`
`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.
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`12/792, 878
`
`06/03/2010
`
`Jun Tanaka
`
`1497.50821X00
`
`5562
`
`20457
`
`7590
`
`05/07/2013
`
`ANTONELLLTERRY,STOUT&KRAUS,LLP
`1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
`SUITE 1800
`ARLINGTON, VA 22209-3873
`
`KIM, RICHARD H
`
`2871
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`05/07/2013
`
`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)
`
`
`
`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 12/792,878 TANAKA ET AL.
`
`
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`RICHARD KIM first“ 2871
`-- 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 CFR 1.136(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)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 15 January 2013.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:| This action is non-final.
`a)IXl This action is 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)|:I 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 EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`5)IXI CIaim(s) 1,2 and 4-17is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 6,7and 9-14 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6)|:l CIaim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`
`7)IZ| CIaim(s) 12 4 5 8 and 15-17is/are rejected.
`8)I:I CIaim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`9)|:l CIaim((s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atents/init events"
`
`
`
`h/index.‘s or send an inquiry to PRI-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|:I The drawing(s) filed on _ is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I 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)I:I Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some * c)I:I None of the:
`a)|:l AII
`1.|:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|: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.
`
`Interim copies:
`
`a)|:l AII
`
`b)I:I Some
`
`c)I:I None of the:
`
`Interim copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`3) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`
`Paper NOISI/Ma” Date —
`PTO/SB/08
`t
`St t
`I
`D'
`t'
`f
`2 IXI I
`)
`4) I:I Other:
`a emen (s)(
`Isc osure
`n orma Ion
`)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-13)
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130423-A
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2871
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`1.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 USC. 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.
`
`2.
`
`Claims 1, 2, 8, 15 and 16 rejected under 35 USC. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`admitted prior art (AAPA) in View of Shi et al. (US 2009/0074990 A1).
`
`3.
`
`Re claims 1 and 15, AAPA discloses a liquid crystal display device comprising an optical
`
`anisotropic film comprising a coating material containing a dichroic dye having lyotropic liquid
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`crystallinity formed on a side of at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate, the
`
`side not being in contact with the liquid crystal, wherein the optical anisotropic film is formed of
`
`molecules which chemically bond to one of the first and the second substrate in an aligned state
`
`(specifications, page 4, lines 5—25). Specifically, AAPA discloses that a chemical bond of the
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`optical anisotropic film exists, even though it is not "strong" (specifications, page 4, lines 21—22).
`
`AAPA also discloses that molecules are chemically bonded in an aligned state, even though the
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`alignment is not retained at the specific temperature of 850 C to 1000 C (lines 13—22). However,
`
`AAPA does not disclose the device comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of drain
`
`lines and a plurality of gate lines are formed, the plurality of gate lines crossing the plurality of
`
`drain lines; a second substrate which is arranged opposite the first substrate Via a liquid crystal;
`
`wherein a region surrounded by the plurality of drain lines and the plurality of gate lines serves
`
`as a pixel region.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`4.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to employ a device comprising a liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel
`
`comprising a first substrate on which a plurality of drain lines and a plurality of gate lines are
`
`formed, the plurality of gate lines crossing the plurality of drain lines; a second substrate which
`
`is arranged opposite the first substrate via a liquid crystal; wherein a region surrounded by the
`
`plurality of drain lines and the plurality of gate lines serves as a pixel region since the claimed
`
`structure is well known in the art to form the basic structure of an active matrix liquid crystal
`
`display device.
`
`5.
`
`Furthermore, AAPA does not disclose the device wherein the optical anisotropic film is
`
`formed of molecules which chemically bond to a chemically modified surface of the at least one
`
`of the first substrate and the second substrate in an aligned state, wherein the chemically
`
`modified surface of the at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically
`
`modified to form a carboxyl group terminal, an epoxy group terminal or an amino group
`
`terminal.
`
`6.
`
`Shi et al. discloses a device wherein an anisotropic film is formed of molecules which
`
`chemically bond to a chemically modified surface of the at least one of the first substrate and the
`
`second substrate in an aligned state, wherein the chemically modified surface of the at least one
`
`of the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically modified to form a carboxyl group
`
`terminal, an epoxy group terminal or an amino group terminal (claims 1—5; paragraphs [0031—
`
`0025]).
`
`7.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the at the time the invention
`
`was made to employ a device wherein the anisotropic film is formed of molecules which
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2871
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`chemically bond to a chemically modified surface of the at least one of the first substrate and the
`
`second substrate in an aligned state, wherein the chemically modified surface of the at least one
`
`of the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically modified to form a carboxyl group
`
`terminal, an epoxy group terminal or an amino group terminal since one would be motivated to
`
`obtain " good adhesion properties and without irregular alignment during manufacturing" of the
`
`anisotropic film (paragraph [0006]).
`
`8.
`
`Re claim 2, AAPA discloses the device previously recited, but does not disclose the
`
`device wherein the optical anisotropic film has a thickness of 50 nm or more and 700 nm or less.
