`
`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
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` FILING DATE
`
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`
`12/482,484
`
`06/11/2009
`
`Junji Tanno
`
`501.50004X00
`
`7280
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`01/10/2013
`
`ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON,VA 22209-3873
`
`CHANG, CHARLES $
`
`2871
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`01/10/2013
`
`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)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`12/482,484
`Examiner
`CHARLES CHANG
`
`TANNO, JUNJI
`Art Unit
`2871
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS 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 underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX (6) 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).
`Anyreply 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)L] Responsive to communication(s) filed on
`2a)L] This action is FINAL.
`2b)X] This action is non-final.
`3)L] An election was made bythe applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporatedinto this action.
`4)_] Sincethis application is in condition for allowance exceptfor formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`5)X] Claim(s) 1-17 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)L] Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`7) Claim(s) 1-17is/are rejected.
`8)L] Claim(s) ___is/are objectedto.
`
`9)L] Claim(s)
`are subject to 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
`htto//Awww.uspto.gov/patenis/init events/ooh/index.jiso or send an inquiry to PPHieedback@usopio.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)L] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)X] The drawing(s)filed on 6/11/2009is/are: a)[X] 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)] Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`a)XJ All
`b)LJ Some * c)L] None of:
`1.x] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.L] Copiesof 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) Xx Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) Xx] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 6/77/2009.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) CT] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date.
`4) | Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 09-12)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20130108
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
`
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`1.
`
`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 —
`
`(e) the invention was described in (1) an application for patent, published under section 122(b), by anotherfiled
`in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent or (2) a patent granted on an application for
`patent by anotherfiled in the United States before the invention by the applicantfor patent, except that an
`international application filed under the treaty defined in section 351(a) shall have the effects for purposes of this
`subsection of an application filed in the United States only if the international application designated the United
`States and was published under Article 21(2) of such treaty in the English language.
`
`2.
`
`Claim | and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being anticipated by Lee (US
`
`8159508).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Lee discloses (Figs. 3-4, 8) a display device comprising: a plurality of
`
`pixels (80) arranged in a matrix; a plurality of scanning lines (58) extendinginafirst direction
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`and arranged in parallel in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a plurality of video
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`lines (60) extending in the second direction while crossing the scanning lines and arranged in
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`parallel in the first direction, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is composedofa first sub-
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`pixel (61B) for a first color, a second sub-pixel (61G) for a secondcolor, and a third sub-pixel
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`(61R) for a third color, the longitudinal direction of the first sub-pixel (61G) is the extending
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`direction of the video lines, the longitudinal direction of each of the second sub-pixel (61G) and
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`the third sub-pixel (61R) is the extending direction of the scanning lines, the second sub-pixel
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`(61G) and the third sub-pixel (61R) are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending direction
`
`of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-pixel, the first sub-pixels are continuously formed
`
`in two adjacent pixels (80) in the extending direction of the video lines, and whenthree adjacent
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 3
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`pixels in the extending direction of the video lines are defined asfirst to third pixels, the second
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`sub-pixels (61G) are continuously formedin the first pixel and the second pixel, and the third
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`sub-pixels (61R) are continuously formed in the second pixel andthe third pixel.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Lee discloses (Figs. 3-4, 8; in particular Fig. 3) a video line (60) for
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`any one of the second sub-pixel (61G) and the third sub-pixel (61R) and a video line (60) for the
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`first sub-pixel (61B) amongthe plurality of video lines are arranged close to each other.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which formsthe basisfor all
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`obviousnessrejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained thoughthe inventionis not identically disclosed or described as set forth in
`section 102 ofthistitle, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented andthe prior art are
`such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obviousat 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.
`
`4,
`
`Claims 2-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Lee in view of
`
`Takizawa (US 20060274234).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Lee does not necessarily disclose a light-shielding area between the
`
`second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel.
`
`Takizawa discloses (Figs. 1-4) a display device comprising a light-shielding area
`
`(122bm) between the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel (section 0045). It would have been
`
`obviousat the time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching
`
`of Takizawa to shield regions to prevent contrast from being degraded dueto light leakage
`
`between sub-pixels.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 4
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`Regarding claim 3, Lee does not necessarily disclose the light-shielding area being
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`formedso as to cross the first sub-pixel.
`
`Takizawa discloses (Figs. 1-4) a display device comprising the light-shielding area
`
`(122bm) being formedsoasto crossthe first sub-pixel (section 0045). It would have been
`
`obviousat the time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching
`
`of Takizawa to shield regions to prevent contrast from being degraded dueto light leakage
`
`between sub-pixels.
`
`5.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Lee in view of
`
`Elliott et al. (US 7397455).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Lee does not necessarily disclose when two adjacent pixels in the
`
`extending direction of the scanning lines are respectively defined as one pixel and the other
`
`pixel, the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the
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`extending direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-pixel in the order of the second
`
`sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel in said one pixel, and the second sub-pixel and the third sub-
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`pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the video lines on one side
`
`of the first sub-pixel in the order of the third sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in the other
`
`pixel.
