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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 05/21/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
1. Amendments filed on 05/06/2026 have been entered. Claims 1 and 9 have been amended, claims 5 and 12 have been canceled and new claims 15-22 have been added.
Response to Arguments
2. Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
3. Claim(s) 1-3, 8-10 and 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Feng et al (US 2022/0157236) in view of Pyo et al (US 2024/0347002).
As to claim 1, Feng teaches an optical compensation system comprising:
a display device including a plurality of pixels ([0045] the display region includes a first pixel region 10 and a second pixel region 20, fig. 5) configured to emit light by controlling a driving current flowing from a high voltage to a low voltage according to a data voltage ([0060] Drive current generated based on the gate-source voltage flows to the anode of the corresponding light-emitting element EL, and the corresponding light-emitting element EL is driven to emit light.);
a first measurement unit configured to measure optical characteristics from an image displayed in a first area of the display device ([0045] obtaining first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10, [0063] The driver IC uses a certain sampling circuit to sample actual pixel current I.sub.M of the first pixel region 10 and the second pixel region 20);
a second measurement unit configured to measure optical characteristics from an image displayed in a second area of the display device ([0045] obtaining… second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0063] The driver IC uses a certain sampling circuit to sample actual pixel current I.sub.M of the first pixel region 10 and the second pixel region 20);
a driver configured to control at least one of the data voltage, the high voltage, and the low voltage of the display device to display an image ([0045] adjusting a power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or a power supply signal of the second pixel region 20, [0077]-[0078]); and
a controller configured to determine a first low voltage for pixels in the first area and a second low voltage for pixels in the second area based on optical characteristics input to the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit and to determine optical compensation values based on an image displayed by supplying the first low voltage to the pixels in the first area and by supplying the second low voltage to the pixels in the second area ([0045] adjusting a power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or a power supply signal of the second pixel region 20, respectively, according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0077]-[0078]),
While Feng teaches determining a first low voltage in the first area and a second low voltage in the second area ([0045], [0077]-[0078]), Feng does not teach determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage as claimed.
However, Pyo teaches determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage ([0116] a voltage of the second driving power source VSS may be set in consideration of characteristics of the display panel 10 (S800). After the voltage of the second driving power source VSS is set, voltages of the second initialization power source Vint2 and the third initialization power source Vint3 may be set in consideration of the voltage of the second driving power source VSS (S802)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Feng to teach, determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage, as suggested by Pyo. The motivation would have been in order improve “transmittance in an area where the camera is disposed” ([0004]).
As to claim 2, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation system, wherein the first area includes a general area having a general subpixel arrangement, and the second area includes an optical area in which a transmission part for an optical device is formed (Feng: [0046] display region includes a first pixel region 10 and a second pixel region 20. The second pixel region 20 has a lower pixel density than the first pixel region 10, and the second pixel region 20 is used to set up structures such as a camera module or an infrared light sensor in the display device, fig. 5).
As to claim 3, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation system, wherein the controller is configured to determine black data values by supplying the first low voltage to the pixels in the first area and supplying the second low voltage to the pixels in the second area, and then to determine optical compensation values of the first area and the second area (Feng: [0101] In the luminance compensation method provided in the foregoing embodiment, three parameters of the data signal(s), ELVDD and ELVSS of the first pixel region 10 and/or the second pixel region 20 may be controlled at the same time according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20. Examiner notes that if the supplied voltage is a low voltage, low data value or black data would be detected).
4. (Canceled)
5. (Canceled)
As to claim 8, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation system, wherein the second area includes an optical area in which a transmission part for an optical device is formed (Feng: [0046] display region includes a first pixel region 10 and a second pixel region 20. The second pixel region 20 has a lower pixel density than the first pixel region 10, and the second pixel region 20 is used to set up structures such as a camera module or an infrared light sensor in the display device, fig. 5), and the second measurement unit has an aperture small enough to measure optical characteristics of the second area (Feng: [0062] the first light-emitting luminance information includes actual pixel current of each pixel in the first pixel region 10, and the second light-emitting luminance information includes actual pixel current of each pixel in the second pixel region 20, [0063] The driver IC uses a certain sampling circuit to sample actual pixel current I.sub.M of the first pixel region 10 and the second pixel region 20).
