`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313- 1450
`wwwnsptogov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`12/473,297
`
`20457
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`05/28/2009
`
`7590
`
`08/02/2012
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`Osamu Nagashima
`
`501.49965X00
`
`9321
`
`ANTONELLLTERRY,STOUT&KRAUS,LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON, VA 22209-3873
`
`BOYD, JONATHANA
`
`2629
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`08/02/2012
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`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.
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`
` 12/473,297 NAGASHIMA ET AL.
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`JONATHAN BOYD
`2629
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136(a).
`In no event however may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX () MONTHS from 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) MONTHS from 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, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1)|Zl Responsive to communication(s) filed on 09 May 2012.
`
`2a)IZI This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)|:l This action is non-final.
`
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:l 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 Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`5)IZ Claim(s) 1-18is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)|:| Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`
`7)|Xl Claim(s) 1-_18 is/are rejected.
`
`8)|:| Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`9)I:I Claim(s) _ are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)I:| The drawing(s) filed on _ 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).
`
`12)I:I The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`13)|:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`
`a)|:| AII
`
`b)|:l Some * c)I:I None of:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. _
`
`3.I:I 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) IZI Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2) I] Notice of Draftsperson‘s Patent Drawing Review (PTO-948)
`3) I] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date _.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`4) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper N0(S )/Mai| Date. _
`5)I:I NOTICQ 0f Informal Patent Application
`6)I:I Other:—
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-11)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20120725
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`1.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-11 have been considered but are
`
`moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the
`
`current rejection.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`3.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148
`
`USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining
`
`obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) are summarized as follows:
`
`1.
`2.
`3.
`4.
`
`Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating
`obviousness or nonobviousness.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-3 and 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Sato et al (JP 2000-137445) (herein “Sato”) in view of Kawaguchi et al (5,670,994)
`
`(herein “Kawaguchi”) and further in view of Watanabe et al (5,879,163) (herein
`
`“Watanabe”).
`
`In regards to claim 1, Sato teaches a display device comprising: a display region
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2629
`
`which is constituted of a plurality of partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for a plurality of partial
`
`regions, each constituted by a separate column of pixels); a plurality of video signal
`
`lines which extends in the first direction and is arranged parallel to each other in the
`
`second direction within the plurality of respective partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 where it is
`
`inherent that a plurality of video signal lines extend from each relay line 24); a plurality
`
`of drive circuits which supplies video signals to the plurality of video signal lines within
`
`the partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for drive circuits 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4); and a plurality of
`
`relay lines which connects the plurality of video signal lines and the plurality of drive
`
`circuits (See; Fig.
`
`1 for relay lines 24); wherein the plurality of partial regions is arranged
`
`in the second direction (See; Fig. 1), and the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`parallel to each other in the second direction outside the display region (See; Fig. 1), a
`
`control circuit which controls an operation of the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`parallel to the plurality of drive circuits (See; Fig.1 for IFPC control circuit), a center line
`
`of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and a center line of the partial
`
`region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction are arranged
`
`at positions displaced from each other (See; Fig.
`
`1 where the center line of the driving
`
`circuit 4-1 is displayed from the center line of the partial region 24a) Sato fails to
`
`explicitly teach wherein the relay line has a bent portion between the drive circuit and
`
`the video signal line.
`
`However, Kawaguchi teaches a plurality of driver circuits (See; Fig. 2 for drive [0
`
`5) wherein the relay line has a bent portion between the drive circuit and the video
`
`signal line (See; Fig. 2 where a bent portion is formed in terminals 3, connected
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`between pixels and the driver IC 5- Therefore it would have been obvious to one or
`
`ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to bend the wires output from the
`
`driver circuit, so as to be able to reach a region of pixels larger than the width of the
`
`driver circuit, thus allowing the size of the driver lC to be reduced and ultimately
`
`decreasing manufacturing costs. The combination of Sato and Kawaguchi fail to
`
`explicitly teach where the center line of the drive circuit which extends in the first
`
`direction and the center line of the partial region corresponding to the drive circuit which
`
`extends in the first direction are aligned with a center line of the display region, and
`
`each center line of the drive circuits other than the center line of the drive circuit aligned
`
`with the center line of the display region is displaced from the center line of the
`
`respective corresponding partial region in a direction toward the center line of the
`
`display region.
