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`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
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`13/353,514
`
`01/19/2012
`
`Ryutaro Oke
`
`HARU—0062
`
`2169
`
`7590
`“”3””
`J999c99199 AMq —
`c/o Stites & Harbison PLLC
`MERLIN, JESSICA M
`1199 North Fairfax Street
`9 999
`Alexandria, VA 223 14- 1437
`
`NM
`
`2871
`
`
`
`
`NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/ 13/2012
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/0r 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):
`
`iplaw @ stites.com
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`
`13/353,514
`
`Examiner
`JESSICA M. MERLIN
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`OKE ET AL.
`
`Art Unit
`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 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)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 15 October 2012.
`
`2a)IZ| This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)I: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)IZI Claim(s) 1,4 and5is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6)I:I Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`
`7)|Zl Claim(s) 1,4 and5is/are rejected.
`
`8)I:I Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`
`9)I:l Claim((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.us to. ovI’Watents/init events/mnh/inq'exls or send an inquiry to PPeredback usntqt 0v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)|Z| The drawing(s) filed on 19 January 2012 is/are: a)IZI accepted or b)|:l 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)IZI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`
`a)lX| All
`
`b)I:I Some * c)|:l None of:
`
`LIZI 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.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) I] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) I] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/OS)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`4) D Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 09-12)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20121107
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`1.
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of applicant’s amendment filed October 15, 2012. Claims 2, 3
`
`and 6 have been cancelled without prejudice. Claims 1, 4 and 5 are pending and an action on the
`
`merits is as follows.
`
`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.
`
`Claims 1, 4 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Takemura et al. (JP 06-043473) in View of Marumoto et al. (JP-202061)
`
`In regard to claim 1, Takemura et al. discloses a display device comprising:
`
`a display panel 30 (see eg. paragraph [0021]),
`
`a tape carrier 37 having a driver circuit 38, and
`
`a printed circuit board 36, and wherein
`
`a signal from the printed circuit board 36 is transmitted to the display panel 30 through
`
`the driver circuit 38 on the tape carrier 37,
`
`at least two first connecting portions connect between terminals (i.e. ends of 41,42) on
`
`the printed circuit board 36 and terminals (i.e. ends of 40) on a first side of the tape carrier 37,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`at least three second connecting portions connect between terminals (i. e. ends of 40) on a
`
`second side of the tape carrier 37 that is opposite the first side of the tape carrier 37 and terminals
`
`(i.e. ends of 32, 39) on the display panel 30,
`
`the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions comprise an anisotropic
`
`film (see e.g. paragraph [0030]),
`
`a plurality of connecting lines 40 formed on the tape carrier 37 connect between the first
`
`connecting portions and the second connecting portions without passing through the driver
`
`circuit 38,
`
`a plurality of measuring terminals 41/42 and a plurality of connecting lines connected
`
`between the measuring terminals and the second connecting portions are formed on the printed
`
`circuit board 36 (see e. g. annotated Figure 2, attached below),
`
`at least one of the connecting lines formed on the printed circuit board 36 includes a
`
`branching portion that branches on the printed circuit board 36 (see e. g. annotated Figure 2,
`
`attached below),
`
`the measuring terminals 41/42 include at least first, second, third and fourth
`
`measurement terminals, a constant current is supplied between the first and second measurement
`
`terminals and a voltage difference is measured between the third and fourth measurement
`
`terminals, and
`
`a connection resistance either at the first connecting portion and the second connecting
`
`portion is measured at the measuring terminal.
`
`The limitations, “a connection resistance either at the first connecting portion and the
`
`second connecting portion are measured at the measuring terminal,” and “a constant current is
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`supplied between the first and second measurement terminals and a voltage difference is
`
`measured between the third and fourth measurement terminals” are functional in nature. Such
`
`functional limitations are only given patentable weight insofar as they impart structural
`
`limitations. Here, the display of Takemura et al. may have the connection resistance measured
`
`and the constant current supplied between two measurement terminals, and a voltage difference
`
`measured between two other terminals.
`
`Takemura et al. is silent as to at least one of the connecting lines on the tape carrier has
`
`branching portion on the tape carrier.
`
`However, Marumoto et al. discloses at least one of the connecting lines 2 has branching
`
`portion 2a,2b that connect to PCB 10 (see e.g. Figure I ).
`
`Given the teachings of Marumoto et al., it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the display device of Takemura et al. with at
`
`least one of the connecting lines on the tape carrier has branching portion on the tape carrier.
`
`Doing so would provide a means for inspecting a display device.
`
`In regard to claim 4, Takemura et al. discloses a common electric potential bus 31
`
`formed on the display panel, the first connecting portion is connected to the common electric
`
`potential bus 31.
`
`In regard to claim 5, Takemura et al. discloses a common electric potential line 42
`
`formed on the printed circuit board 36, the common electric potential line 42 is connected to one
`
`of the measuring terminals, the common electric potential line 42 is connected to the common
`
`electric potential bus 31 on the display panel 30 electrically.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 5
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`
`
`4.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed October 15, 2012 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`persuasive.
`
`5.
`
`In regard to independent claim 1, applicant’s arguments, on pages 4—8 of the Remarks,
`
`that the previously applied prior art fails to disclose all of the limitations of claim 1, as newly
`
`amended, have been fully considered and are appreciated.
`
`6.
`
`First, applicant argues that the Takemura et al. fails to disclose “a plurality of connecting
`
`lines connected between the measuring terminals and the second connecting portions are formed
`
`on the printed circuit board.” However, as cited above, Takemura et al. discloses a plurality of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`connecting lines connected between the measuring terminals and the second connecting portions
`
`are formed on the printed circuit board 36 (see e. g. annotated Figure 2, attached above).
`
`7.
`
`Applicant fiarther argues that Takemura et a1. fails to disclose “at least one of the
`
`connecting lines formed on the printed circuit board includes a branching portion that branches
`
`on the printed circuit board." However, as cited above, Takemura et al. discloses at least one of
`
`the connecting lines formed on the printed circuit board 36 includes a branching portion that
`
`branches on the printed circuit board 36 (see e. g. annotated Figure 2, attached above).
`
`8.
`
`Applicant further argues that the combination of Takemura et al. with Marumoto et al.
`
`fails to disclose the limitation, “at least one of the connecting lines formed on the tape carrier
`
`includes a branching portion that branches on the tape carrier.” As cited above, Takemura et a1.
`
`is silent as to said limitation. However, Marumoto et al. discloses at least one of the connecting
`
`lines 2 has branching portion 23,2b that connect to PCB 10 (see e. g. Figure I). The motivation
`
`for combining Takemura et al. with Marumoto et al. is to provide a means for inspecting a
`
`display device.
`
`9.
`
`Finally applicant argues that the combination of Takemura et al. and Marumoto et al. fails
`
`to disclose “at least one of the connecting lines formed on the printed circuit board includes a
`
`branching portion that branches on the printed circuit board.” However, as cited above,
`
`Takemura et al. discloses at least one of the connecting lines formed on the printed circuit board
`
`36 includes a branching portion that branches on the printed circuit board 36 (see e. g. annotated
`
`Figure 2, attached above).
`
`10.
`
`Therefore, claims 1, 4 and 5 are rejected.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Conclusion
`
`11.
`
`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
`
`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 JESSICA M. MERLIN whose telephone number is (571)270—
`
`3207. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Thursday 6:00AM—4z30 PM.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Edward Glick can be reached on (571) 272—2490. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571—273—8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/353,514
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`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.
`
`Jessica M. Merlin
`
`November 7, 2012
`
`/JESSICA M MERLIN/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`

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