DETAILED ACTION
General Remarks
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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 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.
When responding to this office action, applicants are advised to provide the examiner with line numbers and page numbers in the application and/or references cited to assist the examiner in locating appropriate paragraphs.
Per MPEP 2111 and 2111.01, the claims are given their broadest reasonable interpretation and the words of the claims are given their plain meaning consistent with the specification without importing claim limitations from the specification.
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Status of claim(s) to be treated in this office action:
Independent: 1, 9 and 16.
Pending: 1-3,5-11 and 13-19.
Canceled: 4, 12 and 20.
Information Disclosure Statement
Applicant’s IDS(s) submitted on 9/9/2026 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has/have considered by the examiner and made of record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant' s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-3,5, 8-11 and 13 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection, Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Yabuki US PG pub. 20200183239 A1.
With respect to claim 16-19, Applicant's arguments filed 7/30/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argue that reference Zhan et al., fail to teaches a source line is connected to sub-pixels of only a single column in the first pixel array, and is connected to and shared between sub-pixels of a plurality of columns corresponding to a same color in the second pixel array, however in claim 16 connected to and shared between sub-pixels of a plurality of columns corresponding to a different color in the second pixel array which applicant pointed out Zhan et al., teaches this limitation in remarks filed 7/30/2026 therefore Bei et al., in view of Zhan et al. does teach this limitation. Therefore the rejection under Bei et al., in view of Zhan et al., is maintained.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 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 of this title, 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.
Claim(s) 1, 5 and 8 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Yabuki US PG pub. 20200183239 A1.
Re: Independent Claim 1, Bei discloses a hole (2023, fig. 3;column 6, lines 1-3), comprising: a first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) including a plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) and a plurality of sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel); a bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) defined around the hole (2023, fig. 3;column 6, lines 1-3) and at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) among the plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extends along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3); and a second pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel), wherein the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) extended along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) further extends to the second pixel array.
Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is connected to sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of only a single column in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3), and is connected to and shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of a plurality of columns corresponding to a same color in the second pixel array.
Yabuki teaches wherein each of the at least one extension source line (SL, fig. 3) is connected to sub-pixels (RGB, fig. 3) of only a single column (SL column, fig. 3) in the first pixel array (top six RGB pixels, fig. 3), and is connected to and shared between sub-pixels of a plurality of columns corresponding to a same color in the second pixel array (bottom six RGB pixels, fig. 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include with two sub-pixel connected a single data line since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Re: Claim 5, Bei and Yabuki discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Bei further discloses: wherein at least two of the source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extend along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3).
Re: Claim 8, Bei and Yabuki discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Bei further discloses: wherein the plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extend in a vertical direction, wherein the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) is disposed between the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) and the second pixel array, and wherein the at least one of the source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extends along and in the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3).
Claim(s) 2-3 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Yabuki US PG pub. 20200183239 A1; further in view of Zhan et al., US Patent 10559604 B2.
Re: Claim 2, Bei and Yabuki discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein a number of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) extending along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) is smaller than a number of the plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches a number of the at least one extension source line 208 in bezel region 2023 is smaller (as shown in the bezel region 2023 only have 5 extension source line while the pixel below has 18 source line) than a number of the plurality of source lines in the first pixel array.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Re: Claim 3, Bei and Yabuki discloses all the limitations of claim 1 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the second pixel array, and is not shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches in the first pixel array in the region of bezel source line is share and in the second pixel array below the bezel region is not share (as shown in figure 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Claim(s) 9 and 13 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Yabuki US PG pub. 20200183239 A1; further in view of Ryoo et al., US PG pub. 20170154566 A1.
Re: Independent Claim 9, Bei discloses a display panel having a hole (2023, fig. 3;column 6, lines 1-3); wherein the display panel includes: a first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) including a plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) for transmitting the source signal and a plurality of sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) for emitting light based on the source signal; a bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) defined around the hole (2023, fig. 3;column 6, lines 1-3) and at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) of the plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extends along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3); a second pixel array including sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) and the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) extending along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) and extending to the second pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is connected to sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of only a single column in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3), and is connected to and shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of a plurality of columns corresponding to a same color in the second pixel array.
Yabuki teaches wherein each of the at least one extension source line (SL, fig. 3) is connected to sub-pixels (RGB, fig. 3) of only a single column (SL column, fig. 3) in the first pixel array (top six RGB pixels, fig. 3), and is connected to and shared between sub-pixels of a plurality of columns corresponding to a same color in the second pixel array (bottom six RGB pixels, fig. 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include with two sub-pixel connected a single data line since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Bei and Yabuki discloses data line a physical wire in the panel that connects in a column of the pixels but are silent regarding: a source driver providing a source signal to the display panel.
