Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/912,623

DISPLAY DEVICE

Final Rejection §102§Other
Filed
Oct 11, 2024
Examiner
CHIEN, LUCY P
Art Unit
2871
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Innolux Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
745 granted / 898 resolved
+15.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +5% lift
Without
With
+5.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
932
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
55.9%
+15.9% vs TC avg
§102
38.7%
-1.3% vs TC avg
§112
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 898 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 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. Applicant’s arguments that (CN 102944950 A) does not disclose the absorption axis to be not parallel is not persuasive. Applicant cited paragraph [0694] in (CN 102944950 A). Examiner cited paragraph [0695] which cites the absorption axis are perpendicular. Therefore the rejection is maintained. 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 (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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a as being anticipated by (CN 102944950 A) Regarding Claim 1, (CN 102944950 A) discloses A display device, comprising: a backlight (552), configured to provide an illumination light; a display panel (511), disposed on a transmission path of the illumination light to convert the illumination light into a display light; a viewing angle control panel (second liquid crystal), configured to control a light emission angle of the display device; a first polarizing unit (see Claim 9), disposed between the backlight and the display panel and having a first absorption axis; a second polarizing unit, disposed between the display panel and the viewing angle control panel and having a second absorption axis; and a third polarizing unit, disposed on the viewing angle control panel and having a third absorption axis, wherein the third absorption axis is perpendicular to the first absorption axis and the second absorption axis, and the first absorption axis and the second absorption axis are perpendicular to each other on a same plane, wherein the first absorption axis, the second absorption axis and the third absorption axis are not parallel to each other [0695]. Regarding Claim 2, (CN 102944950 A) discloses a circular polarizer, disposed on the third polarizing unit [0701]. Regarding Claim 3, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the third polarizing unit comprises a polarizer [0693]. Regarding Claim 4, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel or the dye liquid crystal panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode [0765], disposed in a first region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in a second region, wherein the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode belong to a same layer and are separated from each other; and a third light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other), disposed in the first region and the second region and located on one side of the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode. Regarding Claim 5, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode [0765], disposed in a first region and a second region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and above the first light transmitting electrode; and a third light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and the second region and above the second light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other). Regarding Claim 6, (CN 102944950 A) discloses a backlight (552), configured to provide an illumination light; a display panel, disposed on a transmission path of the illumination light to convert the illumination light into a display light; a viewing angle control panel (second liquid crystal), configured to control a light emission angle of the display device; a first polarizing unit (see Claim 9), disposed between the backlight and the display panel and having a first absorption axis; a second polarizing unit, disposed between the display panel and the viewing angle control panel and having a second absorption axis; and a third polarizing unit, disposed on the display panel and having a third absorption axis, wherein the third absorption axis and the second absorption axis are perpendicular to each other on a same plane, and the first absorption axis is perpendicular to the second absorption axis and the third absorption axis , wherein the first absorption axis, the second absorption axis and the third absorption axis are not parallel to each other [00695]. Regarding Claim 7, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the first polarizing unit (see Claim 9), the viewing angle control panel (second liquid crystal), the second polarizing unit, the display panel, and the third polarizing unit are sequentially disposed on the backlight. Regarding Claim 8, (CN 102944950 A) discloses circular polarizer, disposed on the third polarizing unit [0701]. Regarding Claim 9, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the third polarizing unit comprises a polarizer [0701]. Regarding Claim 10, (CN 102944950 A) discloses another viewing angle control panel, disposed between the viewing angle control panel (second liquid crystal) and the second polarizing unit [0701]. Regarding Claim 11, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises a first liquid crystal, the another viewing angle control panel comprises a second liquid crystal, and the second liquid crystal is different from the first liquid crystal (see claim 9). Regarding Claim 12, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein a light emission angle range controlled by the first liquid crystal is different from a light emission angle range controlled by the second liquid crystal (Claim 9). Regarding Claim 13, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel or the dye liquid crystal panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode [0765], disposed in a first region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in a second region, wherein the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode belong to a same layer and are separated from each other; and a third light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and the second region and located on one side of the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other). Regarding Claim 14, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode [0765], disposed in a first region and a second region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and above the first light transmitting electrode; and a third light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and the second region and above the second light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other).. Regarding Claim 15, (CN 102944950 A) discloses a backlight (552), configured to provide an illumination light; a display panel (511), disposed on a transmission path of the illumination light to convert the illumination light into a display light; a viewing angle control panel, configured to control a light emission angle of the display device; a first polarizing unit (see Claim 9), disposed between the backlight and the viewing angle control panel and having a first absorption axis; a second polarizing unit, disposed between the display panel and the viewing angle control panel and having a second absorption axis; and a third polarizing unit, disposed on the display panel and having a third absorption axis, wherein the third absorption axis and the second absorption axis are perpendicular to each other on a same plane, the viewing angle control panel with a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first polarizing unit having the first absorption axis and the second polarizing unit having a second absorption axis, and the first absorption axis is parallel to the second absorption axis [0694]. Regarding Claim 16, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the first polarizing unit (see claim 9), the viewing angle control panel (second liquid crystal), the second polarizing unit, the display panel, and the third polarizing unit are sequentially disposed on the backlight. Regarding Claim 17, (CN 102944950 A) discloses a dye liquid crystal panel, disposed between the first polarizing unit and the backlight ([0695] and see claim 9). Regarding Claim 18, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel or the dye liquid crystal panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode [0765], disposed in a first region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in a second region, wherein the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode belong to a same layer and are separated from each other; and a third light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other), disposed in the first region and the second region and located on one side of the first light transmitting electrode and the second light transmitting electrode. Regarding Claim 19, (CN 102944950 A) discloses a circular polarizer, disposed on the third polarizing unit [0701]. Regarding Claim 20, (CN 102944950 A) discloses wherein the viewing angle control panel comprises: a first light transmitting electrode (see fig. 53A, there are 3 128 separated from each other), disposed in a first region and a second region; a second light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and above the first light transmitting electrode; and a third light transmitting electrode, disposed in the first region and the second region and above the second light transmitting electrode. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUCY P CHIEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8579. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM PST Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 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, Michael Caley can be reached at 571-272-2286. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /LUCY P CHIEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 11, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §Other
Jan 19, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 24, 2026
Final Rejection — §102, §Other (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+5.2%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 898 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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