DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the 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 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/02/26 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1, and 3-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang (US PGPub 2021/0392216, hereinafter referred to as “Huang”) in view of Li et al. (US PGPub 20220271263, hereinafter referred to as “Li”).
Huang discloses the semiconductor device as substantially as claimed. See figures 1-7 and corresponding text, where Huang shows, in claim 1, an electronic device, comprising: a display panel, comprising (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
a display surface (101), a back surface opposite to the display surface, and a side surface connecting the display surface and the back surface;
an infrared light source (106), disposed adjacent to the side surface of the display panel, wherein the display panel comprises an overlapping region in which the infrared light source overlaps with the side surface as viewed from a side view;
an infrared cutoff layer (107), attached to the side surface and the back surface of the display panel, and covering at least the overlapping region and an extension region in which the overlapping region extends respectively in a transverse direction and toward the back surface by a preset distance, wherein the infrared cutoff layer comprises a black adhesive tape or an infrared cutoff filter (figures 1-3; [0020-0028],infrared cutoff filter).
However, Huang fails to show, in claim 1, an infrared cutoff layer, directly attached to the side surface and the back surface of the display panel, and covering at least the overlapping region and an extension region; filter; and
a touch panel, disposed above the display panel and the infrared light source, wherein the infrared cutoff layer extends to be attached to a lower surface of the touch panel, and covers at least the lower surface located above a gap between the display panel and the infrared light source.
Li teaches, in claim 1, a similar device that includes forming a light-shielding structure (3) that includes a black tape (33) directly attached to the side and back surface of the display panel (1) (figure 2; [0051]) and a touch panel (5) ([0044]). In addition, Li provides the advantages of having a light-shielding effect ([0065]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art “before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to incorporate and
a touch panel, disposed above the display panel and the infrared light source, wherein the infrared cutoff layer extends to be attached to a lower surface of the touch panel, and covers at least the lower surface located above a gap between the display panel and the infrared light source, in the device of Huang according to the teachings of Li, with the motivation of having a light-shielding effect.
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 3, wherein the transmittance of the infrared cutoff layer to infrared light is less than or equal to 15%. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 4, wherein the preset distance is in a range of 5 millimeters (mm) to 15 mm. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 5, wherein the display panel comprises an organic electroluminescence display panel. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 6, further comprising a touch panel, disposed above the display panel and the infrared light source, wherein the infrared cutoff layer extends to be attached to a lower surface of the touch panel, and covers at least the lower surface located above a gap between the display panel and the infrared light source. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 7, wherein the infrared cutoff layer comprises a notch corresponding to the infrared light source, and the notch surrounds at least a part of the infrared light source. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 8, further comprising a light blocking structure, disposed between the display panel and the infrared light source. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 9, further comprising a frame, comprising a display opening and a light source opening respectively exposing and enclosing the display panel and the infrared light source. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang in view of Li, shows, in claim 10, wherein the display panel further comprises a metal foil layer located on the back surface of the display panel, and the infrared cutoff layer covers the metal foil layer. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
Huang shows, in claim 11, an electronic device, comprising:
a display panel, comprising a display surface (101), a back surface opposite to the display surface, a metal foil layer disposed on the back surface and a side surface connecting the display surface and the back surface; (figures 1-3; [0020-0023])
an infrared light source (106), disposed adjacent to the side surface of the display panel, wherein the display panel comprises an overlapping region in which the infrared light source overlaps with the side surface as viewed from a side view; (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
an infrared cutoff layer (107), attached to the side surface and the back surface of the display panel, and covering at least the overlapping region and an extension region in which the overlapping region extends respectively in a transverse direction and toward the back surface by a preset distance, wherein the infrared cutoff layer covers the metal foil layer. (figures 1-3; [0020-0028])
However, Huang fails to show, in claim 1, directly attached to the side surface and the back surface of the display panel, and covering at least the overlapping region and an extension region in which the overlapping region extends respectively in a transverse direction and toward the back surface by a preset distance, wherein the infrared cutoff layer covers the metal foil layer.
Li teaches, in claim 11, a similar device that includes forming a light-shielding structure (3) that includes a black tape (33) directly attached to the side and back surface of the display panel (1) (figure 2; [0051]). In addition, Li provides the advantages of having a light-shielding effect ([0065]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art “before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to incorporate directly attached to the side surface and the back surface of the display panel, and covering at least the overlapping region and an extension region in which the overlapping region extends respectively in a transverse direction and toward the back surface by a preset distance, wherein the infrared cutoff layer covers the metal foil layer, in the device of Huang according to the teachings of Li, with the motivation of having a light-shielding effect.
Conclusion
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/STANETTA D ISAAC/Examiner, Art Unit 2898 March 7, 2026
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