`
`However, Watanabe teaches where the center line of the drive circuit which
`
`extends in the first direction and the center line of the partial region corresponding to the
`
`drive circuit which extends in the first direction are aligned with a center line of the
`
`display region, and each center line of the drive circuits other than the center line of the
`
`drive circuit aligned with the center line of the display region is displaced from the center
`
`line of the respective corresponding partial region in a direction toward the center line of
`
`the display region (See; Fig. 1A where the center driver 2068 is aligned with the center
`
`line of the display and the center lines of the surrounding drivers 206A and 2060 are
`
`displaced toward the center line of the display region). Therefore it would have been
`
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify Sato and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`Kawaguchi with the layout of Watanabe to further save space on the circuit board by
`
`moving the drivers closer to one another and thus decreasing manufacturing costs.
`
`In regards to claim 2, Sato teaches wherein the relay lines which are connected
`
`to the drive circuit are arranged in asymmetry with respect to the center line of the drive
`
`circuit (See; Fig. 1).
`
`In regards to claim 3, Sato teaches wherein the relay lines which are connected
`
`to the drive circuit are arranged in asymmetry with respect to the center line of the
`
`partial region (See; Fig. 1).
`
`In regards to claim 12, Sato teaches wherein the relay line which is located at
`
`one side of the relay lines connecting the video signal in one partial region and the
`
`corresponding drive circuit has a length substantially equal to a length of the relay line
`
`which is located at an adjacent side of the relay lines connecting the video signal line in
`
`the neighboring partial region arranged adjacent to the one partial region in the
`
`corresponding drive circuit (See; Fig. 1 where the left most relay line of 4-3 is
`
`substantially the same length as the right most relay line of 4-2).
`
`In regards to claim 13, Watanabe teaches wherein the relay line located at one
`
`side and the relay line located at the adjacent side have substantially equal resistance
`
`values (See; Column 3, lines 59-67 shows that when the lengths of connection lines are
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`the same, the connection lines have the same resistance). Therefore it would have
`
`been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention that if adjacent
`
`relay lines are of the same length, as taught by Sato, then their resistances would also
`
`be equal.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 4-8, 14-15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Sato et al (JP 2000-137445) (herein “Sato”) in view of Watanabe et al
`
`(5,879,163) (herein “Watanabe”) and further in view of lmajo et al (6,697,040) (herein
`
`"lmajo").
`
`In regards to claim 4, Sato teaches a display device comprising: a display region
`
`which is constituted of a plurality of partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for a plurality of partial
`
`regions, each constituted by a separate column of pixels); a plurality of video signal
`
`lines which extends in the first direction and is arranged parallel to each other in the
`
`second direction within the plurality of respective partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 where it is
`
`inherent that a plurality of video signal lines extend from each relay line 24); a plurality
`
`of drive circuits which supplies video signals to the plurality of video signal lines within
`
`the partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for drive circuits 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4); and a plurality of
`
`relay lines which connects the plurality of video signal lines and the plurality of drive
`
`circuits (See; Fig.
`
`1 for relay lines 24); wherein the plurality of partial regions is arranged
`
`in the second direction (See; Fig. 1), and the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`parallel to each other in the second direction outside the display region (See; Fig. 1), a
`
`control circuit which controls an operation of the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`parallel to the plurality of drive circuits (See; Fig.1 for IFPC control circuit), a center line
`
`of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and a center line of the partial
`
`region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction are arranged
`
`at positions displaced from each other (See; Fig.
`
`1 where the center line of the driving
`
`circuit 4-1 is displayed from the center line of the partial region 24a) Sato fails to
`
`explicitly teach the relay line which connects the video signal line in one partial region
`
`and the drive circuit has a length shorter than a length of the relay line which connects
`
`the video signal line in the neighboring partial region arranged adjacent to said one
`
`partial region and the drive circuit and where the center line of the drive circuit which
`
`extends in the first direction and the center line of the partial region corresponding to the
`
`drive circuit which extends in the first direction are aligned with a center line of the
`
`display region.
