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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/196,804
`
`11/20/2018
`
`Hiroaki IWATO
`
`20326.0148US01
`
`2562
`
`HAY
`
`M
`
`ULER!
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON P.C.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`NGUYEN, LAUREN
`
`2871
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/14/2020
`
`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.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-18 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CC) Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-18 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) O Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible 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 PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)) accepted or b)() 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:
`c)X None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a) All
`1.4] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) 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) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20200211
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/196,804
`IWATOetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`LAUREN NGUYEN
`2871
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 11/20/2019.
`LC} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)(J This action is FINAL. 2b))This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\(Z 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 2
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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 underthe
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`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`2.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
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`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AJA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
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`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground ofrejection if the prior art
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`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereither status.
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`Election/Restrictions
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`3.
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`The restriction requirement between Species A-D, as set forth in the Office action mailed
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`on 09/20/2019, has been reconsidered. The restriction requirement is hereby withdrawn.
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`4,
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`In view of the above noted withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant is advised
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`that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or
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`includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may
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`be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the
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`claims of the instant application. Oncearestriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of
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`35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129,
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`131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP§ 804.01.
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`Specification
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`5.
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`Thetitle of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly
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`indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 3
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`6.
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
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`basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(a)(1) theclaimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication,or in public use, on sale or
`otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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`7.
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`Claims 1-9, 11-12, 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by
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`Sato et al. (US 2012/0200820).
`
`8.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a liquid crystal display device
`
`comprising:
`
`e
`
`e
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`a first substrate (32) including a plurality of source lines and a plurality of gate lines;
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`asecond substrate (12) that is disposed opposite the first substrate and includes a color
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`filter (22 and 30);
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`e
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`aliquid crystal layer (10) disposed betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate;
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`and
`
`e
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`a first seal member (60) that is disposed between the first substrate and the second
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`substrate and surroundsatleast a part of a periphery ofthe liquid crystal layer in plan
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`view,
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`e wherein atleast a part of the first seal member overlaps the color filter in plan view.
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`9.
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`Regarding claim 2, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a first side constituting at least a
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`part of an outer shape of the liquid crystal display device, wherein in a region along thefirst side,
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`the first seal member and the color filter overlap each other in plan view (figure 4).
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`10.
`
`Regarding claim 3, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a secondside that is opposed to the
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`first side and constitutes at least a part of an outer shape ofthe liquid crystal display device,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 4
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`wherein in a region along the second side, the first seal memberandthe color filter do not
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`overlap each other in plan view (18; figure 7).
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`11.
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`Regarding claim 4, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein in the first side, an end
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`face of the second substrate overlaps an end face of the colorfilter in plan view.
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`12.
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`Regarding claim 5, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein in the first side, an end
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`face of the first substrate overlaps anend face of the source line in plan view.
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`13.
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`Regarding claim 6, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a black image display region where
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`a black image is always displayed in the region along thefirst side.
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`Thelimitation, “a black image display region where a black image is always displayed in the
`region along the first side” is functional in nature. Such a functional limitation is only given
`patentable weight insofar as it imparts a structural limitation. Here, Sato et al. discloses the
`structural limitations required to perform the function as claimed.
`It is further noted that
`apparatus claims must be structurally distinguishable from the prior art and that the manner of
`operating the device does not differentiate the apparatus claim from the prior art (see e.g. MPEP
`2114). In other words, the prior art need not perform the function, but must merely be capable of
`doing so.
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`14.
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`Regarding claim 7, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein in the black image display
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`region, the second substrate includes the color filter, and the first substrate includes a TFT array.
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`15.
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`Regarding claim 8, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein the first substrate includes
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`a TFT array non-forming region that does not include the TFT array on a side closer to the first
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`side than the black image display region in the region along thefirst side.
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`16.
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`Regarding claim 9, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a secondside that is opposed to the
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`first side and constitutes at least a part of the outer shape of the liquid crystal display device; and
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`a black image display region where a black image is always displayed in a region along thefirst
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`side and the second side, wherein a width of the black image display region in the region along
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`the first side is larger than a width of the black image display region in the region along the
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`second side in plan view (figure 7).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 5
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`17.
