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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
`
`16/859,606
`
`04/27/2020
`
`YOiChi YASUI
`
`20326.0133USC2
`
`8711
`
`53148
`
`759°
`
`08/06/2020
`
`HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON RC.
`45 South Seventh Street
`Suite 2700
`
`MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402-1683
`
`LAU' EDMOND C
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`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2871
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`08/06/2020
`
`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.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
`PTOMail@hsml.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/859,606
`Examiner
`EDMOND c LAU
`
`Applicant(s)
`YASUI et al.
`Art Unit
`2871
`
`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
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 27 April 2020.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)[:] This action is FINAL.
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`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.
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`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.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s)
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`15—27 is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
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`[:1 Claim(ss)
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`is/are allowed.
`
`8)
`Claim(s 1_5—27 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
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
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`Application Papers
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`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). Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a). All
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`b)|:] Some**
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`c)l:i None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`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)
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`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`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) E] 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 20200802
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`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.
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`Priority
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`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 112
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.7The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing
`out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the
`invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre—AIA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`Claim 22 recites the limitation “the second polarizing plate.” There is insufficient
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`antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 102
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C.
`
`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre—AIA 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 of rejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`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 person shall be entitled to a patent unless ,
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`(a)(l) the claimed 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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 3
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`Claims 15-17, 19, 21 and 23-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
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`anticipated by US 20160170702 A1 to Jiang et al.
`
`Regarding Claim 15. Jiang discloses a display device, comprising: a first display panel
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`(See Fig. 6 back panel 46); a second display panel disposed opposite to the first display panel
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`(See Fig. 6 Front panel 48); a first polarizing plate disposed on the first display panel (Fig. 6
`
`polarizer 5 8), the first polarizing plate being disposed between the first display panel and the
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`second display panel (See Fig. 6); and a bonding layer disposed between the first display panel
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`and the second display panel to bond the first display panel and the second display panel (Fig. 6
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`pressure sensitive adhesive 60, diffuser 62 and pressure sensitive adhesive with air gap 64), wherein in
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`planar view, the bonding layer overlaps outer peripheral ends of the first polarizing plate, and a
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`surface of the bonding layer bonds to a surface of the first polarizing plate (See Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 16. Jiang further discloses a second polarizing plate disposed on the
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`second display panel (See Fig. 6 polarizer 65), the second polarizing plate being disposed
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`between the first display panel and the second display panel (See Fig. 6), wherein in planar view,
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`the bonding layer overlaps outer peripheral ends of the second polarizing plate (See Fig. 6), and a
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`surface of the bonding layer bonds to a surface of the second polarizing plate (See Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 17. Jiang further discloses a gap is formed between the first polarizing
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`plate and the second polarizing plate (See Fig. 6 air gap 64).
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`Regarding Claim 19. Jiang further discloses an opening is formed in a part of the
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`bonding layer (See Fig. air gap 64).
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`Regarding Claim 21. Jiang further discloses the first display panel includes: a first glass
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`substrate (Fig. 6 Glass 54); a second glass substrate disposed opposite to the first glass substrate
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`(Fig. 6 glass 56), and a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first glass substrate and the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 4
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`second glass substrate (Fig. 6 liquid crystal 55), the second display panel includes: a third glass
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`substrate (Fig. 6 glass 66); a fourth glass substrate disposed opposite to the third glass substrate
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`(Fig. 6 glass 70), and a second liquid crystal layer disposed between the third glass substrate and
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`the fourth glass substrate (Fig. 6 liquid crystal 68), the first glass substrate, the second glass
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`substrate, the third glass substrate and the fourth glass substrate are stacked in this order (See
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`Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 23. Jiang further discloses the area of the first polarizing plate is
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`larger than the area surrounded by the bonding layer (See Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 24. Jiang further discloses the area of the second polarizing plate is
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`larger than the area surrounded by the bonding layer (See Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 25. Jiang further discloses a second polarizing plate (Fig. 6 polarizing
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`plate 52) disposed on the first display panel, the first display panel being disposed between the
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`first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate (See Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 26. Jiang further discloses a second polarizing plate (Fig. 6 polarizing
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`plate 72) disposed on the second display panel, the second display panel being disposed between
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`the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate (Fig. 6).