`
`However, Watanabe teaches a plurality of driver circuits (See; Fig. 1A for drive
`
`circuits 206A-C) wherein the relay line which is located at one side of the relay lines
`
`connecting the video signal line in one partial region and the corresponding drive circuit
`
`has a length shorter than a length of the relay line which is located at an adjacent side
`
`of the relay lines connecting the video signal line in the neighboring partial region
`
`arranged adjacent to the one partial region and the corresponding drive circuit (See;
`
`Fig. 1A where the left most relay of 2068 is longer than the right most relay of 206C)
`
`and where the center line of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and the
`
`center line of the partial region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the
`
`first direction are aligned with a center line of the display region, (See; Fig. 1A where the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`center driver 2068 is aligned with the center line of the display and the center lines of
`
`the surrounding drivers 206A and 2060 are displaced toward the center line of the
`
`display region) wherein the relay line located at one side and the relay line located at
`
`the adjacent side have substantially different resistance values (See; Column 3, lines
`
`59-67 shows that when the lengths of connection lines are the same, the connection
`
`lines have the same resistance, therefore if the lengths differ, the resistance values will
`
`differ). Therefore it would have been obvious to one or ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of the invention to have varying lengths of wires output from the driver circuit, so as to
`
`be able to reach a region of pixels larger than the width of the driver circuit, thus
`
`allowing the size of the driver lC to be reduced and ultimately decreasing manufacturing
`
`costs.
`
`Sato further fails to explicitly teach the relay line has a resistance value per unit
`
`length larger than a resistance value per unit length of the relay line which connects the
`
`video signal line in the neighboring partial region and the drive circuit. However, lmajo
`
`teaches relay lines having a resistance value per unit length larger than a resistance
`
`value per unit length of the relay line which connects the video signal line in the
`
`neighboring partial region and the drive circuit (See; Column 17, lines 49-54 where the
`
`wiring resistance of the relay lines can be adjusted by changing the wiring length).
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of the invention to alter the resistance of the relay lines so that the wiring delay amount
`
`can be adjusted in order to synchronize the acquisition of data from the drivers.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`In regards to claim 5, Imajo teaches wherein the respective relay lines which are
`
`connected with at least one of the drive circuits are configured such that the resistance
`
`value per unit length is decreased corresponding to the increase of a length of the relay
`
`line (See; Column 17, lines 49-54 where the wiring resistance of the relay lines can be
`
`adjusted by changing the wiring length).
`
`In regards to claim 6, Imajo teaches wherein some relay lines out of the plurality
`
`of relay lines which is connected with at least one drive circuits is constituted by
`
`stacking a plurality of layers which differ in material from each other thus decreasing the
`
`resistance value per unit length (See; Column 17, lines 49-54 where the wiring
`
`resistance of the relay lines can be adjusted by changing the thickness and the types of
`
`wiring material used).
`
`In regards to claim 7, Sato teaches a display device comprising: a display region
`
`which is constituted of a plurality of partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for a plurality of partial
`
`regions, each constituted by a separate column of pixels); a plurality of video signal
`
`lines which extends in the first direction and is arranged parallel to each other in the
`
`second direction within the plurality of respective partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 where it is
`
`inherent that a plurality of video signal lines extend from each relay line 24); a plurality
`
`of drive circuits which supplies video signals to the plurality of video signal lines within
`
`the partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for drive circuits 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4); and a plurality of
`
`relay lines which connects the plurality of video signal lines and the plurality of drive
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`circuits (See; Fig.
`
`1 for relay lines 24); wherein the plurality of partial regions is arranged
`
`in the second direction (See; Fig. 1), and the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`parallel to each other in the second direction outside the display region (See; Fig. 1), a
`
`control circuit which controls an operation of the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
`
`parallel to the plurality of drive circuits (See; Fig.1 for IFPC control circuit), a center line
`
`of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and a center line of the partial
`
`region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction are arranged
`
`at positions displaced from each other (See; Fig.
`
`1 where the center line of the driving
`
`circuit 4-1 is displayed from the center line of the partial region 24a) Sato fails to
`
`explicitly teach a resistance value per unit length of each relay line is smaller than a
`
`resistance value per unit length of each video signal line.
`
`However, lmajo teaches a resistance value per unit length of each relay line is
`
`smaller than a resistance value per unit length of each video signal line. (See; Column
`
`17, lines 49-54 where the wiring resistance of the relay lines can be adjusted by
`
`changing the wiring length. Where it is further known that the video signal lines are
`
`significantly longer than the relay lines, wherein the longer a line is the greater its
`
`resistance is. Thus the relay lines would inherent/y have a resistance value less than
`
`the video lines). The combination of Sato and lmajo fail to explicitly teach where the
`
`center line of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and the center line of
`
`the partial region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction
`
`are aligned with a center line of the display region, and each center line of the drive
`
`circuits other than the center line of the drive circuit aligned with the center line of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`display region is displaced from the center line of the respective corresponding partial
`
`region in a direction toward the center line of the display region.