`
`Elliott discloses (Figs. 3, 9) a display, wherein when two adjacent pixels (302) in the
`
`extending direction of the scanninglines (O, E) are respectively defined as one pixel (302) and
`
`the other pixel (another 302), the second sub-pixel (G) and the third sub-pixel (R) are arranged
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`adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-
`
`pixel (B) in the order of the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel in said one pixel, and the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 5
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`second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending
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`direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-pixel in the order of the third sub-pixel
`
`and the second sub-pixelin the other pixel (col. 4 lines 30-57). It would have been obviousat the
`
`time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Elliott to
`
`minimize any parasitic capacitance across a row/gate line by having the same numberof
`
`polarities connected to the row/gateline.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 6-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Lee in view of
`
`Utsumiet al. (US 20070058115).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Lee does not necessarily disclose a liquid crystal display device
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`including a liquid crystal display panel having the plurality of pixels, the plurality of scanning
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`lines, and the plurality of video lines.
`
`Utsumi discloses (Figs. 3-4, 13B, 15; section 0042) a liquid crystal display device
`
`including a liquid crystal display panel (50) having the plurality of pixels, the plurality of
`
`scanning lines (64), and the plurality of video lines (61-63). It would have been obviousat the
`
`time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Utsumito
`
`obtain a thin and light display device that provides high transmittance, and therefore capable of
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`easily providing a high-brightness display.
`
`Regarding claim 7, Lee does not necessarily disclose the liquid crystal display device
`
`having a normally black characteristic.
`
`Utsumi discloses (Figs. 3-4, 13B, 15; section 0060) the liquid crystal display device
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`having a normally black characteristic. It would have been obviousat the time the invention was
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 6
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`made to oneof ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Utsumi to obtain a thin andlight
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`display device that exhibits superior wide viewing angle characteristics.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Lee does not necessarily disclose the liquid crystal display device
`
`being a liquid crystal display device of a vertical electric field type.
`
`Utsumi discloses (Figs. 3-4, 13B, 15; section 0091) the liquid crystal display device being
`
`a liquid crystal display device of a vertical electric field type. It would have been obviousat the
`
`time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Utsumito
`
`obtain a display with high contrast and large reference viewing angles.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Lee does not necessarily disclose the liquid crystal display device
`
`being a liquid crystal display device of a lateral electric field type.
`
`Utsumi discloses (Figs. 3-4, 13B, 15; section 0060) the liquid crystal display device being
`
`a liquid crystal display device of a lateral electric field type. It would have been obviousat the
`
`time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Utsumito
`
`obtain a thin and light display device that exhibits superior wide viewing angle characteristics.
`
`7.
`
`Claims 10-12 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Baek (US 20050094077) in view of Lee.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Baek discloses (Figs. 2-3, 5A-5B, 7) a liquid crystal display device
`
`comprising: a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate (410), a second substrate (420),
`
`and a liquid crystal layer (413) interposed betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate,
`
`the liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixels (P) arranged in a matrix, a plurality of
`
`scanning lines (401) extending inafirst direction and arrangedin parallel in a second direction
`
`crossing the first direction, and a plurality of video lines (403) extending in the second direction
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 7
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`while crossing the scanning lines and arranged in parallel in thefirst direction, wherein each of
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`the plurality of pixels is composedofa first sub-pixel (400c) having a color filter (423) for a first
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`color (B), a second sub-pixel (400b) having a colorfilter (423) for a second color (G), and a third
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`sub-pixel (400a) having a color filter (423) for a third color (R), each of the first sub-pixel, the
`
`second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel has a pixel electrode (207, 407) formed abovethefirst
`
`substrate and a counter electrode (206, 406) formed abovethefirst substrate.
`
`Baek does not necessarily disclose the longitudinal direction of the first sub-pixel being
`
`the extending direction of the video lines, the longitudinal direction of each of the second sub-
`
`pixel and the third sub-pixel being the extending direction of the scanning lines, the second sub-
`
`pixel and the third sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the
`
`video lines on one side of the first sub-pixel, the first sub-pixels are continuously formed in two
`
`adjacent pixels in the extending direction of the video lines, and when three adjacent pixels in the
`
`extending direction of the video lines are definedasfirst to third pixels, the second sub-pixels are
`
`continuously formedin the first pixel and the second pixel, and the third sub-pixels are
`
`continuously formed in the second pixel and the third pixel.
`
`Lee discloses (Figs. 3-4, 8) a display device wherein, the longitudinal direction of the
`
`first sub-pixel (61G)is the extending direction of the video lines (60), the longitudinal direction
`
`of each of the second sub-pixel (61G) andthe third sub-pixel (61R) is the extending direction of
`
`the scanning lines (58), the second sub-pixel (61G) and the third sub-pixel (61R) are arranged
`
`adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-
`
`pixel, the first sub-pixels are continuously formed in two adjacent pixels (80) in the extending
`
`direction of the video lines, and when three adjacent pixels in the extending direction of the
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 8
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`video lines are definedasfirst to third pixels, the second sub-pixels (61G) are continuously
`
`formedin the first pixel and the second pixel, and the third sub-pixels (61R) are continuously
`
`formedin the secondpixel and the third pixel. It would have been obviousat the time the
`
`invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Lee to use a color
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`layer in different sub-pixel regions simultaneously to increase the density of the sub-pixel
`
`regions to improve the entire resolution of the display.
