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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
`
`16/774,792
`
`01/28/2020
`
`Teruhisa NAKAGAWA
`
`2020-0099A
`
`5944
`
`wo
`
`v
`
`ACKL
`
`WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACKL.L.P.
`1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW
`Suite 500
`Washington, DC 20036
`
`QURESHI, MARIAM
`
`2871
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/12/2021
`
`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):
`eoa@ wenderoth.com
`kmiller@wenderoth.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-11 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-11 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`Cj) 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 1/28/20 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 1/28/20.
`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 20211006
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/774,792
`NAKAGAWA, Teruhisa
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`MARIAM QURESHI
`2871
`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 1/28/20.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)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: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`The presentapplication, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly
`pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or moreclaims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second
`
`paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject
`
`matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112,
`
`the applicant), regards as the invention.
`
`Regarding Claim 1, the limitation “that transverse the second pixel row” is ambiguousasto the
`
`metes and boundsof the claims. It appears that the limitation intends to havethe first cross connection
`
`wiring traverse or cross the second pixel row to connectthe first and second gate lines. Therefore, the
`
`limitation is interpreted to mean “that traverse the second pixel row”.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, the limitation “the first cross connection wirings is overlapped between the
`
`first source line and the second sourceline” is ambiguous as to the metes and boundsofthe claim. It
`
`appearsthatthe first cross connection wirings are meant to be disposed between the first source line and
`
`the second sourceline. For this reason, the limitation is interpreted to mean “the first cross connection
`
`wirings is disposed between the first source line and the second sourceline.”
`
`Regarding Claim 5, the limitation “transverse the fourth pixel row” is ambiguousas to the metes
`
`and bounds ofthe claim. It appears that the limitation intends to have the second cross connection wiring
`
`traverse or cross the fourth pixel row to connectthe third and fourth gate lines. Therefore, the limitation is
`
`interpreted to mean “that traverse the fourth pixel row’.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
`
`Claims 3-4, 6-11 are rejected by virtue of their dependence on claim 1.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for
`
`the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`A personshall 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 effectivefiling date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`Claims 1, 3-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Xing et al (US
`
`Publication No.: US 2017/0148404 A1, “Xing”).
`
`Regarding Claim 1, Xing discloses a display device (Figure 3), comprising:
`
`A first pixel row including a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are arrangedin
`
`a first direction (Figure 3, first pixel row comprisesfirst pixel electrode P21 and second pixel electrode
`
`P22 that are arrangedinafirst horizontal direction);
`
`A second pixel row including a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode that are arranged
`
`in the first direction, the second pixel row being adjacentto the first pixel row in a second direction that
`
`crossesthe first direction (Figure 3, second pixel row comprisesthird pixel electrode P31 and fourth pixel
`
`electrode P82in a first horizontal direction, where the second pixel row is adjacent to the first pixel row in
`
`a second vertical direction);
`
`A third pixel row includingafifth pixel electrode and a sixth pixel electrode that are arranged in
`
`the first direction, the third pixel row being adjacent to the second pixel row in the seconddirection (Figure
`
`3, third pixel row comprisesfifth pixel electrode P41 and sixth pixel electrode P42 arrangedin the first
`
`horizontal direction, where the third pixel row is adjacent to the second pixel row in the second vertical
`
`direction);
`
`A first source line and a second sourceline that extend in the second direction between the first
`
`pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, between the third pixel electrode and the fourth pixel
`
`electrode, and between the fifth pixel electrode and the sixth pixel electrode (Figure 3, first source line
`
`D2_aand second source line D2_b extend between first and second pixel electrodes P21 and P22,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 4
`
`between third and fourth pixel electrodes P31 and P32, and between fifth and sixth pixel electrodes P41
`
`and P42);
`
`A first gate line that extendsin the first direction between the first pixel row and the second pixel
`
`row (Figure 3, first gate line G3);
`
`A second gate line that extendsin the first direction between the second pixel row and the third
`
`pixel row (Figure 3, second gate line G4);
`
`A first end connection wiring that connects the first gate line to the second gate line at an end
`
`portion of the second pixel row (Figure 3, as annotated below); and
`
`One or morefirst cross connection wirings that traverses the second pixel row and connectthe
`
`first gate line to the second gate line (Figure 3, as annotated below).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 5
`
`PPPPEPPEEEEEEEEEEALPEPEPEEEEEEEEEEREEL
`
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`
`Regarding Claim 3, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the first cross
`
`connection wirings overlap with the third pixel electrode in plan view (Figure 3, first cross connection
`
`wirings, as annotated above, overlaps with third pixel electrode P31 in at least a first horizontal direction).
