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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°
`
`03/06/2020
`
`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
`
`03/06/2020
`
`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):
`PTOMail@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 12/18/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) D This action is non-final.
`
`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 Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s)
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`1—10,12—14 and 16 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
`
`8)
`Claim(s 1—10,12— 14 and 16 is/are rejected.
`
`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. 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)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`is/are: a)[] accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
`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)D Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:] Some**
`
`c)l:i None of the:
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`1C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3D 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) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200226
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:2871
`
`Page2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`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.
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`Claims 1—10, 12—14, and 16 are pending. Claims1—3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 are amended.
`
`Claims 16 is newly added.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`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
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstandingthat 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.
`
`Claims 1, 3—5, 7, 9, 12—14, and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Tabito US 20070103908 in view of Mikubo US 20110001898 A1.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Tabito teaches a liquid crystal display (fig. 2) device comprising:
`
`a liquid crystal cell (2), an optical sheet (4), and a LED substrate (13) on which a
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`plurality of LEDs (18) are disposed (see fig. 2), which are disposed apart from one another (see
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:287l
`
`Page3
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`fig 2), the optical sheet being (4) disposed between the liquid crystal cell (2) and the LED
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`substrate (13) (see fig. 2); and
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`a first heat sink (7, [0101]) that is disposed in an airtight circulation channel (space
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`between liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the back panel 13; [0100], [0101]) and cools a coolant
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`(air) that circulates in the airtight circulation channel (space between liquid crystal panel unit 2
`
`and the back panel 13),
`
`wherein the airtight circulation channel (space between liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the
`
`back panel 13) comprises a first channel (space between liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the
`
`optical sheet 4; see fig. 2) between the liquid crystal cell (2) and the optical sheet (4) and a
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`second channel (space between the optical sheet 4 and the back panel 13; see fig, 2) between the
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`optical sheet (4) and the LED substrate (13), with the plurality of LEDs (18) exposed to
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`the second channel (space between the optical sheet 4 and the back panel 13; see fig, 2); and
`
`Tabito does not explicitly teach wherein the first channel and the second channel are in
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`fluid communication with each other.
`
`Mikubo teaches wherein the first channel (left inner cooling channel, fig 1B) and the
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`second channel (right inner cooling channel, fig 1B) are in fluid communication with each other
`
`(see fig 1B) for the purpose of providing a cooling part which satisfies the temperature which
`
`guarantees the operation of all electronic circuit parts mounted in a liquid crystal display device
`
`([0018])-
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify the liquid crystal display of Tabito with the
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`cooling device of Mikubo for the purpose of providing a cooling part which satisfies the
`
`