`
`9.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to employ a device wherein the optical anisotropic film has a thickness of 50
`
`nm or more and 700 nm or less since determining the thickness of a liquid crystal device layer in
`
`order to obtain a desired device thickness is based on a result effective variable and would
`
`require routine skill in the art.
`
`10.
`
`Re claim 8, AAPA discloses the device previously recited, but does not disclose a
`
`transparent protective film on an upper surface of the optical anisotropic film.
`
`ll.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to employ a device comprising a transparent protective film on an upper
`
`surface of the optical anisotropic film since employing a transparent protective film on an upper
`
`surface of an optical anisotropic film is well known in the art to protect the liquid crystal display
`
`from environmental contaminants.
`
`12.
`
`Re claim 16, AAPA does not disclose the device wherein the chemically modified
`
`surface of the at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically modified to
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`form a carboxyl group terminal, an epoxy group terminal, or an amino group terminal using an
`
`organosilicon compound having a carboxyl group, an epoxy group, or an amino group terminal.
`
`13.
`
`Shi et a. discloses a device wherein the chemically modified surface of the at least one of
`
`the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically modified to form a carboxyl group
`
`terminal, an epoxy group terminal, or an amino group terminal using an organosilicon compound
`
`having a carboxyl group, an epoxy group, or an amino group terminal [paragraph 0026].
`
`14.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the
`
`invention was made to employ a device wherein the chemically modified surface of the at least
`
`one of the first substrate and the second substrate is chemically modified to form a carboxyl
`
`group terminal, an epoxy group terminal, or an amino group terminal using an organosilicon
`
`compound having a carboxyl group, an epoxy group, or an amino group terminal since one
`
`would be motivated to obtain "good adhesion properties and without irregular alignment during
`
`manufacturing" of the anisotropic film (paragraph [0006]).
`
`15.
`
`Claims 4 and 5 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over admitted prior
`
`art (AAPA) and Shi et al. in view of Takemoto (US 2008/0151165 A1).
`
`16.
`
`AAPA disclose the device previously recited, but does not disclose the device comprising
`
`one of an amino group and a carboxyl group chemically bonded with each other and a
`
`combination of an amino group and a sulfonic group chemically bonded with each other between
`
`the optical anisotropic film and one of the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein one of
`
`the carboxyl group and the sulfonic acid group is present on a side closer to the optical
`
`anisotropic film than the amino group.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`17.
`
`Shi et al. discloses the device wherein the anisotropic film bonds to the substrate, in
`
`which the bond contains an amino group or an epoxy group (claim 3) and the anisotropic film
`
`contains and epoxy group (paragraph [0031]). Takemoto discloses that an example of a
`
`functional group that bonds with amino group are a carboxyl group or an epoxy group
`
`(paragraph 0075).
`
`18.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`the invention was made to employ a device comprising one of an amino group and a carboxyl
`
`group chemically bonded with each other and a combination of an amino group and a sulfonic
`
`group chemically bonded with each other between the optical anisotropic film and one of the
`
`first substrate and the second substrate, wherein one of the carboxyl group and the sulfonic acid
`
`group is present on a side closer to the optical anisotropic film than the amino group since one
`
`would be motivated to obtain a strong bond (paragraph [0067]). Furthermore, determining the
`
`arrangement of the carboxyl group and sulfonic group relative to the amino group in order to
`
`achieve a binding strength is based on a result effective variable and would require routine skill
`
`in the art.
`
`19.
`
`Claim 17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over admitted prior art
`
`(AAPA) and Shi et al. in view of Ushirogouchi et al. (US 2008/0242773 A1).
`
`20.
`
`AAPA does not disclose the device wherein the dichroic dye having lyotropic
`
`crystallinity is selected from the group consisting of dichroic dye having carboxyl groups and
`
`sulfonic acid groups as functional groups in its molecular structure and dichroic dye in having
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`carboxyl groups and sulfonic acid groups present as functional groups in its molecule through
`
`amino groups.
`
`21.
`
`Ushirogouchi et al. discloses a teaching wherein sulfonic acid groups and carboxyl
`
`groups are capable of strongly bonding with amino group (paragraph [0091]).
`
`22.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obVious to one haVing ordinary skill in the art at to employ
`
`a deVice wherein the dichroic dye haVing lyotropic crystallinity is selected from the group
`
`consisting of dichroic dye haVing carboxyl groups and sulfonic acid groups as functional groups
`
`in its molecular structure and dichroic dye in haVing carboxyl groups and sulfonic acid groups
`
`present as functional groups in its molecule through amino groups since one would be motivated
`
`to obtain a strong bond.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`23.
`
`Applicant’s arguments have been considered. Amendments to the claims have
`
`necessitated new grounds of rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`24.
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this
`
`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a).
`
`Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO
`
`MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the adVisory action is not mailed until after
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 12/792,878
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2871
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`the end of the THREE—MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period
`
`Will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
`
`CFR 1.136(a) Will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event,
`
`however, Will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this
`
`final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to RICHARD KIM Whose telephone number is (571)272—2294. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on 9:00—6:30 M—F.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Bumsuk Won can be reached on (571)272—2713. The fax phone number for 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
`
`may be 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.
`
`/Richard H Kim]
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`
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