`
`However, Watanabe teaches where the center line of the drive circuit which
`
`extends in the first direction and the center line of the partial region corresponding to the
`
`drive circuit which extends in the first direction are aligned with a center line of the
`
`display region, and each center line of the drive circuits other than the center line of the
`
`drive circuit aligned with the center line of the display region is displaced from the center
`
`line of the respective corresponding partial region in a direction toward the center line of
`
`the display region (See; Fig. 1A where the center driver 2068 is aligned with the center
`
`line of the display and the center lines of the surrounding drivers 206A and 2060 are
`
`displaced toward the center line of the display region) wherein the relay line located at
`
`one side and the relay line located at the adjacent side have substantially different
`
`resistance values (See; Column 3, lines 59-67 shows that when the lengths of
`
`connection lines are the same, the connection lines have the same resistance, therefore
`
`if the lengths differ, the resistance values will differ). Therefore it would have been
`
`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify Sato and
`
`lmajo with the layout of Watanabe to further save space on the circuit board by moving
`
`the drivers closer to one another and thus decreasing manufacturing costs.
`
`In regards to claim 8, lmajo teaches wherein said each relay line is made of a
`
`material having resistivity smaller than resistivity of said each video signal line so as to
`
`exhibit a smaller resistance value per unit length than said each video signal line (See;
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 12
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`Column 17, lines 49-54 where the wiring resistance of the relay lines can be adjusted by
`
`changing the wiring material used).
`
`In regards to claim 14, Sato teaches wherein the relay line which is located at
`
`one side of the relay lines connecting the video signal in one partial region and the
`
`corresponding drive circuit has a length substantially equal to a length of the relay line
`
`which is located at an adjacent side of the relay lines connecting the video signal line in
`
`the neighboring partial region arranged adjacent to the one partial region in the
`
`corresponding drive circuit (See; Fig. 1 where the left most relay line of 4-3 is
`
`substantially the same length as the right most relay line of 4-2).
`
`In regards to claim 15, Watanabe teaches wherein the relay line located at one
`
`side and the relay line located at the adjacent side have substantially equal resistance
`
`values (See; Column 3, lines 59-67 shows that when the lengths of connection lines are
`
`the same, the connection lines have the same resistance). Therefore it would have
`
`been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention that if adjacent
`
`relay lines are of the same length, as taught by Sato, then their resistances would also
`
`be equal.
`
`In regards to claim 18, Watanabe teaches wherein each center line of the drive
`
`circuits other than the center line of the drive circuit aligned with the center line of the
`
`display region is displaced from the center line of the respective corresponding partial
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
`
`Page 13
`
`Art Unit: 2629
`
`region in a direction toward the center line of the display region (See; Fig. 1A where the
`
`center driver 2068 is aligned with the center line of the display and the center lines of
`
`the surrounding drivers 206A and 2060 are displaced toward the center line of the
`
`display region).
`
`4.
`
`Claims 9-11 and 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Sato et al (JP 2000-137445) (herein “Sato”) in view of Lee et al
`
`(2004/0263745) (herein “Lee”) and further in view of Watanabe et al (5,879,163) (herein
`
`“Watanabe”).
`
`In regards to claim 9, Sato teaches a display device comprising: a display region
`
`which is constituted of a plurality of partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 for a plurality of partial
`
`regions, each constituted by a separate column of pixels); a plurality of video signal
`
`lines which extends in the first direction and is arranged parallel to each other in the
`
`second direction within the plurality of respective partial regions (See; Fig.
`
`1 where it is
`
`inherent that a plurality of video signal lines extend from each relay line 24); a plurality
`
`of drive circuits which supplies video signals to the plurality of video signal lines within
`
`the partial regions (See; Fig. 1 for drive circuits 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4); and a plurality of
`
`relay lines which connects the plurality of video signal lines and the plurality of drive
`
`circuits (See; Fig.
