`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMlVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
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`
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`
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`14/601,703
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`01/21/2015
`
`TomOhiI‘O SEKIGUCHI
`
`PANDP0123US
`
`9778
`
`08/28/2017 —MARK D. SARALINO (PAN) m
`7590
`51921
`RENNER, OTTO, BOIS SELLE & SKLAR, LLP
`GROSS’ ALEXANDER P
`1621 EUCLID AVENUE
`19TH FLOOR
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`CLEVELAND, OH 44115
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`2871
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`08/28/2017
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
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`ipdocket @rennerott0.c0m
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`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/601,703 SEKIGUCHI ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`Alexander Gross $2213 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 g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136(a).
`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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
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`-
`-
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`Status
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`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 06/27/2017.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2b)lX| This action is non-final.
`a)I:| 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
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`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.
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`Disposition of Claims*
`5)|XI Claim(s) 1-5 and 8-11 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)IZ| Claim(s
`1--5,8 and 11 is/are rejected.
`)
`8)IXI Claim(s)9_-10 is/are objected to.
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`9)|: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
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`htt ://\va.usoto. ov/ atents/init events) .h/index.
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`‘3 , or send an inquiry to PF"I-Ifeedback{<‘buspto.qov.
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`
`
`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).
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`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
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`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:
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`b)I:I Some” c)I:I None of the:
`a)I:I All
`1.I: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
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`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.
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`Attachment(s)
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`
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`3) D Interview Summary (PT0_413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`—
`4) I:I Other'
`2) D InformatIon DIscIosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20170802
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in
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`37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is
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`eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e)
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`has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to
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`37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 06/27/2017 has been entered.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`Claims 9 and 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would
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`be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim
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`and any intervening claims.
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`The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
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`Regarding claim 9, Yamashita et al. (US Pub. 20100066937) teaches (in figures 1—8) a
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`display device comprising: a display panel (101); a plurality of backlight units (131 paragraph 50
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`lines 3—5) disposed on a rear side of the display panel; a first frame (111) disposed on a side of
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`the plurality of the backlight units opposite the display panel; a heat transfer sheet (160)
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`disposed, above (to the left of 191 in figure 3) a predetermined position (191), on a side of the
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`first frame opposite the plurality of backlight units; a second frame (211) disposed on a side of
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`the heat transfer sheet opposite the first frame; wherein the heat transfer sheet is disposed above
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`the predetermined position between the first frame and the second frame, being attached to both
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`the first frame and the second frame, wherein the heat transfer sheet attaches to the first frame at
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`a first point, and attaches to the second frame at a second point, wherein the first point and the
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`second point are coplanar with the plane the is perpendicular to a major surface of the second
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`frame and an air layer (between fins 162) is formed below the predetermined position (to the
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`right of 191 in figure 3).
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`Take et al. (US Pub. 20040182542) teaches (in figure 1) that if the spacing between fins
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`is less than 1 mm, the spaces between will have greatly increased resistance to the flow of air and
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`with have impaired radiation performance (paragraph 12) and that if the height of the fins are
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`less than 1 mm the fins have diminished area and will have impaired radiation performance
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`(paragraph 11).
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`Therefore, because Take et al. teaches away from the claimed range, the prior art taken
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`alone or in combination fails to teach or fairly suggest a device in which “a thickness of the air
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`layer ranges from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm” in combination with the other required elements of claim 1
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`from which claim 9 depends.
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`Regarding claim 10, Kunii (US Pub. 20100207866) teaches positioning a heat transfer
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`sheet (40) above (located in Rc) a predetermined position (where Rc meets Rb), on a side of a
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`frame (14) opposite a plurality of the backlight units (16); and a board (70 and 66) disposed on a
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`side of the heat transfer sheet opposite the frame, and including an electronic component (62 and
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`64), wherein the heat transfer sheet is disposed above the predetermined position (located in Rc),
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`and an air layer (between 14 and 70) is formed below the predetermined position (located in Rb)
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`wherein the heat transfer sheet is not disposed below the predetermined position in order to
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`effectively release heat generated by the electronic component and the display (paragraph 194).
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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`However, the prior art taken alone or in combination fails to teach or fairly suggest a
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`device in which “the heat transfer sheet is not disposed below the predetermined position
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`between the first frame and the second frame” in combination with the other required elements
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`of claim 1 from which claim 10 depends.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
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`rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not
`identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the
`prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
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`Claims 1-3 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Yamashita et al. (US Pub. 20100066937 and hereafter Yamashita) in View of Takata (US
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`Pub. 20090231506).
