`
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`
`direction
`
`vertically
`
`eo — v
`horizontally
`
`SSS&
`
`Second direction going
`
`Fourth
`
`opening
`of the 2"4
`
`electrode
`
`203e
`
`Regarding Claim 18
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) whereina size
`
`of the third opening is smallerthan a size of the fourth opening.
`
`Regarding Claim 19,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 5
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) whereinthe
`
`first opening and the second opening are disposed in parallel to each other, and the first
`
`opening are disposed such that along direction of the first opening is parallel to a short
`
`direction of the pixel. (the horizontal part)
`
`Regarding Claim 20,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) wherein the
`
`third opening and the fourth opening are disposedin parallel to each other, and the third
`
`opening are disposed such that a long direction of the third openingis parallel to a long
`
`direction of the pixel.( see Fig. 118b, the electrodes are going vertical which means the long
`
`openingis parallel to the long direction of the pixel whichisin the vertical direction)
`
`Regarding Claim 21,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) wherein the
`
`third opening (as shown above) overlaps both ofthe first opening and the second openingin
`
`planar view.
`
`Regarding Claim 22,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) wherein the
`
`fourth opening (shown above) overlaps both ofthe first opening and the second openingin
`
`planar view.
`
`Regarding Claim 23,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted above) wherein the
`
`third opening does not overlap both of the first opening and the second opening.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Regarding Claim 24,
`
`Page 6
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted BELOW) wherein the
`
`fourth opening in the particular location circled in blue below does not overlap both of the first
`
`opening and the second opening. (this would be the caseif | choose otherlocation for all the
`
`opening such as shown below)
`
`FIG. 60A
`
`20801208420180936
`
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`
`
`
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`
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`
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`:
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`.
`
`
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`
`
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`opening
`
`
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`
`
`
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`MLR EE
`
`
`
`
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`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`
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`
`
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`
`
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`
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`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`
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`
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`
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`2086
`~ 2016
`~20Tc
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Regarding Claim 25,
`
`Page 7
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b, also see pasted aboveon page 3) a
`
`first substrate (200) includingafirst display electrode (light shaded) and a second display
`
`electrode (dark shaded) that is disposed opposite the first display electrode with an insulator
`
`(the insulator between 203e and 4401) interposed between the first display electrode
`
`(4401)and the second display electrode (203e); a second substrate (209) disposed opposite the
`
`first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer(207) disposed between the first substrate and the
`
`second substrate, wherein the first display electrode includesafirst opening and a second
`
`opening being adjacent to the first openingin each pixel, the second display electrode includes
`
`a third opening, the third opening is disposed between the first opening and the second
`
`openingin planar view, and the third opening overlaps both of the first opening and the second
`
`opening in planar view (see pasted aboveon Page3).
`
`Regarding Claim 26,
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig. 44 and Fig. 60a and Fig. 60b) wherein the first substrate further
`
`includes a data line (206a) extendingina first direction and a gate line extendingina second
`
`direction (201b).
`
`Conclusion
`
`2.
`
`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). Applicantis
`
`reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is setto expire THREE MONTHS
`
`from the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the eventa firstreply is filed within TWO MONTHS of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 8
`
`the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until afterthe end of
`
`the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, thenthe shortened statutory period will expire
`
`on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuantto 37 CFR 1.136(a)
`
`will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.
`
`In no event, however, will the
`
`statutory period for reply expire laterthan SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
`
`4.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to LUCY P CHIEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8579. The
`
`examinercan normally be reached on 9AM-5PM PST M-TH.
`
`Examinerinterviews 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, Michael Caley can be reached on 571-272-2286. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization wherethis 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 PublicPAIR. Status information for unpublished
`
`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
`
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`
`PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 9
`
`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.
`
`/LUCY P CHIEN/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`