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 .
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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election without traverse of Species II directed to Figs. 1-6 (Claims 1-4, 6-14 and 16-20) in the reply filed on February 29th, 2012 is acknowledged.
Claims 1 and 11 will be allowable if rewritten to address the issues below. The restriction requirement among Species, as set forth in the Office action mailed on March 3rd, 2026, has been reconsidered in view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention pursuant to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement is hereby withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations of an allowable claim. Specifically, the restriction requirement of March 3rd, 2026 is withdrawn. Claims 5 and 15, directed to non-elected Species are no longer withdrawn from consideration because the claim(s) requires all the limitations of an allowable claim.
In view of the above noted withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant is advised that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application.
Once a restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 8 and 17 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in lines 9-10, 15 and 16 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 recites “the data lines” in line 11 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 5 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 recites “the first electrodes” in line 14 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 13-14 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 2 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 2 recites “the gate lines” in line 7 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 3 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 3 recites “the gate lines” in lines 2, 3 and 4 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of claim 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 5, 9 and 11 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the channels” in lines 6 and 7 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the gate lines” in line 8 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of clam 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “the data lines” in lines 10-11 and 12 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 5 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 5 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 3, 4, and 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 5 recites “the data lines” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 5 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 5 recites “the second electrode connection holes” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode connection holes” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode connection holes” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 5 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 6-7 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 3, 4, and 6-7 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 recites “the data lines” in lines 3-4 and 7 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 5 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 recites “the second electrode connection holes” in lines 4 and 8 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode connection holes” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode connection holes” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 7 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 1-2 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 7 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 8 recites “the first electrodes” in lines 1-2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 13-14 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 8 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 8 recites “the channels” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 3 referring back to “a plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 3 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 7-8 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the first electrodes” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 13-14 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the data lines” in line 5 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 5 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 9 recites “the gate lines” in line 7 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of claim 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 10 recites “the metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 2 of claim 9 and should be amended to “the plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 10 recites “the channels” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 of claim 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 9 and 18 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in lines 10-11, 16 and 17 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 9-10 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 recites “the data lines” in line 12 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 6 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 11 recites “the first electrodes” in line 15 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 14-15 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 12 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 12 recites “the gate lines” in line 7 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 13 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 9-10 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 13 recites “the gate lines” in lines 2, 3 and 4 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of claim 12 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 9-10 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 5 and 9 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the channels” in lines 6 and 7 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the gate lines” in line 8 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of clam 12 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 14 recites “the data lines” in lines 10-11 and 13 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 6 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 3, 4, and 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 recites “the data lines” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 6 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 recites “the second electrode connection holes” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode connection holes” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode connection holes” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 15 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 6-7 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 3, 4, and 6-7 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 recites “the data lines” in lines 3-4 and 7 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 6 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 recites “the second electrode connection holes” in lines 4 and 8 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode connection holes” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode connection holes” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 17 recites “the transparent active layers” in lines 1-2 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 17 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 recites “the first electrodes” in lines 1-2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 14-15 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 recites “the first electrode conductor portions” in line 2 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode conductor portions” in lines 9-10 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of first electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 18 recites “the channels” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 3 referring back to “a plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 2 and should be amended to “the plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the transparent active layers” in line 3 referring back to “a plurality of transparent active layers” in lines 8-9 of claim 1 and should be amended to “the plurality of transparent active layers” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the first electrodes” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of first electrode” in lines 14-15 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the data lines” in line 5 referring back to “a plurality of data lines” in line 6 of claim 11 and should be amended to “the plurality of data lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the second electrode conductor portions” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of second electrode conductor portions” in lines 2-3 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of second electrode conductor portions” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 19 recites “the gate lines” in line 7 referring back to “a plurality of gate lines” in line 4 of claim 12 and should be amended to “the plurality of gate lines” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 20 recites “the metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 4 referring back to “a plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” in line 2 of claim 19 and should be amended to “the plurality of metal oxide thin film transistors” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 20 recites “the channels” in line 6 referring back to “a plurality of channels” in line 2 of claim 14 and should be amended to “the plurality of channels” for avoiding confusion. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 3, 5-6, 13, and 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 3 recites the limitation “the one of the gate lines” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation “a plurality of second electrode holes” in line 2 without reciting “a plurality of first electrode holes”. It is unclear to the examiner how the plurality of second electrode holes exists without having the plurality of first electrode holes first.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “a plurality of second electrode holes” in line 2 without reciting “a plurality of first electrode holes”. It is unclear to the examiner how the plurality of second electrode holes exists without having the plurality of first electrode holes first.
Claim 13 recites the limitation “the one of the gate lines” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites the limitation “a plurality of second electrode holes” in line 2 without reciting “a plurality of first electrode holes”. It is unclear to the examiner how the plurality of second electrode holes exists without having the plurality of first electrode holes first.
Claim 16 recites the limitation “a plurality of second electrode holes” in line 2 without reciting “a plurality of first electrode holes”. It is unclear to the examiner how the plurality of second electrode holes exists without having the plurality of first electrode holes first.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 will be allowed over prior art of record if rewritten to overcome the objections and/or 112 rejections as set forth in the office action.
The following is an examiner' s statement of reason for allowance: the prior art made of record does not teach or fairly suggest the following:
Regarding claims 1 and 11, Kim et al (Patent NO.: US 9,965,122) discloses a display panel in Figs. 2 and 6A-6B, having a display area, wherein in the display area the display panel comprises: a substrate (substrate); a first metal layer (SL) disposed on a side of the substrate, the first metal layer comprising a plurality of data lines (plurality of SL) arranged at intervals in a first direction (vertical direction in Fig. 6A); a metal oxide semiconductor layer (ACT) disposed between the substrate and the first metal layer, the metal oxide semiconductor layer comprising a plurality of transparent active layers, the transparent active layers respectively comprising a plurality of first electrode conductor portions, an orthographic projection of each of the first electrode conductor portions on the substrate being between respective orthographic projections of two adjacent ones of the data lines (two SLs) on the substrate (see Fig. 6A); and a transparent conductive layer (upper portion of PXL) disposed on a side of the first metal layer away from the metal oxide semiconductor layer, the transparent conductive layer comprising a plurality of first electrodes (plurality of upper portion of PXLs), each of the first electrodes being electrically connected to one of the first electrode conductor portions by a via hole connection (lower portion PXL in the via hole) (see Fig. 6B) (see column 12, line 63 through column 18, line 21).
Kim et al fails to disclose wherein two of the first electrode conductor portions respectively in any two adjacent ones of the transparent active layers in the first direction are staggered as recited in claim 1 and 11. Claims 2-10 and 12-20 depend on claims 1 and 11, and therefore also include said claimed limitation.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CUONG B NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1509 (Email: CuongB.Nguyen@uspto.gov). The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
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, Steven H. Loke can be reached on (571) 272-1657. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CUONG B NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2818
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