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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/06/2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claims 7 and 15 objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate of claims 4 and 12 respectively. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/06/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding at least independent claims 1 and 9, the applicant argues the rejection under 35 U.S.C 103 is improper over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A because Yanagawa fails to “the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm” because Yanagawa reference merely notes that an ideal size for particles within the void is 0.5 μm, not that the diameter of the voids themselves should be between 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm. The Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Regarding applicant’s argument, Figures 1 and 2 discloses a liquid crystal mixture 8 containing a liquid crystal 3, an ultraviolet curable resin 6, and a spacer 7 is sandwiched with the conductive surfaces of the transparent conductive film 2 facing each other. Also, the particle size is referred to the particle size of the liquid crystal 3 (void), not a liquid crystal molecule within the liquid crystal 3 (void) shown in fig.1, and each liquid crystal 3 (void) scattering light as shown in figure 1(a) as well, so that the liquid crystal 3 (void) has a particle size of about 0.5 μm. In addition, para.6 discloses the spacer 7 having a particle size of 5 to 50 microns as well.
Thus, Yanagawa does disclose “the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm” (page 3, lines 16 and 17 discloses the liquid crystal 3 (void) has the particle size is about 0.5 μm) for the purpose of increasing the scattering efficiency of liquid crystal in visible light (page 3, line 16).
Therefore, The Examiner maintains the rejection.
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 (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 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.
Claim(s) 1, 9 and 17-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A (see machine translation of 18459464_2025-09-15_JP_2000258758_A_M.pdf).
Regarding claim 1, Yasuhara discloses a light control sheet, in at least figs.1-2, comprising:
a light control layer (11) comprising a resin layer (11A) and oriented particles (11B);
a pair of transparent electrode layers (12) sandwiching the light control layer; and
a pair of transparent support layers (13) sandwiching the light control layer and the pair of transparent electrode layers,
wherein the light control layer has thicknesses measured in a plurality of measurement positions such that the thicknesses are within a range of 0.8 times to 1.2 times a median value of the thicknesses (para.103 and 113 and table 1 disclose the light control layer having thickness uniformity of 5% or less which is about 0.97 times to 1.03 times a median value of the thicknesses) and has a structure such that the resin layer has a plurality of voids and that the oriented particles are contained in the voids dispersed in the resin layer (para.28),
the light control layer includes spacers (SP1 and SP2) controlling a gap between the pair of transparent electrode layers (see figs.1 and 2), and
a ratio of a total area occupied by the spacers to an overall area of the light control layer, when the light control layer is observed from a contact surface with a transparent electrode laver of the pair of transparent electrode layers, is in a range of 0.9% to 30.0% (see para.85-91 and 112 and table 1, example 1 discloses the ratio equal to about 2.9% and example 2 discloses the ratio equal to about 23.9%).
Yasuhara does not explicitly disclose a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less, where Vmin is a minimum value, Vmax is a maximum value, Vavr is an average value of middle values Vm obtained from characteristic curves in the plurality of measurement positions, each of the characteristic curves is obtained by measuring a change in haze when a drive voltage applied to the transparent electrode layers is changed, each of the middle values is a middle value Vm between a first voltage Va and a second voltage Vb, the first voltage Va is a lower limit drive voltage in a range in which an absolute value of a change ratio in the haze is 0.5%/V or more, and the second voltage Vb is an upper limit drive voltage.
Yanagawa discloses a light control sheet, in at least fig.1, a light control layer has a voltage of 30 V in the transparent state and making the voltage applied to light control layer uniformly by forming the light control layer with an uniform thickness (page 3, 4th paragraph) for the purpose of having the light control sheet in the transparent state with low voltage driving (page 4, bottom-up 4th paragraph).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a light control layer has a voltage of 30 V in the transparent state and making the voltage applied to light control layer uniformly by forming the light control layer with an uniform thickness as taught by Yanagawa in the light control sheet of Yasuhara in order to have a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less, where Vmin is a minimum value, Vmax is a maximum value, Vavr is an average value of middle values Vm obtained from characteristic curves in the plurality of measurement positions, each of the characteristic curves is obtained by measuring a change in haze when a drive voltage applied to the transparent electrode layers is changed, each of the middle values is a middle value Vm between a first voltage Va and a second voltage Vb, the first voltage Va is a lower limit drive voltage in a range in which an absolute value of a change ratio in the haze is 0.5%/V or more, and the second voltage Vb is an upper limit drive voltage because Yasuhara (para.44, 45, 49 and 133) discloses the light control layer can be switched between a transparent state, an opaque (high Haze) state and an opaque state with a voltage lower than a voltage in the transparent state and the light control layer has the thickness uniformity of 5% or less, so that the change ratio in the haze is about 93%/30V=3.1%/V and a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less for the purpose of having the light control sheet in the transparent state with low voltage driving.
