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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
`
`16/783,848
`
`02/06/2020
`
`Tetsuo FUKAMI
`
`20295 .0067US01
`
`8352
`
`HAY
`
`M
`
`TLERS
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON P.C.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`KIM,RICHARD H
`
`2871
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/10/2021
`
`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*
`1-20 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 7-8,12-14 and 17-20 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`() Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-6,9-11 and 15-16 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © 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:/Awww.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)M The drawing(s) filed on 2/6/2020 is/are: a)M 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)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) 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) ([] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 2/6/2020.
`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 20210605
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/783,848
`FUKAMLetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`RICHARDH KIM
`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 5/21/21.
`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: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AJA.
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`Election/Restrictions
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`Claims 7, 8, 12-14 and 17-20 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR
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`1.142(b) as being drawnto a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking
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`claim. Election was made withouttraverse in the reply filed on 5/21/21.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
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`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground ofrejection if the prior art
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`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
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`basis for the rejections under this section madein this Office action:
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`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(a)(1) the claimed invention waspatented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale,
`or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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`Claim(s) 1-3, 6, 10, 11 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
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`anticipated by Haraet al. (US 2019/0258105 A1).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
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`Re claims 1 and 16, Haraet al. discloses an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal
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`display device (paragraph 0050), having an image display region made upofpixels, and a frame
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`region surrounding the image display region, the active matrix substrate comprising pixel
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`electrodes (61) respectively provided in the pixels; a commonelectrode (51) facing one or more
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`of the pixel electrodes; a signal line (12) provided in the image display region; and a terminal
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`(Fig. 7a) provided in the frame region andelectrically connected to the signal line (via metal
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`layer 72), wherein the terminal includes a metal layer (72), a first contact layer (81) located
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`closer to one side in a lamination direction than the metal layer, and electrically connected to the
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`metal layer, a first interlayer insulating layer (462) located to one side in the lamination direction
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`than the first contact layer, and a second contact layer (82) located closer to the oneside in the
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`lamination direction than the first interlayer insulating layer, and electrically connected to the
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`first contact layer througha first through-hole (462a) formedin thefirst interlayer insulating
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`layer, and the first contact layer is made of a transparent metal oxide or a semiconductor material
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`doped with impurities (paragraph 0081, 0089)
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`Re claim 2 Haraet al. discloses the device wherein the terminal further includes a second
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`interlayer insulating layer (44, 461) between the metal layer and the first contact layer, and the
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`first contact layer is electrically connected to the metal layer through a second through-hole
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`(CH1) formed in the second interlayer insulating layer.
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`Re claim 3, Hara et al. discloses the device wherein the first contact layer (81) is in
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`contact with the metal layer (72) at least in the second through-hole (CH1).
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`Re claim 6, Haraet al. discloses the device wherein in a top view ofthe active matrix
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`substrate, the first through hole (462a) and the second through-hole (CH1) do no overlap with
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`each other.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 4
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`Re claim 10, Haraet al. discloses the device further comprising a transistor (Fig. 5)
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`respectively provided in the pixels, wherein the metal layer (72) is formed in the same layer as
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`the source electrode and a drain electrode of the transistor (42c, 42d).
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`Re claim 11, Haraet al. discloses the device wherein the active matrix substrate has a
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`data line (12) as one of the signal lines and the terminal is a source terminal (Fig. 7a).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
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`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new groundofrejectionif the priorart
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`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
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`rejectionsset forth in this Office action:
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`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`Claims4, 5, 9 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hara
`
`et al.
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`Re claim 4, Haraet al. discloses the device wherein the terminal further includes a second
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`metal layer (73), and the second metal layer is in contact with the first contact layer (81) at least
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`in the second through-hole (CH1). Haraet al. does not disclose the device wherein the second
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`metal layer is located between the first contact layer and the second contact layer, the second
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`metal layer is in contact with the second contactlayerat least in the first through-hole.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 5
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the invention to employ the device wherein the second metal layer is located
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`between the first contact layer and the second contact layer, the second metallayer is in contact
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`with the second contact layerat least in the first through-hole since it has been held that
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`rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ
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`70. Modifying the device in such a manner would equally provide contact between metal layer
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`(73), contact layer (81) and contact layer (82).
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`Re claim 5, Hara et al. discloses the device wherein the secondinterlayer insulating layer
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`is madeup of a plurality of laminated insulating films (44, 461) but does not disclose device
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`wherein the first interlayer insulating film is made up ofa plurality of laminated insulating films.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the invention to employ the device wherein thefirst interlayer insulating film is
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`made up of a plurality of laminated insulating films since it has been held that mere duplication
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`of the essential workings parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art. St. Regis Paper
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`Co. v. Bemis Co., 193 USPQ.
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`Re claim 9, Haraet al. discloses the device wherein the metal layer (72) is formed in the
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`samelayeras the signal line (12), but does not disclose the device wherein the first contact layer
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`is formed in the samelayer as the commonelectrode, the second contact layer is formed in the
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`same layer as the pixel electrode.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the invention to employ the device wherein thefirst contact layer is formed in the
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`samelayer as the commonelectrode, the second contact layer is formed in the same layer as the
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`pixel electrode since employing a device wherein the pixel electrode is disposed over the
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 6
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`commonelectrode as opposed to the other way around is a well-known and conventional
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`configuration of an in-cell touch liquid display device. Furthermore,it has been held that
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`rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ
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`70.
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`Re claim 15, Hara et al. disclose the device wherein the commonelectrode (510) is
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`formed across the plurality of pixels, the active matrix substrate further comprises a commonline
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`(52) and to which a commonpotential is applied, the first contact layer (81) is formed in the
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`samelayeras the pixel electrode (61), and the second metal layer (73) is formed in the same
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`layer as the commonline (52). Hara et al. does not disclose the device wherein the commonline
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`is provided above the commonelectrode.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the invention to employ the device wherein the commonline is provided above the
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`commonelectrodesince it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only
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`routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Modifying the device in such a manner would
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`equally provide contact between the commonline and the commonelectrode.
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`Furthermore, Haraet al. does not disclose that the first contact layer is formed in the
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`same layer as the commonelectrode.
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filing date of the invention to employ the device wherein thefirst contact layer is formed in the
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`same layer as the commonelectrode since such a configuration is a well-known and conventional
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`way of obtaining an in-cell touch liquid display device by disposing the pixel electrode above the
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`commonelectrode. Furthermore, it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves
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`only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/783,848
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 7
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to RICHARD H KIM whosetelephone numberis (571)272-2294.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 10 am-6:30 pm.
`
`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 examinerby telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Michael Caley can be reached on 571-272-2286. The fax phone numberfor the
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`organization wherethis application or proceedingis 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
`
`maybe obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
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`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
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`
`1000.
`
`/RICHARD H KIM/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`