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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`wwwusptogov
`
`
`
`
`
`15/223,696
`
`07/29/2016
`
`Toshiyuki KUMAGAI
`
`20326.0083USW1
`
`9954
`
`02’07’2018 —HAMRE, SCHUMANN,MUELLER&LARSONP.C. m
`7590
`53148
`45 South Seventh Street
`JOSEPH, DENNIS P
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402- 1683
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2621
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/07/2018
`
`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):
`PTOMail @hsml.com
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/223,696 KUMAGAI, TOSHIYUKI
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`2621Dennis Joseph $2213
`
`-- 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 CFR 1.136(a).
`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).
`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
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`
`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 12/27/2017.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:| This action is non-final.
`2a)IZ| 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.
`
`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 Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date .
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180201
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)|XI Claim(s) 1-5 and 8-10 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`s 1-5 and 8-10 is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`) )
`
`_
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|:l Claim(s
`)
`* 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 PF"I-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)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: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)
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`This Office Action is responsive to claims filed for App. 15/223,696 on December 27,
`
`2017. Claims 1—5 and 8—10 are pending.
`
`America Invents Act
`
`2.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 USC. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`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.
`
`4.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0., 383 US. l, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`USC. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 3
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`5.
`
`Claims 1 and 8—10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al.
`
`( US 2011/0037746 A1 ) in view of Inada et al. ( US 2015/0243235 A1 ).
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 1:
`
`A liquid crystal display device ( [0003] discloses a liquid crystal display ) comprising:
`
`a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines ( Figures 3 and 4, [0032] disclose a
`
`plurality of gate and data lines );
`
`a plurality of source drivers that supply a data signal to the plurality of data lines ( Figure
`
`3, [0031] disclose a plurality of source drive ICs SICl to SDIC3 which provide signals to
`
`the data lines );
`
`a gate driver that supplies a scanning signal to the plurality of scanning lines ( Figure 3,
`
`[0031] disclose a gate driving circuit GD which applies signals to the gate lines ); and
`
`a display control circuit that controls the plurality of source drivers and the gate driver (
`
`Figure 3, [0031], [0036] disclose a timing controller TCON which provides signals to the
`
`gate driving circuit GD and the plurality of source drive ICs ); but
`
`Kim does not explicitly teach “wherein some of the plurality of source drivers which are
`
`connected to a respective driving region including a pattern image perform a riot irwersioo drive,
`
`w hi Ee the other of the plurality of source drivers which are connected to a respective driving
`
`region not including the pattern image perform a column inversion drive in the period during
`
`whieh the pattern image is displayed?
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 4
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`However. Kirn teaehes of appiying different poiarity signais to different source drivers, as shown
`
`in Figures 8, 10, etc, so it is ciear that based on the pattern image, different types of inversion
`
`driving are performed.
`
`To emphasize, in the same i’ieitl oi" endeavor, display driving using polarity inversion, lnada
`
`teaches ot applying an analogous image to check/correct for flicker (similar to Kim‘s pattern) and.
`
`as s iovvn in Figure 7, [9124], dot—reversal driving is performed in the area where the column
`
`reversai anaiogons image is displayed, and eolnmn~reversal driving is performed in an area other
`
`than the area where the coin;nn~reversal analogous image is displayed. As both references teaeh.
`
`different polarities are applied to different segments of tire display (which is achieved. by driving
`
`different data tines/drivers (read as different respective driving regions), eta, as the teachings of
`
`the eornbination would Show}, Again, Kirn teaches of different polarity driving in. difi'erent
`
`regions and lnada teaches the speeii‘ics of that type of mi ving. dot or column, based on a flicker
`
`image.
`
`Tl'ierefore, it wonid have been obvious to one of ordinary slrili in the art, at the effective filed
`
`date of the. invention, to implement the polarity driving based on a fiielrer region, as taught by
`
`lnada, with the motivation that flicker can be suppressed and power consumption can be
`
`minimized, { hiada, [9124} "i
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 8:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 5
`
`A liquid crystal display device ( [0003] discloses a liquid crystal display ) comprising:
`
`a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines Figures 3 and 4, [0032] disclose a
`
`plurality of gate and data lines );
`
`a plurality of source drivers that supply a data signal to the plurality of data lines ( Figure
`
`3, [0031] disclose a plurality of source drive ICs SICl to SDIC3 which provide signals to
`
`the data lines ), each of the plurality of source drivers includes a switch that switches between a
`
`one—column inversion drive and a two—column inversion drive ( Figure 12 disclose selecting
`
`between H1 and H2 dot inversion. Depending on the appropriate mode, one of the two
`
`polarity signals is provided. Using a switch is reasonably a way to implement this );
`
`a gate driver that supplies a scanning signal to the plurality of scanning lines ( Figure 3,
`
`[0031] disclose a gate driving circuit GD which applies signals to the gate lines ); and
`
`a display control circuit that controls the plurality of source drivers and the gate driver (
`
`Figure 3, [0031], [0036] disclose a timing controller TCON which provides signals to the
`
`gate driving circuit GD and the plurality of source drive ICs ); but
`
`Kim does not explicitly teach “xxxlierein some of the plurality ef stmree drivers which are
`
`manneded Le a respective driving region including a pattern. image perform a dot inversinn drive,
`
`whiie the ether of the pitiraiity {if source drivers which are connected to a respective thi ving
`
`region not including the pattern image peifemi a column inversion drive, in the period. during
`
`which the pattern image is displayed.”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 6
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`i-iowever, Kim teaci'ies of appiying different poiaiity signals to different source drivers, as shown
`
`in Figures 8. ii), etc, so it is eiear that based on the pattern image, different types of inversion
`
`driving are performed.