Moreover, Yasuhara does not explicitly disclose the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm.
Yanagawa discloses a light control sheet, in at least fig.1, the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm (page 3, lines 16 and 17) for the purpose of increasing the scattering efficiency of liquid crystal in visible light (page 3, line 16).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm as taught by Yanagawa in the light control sheet of Yasuhara for the purpose of increasing the scattering efficiency of liquid crystal in visible light.
Regarding claim 9, Yasuhara discloses a light control device, in at least figs.1-2, comprising:
a light control sheet (10) that changes a haze depending on a drive voltage (para.103 and 133 and table 1); and
a driving unit (10D) comprising circuitry configured to control a drive voltage applied to the light control sheet (see figs.1 and 2),
wherein the light control sheet includes a light control layer (11) comprising a resin layer (11A) and oriented particles (11B),
a pair of transparent electrode layers (12) sandwiching the light control layer, and
a pair of transparent support layers (13) sandwiching the light control layer and the pair of transparent electrode layers,
the light control layer has thicknesses measured in a plurality of measurement positions such that the thicknesses are within a range of 0.8 times to 1.2 times a median value of the thicknesses (para.103 and 113 and table 1 disclose the light control layer having thickness uniformity of 5% or less which is about 0.97 times to 1.03 times a median value of the thicknesses) and has a structure such that the resin layer has a plurality of voids and that the oriented particles are contained in the voids dispersed in the resin layer (para.28), and the circuitry of the driving unit is configured to switch among a first mode of not applying the drive voltage (see fig.1), a second mode of applying a voltage of equal to or more than the second voltage Vb (see fig.2), and a third mode of applying a voltage between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb (see para.133) such that the haze of the light control sheet becomes the haze between the haze in the first mode and the haze in the second mode (para.133 and table 1),
the light control layer includes spacers (SP1 and SP2) controlling a gap between the pair of transparent electrode layers (see figs.1 and 2), and
a ratio of a total area occupied by the spacers to an overall area of the light control layer, when the light control layer is observed from a contact surface with a transparent electrode laver of the pair of transparent electrode layers, is in a range of 0.9% to 30.0% (see para.85-91 and 112 and table 1, example 1 discloses the ratio equal to about 2.9% and example 2 discloses the ratio equal to about 23.9%).
Yasuhara does not explicitly disclose a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less, where Vmin is a minimum value, Vmax is a maximum value, Vavr is an average value of middle values Vm obtained from characteristic curves in the plurality of measurement positions, each of the characteristic curves is obtained by measuring a change in haze when a drive voltage applied to the transparent electrode layers is changed, each of the middle values is a middle value Vm between a first voltage Va and a second voltage Vb, the first voltage Va is a lower limit drive voltage in a range in which an absolute value of a change ratio in the haze is 0.5%/V or more, and the second voltage Vb is an upper limit drive voltage.
Yanagawa discloses a light control device, in at least fig.1, a light control layer has a voltage of 30 V in the transparent state and making the voltage applied to light control layer uniformly by forming the light control layer with an uniform thickness (page 3, 4th paragraph)(for the purpose of having the light control sheet in the transparent state with low voltage driving (page 4, bottom-up 4th paragraph).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a light control layer has a voltage of 30 V in the transparent state and making the voltage applied to light control layer uniformly by forming the light control layer with an uniform thickness as taught by Yanagawa in the light control device of Yasuhara in order to have a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less, where Vmin is a minimum value, Vmax is a maximum value, Vavr is an average value of middle values Vm obtained from characteristic curves in the plurality of measurement positions, each of the characteristic curves is obtained by measuring a change in haze when a drive voltage applied to the transparent electrode layers is changed, each of the middle values is a middle value Vm between a first voltage Va and a second voltage Vb, the first voltage Va is a lower limit drive voltage in a range in which an absolute value of a change ratio in the haze is 0.5%/V or more, and the second voltage Vb is an upper limit drive voltage because Yasuhara (para.44, 45, 49 and 133) discloses the light control layer can be switched between a transparent state and an opaque (high Haze) state with a voltage lower than a voltage in the transparent state and the light control layer has the thickness uniformity of 5% or less, so that the change ratio in the haze is about 93%/30V=3.1%/V and a variance {(Vmax−Vmin)/Vavr}×100 in a middle value is 40% or less for the purpose of having the light control sheet in the transparent state with low voltage driving.
