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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
`
`16/390,852
`
`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
`
`04/30/2021
`
`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*
`
`) Claim(s)17-24and26-30is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 17-24 and 26-30is/are rejected.
`(1 Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`C} 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)(] 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:
`_—_c)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)¥) 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.
`3.2.) 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 20210426
`
`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 3/4/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3)02 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\0) 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: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application,filedonor after March 16, 2013,
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`is being examined underthe
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`1.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 17-24,26,27 have beenconsidered but
`
`are moot because the new ground ofrejection does not rely on any reference applied inthe
`
`prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`In the eventthe determination of the status of the applicationas subjectto 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 rejectionif the
`
`prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under
`
`either status.
`
`3.
`
`Claim(s) 17,19-24,26-30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a as being anticipated by
`
`Kamada etal (US 20140098335)
`
`Regarding Claim 17,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig.1and Fig. 6) a first substrate (ABSTRACT) includinga first
`
`display electrode (25) and a second display electrode (23) that is disposed opposite the first
`
`display electrode with an insulator (abstract) interposed between the first display electrode
`
`(25) and the second display electrode (23); the first display electrode (25) made ofafirst
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`transparent conductive film [0109],
`
`and the second display electrode (23) made of a second
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`transparent conductive film; a second substrate (7) disposed opposite the first substrate (6);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
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`and a liquidcrystal layer (27) disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,
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`wherein the first display electrode (25) includes a first opening (as shown in Fig.6) and a second
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`opening (as shown in Fig.6) being adjacent to the first openingineach pixel, the firstopening
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`(openings shownin Fig. 6) and the second openingareeach entirely surrounded bythe first
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`transparent conductive film (25), and the firstopening and the second openingare arranged to
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`be spaced apart ina first direction (see Fig. 6, the openingsof 25 areslightly tilted) relative to
`
`each other, the second display electrode (23) includesa third opening (see openingsin 23 in
`
`Fig. 6) anda fourth opening (see multiple openingsin 23 in Fig. 6) being adjacent to the third
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`opening in eachpixel, the third opening and fourth opening are each entirely surrounded by the
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`second transparent conductivefilm (23), and the third opening and the fourth opening are
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`arranged to be spaced apart ina second direction relative to each other, the second direction
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`being (as seenin Fig. 6 they are vertically aligned) different from the first direction (slightly
`
`tilted at an angle) 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
`
`Page 4
`
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Regarding Claim 19,
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`Kamada etal discloses (Fig.20a) wherein the first opening and the second opening are
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`disposed in parallel to each other, and the first opening are disposed such that a long direction
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`of the first openingis parallel to a short direction of the pixel. (as shown going horizontally)
`
`Regarding Claim 20,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig.1 and Fig. 6) wherein the third opening and the fourth
`
`opening are disposed in parallel to each other, and the third opening are disposed such that a
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`long direction of the third opening is parallel to a long direction of the pixel (vertical).
`
`Regarding Claim 21,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 5
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig.6) wherein the third opening (openingin 23) overlaps both
`
`of the first opening (opening in 25) and the second opening(openingin 25)
`
`in planar view.
`
`Regarding Claim 22,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) wherein the fourth opening (opening in 23) overlaps both
`
`of the first opening (opening in 25) and the second opening (openingin 25)
`
`in planar view.
`
`Regarding Claim 23,
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`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 23a) wherein the third opening ([0195]) does not overlap
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`both ofthe first opening and the second opening.
`
`Regarding Claim 24,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 23a) wherein the fourth opening ([0195]) does not overlap
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`both ofthe first opening and the second opening.
`
`Regarding Claim 26,
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`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) wherein the first substrate further includes a data line
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`(13) extendinginafirst direction and a gate line (14) extendingina second direction.
`
`Regarding Claim 27,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) wherein the first opening and the second opening
`
`(slanted shape) each havea shape different froma shape of the third opening (vertical straight
`
`shape) and a shape of the fourth opening.
`
`Regarding Claim 28,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) wherein the first transparent conductive film and the
`
`second transparent conductive film are made of the same material [0109].
`
`Regarding Claim 29,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 6
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) wherein the first transparent conductive film and the
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`second transparent conductive film are made of an indium tin oxide [0109].
`
`Regarding Claim 30,
`
`Kamada etal discloses (Fig. 6) a first substrate (6) includingafirst display electrode (25)
`
`and a second display electrode (23) that is disposed opposite the first display electrode withan
`
`insulator (abstract) interposed between the first display electrode and the second display
`
`electrode; a second substrate (7) disposed opposite the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer
`
`(27) disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first display
`
`electrode (25) includesafirst opening and a second opening adjacentto the first opening in
`
`each pixel, the first opening and the second opening are each entirely surrounded by the first
`
`display electrode (25), the first opening and the second opening are arranged to be spaced
`
`apart ina first direction (slanted) relative to each other, the second display electrode (23)
`
`includes a third opening and a fourth opening adjacent to the third opening in each pixel, the
`
`third opening and the fourth opening are each entirely surrounded by the second display
`
`electrode, the third opening and the fourth opening are arranged to be spaced apart ina
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`second direction (straight vertical) relative to each other, the second direction being different
`
`from the first direction, and the third opening and the fourth opening are disposed between
`
`the first opening and the second opening in planar view.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`1.
`
`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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 7
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`prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under
`
`either status.
`
`Claim 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kamada et al
`
`(US 20140098335)
`
`in view of Kimura (US 20070236640)
`
`Regarding Claim 18,
`
`Kamada etal discloses everything as disclosed above.
`
`Kamada etal does not disclose whereinasize of the third is smallerthan a size of the
`
`fourth opening.
`
`Kimura discloses (Fig., 9a ) whereina size of the third is smallerthan a size of the fourth
`
`opening.[0181]
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skillinthe art to modify Kamada et al to
`
`include Kimura’s a size of the thirdis smallerthan a size of the fourth opening motivated by the
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`desire to create a wide viewing angel display ]0047] and [0181]/.
`
`Conclusion
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`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.
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`In the eventa firstreply is filed within TWO MONTHS of
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`the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until afterthe end of
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`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)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/390,852
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 8
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`will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the
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`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
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`examiner should be directed to LUCY P CHIEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8579. The
`
`examinercan normally be reached on 9AM-5PM PST Monday and Tuesday.
`
`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing
`
`using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicantis
`
`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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`
`/LUCY P CHIEN/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`