UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`16/126,687
`
`09/10/2018
`
`TOShikaZu KOUDO
`
`20326.0141USW1
`
`1076
`
`52835
`
`759°
`
`11/01/20”
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`Minneapolis, MN 55402-1683
`
`KARIMI' PEGEMAN
`
`2691
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/01/2019
`
`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@hsm1.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0,7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/126,687
`Examiner
`PEGEMAN KARIMI
`
`Applicant(s)
`KOUDO et al.
`Art Unit
`2691
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`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 09/10/2018.
`[: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.
`
`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)
`
`1—16 is/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) 1,4 and 12—16 is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s) 2—3 and 5-11 is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s)
`9
`* 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.'sp 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 09/10/2018 is/are: a). accepted or b)C] 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)|:] Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`21:] 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`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-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20191025
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
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`is being examined
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Claim Objections
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`2.
`
`Claims 1 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
`
`ln claim 1, line 8, please add the term “the” after “and each of” in the
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`limitation of “and each of plurality of”;
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`In claim 16, line 8, please add the term “the” after “wherein each of” in the
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`limitation of “wherein each of plurality of”;
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`In claim 16, line 8, please add the term “the” after “and each of” in the
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`limitation of “and each of plurality of”;
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`In claim 16, line 11, please add the term “the” after “each of” in the
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`limitation of “each of plurality of the”;
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`Claims 2-15 are objected to because they depend upon objected claim 1.
`
`Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`3.
`
`The following is aquotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
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`form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patentunless —
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`(a)(1 ) the claimed inventionwas patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use,
`on sale orothenNise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 3
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`4.
`
`Claim(s) 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nagata
`
`(U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0231861).
`
`As to claim 16, Nagata teaches a touch panel (touch panel of Fig. 1) comprising:
`
`a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a first direction and are arrayed in a
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`second direction intersecting the first direction (the first electrodes 2 comprising of
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`electrodes 21, 22, 23, and
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`are extended in a first direction and the electrodes are
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`arrayed in a second vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction);
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`a plurality of second electrodes (3 comprising of electrodes 31, 32, 33, and ...)
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`that extend in the second direction and are arrayed in the first direction (the electrodes
`
`are extended in a second direction, which is vertical direction and the electrodes are
`
`arrayed in afirst horizontal direction); and
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`an insulating film (1) disposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the
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`plurality of second electrodes (Fig. 6, insulating film 1
`
`is located between the first and
`
`second electrodes 201 and 301, [0039], lines 1-4),
`
`wherein each of plurality of the first electrodes and each of plurality of the second
`
`electrodes are constructed with a plurality of mesh shaped conductive wires (Fig. 5, the
`
`plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are constructed with a
`
`plurality of conductive wires, [0147], the conductive wires have mesh shape),
`
`each of the plurality of first electrodes is formed such that a plurality of wide
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`portions and a plurality of narrow portions (Fig. 2, the first electrodes 23 and 24 have a
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 4
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`wide portion pads R2 area and narrow portions R1 area), each of the plurality of narrow
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`portions having awidth that is a length in the second direction narrower than each of the
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`plurality of wide portions (Narrow portions have awidth that the length in the vertical
`
`direction is narrower than the width portions in R2 area), are alternately arranged in the
`
`first direction (the pads 241a and 242a area alternatively arranged with the narrow
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`areas 241b and 242b), and
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`each of the plurality of second electrodes (3) is formed such that a plurality of
`
`wide portions (wide portions of the touch pad 31) and a plurality of narrow portions
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`(bridge connecting the touch pads 31), each of the plurality of narrow portions which
`
`having a width that is a length in the first direction narrower than each of the plurality of
`
`the wide portions (Narrow portions have a width that the length in the horizontal
`
`direction is narrower than the width portions in R3), are alternately arranged in the
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`second direction (the pads 331a and 332a are alternatively arranged with the narrow
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`areas 331b and 332b),
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`an end outline in the second direction of endmost first electrodes (243b), which
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`are formed at both ends among the plurality of first electrodes (both ends of pads 241a
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`and 243a have an end outline),
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`is formed in a straight line in the first direction (the two
`
`end portions are arranged in a horizontal direction), and an end outline in the first
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`direction of endmost second electrodes (the end portion of pads 331a and 333a are
`
`narrow), which are formed at both ends among the plurality of second electrodes, is
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`formed in a straight line in the second direction (the two ends of the pads 331a and
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`333a are arranged in a second direction, which is a vertical direction).
