UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`16/294,499
`
`03/06/2019
`
`Jeonghun KIM
`
`29273-43102/US
`
`3311
`
`759°
`1383“-
`LG D1sp1ay/FENWICK
`801 California Street
`Mountain View, CA 94041
`
`04’07’2020
`
`SHRESTHA' SAGAR
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2841
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/07/2020
`
`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
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`following e—mail address(es):
`
`FWLGDisplayPatents @ fenwiek.eom
`ptoe @ fenwiek.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/294,499
`Examiner
`SAGAR SH RESTHA
`
`Applicant(s)
`KIM, Jeonghun
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2835
`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 3 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 03/19/2020.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)I:] This action is FINAL.
`
`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*
`
`5)
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`Claim(s)
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`flis/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above Claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
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`Claim(s) 1—10,12 and 15—16 is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s) 11 and 13—14is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`)
`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
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`http://www.jjsthQQv/patents/init_events/pph/index.'sp or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@g§ptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 3/6/2019 is/are: a). accepted or b)I:I 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)C] Some**
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`c)[j None of the:
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`1.. Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2E] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3C] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200323
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`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.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in
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`37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is
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`eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR
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`1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been
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`withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 03/19/2020 has
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`been entered.
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`The amendment filed on 03/19/2020 has been entered.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`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. Patentabiiity shall not be
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`Claims 1, 5, 6 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim
`
`et al. (US 2016/0231843; “Kim” hereinafter) in view of Han (US 20170031388; “Han”
`
`hereinafter).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 3
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`Regarding claim 1, Kim (Figs. 1-4A) discloses a rollable display (“a rollable
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`display device”, Par. [0062], fig. 1) comprising: a flexible display panel (DM; Kim states,
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`“a flexible display module DM”, Par. [0063]) having a display area (front surface of
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`display module DM has display area, fig. 2D-3A) and a non-display area (“The black
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`matrix BM is located at a rear surface of the base member 100-BS to define a non-
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`display area”, Par. [008]) including: a reinforcing structure (SB; Kim states, “a plurality of
`
`support blocks SB”, Par. [0063]) on a rear side of the flexible display panel (SB is
`
`attached to the rear side of the flexible display module DM, figs. 1, 4A) and a plurality of
`
`segments (SB comprises of plurality of segments SB1, SB2, SB3...SBm, fig. 4A); a
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`panel roller (BL-10; Kim states, “a roller RL-10”, par. [0098, fig. 4A) having a
`
`circumference surface onto which the display panel is rolled (fig. 4A-4B); wherein the
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`segments of the reinforcing structure are arranged along with the direction parallel to
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`the rolling direction of the display panel (plurality of segments SB1, SB2, SB3...SBm, of
`
`the reinforcing structure SB are arranged along with the direction parallel to the rolling
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`direction of the display panel DM, figs.2A- 4A).
`
`Kim does not explicitly disclose a display panel including a scan driver
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`configured to supply a scan signal to the display panel; and a control board in the panel
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`roller; and an auxiliary sheet attached to one end of the display panel to couple the
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`display panel to the panel roller, wherein the auxiliary sheet mitigates the mechanical
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`stress at the edge of the display panel when the display panel is rolled around the panel
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`roller; and a first connecting member electrically connected to the control board to
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`supply a data signal to the display panel, wherein the scan driver is disposed on at least
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 4
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`one side of the display area of the display panel and a plurality of data drivers driver are
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`disposed along with a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of the display panel.
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`Han (fig 1-12 and 22) teaches a rollable display device comprising a display
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`panel (150) including a scan driver (130) configured to supply a scan signal to the
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`display panel (Par. [0037]); and a control board (125) in a panel roller (160); and an
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`auxiliary sheet (180, 190) attached to one end of the display panel to couple the display
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`panel to the panel roller (fig. 22), wherein the auxiliary sheet mitigates the mechanical
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`stress at the edge of the display panel when the display panel is rolled around the panel
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`roller (Par. [0094] and [0095]); and a first connecting member (145) electrically
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`connected to the control board to supply a data signal to the display panel (Par. [0061]
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`and fig. 12), wherein the scan driver (130) is disposed on at least one side of the display
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`area (AA)(fig. 8) of the display panel (150) and a plurality of data drivers driver (140) are
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`disposed along with a direction perpendicular to a rolling direction of the display panel
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`(150) (figs 11-12 and 22).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
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`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Kim to incorporate a
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`scan driver and a data driver, and an auxiliary sheet and a first connecting sheet to
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`attached to the end of the display as taught by Han because such modification would
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`provide a rollable flexible display device with improved mechanical strength (Par.
