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 .
Response to Arguments
Examiner has carefully considered Applicant’s Remarks dated June 16, 2026.
The objection to the specification is overcome as a result of the title of the invention having been amended to be more descriptive.
The objection to claim 20 is overcome as a result of claim 20 having been amended to be more descriptive.
As for Applicant’s argument regarding amended independent claim 1 overcoming the art: “Thus, the second data lines in Oh correspond to data lines with a different function than the current claims, nothing in Oh suggests a compensation line distinct from data lines, specifically a separate "compensation line to which a signal opposite to a single of the communication line is applied" as recited in claim 1.” (Remarks, pages 8-9); claim 1 does not recite that the compensation line is distinct or separate from the data lines.
As for Applicant’s argument regarding amended independent claim 1 overcoming the art: “Furthermore, there is no teaching or suggestion Oh to create a compensation line that applies a signal opposite to the signal of the communication line where the communication line is used for communication of the driver integrated circuit with the processor.” (Remarks, page 9); paragraph 85 of Oh teaches “In other words, the first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) receives a first pixel data signal corresponding to the first pixel data from the timing controller 150, and converts the first pixel data signal into a first data voltage to apply the converted first data voltage to the first data lines DL1.”
Paragraph 20 of Oh teaches “When the touch sensor driver drives the second touch sensors, the second gate driving circuit may be configured not to output the gate signal to the second display area, and the second data driving circuit may be configured to output a first noise compensation voltage having a phase opposite to a phase of the first data voltage to the second data lines,” Therefore, a compensation voltage is applied having a phase opposite that of the first data voltage – where the first data voltage is based on the first pixel data signal sent from the timing controller 150 to the first data driving circuit 112.
Accordingly, independent claim 1 remains rejected. The similarly amended independent claim 20 remains rejected as well. The dependent claims also remain rejected.
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.
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)(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, 10, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Oh (US 2025/0217029 A1).
Instant Claim 1: A display device (“The present embodiment relates to a display device and a method for driving the display device,” (Oh, abstract))
comprising: an electronic panel (“For this, the display device includes a display panel 100 (fig 3),” (Oh, paragraph 62) The display panel 100 of Oh corresponds to the electronic panel of the claim.)
including a touch panel and a display panel, (“Meanwhile, in the present disclosure, first touch sensors may be disposed on the first display area AA1 (fig 3) of the display panel 100. Further, second touch sensors may be disposed on the second display area AA2.” (Oh, paragraph 77) Referring to fig 3 of Oh, the combination of the first display area AA1 and the second display area AA2 corresponds to the touch panel and display panel of the claim.)
the touch panel includes a touch electrode (“The first touch wires TL1 and the second touch wires TL2 (fig 4) may include TX wires Tx through which driving signals for driving the touch sensors are applied and RX wires Rx through which touch sensing signals of the touch sensors are transmitted.” (Oh, paragraph 97) The touch sensors of Oh contain electrodes, corresponding to the touch electrode of the claim.)
and the display panel includes a pixel; (“In the first display area AA1 (fig 3), first data lines DL1 and first gate lines GL1 crossing the first data lines DL1 are disposed, and first pixels 101 are disposed in a matrix form.” (Oh, paragraph 67))
a driver integrated circuit that provides a data voltage to the pixel through data lines, (“The first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) and the first touch driving circuit 132 may be integrated into one drive integrated circuit (IC). … The first data driving circuit 112 may write, on the first pixels 101, the first pixel data corresponding to a first divided image that is displayed on the first display area AA1 among unit frame images.” (Oh, paragraphs 83-84) The drive integrated circuit and first pixel data of Oh correspond to the driver integrated circuit and data voltage of the claim, respectively.)
the driver integrated circuit communicates with a processor through a communication line; (“In other words, the first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) receives a first pixel data signal corresponding to the first pixel data from the timing controller 150, and converts the first pixel data signal into a first data voltage to apply the converted first data voltage to the first data lines DL1.” (Oh, paragraph 85) The timing controller 150 of Oh corresponds to the processor of the claim.
In addition, the line of Oh connecting the first data driving circuit 112 and the timing controller 150 corresponds to the communication line of the claim.)
a touch driver connected to the touch electrode through a touch line, (“The first touch driving circuit 132 is connected to first touch wires TL1, … The first touch wires TL1 are connected to the first touch sensors disposed in the first touch area TA1 of FIG. 4,” (Oh, paragraph 96) The first touch driving circuit 132 and first touch wires TL1 of Oh correspond to the touch driver and touch line of the claim, respectively.)
the touch driver drives the touch panel; (“The touch sensor driver may include: a first touch driving circuit configured to drive the first touch sensors while the second pixel data is written on the second pixels;” (Oh, paragraph 23))
and a compensation line to which a signal opposite to a signal of the communication line is applied. (“When the touch sensor driver drives the second touch sensors, the second gate driving circuit may be configured not to output the gate signal to the second display area, and the second data driving circuit may be configured to output a first noise compensation voltage having a phase opposite to a phase of the first data voltage to the second data lines,” (Oh, paragraph 20) The second data lines of Oh correspond to the compensation line of the claim.)