`
`1 for relay lines 24); wherein the plurality of partial regions is arranged
`
`in the second direction (See; Fig. 1), and the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
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`parallel to each other in the second direction outside the display region (See; Fig. 1), a
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`control circuit which controls an operation of the plurality of drive circuits is arranged
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`parallel to the plurality of drive circuits (See; Fig.1 for IFPC control circuit), a center line
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`of the drive circuit which extends in the first direction and a center line of the partial
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`region corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction are arranged
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`at positions displaced from each other (See; Fig.
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`1 where the center line of the driving
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`circuit 4-1 is displayed from the center line of the partial region 24a) Sato fails to
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`explicitly teach a pixel column is arranged in the first direction between the partial
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`regions arranged adjacent to each other, and pixels included in the pixel column are
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`connected to either one of the video signal line which belongs to one partial region and
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`the video signal line which belongs to another partial region.
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`However, Lee teaches a pixel column is arranged in the first direction between
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`the partial regions arranged adjacent to each other, and pixels included in the pixel
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`column are connected to either one of the video signal line which belongs to one partial
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`region and the video signal line which belongs to another partial region (See; Fig. 11
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`where every pixel column is connected to both the video signal lines on either side of it.
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`Therefore in the partial display as taught by Sato, at the point where to data lines from
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`different partial regions meet, the pixel columns of Lee will connect to both partial
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`regions). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
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`time of the invention to modify the pixel columns of Sato with the pixel columns of Lee
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`so as to remove any parasitic capacitance differences between gate and drain
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`electrodes in adjacent pixel regions when misalignment in the X-axis direction occurs.
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`The combination of Sato and Lee fail to explicitly teach where the center line of the drive
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`circuit which extends in the first direction and the center line of the partial region
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`corresponding to the drive circuit which extends in the first direction are aligned with a
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`center line of the display region, and each center line of the drive circuits other than the
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`center line of the drive circuit aligned with the center line of the display region is
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`displaced from the center line of the respective corresponding partial region in a
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`direction toward the center line of the display region.
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`However, Watanabe teaches where the center line of the drive circuit which
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`extends in the first direction and the center line of the partial region corresponding to the
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`drive circuit which extends in the first direction are aligned with a center line of the
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`display region, and each center line of the drive circuits other than the center line of the
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`drive circuit aligned with the center line of the display region is displaced from the center
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`line of the respective corresponding partial region in a direction toward the center line of
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`the display region (See; Fig. 1A where the center driver 2068 is aligned with the center
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`line of the display and the center lines of the surrounding drivers 206A and 2060 are
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`displaced toward the center line of the display region). Therefore it would have been
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`obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify Sato and
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`Lee with the layout of Watanabe to further save space on the circuit board by moving
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`the drivers closer to one another and thus decreasing manufacturing costs.
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`In regards to claim 10, Sato teaches wherein the video signal lines which are
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`connected with the respective pixels of the pixel column are respectively positioned at
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`edge portions of the partial regions arranged adjacent to each other (See; Fig. 1).
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`Application/Control Number: 12/473,297
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`Page 16
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`Art Unit: 2629
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`In regards to claim 11, Lee teaches wherein the pixels of the pixel column are
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`connected with the video signal line which belongs to one partial region and the video
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`signal line which belongs to another partial region alternately (See; Fig. 11 Where every
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`pixel column is connected to both the video signal lines on either side of it. Therefore in
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`the partial display as taught by Sato, at the point where to data lines from different
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`partial regions meet, the pixel columns of Lee will connect to both partial regions).
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`In regards to claim 16, Sato teaches wherein the relay line which is located at
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`one side of the relay lines connecting the video signal in one partial region and the
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`corresponding drive circuit has a length substantially equal to a length of the relay line
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`which is located at an adjacent side of the relay lines connecting the video signal line in
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`the neighboring partial region arranged adjacent to the one partial region in the
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`corresponding drive circuit (See; Fig. 1 where the left most relay line of 4-3 is
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`substantially the same length as the right most relay line of 4-2).
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`In regards to claim 17, Watanabe teaches wherein the relay line located at one
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`side and the relay line located at the adjacent side have substantially equal resistance
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`values (See; Column 3, lines 59-67 shows that when the lengths of connection lines are
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`the same, the connection lines have the same resistance). Therefore it would have
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`been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention that if adjacent
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`relay lines are of the same length, as taught by Sato, then their resistances would also
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`be equal.
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`Conclusion
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`6.
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`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in
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`this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP
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`§ 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37
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`CFR1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
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`the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the sta