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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/695,701
`
`09/05/2017
`
`Tomoharu NOTOSHI
`
`20295.0018U301
`
`9222
`
`53148
`
`759°
`
`10/03/20”
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON RC.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`DOBROWOLSKL AGNES
`
`ART UNIT
`2871
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/03/2019
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`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.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMai1@hsml.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/695,701
`Examiner
`AGNES DOBROWOLSKI
`
`Applicant(s)
`NOTOSHI etal.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2871
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f 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). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 7/30/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] 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)[:] 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 Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
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`1—14is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are: a)D 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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a). All
`
`b)I:l Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3.[:] 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)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20190924
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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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.
`
`Continued Examination Under 3 7 CFR 1.114
`
`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)
`
`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 7/30/2019 has been entered.
`
`Response to Amendment
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`Claims 1, 3, 5—7, 9, 10, and 12 are amended. Claims 13—15 are newly added.
`
`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim have been considered but are moot because
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`the arguments do not apply to the new grounds of the current rejection.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`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:
`
`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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
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`Claims 1, 3, and 7— 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Mikubo US 20110001898 A1 in View of Takata US 7800714 B2.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Mikubo teaches a liquid crystal display device (fig 1) comprising:
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`a liquid crystal cell (6), and a backlight (5,7) disposed apart from one another (as
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`per fig 10), the backlight (5,7)
`
`including a light source (5);
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`a first heat sink (10, inner cooling channels) that is disposed in an airtight circulation
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`channel (see fig 1B, inner cooling channel) and cools a coolant (air) that circulates in the airtight
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`circulation channel ([0087]) so as to pass through a first channel (right inner cooling channel, fig
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`1B) and in a second channel (left inner cooling channel, fig 1B); and
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`a second heat sink (11) that is thermally coupled to the first heat sink (10) and exposed to
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`ambient air ([0080]),
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`wherein the first channel (right inner cooling channel, fig 1B) and the second channel
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`(left inner cooling channel, fig 1B) are in fluid communication with each other (see fig 1B).
`
`Mikubo does not explicitly disclose the liquid crystal display deVice comprising optical
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`sheet, the first heat sink having a first channel between the liquid crystal cell and the optical
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`sheet, and a second channel between the optical sheet and the backlight with the light source of
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`the backlight exposed to the second channel.
`
`Takata teaches a liquid crystal display deVice (fig 24) comprising an optical sheet (optical
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`sheets), the first heat sink (cooling device; pump creating circulation of transparent fluid, fig 24)
`
`having a first channel between the liquid crystal cell (upper panel stack) and the optical sheet
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`(optical sheets) (first side channel, figs 24 and 28), and a second channel (channel for airflow, fig
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`22) between the optical sheet (optical sheets, fig 22) and the backlight (backlight of light source,
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`fig 22) with the light source (light source, fig 22) of the backlight (backlight of light source, fig
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 4
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`22) exposed to the second channel (channel for airflow, fig 22)(col. 20, lines 20—34) for the
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`purpose of enabling rapid internal cooling of the light sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
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`in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify the liquid crystal display of Mikubo with the
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`first heat sink of Takata for the purpose of enabling rapid internal cooling of the light
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`sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, Takata further teaches further comprising: an intermediate frame (fig
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`24; back chassis as better described in fig 20) for holding the optical sheet (optical sheets,
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`fig 20), wherein the intermediate frame (back chassis, fig 20) includes an
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`intermediate component (fig 24; channel chassis for fluid flow) provided with a through
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`hole (passage in side walls at end of intermediate frame, fig 24) for
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`communicatively connecting the first channel (first side channel, figs 24) and the
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`intermediate region (fig 24; channel chassis for fluid flow).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, Mikubo further teaches wherein the second heat sink (11) includes
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`heat—dissipating fins (see fig 2) outside the airtight circulation channel, behind the backlight
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`(5,7).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 7, Takata further teaches in fig 20 a fan (105) outside the airtight
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`circulation channel, behind the backlight, for introducing ambient air into spaces between
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`the heat—dissipating fins (fig 20; col 20, line 64, col 21, line 4).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 5
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`Although Takata teaches the a fan 105 blowing air at the back chassis, primarily
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`made of metal, to cool down the liquid crystal display. It would have been obvious to one
`
`of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention tomodify
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`to have fan 105 blowing air at the heat—dissipating fins of the heat sink as taught by Mikubo
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`located behind the backlight in fig to further cool down the liquid crystal display.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 7, Mikubo teaches wherein the second heat sink (11) includes a heat—
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`dissipating plate (base portion of 11, fig 2), the heat—dissipating fins (fins on heat sink 11)
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`stand on a rear surface of the heat—dissipating plate (base portion of heat sink 11, fig 2), and
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`the backlight (5, 7) and the first heat sink (10, inner cooling channels) are disposed in front
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`of the heat—dissipating plate(base portion of 11) (as per fig 2).
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`Regarding claim 10, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, Takata teaches wherein the first heat sink (cooling device; fig 24) is
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`disposed in an uppermost portion of the airtight circulation channel (channel, fig 24) when the
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`liquid crystal display device stands vertically (as per fig 24).
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`Although Takata teaches the heat absorber being located throughout
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`the airtight
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`circulation channel, it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to locate the heat
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`absorber being located in an upper portion of the airtight circulation channel, since Applicant has
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`not disclosed that the location of the heat absorber solves any stated problem or is for any
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`particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with heat
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`absorber being located in abottom portion of the airtight circulation channel.
