DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1, 4, 6, 8-10, 12, 15 and 17-20 are amended. Claims 1-20 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1-3, 5-6, 12, 16 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin (US 20180226009) in view of Lee (US 20190340966).
As per claim 1, Lin discloses a display driving device (Fig. 1, #10; [0022]) comprising:
a source driver (#12) configured to output a data signal obtained by amplifying an input signal to a source line in a first period ([0026]; [0030]-[0031]), and, in a second period different from the first period, receive a detection signal from the source line and output a comparison result signal based on a comparison between the detection signal and the input signal ([0042]-[0045]).
However, Lin does not teach a driving controller configured to determine at least one of a load or a defect of the source line based on a timing at which a level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period.
Lee teaches a driving controller configured to determine at least one of a load or a defect of the source line based on a timing at which a level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period (Fig. 13, blank period; [0163]-[0168]; where a driving controller is inherently present).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the source driver of Lin configured according to Lee so as to detect a short-circuit generated between signal lines or between a signal line and an electrode in the display panel during driving of the display device (Lee: [0008]).
As per claim 2, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display driving device of claim 1, wherein the source driver comprises:
a digital-to-analog converter configured to output the input signal based on data received from the driving controller (Lin: [0031]), and
an amplifier region comprising an amplifier, the amplifier region being configured to amplify the input signal to output the data signal in the first period, and compare the input signal and the detection signal to output the comparison result signal in the second period (Lin: [0031]-[0032]; [0045]-[0046]).
As per claims 3 and 5, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display driving device of claim 2 except for the first period is a period of one horizontal period or less, wherein the first period is a period of two horizontal periods or greater. Official Notice is taken that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the first period is a period of one horizontal period or less, wherein the first period is a period of two horizontal periods or greater since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
As per claim 6, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display driving device of claim 5, wherein the driving controller is further configured to change the data multiple times in the second period, and detect the defect in the source line based on data, among the data changed multiple times, related to the timing at which the level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period (Lee: [0163]-[0168]),
As per claim 12, Lin discloses a display device (Fig. 1, #1; [0022]) comprising:
a panel (#20) including a plurality of pixels and a plurality of source lines connected to the plurality of pixels ([0023]); and
a display driving circuit (#10) including an amplifier region and a driving controller (#11), the amplifier region comprising an amplifier and being configured to transmit a plurality of data signals to the plurality of source lines in a first period ([0026]; [0030]-[0031]), and in a second period different from the first period, receive a plurality of detection signals from the plurality of source lines and output a plurality of comparison result signals by comparing the plurality of detection signals and an input signal ([0042]-[0045]).
However, Lin does not teach the driving controller being configured to, for each of the plurality of comparison result signals, determine at least one of a load or a defect of a corresponding source line of the plurality of source lines based on a comparison result signal.
Lee teaches the driving controller being configured to, for each of the plurality of comparison result signals, determine at least one of a load or a defect of a corresponding source line of the plurality of source lines based on a comparison result signal (Fig. 13; [0163]-[0168]; where a driving controller is inherently present).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the source driver of Lin configured according to Lee so as to detect a short-circuit generated between signal lines or between a signal line and an electrode in the display panel during driving of the display device (Lee: [0008]).
As per claim 16, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display device of claim 12, wherein the amplifier region is further configured to, in the first period, transmit a data signal of a first level to a first data line among a plurality of data lines (Lin: [0031]), and a data signal of a second level different from the first level to a second data line adjacent to the first data line among the plurality of data lines (Lin: [0031]-[0032]).
As per claim 18, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display device of claim 12, wherein the driving controller is further configured to determine a short defect of the corresponding source line (Lee: [0076]; [0080]-[0082]).
However, Lin and Lee do not teach the first period is a period of two horizontal periods or greater. Official Notice is taken that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the first period is a period of two horizontal periods or greater since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
Claims 13 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin in view of Lee in view of Jeong (US 20220189374).
As per claim 13, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display device of claim 12.
However, Lin and Lee do not teach the display driving circuit further includes a gamma voltage generator configured to output the input signal in the second period.
Jeong teaches the display driving circuit further includes a gamma voltage generator (Fig. 1, #130) configured to output the input signal in the period ([0028]-[0029]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have included the gamma voltage generator disclosed by Jeong to the display device of Lin in view of Lee so as to provide gamma reference voltages corresponding to different colors, respectively, during the second period.
As per claim 14, Lin in view of Lee in view of Jeong discloses the display device of claim 13, wherein the gamma voltage generator is further configured to change a level of the input signal in the second period (Jeong: [0029]).
Claims 11 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin in view of Lee in view of Kong (US 20170287429).
As per claim 11, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display driving device of claim 2.