`
`To ernpi'iasize, in the same i‘ieid of endeavon display driving using imiarity inversiom inada
`
`teaches of applying, an ariaiogotis int-age to cheeio'correct for fiieiter (Siiniiar to Kim's pattern} and
`
`as shown in Figure 7” {@124}, dot-reversal driving is performed in the area where the Cfiitifiiii"
`
`reversai ariaiogons image is displayed, and coinmn—reversai driving is performed in an area other
`
`than the area where the eoiooarnrewrsai analogous image is displayed, As both references teach,
`
`different polarities are appiied to different segments of the dismay (which is achieved by driving,
`
`different data lines/drivers (read as dif Tereiit respective driving regions), ete, as the teachings of
`
`the combination wonid show). Again, Kirn teaehes of different polarity driving in different
`
`regions and inada teaches the specifies of that type of driving, dot or eoinoiin based on a flicker
`
`image.
`
`Therefore, it wouid have been obvious to one of ordinary skiii in the art, at the effective fiied
`
`date of the invention, to irnpierrient the poiarity driving based on a flicker regiom as taught by
`
`inada. with the motivation that iiieiter can be suppressed and power consumption can be
`
`minimized if inatia, [0324} ).
`
`Kim and Inada teach in Claim 9:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 7
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`The iiduid ei'ystai display device according to claim, 8, wi'iereiri the dispiay ceirtrei circuit
`
`iheiudes: an image determiiiator that determines: whether an extei'iiaiiy—iriput image incitides a
`
`pattern image, and a control signal geiierater that generates a centre} sigiiai switching between
`
`the one eeluiriii inversion drive and the two—coiuiriri inversion drive in eaeh source driver based
`
`cm a determination result at the image deteiiriinatoi', and the control. si grial gei'ierator outputs
`
`each of the piui'aiity of generated control signals to a switch at the corresponding source driver. (
`
`Kim, Figure 12, [0049] disclose a step S1 of analyzing an input image in which white and
`
`black gray scale data are regularly arranged and determining the type of polarity/inversion
`
`driving to do in response. Depending on the matching/analysis of the pattern, different
`
`polarity signals can be applied individually to the different ICs, as shown in Figures 10 and
`
`11, [0050]. Figure 12 disclose selecting between H1 and H2 dot inversion. Depending on the
`
`appropriate mode, one of the two polarity signals is provided. Using a switch is reasonably
`
`a way to implement this)
`
`Kim and Inada teach in Claim 10:
`
`The iiquid erystai display device aeeerdihg to claim 8, wherein the some of the pliiraiity
`
`of seiirce drivers which are ceriiiected te a respective driving regieii including the pattern image
`
`perform the dire—celuriiii inversion drive in the period during which the pattern image is not
`
`displayed. i inadeg Figure ”2', {iiiziii discioee the peiarity driving te varietis regiehs changes
`
`based he an the aheiegous image. A2; netted iii the reeeening in Ciaim 8, eeiummrevereai
`
`driving is perihrmed arid the type Orieneeiumn, etc, is within erdinary shiii iii the art it)
`
`determine. Beth Kim. and irreda teach hi" Severai types oi” iiiversieri driving and one oi"
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 8
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`ordinary skiii in the art wouid reaiize thai onencoiumn driving is weii known in {he art as
`
`weii )
`
`6.
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al.
`
`( US 2011/0037746 A1 ) and Inada et al. ( US 2015/0243235 A1 ), as applied to Claim 1,
`
`further in view of Sohn et al. ( US 2013/0314450 A1 ).
`
`As per Claim 2:
`
`Kim may not explicitly teach "wherein the pattern image is an image in a region where a
`
`pixel group having a brightness difference between adjacent pixels that is greater than or equal to
`
`a predetermined value is continued over an area greater than or equal to a predetermined area.”
`
`However, [0049] discloses white and black gray scale data are regularly arranged and the pattern
`
`is compared with this in mind. Clearly the differences between adjacent pixels would be large
`
`then giving the extremes.
`
`Regardless, in the same field of endeavor, image analysis in displays, Sohn teaches of analyzing
`
`image data in the form of a data mapper to control application to multiple display drivers, ( Sohn,
`
`Figures 1 and 2, [0011] ). In particular, the goal is to come up with corrected RGB data from the
`
`original and this process includes looking at two adjacent pixels which are greater than or equal
`
`to a threshold value h and adjusting accordingly (read as a predetermined value over a
`
`predetermined area (adj acent)).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 9
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the effective filed
`
`date of the invention, to implement the compensation, as taught by Sohn, with the motivation
`
`that the proper signals can be applied to the data drivers (akin to Kim), avoiding overheating, (
`
`Sohn, [0008]—[0009] ).
