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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 made in 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 effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ito et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0236835). Regarding Claim 1, Ito discloses a display device (DSP1) comprising: a display area (DA) including a display element (Fig. 1); a peripheral area (SA) surrounding the display area; and a plurality of detection electrodes (RX1-RX8) arranged in the peripheral area, wherein the plurality of detection electrodes are each electrically connected to at least one other detection electrode that is not adjacent thereto (Paragraph 0043).
Regarding Claim 2, Ito discloses a first detection electrode (any of RX1-RX8), which is one of the plurality of detection electrodes, and a second detection electrode (any non-adjacent of RX1-RX8), which is not adjacent to the first detection electrode and electrically connected to the first detection electrode, are connected to a same terminal of an IC chip (Paragraph 0051).
Regarding Claim 3, Ito discloses a first detection electrode (any of RX1-RX8), which is one of the plurality of detection electrodes, and a second detection electrode (any non-adjacent of RX1-RX8), which is not adjacent to the first detection electrode and electrically connected to the first detection electrode, are connected to a same detection circuit.
Regarding Claim 4, Ito discloses a first detection electrode (any of RX1-RX8), which is one of the plurality of detection electrodes, and a second detection electrode (any non-adjacent of RX1-RX8), which is not adjacent to the first detection electrode and electrically connected to the first detection electrode, are arranged at least 9 mm apart.
Regarding Claim 5, Ito discloses the plurality of detection electrodes being each adjacent to a detection electrode connected to a different detection circuit (PCB), and a combination of detection circuits to which two adjacent detection electrodes are each connected is different for all of the two adjacent detection electrodes.
Regarding Claim 6, Ito discloses the number of detection electrodes being twice or more than the number of detection circuits (PCB).
Regarding Claim 7, Ito discloses the display device identifying a position of an external proximity object based on a detection signal (Paragraph 0043) indicating a largest detection value and a detection signal (Paragraph 0043) indicating a second largest detection value among detection signals output from the plurality of detection electrodes respectively.
Regarding Claim 8, Ito discloses the display device driving the first detection electrode and the second detection electrode connected to the same detection circuit by a self-capacitance method (Fig. 20).
Regarding Claim 9, Ito discloses a first substrate (10); a second substrate (20) facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer (LC) arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a sealant (30) that adheres the first substrate and the second substrate and seals the liquid crystal layer, wherein the display element includes a pixel electrode (PX) and a common electrode (CE).
Regarding Claim 10, Ito discloses the pixel electrode being arranged on the first substrate, and the common electrode is arranged on the second substrate (Fig. 13).
Regarding Claim 11, Ito discloses the plurality of detection electrodes being arranged on a same layer as the common electrode (Fig. 13).
Regarding Claim 12, Ito discloses the display device driving a plurality of detection electrodes each connected to a plurality of detection circuits by a self-capacitance method (Fig. 20).
Regarding Claim 13, Ito discloses the display device driving all detection electrodes each connected to all detection circuits by a self-capacitance method (Fig. 20).
Regarding Claim 14, Ito discloses a watch (100) comprising the display device.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art discloses display devices, similar to Applicant’s claimed invention, having detection electrodes not adjacent but electrically connected.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDWIN A LEON whose telephone number is (571)272-2008. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am-6pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee S Luebke can be reached on 5712722009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/EDWIN A. LEON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Prosecution Insights