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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/391,056
`
`08/02/2021
`
`Seung Lyong BOK
`
`252753/411598-08138
`
`4304
`
`Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP
`PO BOX 29001
`Glendale, CA 91209-9001
`
`BEKELE, MEKONEN T
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2699
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/10/2024
`
`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):
`PLPrivatePair @ lrre.com
`
`pto@lewisroca.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/391 ,056
`BOK, Seung Lyong
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`MEKONEN T BEKELE
`2699
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof 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 12/28/2023.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)[¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J 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)(2) 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.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-11 and 15 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C) Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-11 and 15 is/are rejected.
`(] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* 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) The drawing(s) filed on 08/20/2021 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)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)Y) All
`1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. |
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240404
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 2
`
`1.
`
`Claims 1-11 and 15 are pending in this application.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`2.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`3.
`
`Applicant’s responseto the last Office Action filed on 09/29/2023 has been entered and
`
`Response to amendment
`
`made of record.
`
`4.
`
`5,
`
`Claims 1-6 and 8-9 and 11 have been amended.
`
`New claim 12 has been added .
`
`Response to Argument
`
`6.
`
`The Applicant's argumentfiled on 12/28/2023 is fully consider. For Examiner response
`
`see discussion below:
`
`a.
`
`Based on the Applicant’s amendment and argument the objection of claims 1,3-5,8 and
`
`11 under 35 U.S.C 112(f) is expressly withdrawn.
`
`b.
`
`The Applicant has amended the claims 1,3, 5,8 and 11 as follows:
`
`“ display panel including a substrate supporting pixels and transistors to display”; “a
`
`fingerprint sensor disposed under the substratein the first area and in a different layer than the
`
`transistors”, and substantially argue that the applied prior art Bae does not teach the claims as
`
`amended.
`
`Asto above argument, Examinerrespectfully disagrees for the following reasons.
`
`The specification disclose only one transistor but not
`
`transistors. Specifically the
`
`specification disclose only one_thin film transistor (TFT). The specification further disclosed
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 3
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`the thin film transistor TFT mayinclude an active pattern ACT, a gate electrode GE, a source
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`electrode SE, and a drain electrode DE”. But nowherein the specification that describe
`
`“transistors” or two or more TFT.
`
`Further Examiner could not find in the specification that disclose expressly or inherently
`
`the underlined limitations of the claims shown below.
`
`i.
`
`ii.
`
`“display panel including a substrate supporting pixels and transistors to display”
`
`“a fingerprint sensor disposed under the substratein the first area and in a different
`
`layer than the transistors.
`
`Instead Examiner found “The fingerprint sensor FPS is disposed
`
`on the rear surface of the substrate SUB”.
`
`Cc.
`
`The Applicant argue “While Bae mentions that the “optical sensor may be disposed on
`
`or below the TFT,” in the same paragraph, Bae does notteach placing the optical sensor below
`
`the substrate. Therefore, Baefails to disclose the limitation requiring “a fingerprint sensor
`
`disposed under the substrate in the first area and in a different layer than the transistors”, as
`
`recited in the amendedclaims herein.”
`
`Examiner respectfully disagrees because Bae teachesdifferent possible waysof
`
`placing the optical sensor and the TFT. Specifically Bae teaches “The optical sensor and the
`
`TFET may be disposed in the same plane on the lower glass substrate. However, the present
`
`invention may not be limited thereto, and the optical sensor may be disposed on or below the
`
`TET. (see [0147]). Thus, Bae teachesplacing the optical sensor below the substrate containing
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
`
`(a) INGENERAL--Thespecification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process
`of making and usingit, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it
`pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode
`contemplated by the inventoror joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 4
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), first paragraph:
`
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the mannerand process of
`making and usingit, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to
`which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the sameand shall set forth
`the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention
`
`7.
`
`Claims1,3,5 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`first paragraph, asfailing to comply with the written description requirementfor the following
`
`reason. The claim(s) contains subject matter which wasnot described in the specification in
`
`such a wayas to reasonably conveyto one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint
`
`inventor, or for pre-AlA the inventor(s), at the time the application wasfiled, had possession of
`
`the claimed invention.