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`Regarding claim 11, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, Takata further teaches wherein the light source (light source, fig 22,
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 6
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`24) of the backlight (lower backlight) includes LEDs (col. 21, lines 23 —26), and the
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`backlight (lower backlight) further includes a light source substrate (light source drive
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`circuit, fig 6) on which the LEDs (light source, fig 22, 24) are disposed (see fig 24).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 3, Takata further teaches further comprising: a rear frame (back frame,
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`fig 26) disposed behind the intermediate frame (fig 24; back chassis as described in fig 20)
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`and holding the light source (light source, fig 22), wherein the rear frame (back frame, fig
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`26) is provided with a through hole (passage in side walls at end of back frame, fig 24) for
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`communicatively connecting the intermediate region (fig 24; channel chassis for fluid flow)
`
`and the second channel (channel for airflow, fig 22 and 24).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 12, Takata teaches wherein the intermediate component (fig 24; channel
`
`chassis for fluid flow) is provided with a plurality of through holes (passages for fluid
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`communication,
`
`fig 24) for communicatively connecting the first channel (first side
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`channel, figs 24 and 28) and the intermediate region (fig 24; channel chassis for fluid flow),
`
`and the rear frame (back frame, fig 26) is provided with a plurality of through holes
`
`(passages for fluid communication, fig 24) for communicatively connecting the
`
`intermediate region (fig 24; channel chassis for fluid flow) and the second channel (channel
`
`for airflow, fig 22).
`
`Regarding claim 14, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, wherein the first heat sink (cooling device; pump creating circulation
`
`of transparent fluid, fig 24) is disposed in an intermediate region (fig 24; channel chassis
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 7
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`for fluid flow) of the airtight circulation channel between the first channel (first side
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`channel, figs 24 and 28) and the second channel (channel for airflow, fig 22).
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mikubo US
`
`20110001898 A1 in view of Takata US 7800714 in view of Lee US 2016/0363709.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Mikubo and Takata teach the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 1, however, do not teach wherein the optical sheet includes a quantum
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`dot film including quantum dots that convert a wavelength of light emitted by the light
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`source of the backlight.
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`Lee teaches wherein the optical sheet (40) includes a quantum dot film (57)
`
`including quantum dots (57) that convert a wavelength of light emitted the light source by
`
`the backlight (51) for the purpose of enabling deep color and high efficiency by providing
`
`displays with an ideal light source.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to include the quantum dots film of Lee in the invention
`
`of Mikubo and Takata for the purpose of enabling deep color and high efficiency by
`
`providing displays with an ideal light source.
`
`Claims 4, 5, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Mikubo US 20110001898 A1 in view of Takata US 7800714 in view of Na US
`
`2016/0265759.
`
`Regarding claim 4, Mikubo and Takata teaches the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, and providing a fan (105) blowing air at the back chassis and also a
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`fan (106) directly blowing air at the second liquid crystal panel, to cool down the entire
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 8
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`liquid crystal display (col 20, lines 5—11). However, Mikubo and Takata does not explicitly
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`teach a fan disposed in the airtight circulation channel.
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`Na teaches in fig 3 a fan (50, blower apparatus) disposed in the airtight circulation
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`channel (circulation channel) for the purpose of further enhancing diffusing heat and
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`reducing temperature of an internal of a backlight unit ([0012]) for the purpose of further
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`enhancing diffusing heat and reducing temperature of an internal of a backlight unit
`
`([0012])-
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to include the fan of Na in the display of Mikubo and
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`Takata for the purpose of further enhancing diffusing heat and reducing temperature of an
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`internal of abacklight unit ([0012]).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Mikubo and Takata teaches the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 4, and Takata further teaches wherein the fan (105) is proximate to the
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`heat absorber (cooling device; pump creating circulation of transparent fluid, fig 24) (col
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`22, lines 17-32).
`
`Regarding claim 15, Mikubo and Takata teaches the liquid crystal display device
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`according to claim 14, Na teaches in fig 3 a fan (50, blower apparatus) disposed in the
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`airtight circulation channel (circulation channel).
`
`Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mikubo US
`
`20110001898 A1 in view of Takata US 7800714 in view of Kang US 2013/0100374.
`
`Regarding claim 6, Mikubo and Takata teaches the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, however, do not teach wherein the heat absorber includes heat—
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 9
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`absorbing plates, and two adjacent heat—absorbing plates among the heat—absorbing plates
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`partially define therebetween the airtight circulation channel.
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`Kang teaches a heat absorber includes heat—absorbing plates (136), and two adjacent
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`heat—absorbing plates (136) among the heat—absorbing plates (136) partially define
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`therebetween the airtight circulation channel (ventilation channels, fig 3C) for the purpose
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`of further increasing the efficiency of the heat absorber ([0038]) for the purpose of further
`
`increasing the efficiency of the heat absorber ([0038]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to include the heat—absorbing plates of Kang in the
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`display of Mikubo and Takata for the purpose of further increasing the efficiency of the
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`heat absorber ([0038]).
`
`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to AGNES DOBROWOLSKI whose telephone number is (571)272—
`
`7650. The examiner can normally be reached on M—Th 7 am —11am.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone,
`
`in—person, and video conferencing using
`
`a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
`
`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
`
`htth/www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Michael Caley can be reached on (571)272—2286. 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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`Application/Control Number: 15/695,701
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 10
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent
`
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`
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`
`/AGNES DOBROWOLSKI/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`/MICHAEL H CALEY/
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`