`
`[0009D-
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 5
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`Regarding claim 5, Kim in view of Han (relied on Han, figs 1-12, 22) teaches the
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`scan drivers ((130)) are disposed on both the left and right sides of the display area of
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`the display panel (fig. 8).
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`Regarding claim 6, Kim in view of Han (relied on Han, figs 1-12, 22) teaches the
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`scan driver (130) is disposed along with the rolling direction of the display panel
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`(150)(Fig. 8).
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`Regarding claim 8, Kim in view of Han teaches each of the segments has a
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`shape of a bar (881, 882, 883... are bar-shaped, Kim, figs. 2A-ZB).
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`Regarding claim 15, Kim in view of Han (relied on Kim, figs 1-4A) teaches
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`wherein a surface of an edge of at least a subset of the segments coming into contact
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`with the display panel when the display panel is rolled onto the panel roller (at least a
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`subset of segments 881, 882, SBB...SBm, of the reinforcing structure SB coming into
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`contact with the display panel DM when the display panel is rolled onto the panel roller
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`RL, fig. 23).
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`Claims 2, 3, 9, 10 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Kim in view of Han as applied to claim 1, and in further view of Van Rens (US
`
`2006/0107566; “Van” hereinafter).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kim in view of Han discloses the rollable display of claim 1.
`
`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly disclose each of the segments comprise at
`
`least one through hole.
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`Van (figs. 1-5) teaches a rollable display (“the mobile telephone 1 comprising the
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`display device in which the display 3 is rolled up”, Par. [0028]) comprises of a plurality of
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 6
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`segments (16; Van states, “Supporting, foldable or hingeable arms 16”, Par. [0029], fig.
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`3) comprises through holes (“In the arm 16, which is hollow, runs a cable 30”, Par.
`
`[0033D.
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the plurality of segments of the rollable
`
`display module of Kim in view of Han to incorporate a plurality through holes in the
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`plurality of segments of a reinforcing as taught by Van in order to manage the
`
`connecting member and further form a secure electrical connections between the
`
`boards.
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`Regarding claim 3, Kim in view of Han and Van (relied on Han, fig. 8) teaches the
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`rollable display further comprising a connecting member (there are three connecting
`
`member 145, fig. 8) that electrically connects printed circuit board to transmit signals for
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`displaying images on the display panel (Par. [0061] and fig. 8). Further, Van (figs. 1-5)
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`teaches a rollable display further comprising a connecting member (30; “cable 30”, Par.
`
`[0033]) that electrically connects printed circuit board to transmit signals for displaying
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`images on the display panel (the cable 30 is connected between the point of
`
`suspensions 33 and 34, fig. 3; and “The point of suspension for the cable is preferably
`
`located on a printed circuit board”, Par. [0011]), the connecting member slidably
`
`inserted into the through holes (“In the arm 16, which is hollow, runs a cable 30”, Par.
`
`[0033D.
`
`Regarding claim 9, Kim in view of Han discloses the rollable display of claim 1.
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`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly disclose adjacent segments are connected
`
`through hinge.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 7
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`Van (figs. 1-5) teaches a rollable display comprising a plurality of segments (161 -
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`164) and adjacent segments are connected through hinge (171 -173).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the plurality of segments of the rollable
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`display module of Kim in view of Han to have the adjacent segments connected by a
`
`hinge as taught by Van because it provides folding means to the plurality of the
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`segments which helps in rolling the display panel.
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`Regarding claim 10, Kim in view of Han discloses the rollable display of claim 1.
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`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly disclose adjacent segments are spaced
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`apart by a set distance.
