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
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, 18, 19, 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fang et al (US Publication No.: US 2021/0341801 A1, “Fang”).
Regarding Claim 1, Fang discloses a display panel (Figure 7), comprising:
A substrate (Figure 4, substrate 180); and
A display medium layer located over the substrate (Figure 4, display medium layer 151), wherein the display medium layer comprises:
A plurality of charged particles (Figure 4, plurality of charged particles 152; Paragraph 0051);
A plurality of microstructure, wherein a microstructure of the plurality of microstructures comprises a sidewall not parallel to the substrate and a bottom surface adjacent to the substrate, and is disposed therein with some of the charged particles (Figure 4, non-parallel sidewalls 131a; Paragraph 0051);
A plurality of first electrodes (Figure 4F, first electrodes 140); and
A plurality of second electrodes (Figure 4F, second electrodes 120), wherein
A first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and a second electrode of the plurality of second electrodes are at least partially located in the microstructure (Figure 4F, first electrodes 140 and second electrodes 120 are located within microstructures), the first electrode comprises a first side portion and a first extension portion, the first side portion is located on the sidewall of the microstructure, and the first extension portion is connected to the first side portion and located on part of the bottom surface of the microstructure (Figure 4C, first electrode comprises a first side portion 141 and a first extension portion 142).
Regarding Claim 18, Fang discloses the display panel according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a third sub-electrode located on part of the bottom surface and overlapping a central region of the bottom surface (Figure 6, third sub-electrode 220), and wherein the sidewall of the microstructure is circular and surrounds the bottom surface, the first side portion is located on the circular sidewall and is circular, and the first extension portion is connected to the circular first side portion (Figure 6 discloses a circular sidewall).
Regarding Claim 19, Fang discloses the display panel according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of sub-pixels, and the plurality of sub-pixels comprising the plurality of microstructures, wherein a working mode of the sub-pixel comprises a first mode, and wherein, in the first mode, a voltage of the first electrode is not equal to a voltage of the third sub-electrode, and the charged particles in the microstructure move to the circular first side portion (Figure 6 discloses each microstructure section as a sub-pixel, where the voltage applied results in the charged particles to move to the circular first side portion).
Regarding Claim 23, Fang discloses a display apparatus (Figure 7), comprising
A display panel (Figure 7), wherein the display panel comprises:
A substrate (Figure 4, substrate 180); and
A sub-pixel (Figure 4, a single area of the microstructure may be considered a sub-pixel), and the sub-pixel comprises:
A microstructure comprising a sidewall not parallel to the substrate and a bottom surface adjacent to the substrate (Figure 4, non-parallel sidewalls 131a; Paragraph 0051);
A plurality of charged particles located in the microstructure (Figure 4, plurality of charged particles 152; Paragraph 0051);
A first electrode at least partially located in the microstructure (Figure 4F, first electrode 140); and
A second electrode at least partially located in the microstructure (Figure 4F, second electrode 120), wherein
The first electrode comprises a first side portion and a first extension portion, the first side portion is located on the sidewall of the microstructure, and the first extension portion is connected to the first side portion and located on part of the bottom surface of the microstructure (Figure 4C, first electrode comprises a first side portion 141 and a first extension portion 142).
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.
Claims 2-5, 7, 11-12, 20-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fang in view of Chen (US Publication No.: US 2021/0405495 A1).
Regarding Claim 2, Fang discloses the display panel according to claim 1, the sidewall comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are opposite to each other along a first direction, and the first direction is parallel to a plane of the substrate, the first side portion is located on the first sidewall (Figure 4 discloses first and second sidewalls on opposite horizontal sides).
Fang fails to disclose that the second electrode comprises a first sub-electrode, and the first sub-electrode comprises a second side portion located on the second sidewall.
However, Chen discloses a similar panel where the second electrode comprises a first sub-electrode, and the first sub-electrode comprises a second side portion located on the second sidewall (Chen, Figure 6, first electrode 60, second electrode comprises a first sub-electrode 50 located on a second sidewall).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first sub-electrode as disclosed by Fang to be disposed on a sidewall as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 3, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 1.
Fang fails to disclose that the first sub-electrode further comprises a second extension portion connected to the second side portion and located on part of the bottom surface.
However, Chen discloses a similar display panel where the first sub-electrode further comprises a second extension portion connected to the second side portion and located on part of the bottom surface (Chen, Figure 6 discloses the first sub-electrode 50 which has a side portion adjacent to the sidewall and an extension portion that extends along the bottom surface).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first sub-electrode as disclosed by Fang to be disposed on a sidewall as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 4, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 2.
Fang fails to disclose a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises the plurality of microstructures, wherein a working mode of the sub-pixel comprises a first mode, and wherein, in the first mode, a voltage of the first electrode is not equal to a voltage of the first sub-electrode, and the charged particle moves to the first side portion or the second side portion.
