UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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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
`www.uspto.gov
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`16/013,944
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`06/21/2018
`
`Sunghwan KIM
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`P7826USOO
`
`6052
`
`H.C. PARK & ASSOCIATES, PLC
`1894 PRESTON WHITE DRIVE
`RESTON, VA 20191
`
`CH0WDHURY~ AFROZA Y
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`ART UNIT
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`2628
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`02/07/2020
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`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):
`PATENT @ PARK-LAW. COM
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/013,944
`Examiner
`AFROZA Y CHOWDHURY
`
`Applicant(s)
`KIM etal.
`Art Unit
`2628
`
`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 11/28/2019.
`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.
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`2b) D 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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`1,4—7 and 9—20 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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`
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`Claim(ss) 1 ,4—7 and 9—15 is/are allowed.
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`Claim(ss) 1_6—20 is/are rejected.
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`1:] Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, 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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`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentsflnit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
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`Application Papers
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`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`is/are: a)[:| accepted or b)D 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).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`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)I:I All
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`b)C] Some**
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.1:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`SD 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)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`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-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200117
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`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, is being examined
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Response to Amendment
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`2.
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`Applicant’s amendment filed on November 28, 2019 has been entered. Claims
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`1, 4-7, and 9-20 are currently pending. Applicant’s amended claims are addressed
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`herein below.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`3,
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`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
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`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
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`4.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`obviousness 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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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`Page 3
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`5.
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`Claims 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim
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`(03 20140132534) in view of Yu et al. (us 20170052635).
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`As to claim 16, Kim discloses a display device comprising:
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`a base film ([0047]: lower substrate);
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`a circuit layer disposed on the base film ([0049]),
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`the circuit layer ([0049]) comprising a gate driving unit (Fig. 2, [0071]: display
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`driver IC 200 includes a gate driver), a sense driving unit (Fig. 2(310): transferor (TX),
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`[0093]), and a plurality of gate lines ([0049]), the gate driving unit comprises a plurality
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`of gate stages, the sense driving unit comprises a plurality of sense stages ([0093] —
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`[0094]), and the plurality of pate lines are connected to the plurality ei pete stapes.
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`respeetlvely ([0071], [0093] — [0094]);
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`a light-emitting element layer disposed on the circuit layer ([0050]: LEDs);
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`a thin-film encapsulation layer ([0049]: TFTs); and
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`a sensing unit (Fig. 2(300): touch IC) disposed on the thin-film encapsulation
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`layer, the sensing unit comprising a plurality of driving electrodes (Fig. 2(110): TX1-TXm)
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`configured to receive a sense driving signal from the sense driving unit, and a plurality
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`of sensing electrodes (Fig. 2(120): FiXt-Fan, [0054]).
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`Kim does not explicitly teach a thin-film encapsulation layer covering the light-
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`emitting element layer, and wherein each et the plurality el gate stages aud the plurality
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`el sense stages are eeullgured te have a dependerlt eeltrieetieii relatlertsltlp tu operate
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`in respense te a signal output lrem a previous stage.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
`
`Page 4
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`However, it is an obvious design choice for Kim’s display device to have a thin-
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`film encapsulation layer covering the light-emitting element layer (LEDs) since LEDs are
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`used in a backlight unit in order to enhance an efficiency of light (see Kim: [0050]: LED
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`backlight).
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`Kim does not specifically teach each et the pturatity et gate stages and the
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`ptutattty st sense stages are configured ts have a dependent cenneetéen tetattenshtp to
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`operate in response to a stgnat output from a previous stage.
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`Yu teaches each pt the ptttratity of gate stages and the pieratéty of sense stages
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`are eentigured te have a dependent epnneetien retatienship te operate is respense te a
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`stgttat eutput them a ptevteus stage (Fig. 5, (00%)).
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
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`effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim’s display device by adapting
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`Yu’s idea of using output from previous stage in order to improve driving condition and
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`reduce noise.
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`As to claim 17, Kim (as modified by Yu) teach the display device of claim 16,
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`wherein a first sense stage among the plurality of sense stages receives a signal output
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`from an nth gate stage (where n is a positive integer) among the plurality of gate stages
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`(Yu: Fig. 5).
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`As to claim 18, Kim (as modified by Yu) teach the display device of claim 16,
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`wherein the circuit layer further comprises at least one dummy stage connected
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`between an nth gate stage (where n is a positive integer) among the plurality of gate
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`Page 5
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`stages and a first sense stage among the plurality of sense stages, wherein the first
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`sense stage among the plurality of sense stages receives a signal output from the
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`dummy stage (Kim: Fig. 2, [0055] — [0056]).
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`As to claim 19, Kim (as modified by Yu) teach the display device of claim 16,
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`wherein the plurality of gate stages receive a first clock signal and a second clock signal
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`(Kim: [0090]: “ The sync signal generator 220 may be used as a
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`controller of the display driver TC 900, and may generate and
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`output
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`the above—described sync signals according to control by
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`the controller of the display driver TC 900”; first sync signal and second
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`sync signal are interpreted as a first clock signal and second clock signal), and the plurality of
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`sense stages receive a third clock signal ([0086]: first sync signal) and a fourth clock
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`signal (Kim: [0087]: second sync signal).
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`As to claim 20, Kim (as modified by Yu) teach teaches the display device of claim
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`19, wherein it is an obvious design choice to have the plurality of sense stages further
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`receive a fifth clock signal generated by gating the first clock signal and the second
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`clock signal (Yu: Fig. 16B).
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`Claims 1, 4-7, and 9-15 are allowed.
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`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
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`6.
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`7.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`Page 6
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`This communication warrants no examiner’s reason for allowance, as the prosecution
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`and applicant’s reply make evident reasons for allowance [see applicant’s persuasive
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`arguments/remarks filed on 11/28/2019 regarding claims 1, 4-7, and 9-15],
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`satisfying the record “record as a whole” as required by rule 37 CFR 1.104(e). In this
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`case, the substance of applicant’s remarks and the amendments herein made to the
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`claims clarifying the claimed invention indicate the reasons claims are patentable over
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`the prior art of record. Reason for allowance is in all probability evident from the record.
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`Thus, no examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance is necessary (see M.P.E.P.
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`1302.14).
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`Response to Arguments
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`8.
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 16-20 have been considered but
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`are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in
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`the current rejection.
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`Conclusion
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`9.
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`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
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`policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`Page 7
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`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
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`the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to AFROZA Y CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is
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`(571)270-1543. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9am-5pm.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
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`interview, applicant is 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
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`supervisor, Nitin Patel can be reached on (571)272-7677. The fax phone number for
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`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
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`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
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`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
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`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
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`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
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`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/013,944
`Art Unit: 2628
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`Page 8
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`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
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`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272-1 000.
`
`/AFROZA CHOWDHURY/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628
`
`