Instant Claim 10: The display device of claim 1, wherein the driver integrated circuit applies the signal opposite to the signal of the communication line to the compensation line. (“The first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) and the first touch driving circuit 132 may be integrated into one drive integrated circuit (IC).” (Oh, paragraph 83)
“In other words, the first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) receives a first pixel data signal corresponding to the first pixel data from the timing controller 150, and converts the first pixel data signal into a first data voltage to apply the converted first data voltage to the first data lines DL1.” (Oh, paragraph 85))
Instant Claim 20: An electronic device, (“The present embodiment relates to a display device and a method for driving the display device,” (Oh, abstract) The display device of Oh corresponds to the electronic device of the claim.)
comprising: a processor to provide input image data; (“In other words, the first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) receives a first pixel data signal corresponding to the first pixel data from the timing controller 150, and converts the first pixel data signal into a first data voltage to apply the converted first data voltage to the first data lines DL1.” (Oh, paragraph 85) The timing controller 150 of Oh corresponds to the processor of the claim.)
and a display device to display an image based on the input image data, the display device comprising: an electronic panel including a touch panel and a display panel, the touch panel includes a touch electrode and the display panel includes a pixel; a driver integrated circuit that provides a data voltage to the pixel through data lines, the driver integrated circuit communicates with the processor through a communication line; a touch driver connected to the touch electrode through a touch line, the touch driver drives the touch panel; and a compensation line to which a signal opposite to a signal of the communication line is applied. (This portion of claim 20 is substantially identical to claim 1, and thus, is rejected under similar rationale.)
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2-7, 11, and 21-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oh.
Instant Claim 2: The display device of claim 1, wherein the compensation line overlaps with at least a portion of the touch line on a plane. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 1, but does not disclose various lines overlapping each other. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 3: The display device of claim 1, wherein the communication line overlaps with at least a portion of the touch line on a plane. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 1, but does not disclose various lines overlapping each other. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 4: The display device of claim 1, wherein the compensation line is adjacent to at least a portion of the touch line. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 1, but does not disclose the second data lines DL2 being adjacent to the first touch wires TL1. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 5: The display device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the compensation line is disposed on the touch line. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 1, but does not disclose the second data lines DL2 being disposed on the first touch wires TL1. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 6: The display device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the compensation line is disposed between the touch line and the communication line. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 1, but does not disclose the second data lines DL2 being disposed between the first touch wires TL1 and the line connecting the first data driving circuit 112 and the timing controller 150. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 7: The display device of claim 1, wherein the touch driver applies the signal opposite to the signal of the communication line to the compensation line. (“When the touch sensor driver drives the second touch sensors, the second gate driving circuit may be configured not to output the gate signal to the second display area, and the second data driving circuit may be configured to output a first noise compensation voltage having a phase opposite to a phase of the first data voltage to the second data lines,” (Oh, paragraph 20) Whether the first data driving circuit or the second data driving circuit of Oh applies the compensation voltage is a matter of design choice.)
Instant Claim 11: The display device of claim 10, wherein the driver integrated circuit is disposed in the electronic panel, (“The first data driving circuit 112 (fig 1) and the first touch driving circuit 132 may be integrated into one drive integrated circuit (IC).” (Oh, paragraph 83) Referring to fig 3 of Oh, the first data driving circuit 112 is at least partially disposed in the display panel 100.)
and wherein the compensation line is adjacent to the touch line in the electronic panel. (This portion of claim 11 is substantially identical to claim 4, and thus, is rejected under similar rationale.)
Instant claim 21: (Claim 21 is substantially identical to claim 2, and thus, is rejected under similar rationale.)
Instant claim 22: (Claim 22 is substantially identical to claim 3, and thus, is rejected under similar rationale.)
Instant claim 23: (Claim 23 is substantially identical to claim 4, and thus, is rejected under similar rationale.)
Claims 8 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oh in view of Kim (US 2015/0185960 A1).
Instant Claim 8: The display device of claim 7, wherein the touch driver is disposed on a flexible printed circuit connected to the electronic panel, (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 7, but does not disclose a flexible printed circuit. However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim teaches the use of a flexible printed circuit board for an organic light emitting diode display: “The OLED display may further include a display driver formed in the peripheral area and configured to apply driving signals to the pixels and a touch driver formed over the touch flexible printed circuit board” (Lim, paragraph 20))
and wherein the compensation line extends to the electronic panel in the flexible printed circuit. (“When the touch sensor driver drives the second touch sensors, the second gate driving circuit may be configured not to output the gate signal to the second display area, and the second data driving circuit may be configured to output a first noise compensation voltage having a phase opposite to a phase of the first data voltage to the second data lines,” (Oh, paragraph 20) The second data lines DL2 of Oh receive signals from the second data driving circuit, and therefore, if the second data driving circuit were disposed on a printed flexible circuit board of the type of Kim, the second data lines DL2 would extend to the flexible printed circuit board.)
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to combine the display device as taught by Oh; with the OLED display as taught by Kim, wherein the OLED display includes a printed flexible circuit board. Such a combination involves incorporating a known feature (Kim) into a known device in order to yield the predictable result of a flexible, lightweight, and compact connection component.
Instant Claim 9: The display device of claim 8, wherein the compensation line is adjacent to the touch line in the electronic panel. (Oh teaches the display device in accordance with claim 8, but does not disclose the second data lines DL2 being adjacent to the first touch wires TL1. However, according to section 2144.04 of the MPEP, under the heading Rearrangement of Parts, in the case of In re Kuhle the courts ruled “the particular placement of a contact in a conductivity measuring device was held to be an obvious matter of design choice”. Similarly in Oh, the particular placement of the various lines is an obvious matter of design choice.)
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
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/YARON COHEN/
Examiner, Art Unit 2626
Prosecution Insights