However, Chen discloses a similar display panel comprising a plurality of sub-pixels (Chen, Paragraph 0053), wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises the plurality of microstructures, wherein a working mode of the sub-pixel comprises a first mode, and wherein, in the first mode, a voltage of the first electrode is not equal to a voltage of the first sub-electrode, and the charged particle moves to the first side portion or the second side portion (Chen, Paragraph 0061).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the display panel as disclosed by Fang to optimize the voltage and structure of pixels as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 5, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 2.
Fang fails to disclose that the second electrode further comprises a second sub-electrode that is located on part of the bottom surface of the corresponding microstructure and runs through the corresponding microstructure along a second direction, and the second direction intersects with the first direction and is parallel to the plane of the substrate.
However, Chen discloses a similar display where the second electrode further comprises a second sub-electrode that is located on part of the bottom surface of the corresponding microstructure and runs through the corresponding microstructure along a second direction, and the second direction intersects with the first direction and is parallel to the plane of the substrate (Chen, Paragraph 0061 discloses that the second electrode 50 covers an entire face of the substrate, so a second sub-portion must extend in a second intersecting direction).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first sub-electrode as disclosed by Fang to be disposed in a second direction as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 7, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 5.
Fang fails to disclose a counter substrate located at a side of the display medium layer away from the substrate, wherein the counter substrate comprises third electrodes, and wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the third electrode at least overlaps with the second sub-electrode and the first extension portion.
However, Chen discloses a similar display comprising a counter substrate located at a side of the display medium layer away from the substrate, wherein the counter substrate comprises third electrodes, and wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the third electrode at least overlaps with the second sub-electrode and the first extension portion (Chen, Figure 6, counter substrate 20, third electrode 60; Paragraph 0061).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the electrodes as disclosed by Fang to include a third electrode as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 11, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 7.
Fang fails to disclose a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises the plurality of microstructures and the third electrodes, wherein the third electrodes of the sub-pixels are electrically connected.
However, Chen discloses a similar display comprising a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels comprises the plurality of microstructures and the third electrodes, wherein the third electrodes of the sub-pixels are electrically connected (Chen, Paragraph 0053; Paragraphs 0060-0061).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the display panel as disclosed by Fang to optimize the structure of pixels as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 12, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 7.
Fang fails to disclose that the counter substrate comprises a plurality of color filter units, and at least one of the plurality of color filter units corresponds to the plurality of microstructures, and wherein in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the at least one color filter unit overlaps with at least part of the corresponding microstructure.
However, Chen discloses a similar display where the counter substrate comprises a plurality of color filter units, and at least one of the plurality of color filter units corresponds to the plurality of microstructures, and wherein in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, the at least one color filter unit overlaps with at least part of the corresponding microstructure (Chen, Figure 3 discloses counter substrate 20 comprises color filter units corresponding to microstructures; Paragraph 0050).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the display panel as disclosed by Fang to optimize the structure of pixels as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 20, Fang discloses the display panel according to claim 18.
Fang fails to disclose a counter substrate located at a side of the display medium layer away from the substrate, and the counter substrate comprising third electrodes, wherein in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the substrate, the third electrode at least overlaps with the third sub-electrode and the first extension portion.
However, Chen discloses a similar panel comprising a counter substrate located at a side of the display medium layer away from the substrate, and the counter substrate comprising third electrodes, wherein in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the substrate, the third electrode at least overlaps with the third sub-electrode and the first extension portion (Chen, Figure 6, counter substrate 20, third electrode 60; Paragraph 0061).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the electrodes as disclosed by Fang to include a third electrode as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Regarding Claim 21, Fang in view of Chen discloses the display panel according to claim 20.
Fang fails to disclose a plurality of sub-pixels, and each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising one of the plurality of microstructures, wherein a working mode of the sub-pixel comprises a first mode, and wherein in the first mode, a voltage of the third electrode is equal to a voltage of the third sub-electrode, and not equal to a voltage of the first electrode, and the charged particles in the microstructure move to the circular first side portion.
However, Chen discloses a similar panel comprising a plurality of sub-pixels, and each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising one of the plurality of microstructures, wherein a working mode of the sub-pixel comprises a first mode, and wherein in the first mode, a voltage of the third electrode is equal to a voltage of the third sub-electrode, and not equal to a voltage of the first electrode, and the charged particles in the microstructure move to the circular first side portion (Chen, Paragraph 0053; Paragraphs 0060-0061).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the display panel as disclosed by Fang to optimize the structure of pixels as disclosed by Chen. One would have been motivated to do so for the purpose of attaining a dark state and reflective state of a display panel with ease (Chen, Paragraph 0060).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 8-10, 13-17, 22 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARIAM QURESHI whose telephone number is (571)272-4434. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM EST M-F.
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, Michael Caley can be reached at 571-272-2286. 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.
/MARIAM QURESHI/ Examiner, Art Unit 2871