As to claim 9, Feng teaches an optical compensation method for a display device including a plurality of pixels ([0045] the display region includes a first pixel region 10 and a second pixel region 20, fig. 5) configured to emit light by controlling a driving current flowing from a high voltage to a low voltage according to a data voltage ([0060] Drive current generated based on the gate-source voltage flows to the anode of the corresponding light-emitting element EL, and the corresponding light-emitting element EL is driven to emit light), the optical compensation method comprising:
measuring optical characteristics of a first area having a general subpixel arrangement in the display device through a first measurement unit ([0045] obtaining first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10, [0063] The driver IC uses a certain sampling circuit to sample actual pixel current I.sub.M of the first pixel region 10 and the second pixel region 20), and simultaneously measuring optical characteristics of a second area including an optical area through a second measurement unit ([0045] obtaining… second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0063] The driver IC uses a certain sampling circuit to sample actual pixel current I.sub.M of the first pixel region 10 and the second pixel region 20 ); determining a first low voltage for pixels in the first area and a second low voltage for pixels in the second area based on optical characteristics input to the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit ([0045] adjusting a power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or a power supply signal of the second pixel region 20, respectively, according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0077]-[0078]); and determining optical compensation values based on an image displayed by supplying the first low voltage to the pixels in the first area and supplying the second low voltage to the pixels in the second area ([0045], [0077]-[0078]),
While Feng teaches determining a first low voltage in the first area and a second low voltage in the second area ([0045], [0077]-[0078]), Feng does not teach determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage as claimed.
However, Pyo teaches determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage ([0116] a voltage of the second driving power source VSS may be set in consideration of characteristics of the display panel 10 (S800). After the voltage of the second driving power source VSS is set, voltages of the second initialization power source Vint2 and the third initialization power source Vint3 may be set in consideration of the voltage of the second driving power source VSS (S802)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Feng to teach, determining the optical compensation values by setting an initialization voltage based on the low voltage, as suggested by Pyo. The motivation would have been in order improve “transmittance in an area where the camera is disposed” ([0004]).
As to claim 10, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation method, further comprising determining black data values by supplying the first low voltage to the pixels in the first area and supplying the second low voltage to the pixels in the second area (Pyo: [0120] After the voltage of the first initialization power source Vint1 is set, the black luminance of the first pixel area PA1 may be measured).
11. (Canceled)
12. (Canceled)
As to claim 15, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation, wherein the controller is configured to supply a fixed data voltage to the first area and the second area (Feng: Examiner’s Note: there are times when both the first pixel and the second pixel regions display the same background image such as a white or a blue color background), adjust the low voltage applied to the first area and the low voltage applied to the second area, and determine low voltages at which a preset luminance is measured in the first area and the second area, respectively, as the first low voltage and the second low voltage (Feng: [0113] when the power supply signal includes the second power supply signal, the driver IC is further configured to: increase a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or decrease a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the second pixel region 20 when it is determined that light-emitting luminance of the first pixel region 10 is higher than light-emitting luminance of the second pixel region 20 according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20; decrease a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or increase a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the second pixel region 20 when it is determined that light-emitting luminance of the first pixel region 10 is lower than light-emitting luminance of the second pixel region 20 according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0109], [0129]).