`
`Regarding claim 11, Baek discloses (Figs. 2-3, 5A-5B, 7) each of the pixel electrodes
`
`(207, 407) of the first sub-pixel (200c), the second sub-pixel (200b), and the third sub-pixel
`
`(200a) having a plurality of linear portions extending along the extending direction of the
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`scanning lines (201) and arranged in parallel in the extending direction of the video lines (203).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Baek discloses (Figs. 2-3, 5A-5B, 7) each of the pixel electrodes
`
`(407) of the first sub-pixel (400c), the second sub-pixel (400b), and the third sub-pixel (400a)
`
`having a plurality of first linear portions (407) extending at an angle of 8 with respect to the
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`video lines (403) and arrangedin parallel in the extending direction of the video lines, and a
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`plurality of second linear portions (407) extending at an angle of -0 with respect to the video
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`lines (403) and arranged in parallel in the extending direction of the videolines.
`
`Regarding claim 17, Baek discloses (Figs. 2-3, 5A-5B, 7) the pixel electrode (407) and
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`the counter electrode (406) are stacked together via an insulating film (408).
`
`8.
`
`Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Baek and Lee as
`
`applied to claim 10 above,and further in view of Rho (US 7580093).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Baek and Lee do not necessarily disclose an AC driving method of
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`the liquid crystal display device being a frame inversion driving method.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 9
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`Rhodiscloses (Fig. 1) an LCD device comprising an AC driving method of the liquid
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`crystal display device being a frame inversion driving method(col. 4 line 58 - col. 5 line 61). It
`
`would have been obviousat the time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to
`
`use the teaching of Rho to control the output of voltage to the sub-pixels to determine the amount
`
`of light that passes through the LC layer.
`
`9.
`
`Claims 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Baek and
`
`Lee as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Takizawa.
`
`Regarding claim 14, Baek and Lee do not necessarily disclose a light-shielding area
`
`between the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel.
`
`Takizawa discloses (Figs. 1-4) a display device comprising a light-shielding area
`
`(122bm) between the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel (section 0045). It would have been
`
`obviousat the time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching
`
`of Takizawa to shield regions where liquid crystal molecules are not desirably aligned to prevent
`
`contrast from being degraded dueto light leakage.
`
`Regarding claim 15, Baek and Lee do not necessarily disclose the light-shielding area
`
`being formed so asto crossthe first sub-pixel.
`
`Takizawa discloses (Figs. 1-4) a display device comprising the light-shielding area
`
`(122bm) being formedsoasto crossthe first sub-pixel (section 0045). It would have been
`
`obviousat the time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching
`
`of Takizawa to shield regions where liquid crystal molecules are not desirably aligned to prevent
`
`contrast from being degraded dueto light leakage.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 10
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`10.
`
`Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Baek and Lee as
`
`applied to claim 10 above,and further in view of Elliott.
`
`Regarding claim 16, Baek and Lee do not necessarily disclose when two adjacent pixels
`
`in the extending direction of the scanning lines are respectively defined as one pixel and the
`
`other pixel, the second sub-pixel andthe third sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in
`
`the extending direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-pixel in the order of the
`
`second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel in said one pixel, and the second sub-pixel and the third
`
`sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the video lines on one
`
`side of the first sub-pixel in the order of the third sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel in the other
`
`pixel.
`
`Elliott discloses (Figs. 3, 9) a display, wherein when two adjacent pixels (302) in the
`
`extending direction of the scanning lines (O, E) are respectively defined as one pixel (302) and
`
`the other pixel (another 302), the second sub-pixel (G) and the third sub-pixel (R) are arranged
`
`adjacent to each other in the extending direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-
`
`pixel (B) in the order of the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel in said one pixel, and the
`
`second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel are arranged adjacent to each other in the extending
`
`direction of the video lines on oneside of the first sub-pixel in the order of the third sub-pixel
`
`and the second sub-pixelin the other pixel (col. 4 lines 30-57). It would have been obviousat the
`
`time the invention was madeto one of ordinary skill in the art to use the teaching of Elliott to
`
`minimize any parasitic capacitance across a row/gate line by having the same numberof
`
`polarities connected to the row/gateline.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 12/482,484
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 11
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`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to CHARLES CHANGwhosetelephone numberis (571)270-5024.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Bumsuk Won canbe reached on (571)272-2713. The fax phone numberfor the
`
`organization where this 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
`
`maybe obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
`
`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
`
`system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR
`
`system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would
`
`like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated
`
`information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/Charles Chang/
`Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`