`
`Regarding Claim 4, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 3, wherein: the third pixel
`
`electrode includesafirst region extending at a slope of a first angle with respectto the first direction, and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 6
`
`a second region extending at a slope of a second angle with respectto the first direction, the second
`
`angle being different from the first angle, and the first cross connection wirings overlap with a boundary
`
`between the first region and the second region in plan view (Figure 3, as annotated below).
`
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`Regarding Claim 5, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a
`
`fourth pixel row including a seventh pixel electrode and an eighth pixel electrode that are arranged in the
`
`first direction (Figure 3, fourth pixel row comprises seventh pixel electrode PX51 and eighth pixel
`
`electrode PX52): a fifth pixel row including a ninth pixel electrode and a tenth pixel electrode that are
`
`arranged in the first direction (Figure 3, fifth pixel row comprises ninth pixel electrode PX61 and tenth
`
`pixel electrode PX62); a third gate line that extendsin the first direction between the third pixel row and
`
`the fourth pixel row (Figure 3, third gate line G5 extends between the third pixel row and the fourth pixel
`
`row); a fourth gate line that extendsin the first direction between the fourth pixel row andthe fifth pixel
`
`row (Figure 3, fourth gate line G6 extends between the fourth pixel row and the fifth pixel row); a second
`
`end connection wiring that connects the third gate line to the fourth gate line at an end portion of the
`
`fourth pixel row; and one or more second cross connection wirings that traverse the fourth pixel row and
`
`connectthe third gate line to the fourth gate line (Figure 3, as annotated below); wherein a number ofthe
`
`first cross connection wirings is equal to a number of the second cross connection wirings (Figure 3, there
`
`is one first cross connection wiring and one second cross connection wiring).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 7
`
`frat cross
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`Regarding Claim 6, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a
`
`plurality of pixel rows that includesthe first pixel row, the second pixel row, and the third pixel row, the
`
`plurality of pixel rows running parallel to each other in the first direction, (Figure 3), a plurality of gate lines
`
`that includesthe first gate line and the second gate line, the plurality of gate lines running parallel to each
`
`other in the first direction and extending between two adjacent pixel rowsofthe plurality of pixel rows
`
`(Figure 3, as annotated in the rejections of claim 1 or 5 above), and a plurality of cross connection wirings
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 8
`
`that includesthe first cross connection wirings, the plurality of cross connection wiring traversing one of
`
`the plurality of pixel rows and connect two gate lines that are adjacent in the second direction to each
`
`other (Figure 3, as annotated in the rejections of claim 1 or 5 above).
`
`Regarding Claim 7, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 6, wherein: the plurality
`
`of pixel rows alternately includes a pixel row that overlaps with the plurality of cross connection wirings in
`
`plan view, and a pixel row that does not overlap with the plurality of cross connection wirings in plan view
`
`(Figure 3, as annotated in the rejections of claim 1 or 5 above discloses a row such as the second or
`
`fourth pixel row that is overlapped with the cross connection wiring and a row suchasthe first or third
`
`pixel row that is not overlapped with the cross connection wiring).
`
`Regarding Claim 8, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 6, wherein numbers of
`
`the cross connection wirings connected to each of the plurality of gate lines are equal (Figure 3, each
`
`gate line has one cross connection wiring).
`
`Regarding Claim 9, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 6, further comprising: a
`
`first pixel column including the first pixel electrode, the third pixel electrode, and the fifth pixel electrode
`
`that are arranged in the second direction (Figure 3, first pixel column includesfirst pixel electrode P21,
`
`third pixel electrode P31, and fifth pixel electrode P41); and
`
`A second pixel column including the second pixel electrode, the fourth pixel electrode, and the
`
`sixth pixel electrode that are arranged in the second direction, the second pixel column being adjacentto
`
`the first pixel column in the first direction (Figure 3, second pixel column includes second pixel electrode
`
`P22, fourth pixel electrode P32, and sixth pixel electrode P42, wherethefirst and second pixel columns
`
`are adjacentin the first horizontal direction); wherein
`
`A number of the cross connection wirings that overlap with the first pixel column in plan view is
`
`equal to a number of the cross connection wirings that overlap with the second pixel column in plan view
`
`(Figure 3, each pixel column has the same number of cross connection wirings overlapping with them in
`
`at least the first horizontal direction).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding Claim 10, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 6, further comprising: a
`
`first pixel column including the first pixel electrode, the third pixel electrode, and the fifth pixel electrode
`
`that are arranged in the second direction (Figure 3, first pixel column includesfirst pixel electrode P21,
`
`third pixel electrode P31, and fifth pixel electrode P41); and
`
`A second pixel column including the secondpixel electrode, the fourth pixel electrode, and the
`
`sixth pixel electrode that are arranged in the second direction, the second pixel column being adjacentto
`
`the first pixel column in the first direction (Figure 3, second pixel column includes second pixel electrode
`
`P22, fourth pixel electrode P32, and sixth pixel electrode P42, wherethefirst and second pixel columns
`
`are adjacentin the first horizontal direction); and
`
`A third pixel column including a plurality of pixel electrodes that are arranged in the second
`
`direction, the third pixel column being adjacent to the second pixel column in the first direction (Figure 3,
`
`third pixel column comprisespixel electrodes such as P23, P33, P43, wherethe third pixel column is
`
`adjacent to the second pixel column in the first horizontal direction); wherein
`
`A number of cross connection wirings disposed between the first pixel column and the second
`
`pixel column is equal to a number of the cross connection wirings disposed between the second pixel
`
`column and the third pixel column (Figure 3, there are no cross connection wirings disposed between the
`
`first pixel column and the second pixel column as well as between the secondpixel column and the third
`
`pixel column).