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 5
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`5.
`
`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 maynotbe obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identicallydisclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the priorartare such that the claimed invention as awhole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed i nvention to a person having
`ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentabilitys hall notbe
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1, 4, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Nagata in View oni (U.S. Pub. No. 2015/0227233).
`
`As to claim 1, Nagata teaches a touch panel (touch panel of Fig. 1) comprising:
`
`a plurality of first electrodes that extend in a first direction and are arrayed in a
`
`second direction intersecting the first direction (the first electrodes 2 comprising of
`
`electrodes 21, 22, 23, and
`
`are extended in a first direction and the electrodes are
`
`arrayed in a second vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction);
`
`a plurality of second electrodes (3 comprising of electrodes 31, 32, 33, and ...)
`
`that extend in the second direction and are arrayed in the first direction (the electrodes
`
`are extended in a second direction, which is vertical direction and the electrodes are
`
`arrayed in afirst horizontal direction); and
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`an insulating film (1) disposed between the plurality of first electrodes and the
`
`plurality of second electrodes (Fig. 6, insulating film 1
`
`is located between the first and
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`second electrodes 201 and 301, [0039], lines 1-4), wherein each of the plurality of first
`
`electrodes and each of plurality of the second electrodes are constructed with a plurality
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 6
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`of conductive wires (Fig. 5, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second
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`electrodes are constructed with a plurality of conductive wires, [0147]), the plurality of
`
`conductive wires having mesh shape (Fig. 5, the conductive wires have mesh shape),
`
`each of the plurality of first electrodes is formed such that a plurality of wide
`
`portions and a plurality of narrow portions (Fig. 2, the first electrodes 23 and 24 have a
`
`wide portion pads R2 area and narrow portions R1 area), each of the plurality of narrow
`
`portions having awidth that is a length in the second direction narrower than each of the
`
`plurality of wide portions (Narrow portions have awidth that the length in the vertical
`
`direction is narrower than the width portions in R2 area), are alternately arranged in the
`
`first direction (the pads 241a and 242a area alternatively arranged with the narrow
`
`areas 241b and 242b), and
`
`Nagata does not teach the comparison between the width of the end portion and
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`the inner portion,
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`Yi teaches one wide portion from the plurality of wide portions and one narrow
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`portion from the plurality of narrow portions in an endmost first electrode formed at an
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`end among the plurality of first electrodes are narrower than one wide portion from the
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`plurality of wide portions and one narrow portion from the plurality of narrow portions in
`
`an inner first electrode located inside the endmost first electrode, respectively (the wide
`
`portion and narrow portion from the end most portion of Area A2 shown in Fig. 2A is
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`narrower than the wide portion and narrow portion from the inner section of area A1).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 7
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the
`
`time the invention was filed to have added the touch pad structure of Yi to the touch
`
`panel of Nagata because to mix density and has an advantage of a high resolution
`
`partially and reducing cost, [0007], lines 2-4).
`
`As to claim 4, Nagata teaches an external shape of a sensor region constructed
`
`with the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes is formed into
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`a rectangular shape in plan view of the touch panel (Fig. 1, the first and second
`
`electrodes are formed into a four sided shape in a plan view of the touch panel TP).
`
`As to claim 14, Nagata teaches a display device comprising: the touch panel
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`according to claim 1; and adisplay panel that displays an image ([0074], lines 8-18).
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`7.
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`Claims 12 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Nagata in view of Yi, and further in view of Chang (U.S. Pub. No. 2012/0169655).