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`Van (figs. 1-5) teaches a rollable display comprising a plurality of segments (161-
`
`164) and adjacent segments are spaced apart by a set distance (fig. 3).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the plurality of segments of the rollable
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`display module of Kim in view of Han to have the adjacent segments spaced apart by a
`
`set distance as taught by Van because it provides space for folding the plurality of the
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`segments.
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`Regarding claim 16, Kim in view of Han discloses wherein a number of the
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`through hole corresponds to a number of connecting member (only one connecting
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`member 30 passes through the hole of each of the segment 16, fig. 3).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 8
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`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of Han
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`as applied to claim 1, and in further view of Park et al. (US 2016/0086563; “Park”
`
`hereinafter)
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kim in view of Han discloses the rollable display of claim 1.
`
`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly disclose the scan driver is formed in a gate
`
`in panel (GIP) structure in the non-display area of the display panel.
`
`Park (fig. 1) teaches a scan driver (20) is formed in a gate in panel (GIP)
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`structure in the non-display area of the display panel (“The scan driver 20 may be in the
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`non-display area of the display panel 10 and, for example, may be provided in an
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`Amorphous Silicon TFT gate driver scheme or a Gate Driver ln Panel (GIP) scheme”,
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`Par. [0034]).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the rollable display of Kim in view of Han to
`
`has the scan driver formed in a GIP structure in the non-display area as taught by Park
`
`so as to realize a small volume, weight reduction and low manufacturing cost.
`
`Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of Han
`
`as applied to claim 1, and in further view of Hamer et al.
`
`(US 20090295422; “Hamer”
`
`hereinafter).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kim in view of Han discloses the rollable display of claim 1.
`
`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly disclose the display area comprises
`
`subpixels, wherein the subpixels include a switching transistor, a drive transistor, a
`
`capacitor, a compensation circuit and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 9
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`Hamer (fig. 1) teaches a display area comprises subpixels (100), wherein the
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`subpixels include a switching transistor (180), a drive transistor (170), a capacitor (190),
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`a compensation circuit (compensation, drive circuit 105) and an organic light emitting
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`diode (OLED) (fig. 1, Par. [0025]).
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the display area of Kim in view of Han to
`
`have the display area comprises subpixels, wherein the subpixels include a switching
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`transistor, a drive transistor, a capacitor, a compensation circuit and an organic light
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`emitting diode as taught by Hamer because Hamer states, the modification,
`
`“compensate for aging and efficiency changes in OLED emitters in the presence of
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`transistor aging” (Par. [0013]).
`
`Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of
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`Han and Van as applied to claim 3, and in further view of Minoo et al. (US
`
`2012/0008294; “Minoo” hereinafter).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Kim in view of Han and Van discloses the rollable display of
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`claim 3.
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`Kim in view of Han does not explicitly the rollable display further comprising an
`
`adhesive member that fixes part of the connecting member to at least one side of the
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`control board.
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`Minoo teaches an adhesive member that fixes part of the connecting member to
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`at least one side of the control board (“Adhesive portions of printed circuit board layers,
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`may be used to help hold wires 52 in place on printed circuit board 12”, Par. [0060]).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 10
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
`
`filling date of the claimed invention to modify the rollable display module of Kim in view
`
`of Zhang, Van and Yang to incorporate an adhesive member that fixes part of the
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`connecting member to at least one side of the control board as suggested by Minoo,
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`because Minoo states, “Adhesive portions of printed circuit board layers,
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`may be
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`used to help hold wires 52 in place on printed circuit board 12” (Par. [0060]) Le.
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`Adhesive member help to hold the connecting member with control board and prevent
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`disconnection of the connecting member.
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`Response to Arguments
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-16 have been considered but are
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`moot; whereas new rejections have been presented to read on the amended claim
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`language.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`Claims 11, 13 and 14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base
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`claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the
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`limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure are listed in the form 892.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/294,499
`Art Unit: 2835
`
`Page 11
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to SAGAR SH RESTHA whose telephone number is
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`(571)270-1236. The examiner can normally be reached on 9:00 am-5:30 pm, Monday-
`
`Friday.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Jinhee Lee can be reached on (571)272-1977. The fax phone number for
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`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
`
`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.
`
`/S. S/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2835
`
`/DANIEL P WICKLUND/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
`
`