DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The Art Unit location of your application in the PTO has changed. To aid in correlating any papers for this application, all further correspondence regarding this application should be directed to Group Art Unit 2691.
This communication is responsive to the claims filed 05/28/2024.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-21 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,028,676. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,028,676 are clearly anticipated or similar in scope to the rejected claims 1-21 of the U. S. Pat. App (No. 18/676,211) with only obvious wording variations. For example:
U. S. Pat. App No. 18/676,211
U.S. Patent No. 12,028,676
1. An apparatus, comprising: a vibration plate; at least one vibration module on the vibration plate and including at least one vibration-generating device; and at least one enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device on a vibration plate, wherein the at least one vibration-generating device comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each of the pair of first sides having a first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second length being longer than the first length, wherein the at least one enclosure comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to the first direction, each of the pair of first sides of the at least one enclosure having a third length, the third length being longer than the first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to the second direction, each of the pair of second sides of the at least one enclosure having a fourth length, the fourth length being longer than the second length, and wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is longer than each the first length and the second length.
1. An apparatus, comprising: a vibration plate; at least one vibration-generating device on the vibration plate, the at least one vibration-generating device comprising a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each first side having a first length; and an enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device on the vibration plate, the enclosure comprising a third length parallel to the first direction, the third length being larger than the first length, wherein: the at least one vibration-generating device further comprises a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction; the enclosure further comprises a fourth length parallel to the second direction, the fourth length being larger than the second length; and a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is 0.5 to 1.5 times the second length.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the first length.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first length is larger than a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the first length.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first length is shorter than the second length.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the second length.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is shorter than the second length.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises one or more of a double-sided adhesive tape, a double-sided adhesive pad, and a double-sided foam pad.
Claims 1-21 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-26 of U.S. Patent No. 11,665,467. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-26 of U.S. Patent No. 11,665,467 are clearly anticipated or similar in scope to the rejected claims 1-21 of the U. S. Pat. App (No. 18/676,211) with only obvious wording variations. For example:
U. S. Pat. App No. 18/676,211
U.S. Patent No. 11,665,467
1. An apparatus, comprising: a vibration plate; at least one vibration module on the vibration plate and including at least one vibration-generating device; and at least one enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device on a vibration plate, wherein the at least one vibration-generating device comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each of the pair of first sides having a first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second length being longer than the first length, wherein the at least one enclosure comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to the first direction, each of the pair of first sides of the at least one enclosure having a third length, the third length being longer than the first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to the second direction, each of the pair of second sides of the at least one enclosure having a fourth length, the fourth length being longer than the second length, and wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is longer than each the first length and the second length.
1. A display apparatus, comprising: a display module comprising a display panel configured to display an image; a vibration plate on a rear surface of the display module; at least one vibration-generating device on the vibration plate; and at least one enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device, wherein the at least one vibration-generating device comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each of the pair of first sides having a first length, and a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second length being larger than the first length, and wherein the at least one enclosure comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to the first direction, each of the pair of first sides of the at least one enclosure having a third length, the third length being larger than the first length, and a pair of second sides parallel to the second direction, each of the pair of second sides of the at least one enclosure having a fourth length, the fourth length being larger than the second length.
2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fourth length is larger than or equal to the third length.
3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the first length.
4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the first length and shorter than 2 to 3 times the first length.
5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the second length or 1.5 times the second length.
6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the first length.
7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the first length and shorter than or equal to 2.5 times the second length.
8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second distance, between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure, is larger than the second length.
9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the second distance is larger than the second length; and the second distance shorter than or equal to 1.5 times the second length.
Claims 1-21 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-27 of U.S. Patent No. 11,223,896. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-27 of U.S. Patent No. 11,223,896 are clearly anticipated or similar in scope to the rejected claims 1-21 of the U. S. Pat. App (No. 18/676,211) with only obvious wording variations. For example:
U. S. Pat. App No. 18/676,211
U.S. Patent No. 11,223,896
1. An apparatus, comprising: a vibration plate; at least one vibration module on the vibration plate and including at least one vibration-generating device; and at least one enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device on a vibration plate, wherein the at least one vibration-generating device comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each of the pair of first sides having a first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second length being longer than the first length, wherein the at least one enclosure comprises: a pair of first sides parallel to the first direction, each of the pair of first sides of the at least one enclosure having a third length, the third length being longer than the first length; and a pair of second sides parallel to the second direction, each of the pair of second sides of the at least one enclosure having a fourth length, the fourth length being longer than the second length, and wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is longer than each the first length and the second length.
1. A display apparatus, comprising: a display module comprising a display panel configured to display an image; a vibration plate on a rear surface of the display module; at least one vibration-generating device on the vibration plate, the at least one vibration-generating device comprising a pair of first sides parallel to a first direction, each first side having a first length, the first direction being parallel to a front surface the vibration plate; and an enclosure surrounding the at least one vibration-generating device between the display module and the vibration plate, the enclosure comprising a third length parallel to the first direction, the third length being larger than the first length.
2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the first length.
3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first length is larger than a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure.
4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the first length.
5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the first length.
6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one vibration-generating device comprises a pair of second sides parallel to a second direction, each of the pair of second sides having a second length, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the front surface the vibration plate; and the enclosure comprises a fourth length parallel to the second direction, the fourth length being larger than the second length.
7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first length is shorter than the second length.
8. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein a second distance between the at least one vibration-generating device and the enclosure is larger than the second length.
9. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second distance is 0.5 to 1.5 times the second length.
10. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first air gap between the display module and the vibration plate, wherein the enclosure provides at least one second air gap surrounding the at least one vibration module within the first air gap.
11. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises one or more of: a double-sided adhesive tape, a double-sided adhesive pad, and a double-sided foam pad.
12. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one vibration-generating device comprises a piezoelectric material layer.
13. The display apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a protection member on the rear surface of the supporting cover, facing the at least one vibration module.
14. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the supporting cover comprises an opening facing the at least one vibration module; and a size of the opening is wider than a size of the at least one vibration module.
15. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the display module comprises: a panel guide on a rear surface of the display panel; a backlight part on the rear surface of the display panel; and a supporting cover on a rear surface of the panel guide and configured to accommodate the backlight part; the vibration plate is on a rear surface of the supporting cover; and the enclosure is between the rear surface of the supporting cover and the vibration plate.
16. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a system rear cover on a rear surface of the vibration plate with a third air gap therebetween, the system rear cover comprising: a rear structure on a rear surface of the vibration plate; and a side structure surrounding a side surface of the display module, with a border gap therebetween.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-21 are allowable, if a timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome the above provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUHAN NI whose telephone number is (571)272-7505. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
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/SUHAN NI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691