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 § 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.
Claim(s) 1-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yasunaga et al (US 10754195) in view of Vasylyev et al (US 20200319391)
Regarding Claim 1,
Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) an optical sheet laminate (16) built in a liquid crystal display device (11) including a display screen, on a back surface side of which a plurality of point light sources (13) are provided in a dispersed manner, comprising: a first optical sheet (17) comprising a first surface on which a first print pattern (22a) at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources (13) is formed.
Yasunaga et al does not disclose wherein a second print pattern at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources is formed on a second optical sheet different from the first optical sheet or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, and the first print pattern and the second print pattern reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources, thereby making the luminance uniform.
Vasylyev et al discloses print patterns (Fig. 15) on each diffuser. Therefore wherein a second print pattern ([0288], white ink 91-94) at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources is formed on a second optical sheet different from the first optical sheet or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, and the first print pattern and the second print pattern reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources, thereby making the luminance uniform.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Yasunaga et al to include Vasylyev et al discloses print patterns (Fig. 15) on each diffuser. Therefore wherein a second print pattern at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources is formed on a second optical sheet different from the first optical sheet or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, and the first print pattern and the second print pattern reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources, thereby making the luminance uniform motivated by the desire to achieve different visual effects displaying different illuminated patterns and/or colors to obtain different predefined luminance distributions [0288].
Regarding Claim 2,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the first print pattern (22a) and the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) are each a collection of unit patterns arranged in a gradation manner so that a level of reduction in light transmission decreases from a vicinity of a portion directly above one single point light source (13) out of the plurality of point light sources toward an intermediate region between the one single point light source (13) and another point light source adjacent to the one single point light source, and the unit patterns are arranged two-dimensionally without uneven distribution to serve as the first print pattern and the second print pattern (as shown in Fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 3,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein at least one of the first print pattern (22a) or the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) is a pattern comprising a print density corresponding to luminance in a luminance distribution produced by the plurality of point light sources (13) when the first print pattern (22a) and the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) are not provided, and the luminance and the print density have a positive correlation with each other (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 4,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a pattern formed by stacking the first print pattern (22a) and the second print patterns (taught by Vasylyev et al) is a pattern comprising a print density corresponding to luminance in a luminance distribution produced by the plurality of point light sources (13) when the first print pattern and the second print pattern are not provided, and the luminance and the print density have a positive correlation with each other. (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 5,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a high luminance region in the luminance distribution is a region directly above the plurality of point light sources (13).
Regarding Claim 6,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a high luminance region in the luminance distribution is a region between point light sources (13) adjacent to each other out of the plurality of point light sources.
Regarding Claim 7,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the first optical sheet (17) is a first light diffusion sheet.
Regarding Claim 8,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) is formed on the second optical sheet, in the first light diffusion sheet (17), the first surface is a flat surface or a matte surface, and the second surface comprises a plurality of recesses arranged two-dimensionally (white ink (fig.3), and the second optical sheet (24) is a second light diffusion sheet comprising a flat surface or a matte surface on which the second print pattern is formed.
Regarding Claim 9,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the second print pattern (22) is formed on the first light diffusion sheet (17), and in the first light diffusion sheet, one of the first surface or the second surface comprises a plurality of recesses arranged two-dimensionally (Fig. 3), and the other one of the first surface or the second surface is a flat surface or a matte surface.
Regarding Claim 10,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the plurality of recesses comprise an inverted polygon pyramid shape, an inverted truncated polygon pyramid shape, or a lower hemisphere shape (column 20, lines 39-44).
Regarding Claim 11,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) A backlight unit built in the liquid crystal display device and leading light emitted from the plurality of point light sources (13) toward the display screen, comprising: the optical sheet (17) laminate of claim 1 between the display screen (11) and the plurality of point light sources (13).
Regarding Claim 12,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a distance between the plurality of point light sources (13) and the optical sheet (17) laminate is 2 mm or less. One would have recognized wherein a distance between the plurality of point light sources and the optical sheet laminate is 2 mm or less as a result-effective variable.
Regarding Claim 13,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the plurality of point light sources (13) are LED elements.
Regarding Claim 14,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the plurality of point light sources (13) are arranged on a reflection member (15) provided on an opposite side of the display screen (11) when viewed from the optical sheet laminate.
Regarding Claim 15,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) the backlight unit of claim 11; and a liquid crystal display panel (10).
Regarding Claim 16,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) An information equipment, comprising: the liquid crystal display device of claim 15.
Regarding Claim 17,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) A production method for an optical sheet (17) laminate built in a liquid crystal display device including a display screen (11), on a back surface side of which a plurality of point light sources (13) are provided in a dispersed manner, comprising: a step A of forming a first print pattern (22) at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources (13), on a first surface of a first optical sheet (17); on a second optical sheet (19) different from the first optical sheet (17) or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, wherein the step A and the step B are performed so that the first print pattern (22) and the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources (13), thereby making the luminance uniform.
Yasunaga et al does not disclose and a step B of forming a second print pattern at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources.
Vasylyev et al discloses print patterns (Fig. 15) on each diffuser. Therefore wherein a second print pattern ([0288], white ink 91-94) at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources is formed on a second optical sheet different from the first optical sheet or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, and the first print pattern and the second print pattern reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources, thereby making the luminance uniform.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Yasunaga et al to include Vasylyev et al discloses print patterns (Fig. 15) on each diffuser. Therefore wherein a second print pattern at least partially reducing transmission of light from the plurality of point light sources is formed on a second optical sheet different from the first optical sheet or on a second surface of the first optical sheet, and the first print pattern and the second print pattern reduce luminance unevenness attributed to the plurality of point light sources, thereby making the luminance uniform motivated by the desire to achieve different visual effects displaying different illuminated patterns and/or colors to obtain different predefined luminance distributions [0288].
Regarding Claim 18,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein the first print pattern (22a) and the second print pattern (taught by Vasylyev et al) are each a collection of unit patterns arranged in a gradation manner so that a level of reduction in light transmission decreases from a vicinity of a portion directly above one single point light source out of the plurality of point light sources toward an intermediate region between the one single point light source and another point light source adjacent to the one single point light source, and the unit patterns are arranged two-dimensionally without uneven distribution to serve as the first print pattern and the second print pattern. (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 19,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein at least one of the first print pattern or the second print pattern is a pattern comprising a print density corresponding to luminance in a luminance distribution produced by the plurality of point light sources when the first print pattern and the second print pattern are not provided, and the luminance and the print density have a positive correlation with each other. (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 20,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a pattern formed by stacking the first print pattern (22) and the second print patterns (taught by Vasylyev et al) is a pattern comprising a print density corresponding to luminance in a luminance distribution produced by the plurality of point light sources when the first print pattern and the second print pattern are not provided, and the luminance and the print density have a positive correlation with each other. (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 21,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a high luminance region in the luminance distribution is a region directly above the plurality of point light sources (13). (column 6, lines 3-30)
Regarding Claim 22,
In addition to Yasunaga et al and Vasylyev et al, Yasunaga et al discloses (Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) wherein a high luminance region in the luminance distribution is a region between point light sources (13) adjacent to each other out of the plurality of point light sources. (column 6, lines 3-30)
Conclusion
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/LUCY P CHIEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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