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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
It is unclear in lines 4-5 of claim 1, whether the recitation of “dye-containing liquid crystal composition” in brackets, provides further clarification of the preceding recitation in line 4 of “a liquid crystal composition containing a dichroic dye”, or is a broader alternative since the dichroic dye is a species of the dye genus, and the recitation of the broader “dye-containing liquid crystal composition” is repeated in line 12 of claim 1, and in claims 5-6, 8 which depend on claim 1.
It is unclear in line 10 of claim 1, whether the recitation of “AC 50 V, 60 Hz” in brackets, is required for the rectangular wave voltage, or is merely exemplary, since claim 9 which depends on claim 1, recites “a rectangular wave having a frequency of 30 to 300 Hz”.
It is unclear in lines 12-16 of claim 1, whether the cell with a cell thickness of 10 µm, is a cell containing the drive layer in the liquid crystal device, or a test cell, where in the second interpretation, it is also unclear as to whether the liquid crystal composition of the drive layer of the liquid crystal device would have the same voltage holding ratio of lines 12-16.
It is also unclear in the lines 12-16, whether the recitation of “the liquid crystal composition is injected into a cell with a cell thickness of 10 μm, 10 V is applied with a pulse width of 60 µs, and a ratio between a measurement voltage measured after a frame time of 16.7 ms and an initial applied voltage is expressed by % as the voltage holding ratio” in brackets, is required for the voltage holding ratio range of 60% or less at 25[Symbol font/0xB0]C to be met, or is merely exemplary.
In line 2 of claim 9, it is unclear whether the “a rectangular wave having a frequency of 30 to 300 Hz” is intended to further limit the rectangular wave in line 10 of claim 1, or is a different rectangular wave.
With the first interpretation, a further issue would be whether the “60 Hz” in the bracketed recitation of “AC 50 V, 60 Hz” of parent claim 1 is a species of the broader “30 to 300 Hz” range of dependent claim 9.
Claims 2-10 depend on and include all the subject matter of claim 1, but do not provide any solutions to the indefinite issues described above.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the parent claim 1 upon which it depends.
In line 2 of claim 9, it is unclear whether the “a rectangular wave having a frequency of 30 to 300 Hz” is intended to further limit the rectangular wave in line 10 of claim 1, because if the “60 Hz” in the bracketed recitation of “AC 50 V, 60 Hz” of parent claim 1 is required, the “30 to 300 Hz” range of dependent claim 9, is broader than, and hence fails to further limit the single frequency of “60 Hz” of the parent claim 1.
. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim to place the claim in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim complies with the statutory requirements.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Sow-Fun Hon whose telephone number is (571)272-1492. The examiner is on a flexible schedule but can usually be reached during a regular workweek between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Aaron Austin, can be reached at (571)272-8935. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300.
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/Sophie Hon/
Sow-Fun Hon
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1782