`
`The claims recites “display panel including a substrate supporting pixels and transistors”
`
`However, Examiner could notfind in the specification that describe “transistors”, and “a
`
`substrate supporting pixels and transistors”. Instead Examiner found, in different sections of the
`
`specification the term “ a substrate supporting pixels”, but an able to find “a substrate supporting
`
`transistors”. Specifically the specification disclose only one “TFT transistor”. The specification
`
`further disclosed the thin film transistor TFT may include an active pattern ACT, a gate electrode
`
`GE, a source electrode SE, and a drain electrode DE”. But nowherein the specification that
`
`describe “transistors”. The Applicant requires to indicate the exact location in the specification
`
`that describes the amended section of the limitations mentioned above.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103)is incorrect, any correction of the
`
`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 undereither status.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 5
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis
`
`for the rejections under this section madein this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on
`sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effectivefiling date of the claimed invention.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 1-11 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bae
`
`et al., (Bae), US20160266695, published on 09/15/2016
`
`Asto claim 1, Bae teaches A display device ([0007] a display apparatus having an
`
`image scanning function )comprising:
`
`a display panel
`
`including a substrate supporting pixels and transistors to display an
`
`image, the display panelincluding a first area and a second area ( Fig.1, [0008], [0066]-[0068],
`
`Fig. 1 shows a mobile device MD in whicha display apparatus having an image scanning
`
`function. The mobile device MD mayincludea variety of flat panel display (FPD)
`
`apparatusesthat includes specific area SA that contained fingerprints sensor. Thefirst
`
`area and a second area correspondsto specific area SA and the FPD are that contain
`
`the specific area SA. Further a thin film transistor (TFT) array configured to drive a
`
`plurality of pixels forming an image, and an optical sensor array disposed between the
`
`optical amplification cover and the TFT array and configured to sensethe optical pattern
`
`amplified by the optical amplification cover.);
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`a fingerprint sensor disposed underthe substratein the first area and in a different layer
`
`than the transistor ([(0067]-[0068], [0014] [0147], The sensor-integrated display panel may
`
`be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and mayinclude a lower substrate portion
`
`including a TFT array configured to drive the plurality of pixels on an inner side of a
`
`lower substrate. The optical sensor and the TFT maybe disposedin the same plane on
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 6
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`the lower glass substrate. However, the present invention maynotbe limited thereto, and
`
`the optical sensor may be disposed on or below the TFT. The display apparatus
`
`FSD having an image scanning function that detect a fingerprint pattern FP from a finger
`
`F of a user in contact with a specific area SA of a display surface thereof);
`
`a touch sensor to sense a touch position according to a touch of a user on the display
`
`panelin the first area and the second area ([0067]-[0068], as discuss abovethe display
`
`apparatus FSD include the specific touch screen area SA that contain a finger print
`
`wherethe fingerprint sensor configure to detect the fingerprint pattern FP from the
`
`finger of F of the user);
`
`a sensor control circuit to control an operation of the fingerprint sensor by sensing light
`
`variation or ultrasonic wave variation ([0178], a fingerprint pattern image considering the
`
`scattering light in the row direction may be obtained by sequentially turning on and
`
`scanning thelight sourcesin the row direction as illustrated in FIG. 30(b)) and the touch
`
`sensor by sensing capacitance ([135] Referring to FIG. 20, an optical sensor 100 included in
`
`a cell array 10 includesaplurality of transistors, a photodiode, and a capacitance (Cap))
`
`a display driving circuit to control an image display operation of the display panel by
`
`generating an image deriving signal (Figs.1 and 19, [0132], [0140], [0160], the control
`
`logic 60 controls each componentof the image display device shownin Fig.1. Thatis,
`
`the control logic 60 controls operations of the gate driver 20, the source driver 30, the
`
`analog front end (hereinafter, AFE) 40, and the signal processor 50( see Fig.19). The
`
`source driver 30 sequentially or simultaneously enablesall of the columnsto activate
`
`RGB pixels and outputs the image on a display screen. Thus, underthe control of the
`
`logic control source driver 30 control the color the image display on the screen. Further
`
`The gate driver 20 and a source driver 30 sequentially enable a cell array 10 and output
`
`an output image on a frame-by-frame and display the fingerprint
`
`image . Thus, under
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 7
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`the control of the logic control 60 the gate driver 20 and the source driver 30 control the
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`fingerprint sensor that display the image of the fingerprint ); and
`
`an identification pattern disposed in a portion of the first area to recognize a position of a
`
`fingerprint sensor area to the user ([0068], the display apparatus FSD having an image
`
`scanning function maydetect a fingerprint pattern FP from a finger F of a user in contact