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`Regarding claim 11, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein a distance between the
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`first substrate and the second substrate in the region along thefirst side is smaller than a distance
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`betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate in the region along the second side (figure 7).
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`18.
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`Regarding claim 12, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein in the region along the
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`first side, an end face of the first substrate and an end face of the second substrate do not overlap
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`each other in plan view.
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`19.
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`Regarding claim 16, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses wherein the first seal member
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`includes:afirst resin material and a first contained material contained in the first resin material
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`in the region along the first side; and a second resin material and a second contained material
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`contained in the second resin material in a region different from the region along thefirst side,
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`and a particle diameter of the first contained material is smaller than a particle diameter of the
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`second contained material (figure 6).
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`20.
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`Regarding claim 17, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a second seal member disposed in
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`aregion different from the region along the first side, wherein the first seal member includes a
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`first resin material and a first contained material contained in the first resin material, the second
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`seal memberincludes a second resin material and a second contained material contained in the
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`second resin material, and a particle diameter of the first contained material is smaller than a
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`particle diameter of the second contained material (figure 6).
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`21.
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`Regarding claim 18, Sato et al. (figures 1-7) discloses a third seal memberthat runs in
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`parallel to the first seal member in the region along the first side (portions of 60).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`22.
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`The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 6
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`(a) A patent may not be obtained through the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 ofthis title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obviousat the time the
`invention was made toa person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negative by the manner in which the invention was made.
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`23.
`
`Claim 10 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Sato et
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`al. (US 2012/0200820)in view of Ishikawaet al. (US 2013/0128192).
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`24,
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`Regarding claim 10, Sato et al. discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of
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`claim 2 above. However, Sato etal. is silent regarding wherein a light shielding tape is disposed
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`above the second substrate in the region along the first side. Ishikawa et al. (figure 11) teaches
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`wherein alight shielding tape (25b)
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`is disposed above the second substrate in the region along
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`the first side. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
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`in the art at the time
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`of the invention to modify the substrates as taught by Kobayashi et al. in order to achieve a
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`liquid crystal display device that has a narrower frame without decreasing a seal strength.
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`25.
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`Claims 13-15 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
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`Sato et al. (US 2012/0200820) in view of Kobayashiet al. (US 2017/0299916).
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`26.
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`Regarding claim 13, Sato et al. discloses the limitations as shown in the rejection of
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`claim 2 above. However, Sato et al. is silent regarding wherein in the region along thefirst side,
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`the second substrate is exposed from the first substrate in plan view from the first substrate.
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`Kobayashiet al. (figures 1-3) teaches wherein in the region along the first side, the second
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`substrate is exposed from the first substrate in plan view from the first substrate. Therefore, it
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`would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
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`in the art at the time of the invention to modify
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`the substrates as taught by Kobayashiet al. in order to remove the drawbackthat the non-
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`display area may look brighter than the display area whenthe display is turned OFF and improve
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`the display characteristics.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 7
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`27.
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`Regarding claim 14, Kobayashiet al. (figures 1-3) teaches a resin film covering an end
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`face of the second substrate in the first side (portion of sealant).
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`28.
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`Regarding claim 15, Kobayashiet al. (figures 1-3) teaches a third side that intersects the
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`first side and constitutes at least a part of the outer shape of the liquid crystal display device; and
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`a fourth side that is opposed to the third side and constitutes at least a part of the outer shape of
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`the liquid crystal display device, wherein in a region along the third side and the fourth side, an
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`end face of the first substrate and an end face of the second substrate do not overlap each other in
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`plan view, and in the first substrate, a driving circuit is provided in the region along the third side
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`but a driving circuit is not provided in the region along the fourth side.
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to LAUREN NGUYENwhosetelephone number is (571)270-1428.
`
`The examiner cannormally be reached on Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM -6:00 PM.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Edward Glick can be reached on (571) 272-2490. The fax phone number for the
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`organization wherethis 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 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
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/196,804
`Art Unit: 2871
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`Page 8
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`like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated
`
`information system, call 800-786-9199 (INUSA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
`
`/LAUREN NGUYEN/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`