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`As per claim 1, Yamashita et al. (US Pub. 20100066937) teaches (in figures 1—8) a
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`display device comprising: a display panel (101); a plurality of backlight units (131 paragraph 50
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`lines 3—5) disposed on a rear side of the display panel; a first frame (111) disposed on a side of
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`the plurality of the backlight units opposite the display panel; a heat transfer sheet (160)
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`disposed, above (in region A as shown in figure 3 and described in paragraph 69 lines 3—25) a
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`predetermined position (border of regions A and B as shown in figure 3 and described in
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`paragraph 69 lines 3—25), on a side of the first frame opposite the plurality of backlight units; a
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`second frame (211) disposed on a side of the heat transfer sheet opposite the first frame; and a
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`board including an electronic component (paragraph 72 lines 10—12) wherein the heat transfer
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`sheet is disposed above the predetermined position between the first frame and the second frame,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`being attached to both the first frame and the second frame, wherein the heat transfer sheet
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`attaches to the first frame at a first point, and attaches to the second frame at a second point,
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`wherein the first point and the second point are coplanar with the plane the is perpendicular to a
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`major surface of the second frame and an air layer (between fins 162) is formed below the
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`predetermined position (in region B as shown in figure 3 and described in paragraph 69 lines 3—
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`25).
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`Yamashita does not teach that the board disposed on a side of the second frame opposite
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`the heat transfer sheet, and including an electronic component.
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`However, Takata teaches (in figures 1—3) mounting boards (31, 32) along with a heat
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`dissipation means (5g, 41, and 5h) on the outermost layer of the display (11) in order to dissipate
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`heat from the boards to the air outside the display (paragraph 61 lines 1—10).
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`It would have been obVious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to
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`mount the board outside of the display in the manner suggested by Takata.
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`The motivation would have been to ensure heat from the board is properly dissipated.
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`As per claim 2, Yamashita in View of Takata teaches that the board is disposed below the
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`predetermined position (Yamashita teaches in paragraph 72 lines 8— 12 that the board is located
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`away from the light source at the end of 163 which is located in region B as shown in figure 3
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`and described in paragraph 69 lines 3—25).
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`As per claim 3, Yamashita teaches (in figures 1—8) that the predetermined position is
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`located at a center of a length of the first frame extending in an up—down direction of the first
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`frame (region A and region B run the length of the display as taught in paragraph 69 lines 3—25).
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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`As per claim 11, Yamashita teaches (in figure 3) that only the heat transfer sheet (160) is
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`disposed between the first frame (111) and the second frame (211).
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`Claims 4, 5, and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
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`over Yamashita et al. (US Pub. 20100066937 and hereafter Yamashita) and Takata (US
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`Pub. 20090231506) as applied to claim 1 above and in further view of Take et al. (US Pub.
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`20040182542 and hereafter Take).
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`As per claim 4, Yamashita does not specifically teach that a thickness of the heat transfer
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`sheet ranges from 0.01 mm to 1.00 mm both inclusive.
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`However Take teaches (in figure 1) forming fins (3) at a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.49 mm.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to form
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`the thickness of the heat transfer sheet to range from 0.2 mm to 0.49 mm.
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`The motivation would have been provide the strength required while preventing any
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`increased resistance to the flow of air as taught by Take (paragraph 13).
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`As per claim 5, Yamashita does not specifically teach that a thickness of the heat transfer
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`sheet ranges from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm both inclusive.
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`However Take teaches (in figure 1) forming fins (3) at a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.49 mm.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to form
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`the thickness of the heat transfer sheet to range from 0.2 mm to 0.49 mm.
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`The motivation would have been provide the strength required while preventing any
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`increased resistance to the flow of air as taught by Take (paragraph 13).
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`As per claim 8, Yamashita does not specifically teach that a thickness of the air layer
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`ranges from 0.01 mm to 1 mm both inclusive.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`However Take teaches (in figure 1) forming the spacing between fins in the range of 1—
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`1.9 mm.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to set
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`the distance between the fins (and thereby a thickness of the air gap) to be between 1—1.9 mm.
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`The motivation would have been to ensure enough airflow while maintaining enough
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`surface area to provide proper heat dissipation.
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`As such, the claimed range is obvious in view of Take since it has been held that a prima
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`facie case of obviousness exists In the case where the claimed ranges “overlap or lie inside
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`ranges disclosed by the prior art” a prima facie case of obviousness exists. In re Wertheim, 541
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`F.2d 257, 191 USPQ 90 (CCPA 1976); (See MPEP 2144.05 (1)).
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`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1—5 and 8—11 have been considered but are
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`moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current
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`rejection.
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to Alexander Gross whose telephone number is (571)272—5660.
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`The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 — 5:00 EST Monday — Friday.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in—person, and video conferencing using
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`a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/601,703
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2871
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Edward Glick can be reached on (571)272—2490. The fax phone number for the
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`organization Where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571—273—8300.
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`may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
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`
`/A1exander Gross/
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`Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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`