`
`with a specific area SA of a display surface thereof. An image scanning function may be
`
`implemented by sensing a position in contact with the finger F, then setting the specific
`
`area SA according to the position, and then detecting the fingerprint pattern FP from the
`
`specific area SA. Thefirst area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensor
`
`correspondsto the specific area SA which contain the fingerprint sensor components;
`
`thus, the SA has different pattern compareto the rest of the display screen)
`
`wherein the sensor control circuit sequentially or simultaneously is configured to drive
`
`the touch sensor and the fingerprint sensor (Fig.19, [0140], [0160], as discuss above the
`
`control logic 60 controls each component.Thatis, the control logic 60 controls
`
`operations of the gate driver 20, the sourcedriver 30, the AFE 40, and the signal
`
`processor 50 of the mobile device MD that include a varietyof flat panel display (FPD)
`
`apparatuses andfingerprint sensor ), and wherein the first area is enclosed by the second
`
`area in a plan view (Fig.1, as discuss abovethe flat panel display (FPD) apparatuses
`
`includes specific area SA (first area) and the FPD area (second area) that include the
`
`specific area SA. The SA are enclosed by PD area ina plan view).
`
`As to claim 2, Bae teaches the display device of claim 1, further comprising a chip on
`
`film, wherein the fingerprint sensor is connected to the sensor control unit through the chip on
`
`film (Abstract, [022]a display surface, configured to amplify an optical pattern generated
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 8
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`by a fingerprint of a user in contact with the display surface, a display panel including a
`
`thin film transistor (TFT) array configured to drive a plurality of pixels forming an image)
`
`Regarding claim 3, all the limitations are included in claim 1 except the following
`
`limitation: “control circuit sequentially or simultaneously is configured to drive the display
`
`panel”. Thus, all the limitation except the limitation mentioned above are rejected the same as
`
`calim1; and regarding the limitation “ control circuit sequentially or simultaneously is
`
`configured to drive the display panel Bae teaches (Figs.1 and 19, [0132], [0140], [0160],
`
`the control logic 60 controls each componentof the image display device shownin Fig.1.
`
`The source driver 30 sequentially or simultaneously enablesall of the columns to
`
`activate RGB pixels and outputs the image on a display screen. Thus, under the control
`
`of the logic control source driver 30 control the color the image display on the screen).
`
`Regarding claim 4, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 2.
`
`Regarding claim 5, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 1.
`
`Regarding claim 6, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 2.
`
`Regarding claim 7, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 1.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding claim 8, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 3.
`
`Regarding claim 9, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion for
`
`claim 2
`
`Regarding claim 10, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion
`
`for claim 3
`
`Regarding claim 11, all claimed limitations are set forth and rejected as per discussion
`
`for claim 1.
`
`Asto claim 15, Bae teachesan identification pattern disposed in a portion ofthe first
`
`area to recognize a position of a fingerprint sensor area to the user(Fig.1, [0068], as shownin
`
`Fig. 1, the display apparatus FSD having an image scanning function may detect a
`
`fingerprint pattern FP from a finger F of a user in contact with a specific area SA of a
`
`display surface thereof).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presentedin this
`
`Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant
`
`is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the eventa first replyis filed within TWO
`
`MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after
`
`the end of the THREE-MONTH shortenedstatutory period, then the shortened statutory period
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/391,056
`Art Unit: 2699
`
`Page 10
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`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
`
`CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action.
`
`In no event,
`
`however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this
`
`final action.
`
`Contact Information
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communication from the examiner
`
`should be directed to Mekonen Bekele whose telephone numberis (469) 295-9077.The examiner
`
`can normally be reached on Monday -Friday from 9:00AM to 6:50 PM Eastern Time.
`
`If attempt to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor Eng,
`
`George can be reached on (571) 272-7495.The fax phone numberfor the organization where
`
`the application or proceeding is assigned is 571-237-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of
`
`an application may be obtained from the patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system.
`
`Status information for published application may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public
`
`PAIR. Status information for unpublished application is available through Privet PAIR only.
`
`For moreinformation about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have
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`question on accessto the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)at
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`866.217-919 (tool-free)
`
`/MEKONENT BEKELE/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2699
`
`