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 § 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-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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 5-7, 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a/1,2) as being anticipated by Kim (US 2017/0247610).
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches a wavelength conversion member (color conversion member [0020]) comprising: a wavelength conversion layer (fluorescent substance [0020] are included in a single layer [0009]); and a substrate ([0061]), wherein the wavelength conversion layer contains a pyrromethene derivative (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), a binder (resin matrix [0020]) and a light scattering particle (light diffusing particles [0057]).
Regarding claim 5, Kim teaches that a diameter R of the light scattering particle is within a range of 0.1 µm to 5 µm ([0059]) which is within the claimed range of 0.1 µm or more.
Regarding claims 6-7, Kim teaches that the wavelength conversion member contains, in the same wavelength conversion layer (resin matrix [0020]), a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 510 nm to 560 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 500 nm or more and 580 nm or less, and a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 600 nm to 660 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 580 nm or more and 750 nm or less.
Regarding claim 14, Kim teaches a light emitting device (back light unit [0077]) comprising: the wavelength conversion member (color conversion film, Fig. 12) and a light source (light source, Fig. 12).
Regarding claim 15, Kim teaches that the light source is a blue light emitting diode (light source including blue light [0021], LED blue [0080]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as applied to claims 1, 5-7, 14-15 above, and further, as evidenced by Fujita (Clarivate Analytics English translation of JP-2017040931-A) .
Kim teaches the light emitting device comprising the wavelength conversion member, as described above. Kim teaches a display device (display apparatus [0013]) comprising: the light emitting device (backlight unit [0013] including the color conversion film [0012]), wherein the display device can be a liquid crystal display device (LCD [0002]) which comprises a liquid crystal cell as an essential component, as evidenced by Fujita.
Fujita teaches that a liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell as an essential component (liquid crystal cell, 1st para of page 17). Therefore, the device of Kim is considered to include, or in the alternative it is obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that one would include, a liquid crystal cell.
Claims 2-4, 8-13, 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 2017/0247610) in view of Fujita (Clarivate Analytics English translation of JP-20170409310-A).
Regarding claim 2, Kim teaches a wavelength conversion member (color conversion member [0020]) comprising: a wavelength conversion layer (fluorescent substance [0020] are included in a single layer [0009]); and a substrate ([0061]), wherein the wavelength conversion layer contains a pyrromethene derivative (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]).
Kim teaches that the wavelength conversion layer further contains a light scattering particle (light diffusing particles [0057]), but is silent regarding a haze of the wavelength conversion member.
However, Fujita teaches that a wavelength conversion member comprising a wavelength conversion layer containing a light scattering particle (3rd last para of page 2), has a haze (internal haze, 2nd para of page 4) of 80% (2nd para of page 4) that is within the claimed range of 80% or more and 99.5% or less, for the purpose of providing the desired diffusion of excitation light (2nd para of page 4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time, to have provided the wavelength conversion member of Kim, with a haze that is within a range of 80% or more and 99.5% or less, in order to obtain the desired diffusion of excitation light, as taught by Fujita.
Regarding claim 3, Kim teaches a wavelength conversion member (color conversion member [0020]) comprising: a wavelength conversion layer (fluorescent substance [0020] are included in a single layer [0009]); and a substrate ([0061]), wherein the wavelength conversion layer contains a pyrromethene derivative (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]).
Kim teaches that the wavelength conversion layer contains a light scattering particle (light diffusing particles [0057]), but is silent regarding outside and inside hazes of the wavelength conversion member.
However, Fujita teaches that a wavelength conversion member comprising a wavelength conversion layer containing a light scattering particle (3rd last para of page 2), has an inside haze (internal haze, 2nd para of page 4) that is within a range of 60% to 80% (2nd para of page 4) which is within the claimed range of 30% or more, for the purpose of providing the desired diffusion of excitation light (2nd para of page 4). Fujita teaches that the outermost layer of the conversion member (2nd last para of page 3) which can be the substrate, containing a light scattering particle (added, 2nd last para of page 3), has an outside haze that is within a range of 5% to 10% (external haze, 1st para of page 4) which is within the claimed range of 0.5% or more and 50% or less, for the purpose of providing the desired retroreflection (1st para of page 4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time, to have provided the wavelength conversion member of Kim, with an inside haze that is within a range of 30% or more, in order to obtain the desired diffusion of excitation light, and to have provided the substrate of the wavelength conversion member of Kim, with an outside haze that is within a range of 0.5% or more and 50% or less, in order to obtain the desired retroreflection, and as taught by Fujita.
Regarding claim 4, the inside haze of the wavelength conversion member and the outside haze of the substrate of the wavelength conversion member of Kim, as modified by Fujita, satisfy a relationship of inside haze > outside haze.
Regarding claim 8, Kim teaches that a diameter R of the light scattering particle is within a range of 0.1 µm to 5 µm ([0059]) which is within the claimed range of 0.1 µm or more.
Regarding claims 9-10, Kim teaches that the wavelength conversion member contains, in the same wavelength conversion layer (resin matrix [0020]), a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 510 nm to 560 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 500 nm or more and 580 nm or less, and a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 600 nm to 660 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 580 nm or more and 750 nm or less.
Regarding claim 11, Kim teaches that a diameter R of the light scattering particle is within a range of 0.1 µm to 5 µm ([0059]) which is within the claimed range of 0.1 µm or more.
Regarding claims 12-13, Kim teaches that the wavelength conversion member contains, in the same wavelength conversion layer (resin matrix [0020]), a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 510 nm to 560 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 500 nm or more and 580 nm or less, and a pyrromethene derivative exhibiting light emission by using excitation light (pyrromethene metal complex series organic fluorescence substance [0029]), in which a peak wavelength is observed in a region of 600 nm to 660 nm ([0020]) which is within the claimed range of 580 nm or more and 750 nm or less.
Regarding claims 17, 19, Kim teaches a light emitting device (back light unit [0077]) comprising: the wavelength conversion member (color conversion film, Fig. 12) and a light source (light source, Fig. 12).
Regarding claim 18, 20, Kim teaches a display device (display apparatus [0013]) comprising: the light emitting device (backlight unit [0013] including the color conversion film [0012]), wherein the display device can be a liquid crystal display device (LCD [0002]) which comprises a liquid crystal cell as an essential component, as evidenced by Fujita.
Fujita teaches that a liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal cell as an essential component (liquid crystal cell, 1st para of page 17).
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