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`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:2871
`
`Page4
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`temperature which guarantees the operation of all electronic circuit parts mounted in a
`
`liquid crystal display deVice ([0018]).
`
`Regarding claim 3 Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display deVice
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`according to claim 1, Tabito further teaches further comprising: an intermediate frame (22;
`
`see fig. 2) for holding the optical sheet (4), wherein the intermediate frame (22) includes a
`
`first wall (21) that partitions the airtight circulation channel (space between liquid crystal
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`panel unit 2 and the back panel 13) into the first channel (space between liquid crystal
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`panel unit 2 and the optical sheet 4; see fig. 2) and the intermediate region (14), and is
`
`provided with a through hole ([0100], [0101]) for communicatively connecting the first
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`channel (space between liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the optical sheet 4; see fig. 2) and
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`the intermediate region (14).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display deVice
`
`according to claim 1, Tabito further teaches further comprising: a fan ([0100], [0101])
`
`disposed in the airtight circulation channel (space between liquid crystal panel unit 2 and
`
`the back panel 13).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display deVice
`
`according to claim 1, Tabito further teaches a fan ([0100], [0101]) is disposed in the
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`intermediate region (14) and proximate to the first heat sink (7, [0101]).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display deVice
`
`according to claim 1, Mikubo further teaches wherein the second heat sink (11) includes
`
`heat—dissipating fins (see fig 2) outside the airtight circulation channel, behind the LED
`
`substrate (5,7).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unitz287l
`
`Page5
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`Regarding claim 9, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 7, Mikubo teaches wherein the second heat sink (11) includes a heat—
`
`dissipating plate (base portion of 11, fig 2), the heat—dissipating fins (fins on heat sink 11)
`
`stand on a rear surface of the heat—dissipating plate (base portion of heat sink 11, fig 2), and
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`the LED substrate (5, 7) and the first heat sink (10, inner cooling channels) are disposed in
`
`front of the heat—dissipating plate (base portion of 11) (as per fig 2).
`
`Regarding claim 12,Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 3, Mikubo further teaches further comprising a rear frame (rear frame,
`
`fig. lb) disposed behind the intermediate frame (middle frame 13, see fig. lb) and holding
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`the LED substrate (2), wherein the rear frame (rear frame, fig,
`
`lb) includes a second wall
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`(8, 9) that partitions the airtight circulation (base portion of 11) into the second channel
`
`(right inner cooling channel, fig 1B) and the intermediate region (middle portion of fig. lb),
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`and is provide with a through hole (passages between 8, 9) for communicatively connecting
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`the intermediate region (middle portion of fig. lb) and the second channel (right inner
`
`cooling channel, fig 1B).
`
`Regarding claim 13,Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 12, Mikubo teaches wherein the first wall (left center wall, see fig. lb)
`
`is provided with a plurality of through holes (passages on outside of left center wall, see
`
`fig. lb) for communicatively connecting the first channel (left inner cooling channel, fig
`
`lb) and the intermediate region (middle portion of fig. lb), and the second wall (8, 9) is
`
`provided with a plurality of through holes (passages between 8, 9) for communicatively
`
`connecting the intermediate region (middle of portion of fig.
`
`lb) and the second channel
`
`(left inner cooling channel, fig lb).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:2871
`
`Page6
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`Regarding claim 14,Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, Tabito further teaches wherein the first heat sink (7, [0101])
`
`is disposed in an intermediate region (14) of the airtight circulation channel (space between
`
`liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the back panel 13) between the first channel (space between
`
`liquid crystal panel unit 2 and the optical sheet 4; see fig. 2) and the second channel (space
`
`between the optical sheet 4 and the back panel 13; see fig, 2).
`
`Regarding claim 16,Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, Mikubo further teaches further comprising a second heat sink (11) that is
`
`thermally coupled to the first heat sink (10) and exposed to ambient air ([0080]).
`
`Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tabito
`
`20070103908 in view of US Mikubo US 20110001898 A1 in view of Lee US
`
`2016/0363709.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, however, do not teach wherein the optical sheet includes a quantum
`
`dot film including quantum dots that convert a wavelength of light emitted by the plraulity
`
`of LEDs.
`
`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 plurality of
`
`LEDs (51) for the purpose of enabling deep color and high efficiency by providing displays
`
`with an ideal light source.
`
`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 Tabito and Mikubo for the purpose of enabling deep color and high efficiency by
`
`providing displays with an ideal light source.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:2871
`
`Page7
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`Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tabito
`
`20070103908 in view of US Mikubo US 20110001898 A1 in view of Kang US
`
`2013/0100374.
`
`Regarding claim 6, Tabito and Mikubo teaches the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, however, do not teach wherein the first heat sink includes heat—
`
`absorbing plates, and two adjacent heat—absorbing plates among the heat—absorbing plates
`
`partially define therebetween the airtight circulation channel.
`
`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
`
`therebetween the airtight circulation channel (ventilation channels, fig 3C) for the purpose
`
`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
`
`display of Tabito and Mikubo for the purpose of further increasing the efficiency of the
`
`heat absorber ([0038]).
`
`Claims 8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tabito
`
`20070103908 in view of US Mikubo US 20110001898 A1 in further view of Takata US
`
`7800714 B2.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 7, however, do not teach a fan outside the airtight circulation channel,
`
`behind the LED substrate, for introducing ambient air into spaces between the heat—
`
`dissipating fins.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unit:2871
`
`Page8
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`Takata further teaches in fig 20 a fan (105) outside the airtight circulation channel,
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`behind the LED substrate, for introducing ambient air into spaces between the heat—
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`dissipating fins (fig 20; col 20, line 64, col 21, line 4) for the purpose of enabling rapid
`
`internal cooling of the light sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`Although Takata teaches a fan 105 blowing air at the back chassis, primarily 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 to modify to
`
`the liquid crystal display of Tabito and Mikubo to have fan blowing air at the heat—
`
`dissipating fins of the heat sink as taught by Takata located behind the LED substrate for
`
`the purpose of enabling rapid internal cooling of the light sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`Regarding claim 10,Tabito and Mikubo teach the liquid crystal display device
`
`according to claim 1, however do not teach wherein the first heat sink is disposed in an
`
`uppermost portion of the airtight circulation channel when the liquid crystal display
`
`device stands vertically.
`
`Takata teaches wherein the first heat sink (cooling device; fig 24) is disposed in an
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`uppermost portion of the airtight circulation channel (channel, fig 24) when the liquid crystal
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`display device stands vertically (as per fig 24) for the purpose of enabling rapid internal cooling
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`of the light sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`Although Takata teaches the heat absorber being located throughout
`
`the airtight
`
`circulation channel, it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to locate the heat
`
`absorber being located in an upper portion of the airtight circulation channel, since Applicant has
`
`not disclosed that the location of the heat absorber solves any stated problem or is for any
`
`

`

`Application/Control NumberzlS/ 695,701
`Art Unitz287l
`
`Page9
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`particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with heat
`
`absorber being located in abottom portion of the airtight circulation channel.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the effective filing
`
`date of the claimed invention to modify to the liquid crystal display of Tabito and Mikubo to
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`have heat sink location as taught by Takata located behind the LED substrate for the purpose of
`
`enabling rapid internal cooling of the light sources (col. 20, lines 20—34).
`
`Conclusion
`
`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
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`policy as set forth in 37 CFR l.l36(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
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`the end of the THREE—MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period
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`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
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`CFR l.l36(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.
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`In no event,
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`however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing
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`date of this final action.
`
`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 —llam.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number:15/ 695,701
`Art Unitz287l
`
`Page 10
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone,
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`
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`
`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
`
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`
`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
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571—273—8300.
`
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`
`/AGNES DOBROWOLSKI/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`/MICHAEL H CALEY/
`
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`