However, Lin and Lee do not teach the source driver further includes a switch circuit configured to, based on a level of a selection signal, selectively connect an output terminal of the amplifier region to the source line in the first period and disconnect the output terminal of the amplifier region from the source line in the second period.
Kong teaches the source driver (Figs. 3A-3B, #300a) further includes a switch circuit configured to, based on a level of a selection signal, selectively connect an output terminal of the amplifier region to the source line in the first period and disconnect the output terminal of the amplifier region from the source line in the second period ([0054]-[0055]; [0067]; [0083]-[0088]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have included the switch circuit disclosed by Kong to the source driver of Lin in view of Lee so as to determine operation states of the first channel amplifier and the second channel amplifier based on a comparison result, before a first horizontal period in which the first pixel and the second pixel are driven (Kong: [0005]).
As per claim 19, Lin discloses a source driver (Fig. 3, #120; [0030]) comprising:
a digital-to-analog converter configured to output an input signal based on input data ([0031]);
an amplifier region including an amplifier, the amplifier region being configured to amplify the input signal to output a data signal in a first period ([0030]-[0031]), and in a second period after the first period, compare the input signal and a detection signal received from a source line to output a comparison result signal ([0042]-[0045]).
However, Lin does not teach at least one of a load or a defect of the source line is determined based on a timing at which a level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period.
Lee teaches at least one of a load or a defect of the source line is determined based on a timing at which a level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period (Fig. 13, blank period; [0163]-[0168]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the source driver of Lin configured according to Lee so as to detect a short-circuit generated between signal lines or between a signal line and an electrode in the display panel during driving of the display device (Lee: [0008]).
However, Lin and Lee do not teach a switch circuit configured to, based on a level of a first selection signal, selectively connect an output terminal of the amplifier region to the source line in the first period and selectively disconnect the output terminal of the amplifier region from the source line in the second period.
Kong teaches a switch circuit configured to, based on a level of a first selection signal, selectively connect an output terminal of the amplifier region to the source line in the first period and selectively disconnect the output terminal of the amplifier region from the source line in the second period ([0054]-[0055]; [0067]; [0083]-[0088]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have included the switch circuit disclosed by Kong to the source driver of Lin in view of Lee so as to determine operation states of the first channel amplifier and the second channel amplifier based on a comparison result, before a first horizontal period in which the first pixel and the second pixel are driven (Kong: [0005]).
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin in view of Lee in view of Lee (US 20060221035) (Lee’035).
As per claim 17, Lin in view of Lee discloses the display device of claim 12.
However, Lin and Lee do not teach the driving controller is further configured to determine a magnitude of the load of the corresponding source line.
Lee’035 teaches to determine a magnitude of the load of the corresponding source line ([0037]-[0038]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the driving controller of Lin in view of Lee configured according to Lee’035 so as to provide a pulse for measuring the load of the data line to any one of the data lines (Lee’035: [0041]).
However, the prior art of Lin, Lee and Lee’035 do not teach the first period is a period of one horizontal period or less. Official Notice is taken that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the first period is a period of one horizontal period or less since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4, 7-10, 15 and 20 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of a display driving device comprising a source driver configured to output a data signal obtained by amplifying an input signal to a source line in a first period, and in a second period different from the first period, receive a detection signal from the source line and output a comparison result signal based on a comparison between the detection signal and the input signal does not teach or fairly suggest the driving controller is further configured to change the data multiple times in the second period, and determine a magnitude of the load of the source line based on data, among the data changed multiple times, related to the timing at which the level of the comparison result signal transitions in the second period, wherein the source driver is further configured to output a first data signal obtained by amplifying a first input signal to a first source line adjacent to the source line in the first period, the first input signal being different from the input signal, and in the second period, receive a first detection signal from the first source line and output a first comparison result signal by comparing the first detection signal and the first input signal, and wherein the driving controller is further configured to detect a short between the source line and the first source line based on the comparison result signal and the first comparison result signal, wherein the source driver further includes a ramp signal generator configured to provide a ramp signal that increases or decreases with a constant slope as the input signal in the second period, a ramp signal generator configured to provide a ramp signal that increases or decreases with a constant slope as the input signal in the second period, and a multiplexer circuit configured to, based on a level of a second selection signal, selectively connect an input terminal of the amplifier region to the digital-to-analog converter in the first period and selectively connect the input terminal of the amplifier region to the ramp signal generator in the second period.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 12 and 19 have been considered but are moot because of the new grounds of rejection as presented above.
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 Nelson Lam whose telephone number is (571)272-8044. The examiner can normally be reached 1pm-9pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ke Xiao can be reached at 571 272-7776. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Nelson Lam/Examiner, Art Unit 2627
/KE XIAO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2627