Moreover, Yasuhara does not explicitly disclose the control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm.
Yanagawa discloses a light control device, in at least fig.1, the control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm (page 3, lines 16 and 17) for the purpose of increasing the scattering efficiency of liquid crystal in visible light (page 3, line 16).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids is in a range of 0.4 μm to 2.2 μm as taught by Yanagawa in the light control device of Yasuhara for the purpose of increasing the scattering efficiency of liquid crystal in visible light.
Regarding claim 17, Yasuhara discloses the light control layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)(para.28).
Regarding claim 18, Yasuhara discloses the light control layer comprises a polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC)(para.28).
Regarding claim 20, Yasuhara discloses the pair of transparent support layers comprises a synthetic resin or an inorganic compound (para.43).
Regarding claim 21, Yasuhara discloses the pair of transparent electrode layers comprises a material selected from a group of indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), tin oxide, zinc oxide, carbon nanotube (CNT), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and combinations thereof (para.42).
Claim(s) 4 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A as applied to claim 1 above respectively, and further in view of Hirai US 2024/0152015.
Regarding claims 4 and 7, Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa does not explicitly disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less.
Hirai discloses a light control sheet, in figs.1(a)-1(c), a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less (para.33 discloses a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 29 V or less) for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state (para.33).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less as taught by Hirai in the light control sheet of Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state.
Claim(s) 4 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A as applied to claim 1 above respectively, and further in view of Hashida JP 2020109441A (see machine translation of 18459464_2025-09-15_JP_2020109441_A_M.pdf).
Regarding claims 4 and 7, Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa does not explicitly disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less.
Hashida discloses a light control sheet, in figs.1-7, a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less (page 7, bottom-up line 5-page 8 2nd paragraph disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 30V-10V=20V) for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state (page 7, bottom-up line 5-page 8 2nd paragraph)
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less as taught by Hashida in the light control sheet of Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state.
Claim(s) 12 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A as applied to claim 9 above respectively, and further in view of Hirai US 2024/0152015.
Regarding claims 12 and 15, Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa does not explicitly disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less.
Hirai discloses a light control device, in figs.1(a)-1(c), a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less (para.33 discloses a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 29 V or less) for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state (para.33).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less as taught by Hirai in the light control device of Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state.
Claim(s) 12 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A as applied to claim 9 above respectively, and further in view of Hashida JP 2020109441A (see machine translation of 18459464_2025-09-15_JP_2020109441_A_M.pdf).
Regarding claims 12 and 15, Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa does not explicitly disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less.
Hashida discloses a light control device, in figs.1-7, a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less (page 7, bottom-up line 5-page 8 2nd paragraph disclose a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 30V-10V=20V) for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state (page 7, bottom-up line 5-page 8 2nd paragraph)
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a difference between the first voltage Va and the second voltage Vb is 22 V or less as taught by Hashida in the light control device of Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa for the purpose of switching/driving the light control layer between a transparent state and a scattering state.
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasuhara WO 2020/262219A1 (use US 2022/0121054 as an English translation for rejection) in view of Yanagawa JP 2000258758A as applied to claim 1 above respectively, and further in view of Morinaga US 2020/0341303.
Regarding claim 19, Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa does not explicitly disclose the light control layer comprises a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP).
Morinaga discloses a light control sheet, the light control layer (30) comprises a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP)(para.122) for the purpose of forming the light control layer with a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP)(para.122).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the light control layer comprises a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) taught by Morinaga in the light control device of Yasuhara in view of Yanagawa for the purpose of forming the light control layer with a nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP).
Contact Information
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Mase US Patent 5178571 (at least fig.1) discloses inner diameter of each of the voids (13) is 1 μm and outer diameter of each of the void (13) is 2 μm (col.3, lines 57-59), or inner diameter of each of the voids (13) is in a range of 0.2 to 50 μm (claim 1).
Takei US Patent 5530567 (at least fig.7) discloses the light control layer is formed such that an outer diameter of each of the voids (28) is in a range of 1 to 15 μm.
NAKAMURA WO 2021251498A1 (18459464_2026-04-22_WO_2021251498_A1_M.pdf) (fig.1) discloses the light control layer is formed such that a diameter of each of the voids (31D) is in a range of 0.38 to 3.0 μm.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JIA X PAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7574. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 11:00AM - 5:00PM.
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 H 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.
/JIA X PAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
Prosecution Insights