Ryoo teaches a source driver (SIC, fig. 4) providing a source signal (DL, fig. 4) to the display panel (PNL, fig. 4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include source driver since source driver can converts incoming image data into analog voltages and drive those voltages onto the column source/data lines to set each pixel value thereby to having a function display device.
Re: Claim 13, Bei, Yabuki and Ryoo discloses all the limitations of claim 9 on which this claim depends. Bei further discloses: at least two of the source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extend along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3).
Claim(s) 10 and 11 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Yabuki US PG pub. 20200183239 A1; further in view of Ryoo et al., US PG pub. 20170154566 A1; further in view of Zhan et al., US Patent 10559604 B2.
Re: Claim 10, Bei, Yabuki and Ryoo discloses all the limitations of claim 9 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein a number of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) extending along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) is smaller than a number of the plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches a number of the at least one extension source line 208 in bezel region 2023 is smaller (as shown in the bezel region 2023 only have 5 extension source line while the pixel below has 18 source line) than a number of the plurality of source lines in the first pixel array.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Re: Claim 11, Bei, Yabuki and Ryoo discloses all the limitations of claim 9 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the second pixel array, and is not shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches in the first pixel array in the region of bezel source line is shared and in the second pixel array below the bezel region is not shared (as shown in figure 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Claim(s) 1, 5 and 8 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2; in view of Zhan et al., US Patent 10559604 B2.
Re: Independent Claim 16, Bei discloses a first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) including a plurality of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6); a second pixel array (see annotated fig. 3); and a bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) defined around the hole (2023, fig. 3;column 6, lines 1-3) between the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) and the second pixel array, wherein at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) disposed in a vertical direction in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3) extends along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3).
Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is connected to sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of only a single column in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3), and is connected to and share between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) of a plurality of columns corresponding to different colors in the second pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches the extension source line 208 is connected to and share between sub-pixels of only a single column in a first pixel array and is connected to sub pixels of a plurality of columns corresponding to different colors in the second pixel array (column 7, lines 44-56).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include with two sub-pixel connected a single data line since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Re: Claim 17, Bei and Zhan discloses all the limitations of claim 16 on which this claim depends. Bei further discloses: wherein the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) extending along the bezel (wiring area 2032, fig. 3) extends to the second pixel array in the vertical direction.
Re: Claim 18, Bei and Zhan discloses all the limitations of claim 17 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein a number of source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) disposed in the second pixel array is smaller than a number of the source lines (211 and 208 fig. 3;M2, fig. 6) disposed in the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches a number of the at least one extension source line 208 in bezel region 2023 is smaller (as shown in the bezel region 2023 only have 5 extension source line while the pixel below has 18 source line) than a number of the plurality of source lines in the first pixel array.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Re: Claim 19, Bei and Zhan discloses all the limitations of claim 16 on which this claim depends. Bei is silent regarding: wherein each of the at least one extension source line (211 in the 2032 region, fig. 3) is shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the second pixel array, and is not shared between sub-pixels 206 (column 13, lines 29-34; each of the sub-pixel including red sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel) in different columns of the first pixel array (see annotated fig. 3).
Zhan teaches in the first pixel array in the region of bezel source line is share and in the second pixel array below the bezel region is not share (as shown in figure 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include smaller data line in the bezel region than the pixel area below since a line distance between two adjacent data lines may be increased, thereby reducing coupling capacitance between the two adjacent data lines.
Annotated figure 3 of Bei et al., US patent 10580803 B2.
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 6-7 and 14-15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Re: Claim 6 (and its dependent claim(s) 7), the prior art of record do not disclose or suggest, in combination with all other limitations in the claim: wherein at least two of the source lines of the first pixel array includes a first source line corresponding to a blue color, a second source line corresponding to a green color, a third source line corresponding to a red color, and a fourth source line corresponding to a green color.
Re: Claim 14 (and its dependent claim(s) 15), the prior art of record do not disclose or suggest, in combination with all other limitations in the claim: wherein at least two of the source lines of the first pixel array includes a first source line corresponding to a blue color, a second source line corresponding to a green color, a third source line corresponding to a red color, and a fourth source line corresponding to a green color.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in 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 event a first reply is 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 shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TSZ CHIU whose telephone number is 571-272-8656. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F, 9:00AM to 5:00PM (EST).
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/TSZ K CHIU/Examiner, Art Unit 2898 Tsz.Chiu@uspto.gov
/Leonard Chang/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2898
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