`
`As to claim 12, Nagata and Yi teach the touch panel of claim 1,
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`Nagata and Yi do not teach a dummy electrode,
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`Chang teaches a dummy electrode that is not conductive with the first electrode
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`and the second electrode (Fig. 7B, the dummy electrode 71 is not connected to the first
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`and second electrodes and has a DC signal or ground, [0133], lines 5-8) is formed
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`between two adjacent first electrodes from the plurality of first electrodes and between
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`two adjacent second electrodes from the plurality of second electrodes (as can be seen
`
`in Fig. 7B. the dummy electrodes are not connected to the first and second electrodes
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 8
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`and are formed between two adjacent first electrodes 32 and between two adjacent
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`second electrodes 31).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the
`
`time the invention was filed to have added the dummy electrode structure of Chang to
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`the touch panel of Nagata as modified by Yi because to provide a guarding pattern and
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`a conductive strip pattern exposed from each other, so that in the case of the human
`
`body holding the pen body is not electrically coupled to the conductive pen head, the
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`location of the conductive pen head can still be determined by sufficient change in
`
`capacitive coupling caused by the conductive pen head capacitively coupling to the
`
`guarding pattern and the conductive strip pattern, [0015], lines 1-8.
`
`As to claim 13, Nagata and Yi teach the touch panel of claim 1,
`
`Nagata and Yi do not teach lead wires,
`
`Chang teaches lead wires are electrically connected to each of the plurality of
`
`first electrodes and each of the plurality of second electrodes (lead wires outputted from
`
`the driving/detecting unit, are connected to the first and second electrodes), and a
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`ground wire ([0133], lines 5-8) is formed along the lead wires (lead wires are connected
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`to the touch panel 100 via the edges of the display, wherein the ground wires 71 are
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`formed on the touch panel, therefore are formed along the lead wires in the horizontal
`
`and vertical directions).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the
`
`time the invention was filed to have added the dummy electrode structure of Chang to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 9
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`the touch panel of Nagata as modified by Yi because to provide a guarding pattern and
`
`a conductive strip pattern exposed from each other, so that in the case of the human
`
`body holding the pen body is not electrically coupled to the conductive pen head, the
`
`location of the conductive pen head can still be determined by sufficient change in
`
`capacitive coupling caused by the conductive pen head capacitively coupling to the
`
`guarding pattern and the conductive strip pattern, [0015], lines 1-8.
`
`8.
`
`Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagata in
`
`view of Yi, and further in view of Lee (U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0209959).
`
`As to claim 15, Nagata and Yi teach the touch panel of claim 1,
`
`Nagata and Yi do not teach a frame,
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`Lee teaches a frame (BR) that covers peripheries of the touch panel and the
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`display panel (The BR area covers the peripheries of the touch panel and the display
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`area DA), wherein a part of the endmost first electrode is exposed from the frame (Fig.
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`5 and Fig. 7, the end most first electrode having a section TCL is exposed in the frame
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`BR).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the
`
`time the invention was filed to have added the frame structure of Lee to the touch panel
`
`of Nagata as modified by Yi because to prevent a connection part of a signal line from
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 10
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`being perceived, and also provides adisplay apparatus having the touch panel, [0006],
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`lines 1-4.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`9.
`
`Claims 2-11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but
`
`would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the
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`base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`Claim 2 is objected to because the prior art references do not teach the
`
`combination of limitations of “each of the plurality of second electrodes is formed such
`
`that the plurality of wide portions and the plurality of narrow portions, each of the
`
`plurality of narrow portions having a width that is a length in the first direction narrower
`
`than each of the plurality of wide portions, are alternately arranged in the second
`
`direction” and the limitations of “one wide portion of the plurality of wide portions and
`
`one narrow portion of the plurality of narrow portions in an endmost second electrode
`
`formed at an end among the plurality of second electrodes are narrower than” of claim 2
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`with the limitations mentioned in claim 1. The structure described by combining claims 1
`
`and 2 overcomes the prior art references.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 11
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`Conclusion
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`10.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
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`applicant's disclosure.
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`Bok (U.S. Pub. No. 2016/0147375) teaches adisplay device having atouch
`
`sensor and different shape and size sensor pads.
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`Inquiry
`
`11.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to PEGEMAN KARIMI whose telephone number is
`
`(571)270-1712. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday; 9:00am-
`
`4:00pm EST.
`
`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 http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached on 5712727772. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/126,687
`Art Unit: 2691
`
`Page 12
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
`
`/PEGEMAN KARIMI/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
`October 26, 2019 (10/26/19)
`
`