`
`7.
`
`Claims 3—5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al.
`
`( US 2011/0037746 A1 ) and Inada et al. ( US 2015/0243235 A1 ), as applied to Claim 1,
`
`further in view of Kim2 et al. ( US 2011/0292099 Al ).
`
`Kim teaches in Claim 3:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control circuit
`
`includes an image determinator that determines whether an externally—input image includes a
`
`pattern image and a polarity signal generator that generates a polarity signal deciding a voltage
`
`polarity of the data signal in each source driver based on a determination result of the data signal,
`
`and the polarity signal generator individually outputs each of the plurality of generated polarity
`
`signals to the corresponding source driver. ( Figure 12, [0049] disclose a step S1 of analyzing
`
`an input image in which White and black gray scale data are regularly arranged and
`
`determining the type of polarity/inversion driving to do in response. Depending on the
`
`matching/analysis 0f the pattern, different polarity signals can be applied individually to
`
`the different ICs, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, [0050] )
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 10
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`the image determinator determines which one of the driving regions includes the pattern
`
`image, and based on the determination result of the image determinator, the polarity signal
`
`generator outputs a first polarity signal to the source driver that drives the driving region
`
`including the pattern image, ( Figure 10, [0049] discloses the individual source drivers
`
`control different segments and they each receive a unique polarity signal, designed for that
`
`region. This is based on the analysis of the patterns, i.e. if it weak or not, [0062]. See the
`
`different regions receiving either POLl or POL2 ); but
`
`Kim may not explicitly teach of outputting based on where the pattern images correlate to,
`
`specifically, which signal are applied where. However, as noted above, different polarities are
`
`applied based on an analysis of the image data.
`
`To emphasize, in the same field of endeavor, polarity driving, Kim2 teaches of inputting image
`
`data and comparing it, ( Kim2, Figure 14, step 810 ), to a reference data pattern. Depending on
`
`matching, it will select a particular inversion scheme, akin to Kim. In particular, Figure 10,
`
`[0043] disclose the frame data across the display and breaking it down to subsets of four pixels.
`
`Depending on where the input data is recognizing as a flicker pattern is where it is determined
`
`there is a common voltage shift. In response, the polarity scheme is altered in that region.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the effective filed
`
`date of the invention, to implement the subset driving/analysis, as taught by Kim2, with the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 11
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`motivation that by compensating for common voltage shifts, crosstalk, flicker, smear, etc, can be
`
`avoided, ( Kim2, [0006] ).
`
`Kim and Kim2 teach in Claim 4:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the pattern image is a
`
`checkered pattern image in which black and white are alternately changed in each pixel, the first
`
`polarity signal is a signal in which a high level and a low level are switched in each frame, and
`
`the second polarity signal is a signal in which a high level and a low level are switched in each
`
`horizontal scanning period in a period during which the pattern image is displayed, and is an in—
`
`phase signal of the first polarity signal in a period during which the pattern image is not
`
`displayed. ( Kim, [0049] discloses white and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As
`
`for the two polarity signals, Kim and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving,
`
`(for example, Kim, Figure 12 and Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and
`
`as well as dot inversion in general. Respectfully, dot, column, row inversion, etc are all well
`
`known in the art and examiner asserts Official Notice to this. Kim and Kim2 teach of many
`
`types of driving as well, depending on What is appropriate)
`
`Kim and Inada teach in Claim 5:
`
`The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the source driver to which
`
`the second polarity signal is input performs the column inversion drive in the period during
`
`which the pattern image is not displayed. ( The same reasoning in Claim 4 is also applicable
`
`here: Kim, [0049] discloses White and black are regularly arranged, i.e. checkered. As for
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 12
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`the two polarity signals, Kim and Kim2 teach of alternate types of inversion driving, (for
`
`example, Kim, Figure 12 and Kim2, Figure 15. Note the horizontal driving scheme and as
`
`well as dot inversion in general. See Figure 9 for when the polarity signals are applied and
`
`when they are not applied, i.e. high and low levels. Respectfully, dot, column, row
`
`inversion, etc are all well known in the art and the Inada reference teaches of this in Figure
`
`7, [0124]. Kim and Kim2 teach of many types of driving as well, depending on what is
`
`appropriate )
`
`8.
`
`Applicant’s arguments considered, but are respectfully moot in grounds of new
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`rejection(s).
`
`Please note the newly cited reference, Inada, for teaching of the new limitations and in
`
`general, an updated rejection.
`
`As a result, Applicant’s arguments are moot at this time.
`
`Conclusion
`
`9.
`
`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 13
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`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 mailing
`
`date of this final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Dennis Joseph whose telephone number is (57 l)270— 1459. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on Monday—Friday, 8am—5pm.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/223,696
`
`Art Unit: 2621
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`Page 14
`
`/Dennis J oseph/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2621
`
`