As to claim 16, Feng in view of Pyo teach the optical compensation method, wherein the determining the first low voltage for pixels in the first area and the second low voltage for pixels in the second area comprises supplying a fixed data voltage to the first area and the second area (Feng: Examiner’s Note: there are times when both the first pixel and the second pixel regions display the same background image such as a white or a blue color background), adjusting the low voltage applied to the first area and the low voltage applied to the second area, and determining low voltages at which a preset luminance is measured in the first area and the second area, respectively, as the first low voltage and the second low voltage (Feng: [0113] when the power supply signal includes the second power supply signal, the driver IC is further configured to: increase a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or decrease a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the second pixel region 20 when it is determined that light-emitting luminance of the first pixel region 10 is higher than light-emitting luminance of the second pixel region 20 according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20; decrease a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the first pixel region 10 and/or increase a voltage value of the second power supply signal of the second pixel region 20 when it is determined that light-emitting luminance of the first pixel region 10 is lower than light-emitting luminance of the second pixel region 20 according to the first light-emitting luminance information of the first pixel region 10 and the second light-emitting luminance information of the second pixel region 20, [0109], [0129]).
4. Claim(s) 7 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Feng et al (US 2022/0157236) in view of Pyo et al (US 2024/0347002) and further in view of Lee (US 2022/0208090).
As to claim 7, Feng in view of Pyo do not teach the optical compensation system as claimed.
However, Lee teaches the optical compensation system, wherein the controller is configured to store the optical compensation values in an internal memory of the display device through the driver ([0044] The deterioration compensating unit 150 modulates the input image data Idata of each sub pixel SP at present frame based on gain value of a look-up table stored in the memory 160 and then supplies the modulated image data Mdata to the timing controlling unit 120. Further, the deterioration compensating unit 150 writes the look-up table LUT and supplies the written look-up table LUT to the memory 160 to update the look-up table of the memory 160).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Feng in view of Pyo to teach storing the optical compensation values, as suggested by Lee. The motivation would have been in order to “provide a display device capable of improving the efficiency of image compensation by measuring the luminance of an actual image and updating a lookup table” ([0006]).
As to claim 14, Feng in view of Pyo does not teach the optical compensation method as claimed.
However, Lee teaches the optical compensation method, further comprising storing the optical compensation values in an internal memory of the display device ([0044] The deterioration compensating unit 150 modulates the input image data Idata of each sub pixel SP at present frame based on gain value of a look-up table stored in the memory 160 and then supplies the modulated image data Mdata to the timing controlling unit 120. Further, the deterioration compensating unit 150 writes the look-up table LUT and supplies the written look-up table LUT to the memory 160 to update the look-up table of the memory 160).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Feng in view of Pyo to teach storing the optical compensation values, as suggested by Lee. The motivation would have been in order to “provide a display device capable of improving the efficiency of image compensation by measuring the luminance of an actual image and updating a lookup table” ([0006]).
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 6 and 13 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art of record alone or in combination, fails to teach or render obvious, “An optical compensation system comprising: a display device including a plurality of pixels configured to emit light by controlling a driving current flowing from a high voltage to a low voltage according to a data voltage; a first measurement unit configured to measure optical characteristics from an image displayed in a first area of the display device; a second measurement unit configured to measure optical characteristics from an image displayed in a second area of the display device; a driver configured to control at least one of the data voltage, the high voltage, and the low voltage of the display device to display an image; and a controller configured to determine a first low voltage for pixels in the first area and a second low voltage for pixels in the second area based on optical characteristics input to the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit and to determine optical compensation values based on an image displayed by supplying the first low voltage to the pixels in the first area and by supplying the second low voltage to the pixels in the second area, wherein the controller is configured to determine the optical compensation values of the first area and the second area based on a temperature and a luminance of the first area when the low voltage is supplied to the first area and based on a temperature and a luminance of the second area when the second low voltage is supplied to the second area” in combination with the other claimed limitations set forth in claim 17.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AMEN W BOGALE whose telephone number is (571)270-1579. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:AM-6:PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nitin Patel can be reached at (571)272-7677. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AMEN W BOGALE/Examiner, Art Unit 2628
/NITIN PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2628
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