`
`Regarding Claim 11, Xing discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein: the first
`
`sourceline is disposed at a position closer to the first pixel electrode than the second sourceline, and the
`
`second sourceline is disposed at a position closer to the secondpixel electrode than the first source line
`
`(Figure 3, first source line D2_a is disposed closer to the first pixel electrode P21 where the second
`
`sourceline D2_b is disposed closer to the secondpixel electrode P22).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 10
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claim 2 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if
`
`rewritten to overcome the current 112(b) rejection and in independentform including all of the limitations
`
`of the base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`The following is a statement of reasonsfor the indication of allowable subject matter:
`
`Regarding claim 2, the prior art of record does not teach or suggest a display device comprising:
`
`A first pixel row including a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are arrangedin
`
`a first direction; A second pixel row including a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode that are
`
`arrangedin the first direction, the second pixel row being adjacentto the first pixel row in a second
`
`direction that crossesthe first direction; A third pixel row includingafifth pixel electrode and a sixth pixel
`
`electrode that are arranged in the first direction, the third pixel row being adjacent to the second pixel row
`
`in the second direction; A first source line and a second sourceline that extend in the second direction
`
`between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode; A first gate line that extendsin the first
`
`direction between the first pixel row and the second pixel row; A second gateline that extendsin the first
`
`direction between the secondpixel row and the third pixel row; A first end connection wiring that connects
`
`the first gate line to the second gate line at an end portion of the second pixel row; One or morefirst cross
`
`connection wirings that traverses the second pixel row and connectthe first gate line to the second gate
`
`line, wherein at least a portion of the first connection wirings is disposed between the first source line and
`
`the second sourceline in plan view, in combination with the remaining features recited in the claim.
`
`The prior art of Xing (US 2017/0148404 A1) discloses a display device comprising:
`
`A first pixel row including a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode that are arrangedin
`
`a first direction; A second pixel row including a third pixel electrode and a fourth pixel electrode that are
`
`arrangedin the first direction, the second pixel row being adjacentto the first pixel row in a second
`
`direction that crossesthe first direction; A third pixel row includingafifth pixel electrode and a sixth pixel
`
`electrode that are arranged in the first direction, the third pixel row being adjacent to the second pixel row
`
`in the second direction; A first source line and a second sourceline that extend in the second direction
`
`between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode; A first gate line that extendsin the first
`
`direction between the first pixel row and the second pixel row; A second gateline that extendsin the first
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 11
`
`direction between the secondpixel row and the third pixel row; A first end connection wiring that connects
`
`the first gate line to the second gate line at an end portion of the second pixel row; One or morefirst cross
`
`connection wirings that traverses the second pixel row and connectthe first gate line to the second gate
`
`line (Xing, Figure 3). Xing fails to disclose that at least a portion of the first connection wirings is disposed
`
`between the first source line and the second sourceline in plan view. Similarly, the prior arts of Kang (US
`
`2013/0321251 A1) and Moon (US 2012/0026206 A1) disclose device comprising first cross connection
`
`wirings connecting two gate lines that are disposed at the end of the gate lines. Both prior arts fail to
`
`disclosefirst cross connection wirings that are specifically disposed between two sourcelines.
`
`For this reason, claim 2 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the current 112(b) rejection
`
`and in independentform including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to MARIAM QURESHI whosetelephone number is (571)272-4434. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached 9AM-5PM EST M-F.
`
`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,
`
`Michael Caley can be reached on 571-272-2286. The fax phone number for the organization where this
`
`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
`Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To
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`file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional questions,
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`contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197(toll-free). If you would like assistance
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/774,792
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 12
`
`from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-
`
`1000.
`
`/MARIAM QURESHI/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`