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 Objections
Claims 1 and dependent claims are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 1, “a minimum thickness of the elasticity layer in the connection region is less than a thickness of the elasticity layer in the portion of the connection region close to the first electron unit or the second electron unit” are unclear. This limitation lacks antecedent basis. Further clarification is required. Examiner request Applicant to clarify, at last, what the “the portion” referring to in the next response. A 112 rejection could be applied if Applicant can’t clearly determine the limitations.
The Examiner respectfully requests that the Applicant(s) review all claims for any such similar issues.
Appropriate correction is required.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, all the limitations, rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, and/or the claim objections (see above) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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 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.
Claims 1, 6-7, 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jin (DE 102019119526;) in view of Wu (US 20180321708)
With regard claim 1, Jin discloses A stretchable electronic device having a connecting region, (abstract, see also fig 1-15) comprising: a first electronic unit having a first geometric center and comprising a first electronic element (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, the electronic element with conductive lines, at least the component on the 111); a second electronic unit having a second geometric center and comprising a second electronic element (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, the electronic element with conductive lines, at least the component on the 111), wherein the connecting region is disposed between the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, the connecting region between the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit; at least connecting lines 171); and a conductive line disposed in the connecting region and electronically connecting the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, the electronic element with conductive lines; see also fig 3, fig 5-6, or fig 10-15, at least connecting lines 171); an elasticity layer connecting the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit (at least fig 1 or fig 3, the elasticity layer connecting the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit, at least 110, or 119, 118, Examiner consider as the elasticity layer), wherein at least a part of the elasticity layer is located in the connection region (at least fig 3, see also fig 5-6, fig 15, ).
Jin lacks teaching: a minimum thickness of the elasticity layer in the connection region is less than a thickness of the elasticity layer in the portion of the connection region close to the first electron unit or the second electron unit.
Wu teaches a flexible display comprising: a minimum thickness of the elasticity layer in the connection region is less than a thickness of the elasticity layer in the portion of the connection region close to the first electron unit or the second electron unit (at least fig 23, see also fig 29, fig 21C, fig 7-8).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, or at the time of the invention was made, to include this feature (see above discussion) and modify to previous discussed structure (modified to the primary art’s elasticity layer) so as to further protect the modified structure; and/or reduce the weight.
Regarding claim 6, Jin further disclosed the elasticity layer covers the conductive line region (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, see also fig 10-11, fig 14-15; the elasticity layer covers the conductive line region; see also the portion near the display), and in a cross-sectional view, the conductive line is disposed within the elasticity layer (at least fig 1 shows conductive line is disposed within the elasticity layer). Examiner’s note: it depends on the view point.
Regarding claim 7, Jin further disclosed the elasticity layer covers bottom surfaces of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit (at least fig 1, fig 7-9, fig 13, the elasticity layer covers bottom surfaces of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit), and the elasticity layer has a rough surface facing the bottom surfaces of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit respectively (at least fig 10, fig 11, Examiner consider, at least, 980, 1280, formed a rough surface facing the bottom surfaces of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit respectively). Examiner’s note: rough: having a coarse or uneven surface, as from projections, irregularities, or breaks; not smooth.. (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rough)
Regarding claim 11, modified Jin further disclosed in a cross-sectional view, the elasticity layer is in contact with a top surface and a bottom surface of the first electronic unit and in contact with a top surface and a bottom surface of the second electronic unit (at least fig 1, fig 3-5, fig 7-9, fig 11-12).
Regarding claim 12, modified Jin further disclosed both the top surfaces of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit have a protrusion respectively (at least fig 15, fig 3, fig 5-6, one or more protrusion on the top surfaces, no label), and the elasticity layer covers the protrusions of the first electronic unit and the second electronic unit (at least fig 1, see also fig 15, fig 3, fig 5-6).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
With respect to the Applicants’ remarks that, “Claim 1 has been amended to limit that a minimum thickness Tm of the elasticity layer ELA in the connection region CR is less than a thickness Te of the elasticity layer ELA in the portion of the connection region CR close to the first electron unit LR1 or the second electron unit LR2. Under this design, the first portion CRa of the elasticity layer ELA having the minimum thickness Tm may provide different function from the second portion CRb of the elasticity layer ELA having the greater thickness Te. Jin's application never discloses the above claimed feature and cannot provide the function brought by the claimed feature. Therefore amended claim 1 should be new and non-obvious. Applicant believes amended claim 1 should be allowable. Reconsideration of claim 1 is requested respectfully.” (pages 5 to the end).
Examiner’s Answer: the Examiner respectfully disagrees and notes that:
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to current ground of rejection in the office action.
In this case, Wu teaches a flexible display comprising: a minimum thickness of the elasticity layer in the connection region is less than a thickness of the elasticity layer in the portion of the connection region close to the first electron unit or the second electron unit (at least fig 23, see also fig 29, fig 21C, fig 7-8).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, or at the time of the invention was made, to include this feature (see above discussion) and modify to previous discussed structure (modified to the primary art’s elasticity layer) so as to further protect the modified structure; and/or reduce the weight.
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERRY WU whose telephone number is (571)270-5420. The examiner can normally be reached on PHP: M-Th: 8:30-12:30; 2:30-8:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani Hayman can be reached on 571.270.5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JERRY WU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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