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 . This office action is in response to the amendment filed 8/14/2026.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 12/10/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
Election/Restrictions
Based on prior art search and applicant argument, the restriction of 7/24/2026 is withdrawn. All claims 1-20 are considered in this office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1- 7 and 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhan et al (US 20160276616).
Regarding Claim 1, Zhan teaches a display device (abstract; figs. 1-6) comprising
a display panel that has a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction and is configured to allow a mirror image of an image viewed in plan view from one side of the display area to be viewed from another side (fig. 1, 1, 3/31, 2, 4/41; figs. 5-6, 1, 3/31, 2, 4/41, 7; ¶[0023], line 1-9, a display panel, which includes a first display surface 1, a second display surface 2, and a plurality of pixel units (not shown) arranged in an array form between the first display surface 1 and the second display surface 2. The display panel further includes a first shielding layer 3 that shields a portion of the first display surface 1, and a second shielding layer 4 that shields a portion of the second display surface 2),
wherein at least a partial area of the display area comprises:
a plurality of first areas each of which is visible from the one side and has a surface on the other side configured to be shielded from light (fig. 1, 1, 3/31; fig. 2, 3/31); and
a plurality of second areas each of which is visible from the other side and has a surface on the one side configured to be shielded from light (fig. 1, 2, 4/41; fig. 3, 4/41);
(¶[0026], line 1-20, the two display surfaces (e.g., the first display surface 1 and the second display surface 2) of the display panel are provided with the first shielding layer 3 and the second shielding layer 4 having patterns complementary to each other, and the first shielding units 31 of the first shielding layer 3 and the second shielding units 4 of the second shielding layer 4 are arranged in a staggered manner in both the row direction and the column direction, so as to shield the first display surface 1 and the second display surface 2 of the display panel in a dot-like manner. As a result, it is able for the first display surface 1 and the second display surface 2 of the display panel to display an identical image or different images, thereby to obtain a thin display panel with the double-sided display function….).
Regarding Claim 2, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein the first areas and the second areas are alternately arranged in the first direction (figs. 2-3, 3/31, 4/41).
Regarding Claim 3, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein the first areas and the second areas are alternately arranged in the second direction (figs. 2-3, 3/31, 4/41).
Regarding Claim 4, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein the first areas and the second areas are alternately arranged in the first direction, and the first areas and the second areas are alternately arranged in the second direction (figs. 2-3, 3/31, 4/41).
Regarding Claim 5, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 2, wherein the first areas and the second areas each comprise one pixel in the first direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
Regarding Claim 6, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 3, wherein the first areas and the second areas each comprise one pixel in the second direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
Regarding Claim 7, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 4, wherein
the first areas and the second areas each comprise one pixel in the first direction, and the first areas and the second areas each comprise one pixel in the second direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
Regarding Claim 11, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 2, wherein the first areas and the second areas each comprise a plurality of pixels in the first direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
Regarding Claim 12, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 3, wherein the first areas and the second areas each comprise a plurality of pixels in the second direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
Regarding Claim 13, Zhan teaches the display device according to claim 4, wherein the first areas and the second areas each comprise a plurality of pixels in the first direction, and the first areas and the second areas each comprise a plurality of pixels in the second direction (figs. 5-6, 7; ¶[0008], line 1-6, each first shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit, and each second shielding unit corresponds to at least one pixel unit. In this embodiment, one pixel unit or two or more pixel units may serve as a unit that is shielded in a dot-like manner).
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 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 8-10 and 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhan et al (US 20160276616) in a view of Zhang et al (US 20240047434).
Regarding Claim 8, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 5, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Regarding Claim 9, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 6, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Regarding Claim 10, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 7, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Regarding Claim 14, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 11, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Regarding Claim 15, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 12, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Regarding Claim 16, Zhan discloses as set forth above but does not specifically disclose that the display device according to claim 13, wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas.
However, Zhang teaches a double-surface display panel (abstract; figs 1-4), wherein, in plan view, light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the first areas on the other side overlap light-blocking portions on the surfaces of the second areas on the one side in predetermined areas including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (fig. 1, 20, 70, 50/40 and boundary lines of 50/40);
Zhan also teaches wherein including boundary lines between the first areas and the second areas (figs. 5-6, 7, line portions between 7s).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device of Zhan by the double-surface display panel of Zhang for a purpose of a display which to realize double-surface displays with a low thickness of modules and a great flatness (¶[0003], line 1-3).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 17-20 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 an examiner’s statement of reasons for the allowable subject matter: The prior art taken singularly or in combination fails to anticipate or fairly suggest the limitations of the claims, in such a manner that a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 would be proper.
In regard to claims 17-20, the prior art taken either singly or in combination fails to anticipate or fairly suggest an display device further comprising:
wherein luminance of the pixels in the first areas adjacent to the second areas is lower than luminance of the pixels in the first areas not adjacent to the second areas, and luminance of the pixels in the second areas adjacent to the first areas is lower than luminance of the pixels in the second areas not adjacent to the first areas.
Examiner’s Note
Regarding the references, the Examiner cites particular figures, paragraphs, columns and line numbers in the reference(s), as applied to the claims above. Although the particular citations are representative teachings and are applied to specific limitations within the claims, other passages, internally cited references, and figures may also apply. In preparing a response, it is respectfully requested that the Applicant fully consider the references, in their entirety, as potentially disclosing or teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as fully consider the context of the passage as taught by the reference(s) or as disclosed by the Examiner.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communication from the examiner should be directed to Jie Lei whose telephone number is (571) 272 7231. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by the telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Stephone Allen can be reached on (571) 272 2434.The Fax number for the organization where this application is assigned is (571) 273 8300.
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/JIE LEI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872
Prosecution Insights