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 .
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 .
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 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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of election of species in the reply filed on 3/17/26 is acknowledged.
In the response of election, Applicant forget to elect the species. Examiner interview with Applicant’s Attorney, Philip Burrus, and Applicant further elected specie A (fig 1-9) without traverse.
Therefore, Examiner will exam elected claims and embodiment.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2-4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Lafarre (US 20080204367).
With regard claim 1, Lafarre discloses An electronic device, (abstract, see also fig 1-13) comprising: a device housing (at least housing shown in fig 9, fig 12-13); a unitary flexible display coupled to the device housing (abstract, at least 21) and having at least two end portions extending distally from a base portion (at least fig 9, fig 12-13, fig 21; the inner portion closer to the 40 and hiding when the flexible structure is closed, Examiner consider as the base portion; the two end portions separated by a slit 26/27, or on both sides of the slit, and visible on two bigger area sides of the main housing on wrap position or extend positions, Examiner consider as 1st and 2nd end portions); and a translator coupled to the unitary flexible display (paragraph [17]-[20]; the portion supports the display to selectively move between at least two positions, Examiner consider as a translator; For example, rear support, edge structure, side portions etc. no label); wherein the translator is operable to selectively move the at least two end portions between a first position where the at least two end portions abut the device housing (abstract) and a second position where the at least two end portions extend distally from the device housing (at least fig 9, fig 13).
Regarding claim 18, Lafarre further disclosed An electronic device, (abstract, see also fig 1-13) comprising: a first device housing that is pivotable relative to a second device housing (at least fig 9, fig 13, the main housing on the left side, 40/50, is the second device housing; the housing on the opposite side with edge structure, including 25, 30, is the 1st device housing) between an axially displaced open position and a closed position (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, when the 1st housing on the right wrap the main housing, Examiner consider as axially displaced open position and a closed position); and a unitary flexible display having a base portion (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, axially displaced open position and a closed position), a first portion extending from the base portion that is selectively extendable from the first device housing (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, first portion, on the right closer to the edge structure, closer 25, 30 etc), and a second portion extending from the base portion that is selectively extendable from the second device housing (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, the second device housing closer to the base portion or the main housing); a translator coupled to the unitary flexible display (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, the structure comprising support for display, on the edge of the display, and/or 30, 25; Examiner consider as translator); wherein the translator is operable to selectively move the first portion and the second portion between a first position (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, abstract; wrap position) where the first portion and the second portion abut the first device housing and the second device housing, respectively (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, abstract; wrap position), and a second position where the first portion and the second portion extend distally from the first device housing and the second device housing, respectively (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, abstract, opening or display position).
Regarding claim 2, Lafarre further disclosed the at least two end portions comprise a first end portion separated from a second end portion by a slit (at least the cut-out portion 26/27; Examiner consider as a slit).
Regarding claim 3, Lafarre further disclosed the first end portion and the second end portion abut along the slit ( at least fig 9, fig 13).
Regarding claim 4, Lafarre further disclosed the device housing comprises a first device housing pivotable relative to a second device housing between an axially displaced open position and a closed position (abstract, at least fig 9, fig 13, when the 1st housing on the right wraps the main housing on the left, Examiner consider as axially displaced open position and a closed position).
Regarding claim 6, modified Lafarre further disclosed the translator is operable to selectively move the at least two end portions from the first position where they abut the device housing (abstract, fig 9, fig 13, when wrap to the main housing on the left) and the second position where they extend distally from the device housing only when the first device housing is pivoted to the axially displaced open position relative to the second device housing (abstract, fig 9, fig 13, when the first device housing rotate and pivoted to the axially displaced open position relative to the second device housing or the main housing on the left).
Regarding claim 7, modified Lafarre further disclosed the base portion is concealed (see claim 1 rejection; the inner portion closer to the main housing) and the first end portion and the second end portion are exposed (see claim 1 rejection; these two portions are exposed on both sides) when the first end portion and the second end portion are in the first position and the first device housing is pivoted relative to the second device housing to the closed position (abstract, fig 9, fig 10-13; see also above rejecton).
Regarding claim 10, Lafarre further disclosed the base portion is fixedly coupled to a first major surface of the device housing and the at least two end portions abut a second major surface of the device housing when in the first position ( at least fig 9, fig 13).
Regarding claim 11, Lafarre further disclosed the unitary flexible display is configured as in a block U-shape ( at least fig 9, fig 13).
Regarding claim 12, The method steps recited in the claims are inherently met by the device structure as taught by above discussed structure.
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 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 of this title, 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 5, 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over xxxx in view of Lafarre (US 20080204367) in view of Maddock (US 6466369).
With regard claim 5, The primary art discussed in the preceding claim disclosed all the subject matter except for the first device housing is pivotable about a hinge relative to the second device housing between the axially displaced open position and the closed position.
Maddock further teaches: the first device housing is pivotable about a hinge relative to the second device housing between the axially displaced open position and the closed position (see at least fig 4, fig 8-9, fig 11-14 with detail hinge structure).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was made to include this feature (hinge structure) and modify to previous discussed structure (modified to the portion closer to the first and second housings) so as to further provide a better rotation and/or protect the display structure for the modified structure.
With regard claim 17, the primary art and/or the modified structure discussed in the preceding claim disclosed all the subject matter except for the translating comprises extending telescoping arms of a translator.
Maddock further teaches: the translating comprises extending telescoping arms of a translator (at least fig 11-14, the structure with arm shaped parts and with one part entering another as the result of collision; Examiner consider as “telescoping arms of a translator”). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention was made to include this feature (telescoping arms of a translator) and modify to previous discussed structure (the portion required bending) with associate method so as to further protect the modified structure and/or smooth operation of the device.
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 JERRY WU whose telephone number is (571)270-5420. The examiner can normally be reached on PHP: M-Th: 8:30-12:30; 2:30-8:30pm.
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, Imani Hayman can be reached on 571.270.5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JERRY WU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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