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 (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.
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.
Claim(s) 1-7, 13, 14, 18 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by GM global (DE 10 2009 031 042; applicant cited).
Regarding Claim 1, GM discloses a first display 4 configured to irradiate light towards a driver reference position within the vehicle compartment (Fig. 1); and a first micro-louver structure 6 disposed on the first display configured to reduce an angle range of light from the first display passing therethrough and to irradiate reduced angle light (angle located between boundaries 10 and 11; Fig. 1).
Regarding Claims 2 and 5, the micro-louver structure 6 allows light to be irradiated in multiple different directions having separate axis in the range 9 between the limits 10 and 11 (Fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 3, the first direction of light 5 may be perpendicular to the display 4 (Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 4, the micro-louver 6 is on a front edge of the display 4.
Regarding Claim 6, the first portion is disposed at a center of the first display, the second portion of the first micro-louver structure is disposed on an edge of the first display (top edge), and the third portion of the first micro-louver structure is disposed between the first portion and the second portion on the first display (see Fig. 2; lines 32; multiple directions of light dissemination come from the micro-louver 6 including center, upper and lower positions).
Regarding Claim 7, the display is an instrument panel display (Fig. 1 and paragraph 0001).
Regarding Claim 13, GM includes a polarization structure 23, 25 formed on the first display.
Regarding Claims 14 and 18, the polarization structure 23, 25 transmits horizontally polarized light 26 (Fig. 2) while restricting vertically polarized light from passing therethrough.
Regarding Claim 19, GM discloses a display 4 configured to irradiate light towards a driver reference position within the vehicle compartment; and a polarization structure 23, 25 disposed on the display that transmits horizontally polarized light 26 while restricting vertically polarized light from passing therethrough.
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 factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 8-12 and 15-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over GM as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Zhu (US 12,397,623).
Regarding Claims 8 and 11, GM discloses the use of a display, but is unclear as if it is an infotainment display. Han discloses an infotainment system display 1 configured to irradiate light towards the driver reference position (Fig. 1); a micro-louver structure 200 disposed on the infotainment system display and configured to reduce an angle range of light from the infotainment system display passing therethrough. Before the effective filing date of the present application, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to use the infotainment system of Han with the instrument panel display of GM in order to have a fully immersive and electronic display system available for the operator and passengers, and to have that combined system be shielded for directional light radiation as to ensure the driver only received the information they needed and the passenger received the information desired.
Regarding Claims 9 and 17, Zhu discloses the use of a driver’s side window and infotainment display, GM discloses the display is configured to irradiate light towards both the driver reference position and a passenger reference position within the vehicle compartment, and wherein the first micro-louver structure 6 is structured such that none of the reduced angle light irradiated thereby is incident on the driver side window (see translation, paragraph 0001-0003; light is only radiated towards the passenger/driver and not towards the side so as to prevent reflections).
Regarding Claims 10 and 12, the combination of GM and Zhu discloses an instrument panel display (GM) and an infotainment system display (Zhu).
Regarding Claims 15 and 16, Zhu discloses a driver side window, and an anti-reflective structure 325 formed on the driver side window.
Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over GM Global in view of Han (US 2024/0142773) and further in view of Zhu.
GM Global discloses an instrument panel display 4 configured to irradiate light towards a driver reference position; a first micro-louver structure 6 disposed on the instrument panel display and configured to reduce an angle range of light from the instrument panel display passing therethrough; a first polarization structure 23 disposed on the instrument panel display and configured to transmit horizontally polarized light 26 while restricting vertically polarized light from passing therethrough. It is unclear if GM discloses the use of an infotainment display separate from the instrument panel display. Han discloses a driver seat and a driver side window (Fig. 1), an infotainment system display 1 configured to irradiate light towards the driver reference position (Fig. 1); a second micro-louver structure 200 disposed on the infotainment system display and configured to reduce an angle range of light from the infotainment system display passing therethrough; a second polarization structure disposed on the infotainment system display (paragraph 0061) and configured to transmit horizontally polarized light while restricting vertically polarized light from passing therethrough. Neither GM nor Han appears to disclose the use of an anti-reflective structure on the driver’s side window. Zhu discloses an infotainment display system for a vehicle, including an anti-reflective structure 325 disposed on the driver side window. Before the effective filing date of the present application, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to use the infotainment system of Han with the instrument panel display of GM in order to have a fully immersive and electronic display system available for the operator and passengers, and to have that combined system be shielded for directional light radiation as to ensure the driver only received the information they needed and the passenger received the information desired. Use of the anti-reflective structure on the side window, as taught by Zhu would allow the display of information to the driver to be unfiltered and prevent the reflection of the information which may distract the operator.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited art relates to displays for vehicles and the associated reflection/dispersion apparatus.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON S DANIELS whose telephone number is (571)270-1167. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amy Weisberg can be reached at 571-270-5500. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JASON S DANIELS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612