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`Regarding Claim 27. Jiang further discloses a third polarizing plate disposed on the first
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`display panel (Polarizing plate 52), the first display panel being disposed between the first
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`polarizing plate and the third polarizing plate (See Fig. 6), and a fourth polarizing plate (Fig. 6
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`polarizing plate 72) disposed on the second display panel, the second display panel being
`
`disposed between the second polarizing plate and the fourth polarizing plate (See Fig. 6).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 US C § 103
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 5
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`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—AIA 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 of rejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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`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:
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`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.
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`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0., 383 U.S. l, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
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`U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
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`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
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`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
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`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
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`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
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`nonobviousness.
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`Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jiang as
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`applied to claim 15 in View of US 20160172346 A1 to Koresawa.
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`Regarding Claim 18. As stated above Jiang discloses all the limitations of base claim
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`15.
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`Jiang does not specifically disclose that the bonding layer includes a first portion and a
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`second portion having weaker adhesive strength than the first portion.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 6
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`However, Koresawa discloses a bonding layer that includes a first portion and a second
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`portion having weaker adhesive strength than the first portion (para 166), to reduce the
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`likelihood of separation (para 166).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before
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`applicant’s effective filing date to include that the bonding layer includes a first portion and a
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`second portion having weaker adhesive strength than the first portion.
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`Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jiang as
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`applied to claim 15 in View of US 20090147186 A1 to Nakai et al..
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`Regarding Claim 20. As stated above Jiang discloses all the limitations of base claim
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`15.
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`Jiang does not specifically disclose that each of the display panels includes a chip on film
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`(COF) portion, and the bonding layer is disposed in a region where the COF portion is avoided in
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`planar view.
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`However, Nakai discloses each of the display panels includes a chip on film (COF)
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`portion (See Fig. 5 driver TCP), and the bonding layer is disposed in a region where the COF
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`portion is avoided in planar view (See Fig. 4—5), as the substitution of one known element for
`
`another yields predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art (MPEP2143(I)(B), KSR Int'l
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`Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 US. 398, 415—421, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395—97 (2007)).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before
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`applicant’s effective filing date to include that each of the display panels includes a chip on film
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`(COF) portion, and the bonding layer is disposed in a region where the COF portion is avoided in
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`planar view.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 7
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`Claim 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jiang as
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`applied to claim 21 in View of US 20170343866 A1 to Nam et al.
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`Regarding Claim 22. As stated above Jiang discloses all the limitations of base claim
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`21.
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`Jiang does not specifically disclose an area of the first polarizing plate is smaller than an
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`area of the second glass substrate, and the area of the second polarizing plate is smaller than an
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`area of the third glass substrate.
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`However, Nam discloses an area of the first polarizing plate is smaller than an area of the
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`second glass substrate (See Fig. 2), and the area of a second polarizing plate is smaller than an
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`area of the third glass substrate (Fig. 2), as the substitution of one known element for another
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`yields predictable results to one of ordinary skill in the art (MPEP2143(I)(B), KSR Int'l Co. V.
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`Teleflex Inc., 550 US. 398, 415-421, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395—97 (2007)).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before
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`applicant’s effective filing date to include that an area of the first polarizing plate is smaller than
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`an area of the second glass substrate, and the area of the second polarizing plate is smaller than
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`an area of the third glass substrate.
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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 EDMOND C LAU whose telephone number is (571)272—5 859.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on M—Th 8am—6pm EST.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in—person, and video conferencing using
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`a USPTO supplied web—based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/859,606
`Art Unit: 2871
`
`Page 8
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
`
`http://Www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Michael H 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.
`
`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
`
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`1000.
`
`/EDMOND C LAU/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
`
`