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 .
Examiner’s Notes
A ratio ranging from 0.9 to 1.1 is read as encompassing a ratio of 1, which is interpreted as equal distances between traces.
An acknowledgment of foreign priority would be made in the office action summary, but no priority documents seem to be on file. It is respectfully requested that the Applicant confirms whether the documents filed on 01/16/2025 in a foreign language constitute priority documents.
Exemplary claim 1 only generically states “first touch trace;” “second touch trace; and “third touch trace.” However, there is no further delineation of whether the traces are separated from each other in any way, or which traces belong to which touch electrode.
Referring to figures 3 and 4 of the instant application, it seems that there are different mesh structures groups with distances between traces that are different from the other mesh structures. However, the claims do not clearly incorporate such limitations.
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, 10-11, 13, 19, and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim et al (Publication number: US 2021/0191575).
Consider Claim 1, Kim et al shows a touch electrode structure, applied in a touch panel, and comprising a first touch electrode and a second touch electrode insulated from the first touch electrode (see figures 2 and 3):
(a) Wherein the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode each comprise a plurality of touch traces, wherein the plurality of touch traces comprise a first touch trace, a second touch trace, and a third touch trace that are arranged sequentially and adjacent in a first direction (see figure 19A; and paragraphs 270-280); (The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 may be implemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. The conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may be implemented as a metal mesh or a conductive trace).
(b) A ratio of a first distance between the first touch trace and the second touch trace in the first direction to a second distance between the second touch trace and the third touch trace in the first direction ranging from 0.9 to 1.1;wherein the first direction is one arrangement direction of a plurality of sub-pixels that are arranged in an array and of a display substrate in the touch panel (see figures 19A-19C; and paragraphs 371-375); (The touch window region S may include some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7).
Consider Claim 13, Kim et al shows a method for preparing a touch electrode structure, wherein the touch electrode structure is applied in a touch panel (see figures 2 and 3), and comprises:
(a) A first touch electrode and a second touch electrode insulated from the first touch electrode; and the method comprises: forming a touch electrode film; and acquiring a plurality of touch traces comprised in the first touch electrode and/or the second touch electrode by patterning the touch electrode film using a mask (see figure 19A; and paragraphs 270-280); (The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 may be implemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. The conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may be implemented as a metal mesh or a conductive trace).
(b) Wherein the plurality of touch traces comprise a first touch trace, a second touch trace, and a third touch trace that are arranged sequentially and adjacent in a first direction, and a ratio of a first distance between the first touch trace and the second touch trace in the first direction to a second distance between the second touch trace and the third touch trace in the first direction ranges from 0.9 to 1.1; wherein the first direction comprises one arrangement direction of a plurality of sub- pixels that are arranged in an array and of a display substrate in the touch panel (see figures 19A-19C; and paragraphs 371-375); (The touch window region S may include some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7).
Consider Claim 19, Kim et al shows a touch panel, comprising a display substrate and a touch electrode structure, wherein the touch electrode structure is disposed on the display substrate and the touch electrode structure, applied in a touch panel (see figures 2 and 3), and comprising:
(a) A first touch electrode and a second touch electrode insulated from the first touch electrode; wherein the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode each comprise a plurality of touch traces, wherein the plurality of touch traces comprise a first touch trace, a second touch trace, and a third touch trace that are arranged sequentially and adjacent in a first direction (see figure 19A; and paragraphs 270-280); (The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 may be implemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. The conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may be implemented as a metal mesh or a conductive trace).
(b) A ratio of a first distance between the first touch trace and the second touch trace in the first direction to a second distance between the second touch trace and the third touch trace in the first direction ranging from 0.9 to 1.1; wherein the first direction is one arrangement direction of a plurality of sub-pixels that are arranged in an array and of a display substrate in the touch panel (see figures 19A-19C; and paragraphs 371-375); (The touch window region S may include some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7).
Consider Claim 10, Kim et al shows that the plurality of touch traces further comprise a ninth touch trace and a tenth touch trace; wherein each of the ninth touch trace and the tenth touch trace is any one touch trace other than the second touch trace in the plurality of touch traces, and the ninth touch trace and the tenth touch trace are arranged and adjacent in the first direction; and a ratio of a distance between the ninth touch trace and the tenth touch trace in the first direction to the first distance and a ratio of the distance between the ninth touch trace and the tenth touch trace in the first direction to the second distance both range from 0.9 to 1.1 (see figure 19A; and paragraphs 270-280); (The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 may be implemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. The conductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may be implemented as a metal mesh or a conductive trace).
Consider Claim 11, Kim et al shows that the display substrate in the touch panel comprises the plurality of sub- pixels and a plurality of sensors; a plurality of mesh structures formed by the plurality of touch traces comprise a sub-pixel target mesh structure and a sensor target mesh structure, the sub- pixel target mesh structure surrounding a light-emitting region of at least one of the sub-pixels, and the sensor target mesh structure surrounding at least one of the sensors; wherein the sub-pixel target mesh structure comprises an eleventh touch trace and a twelfth touch trace arranged in the first direction, and the sensor target mesh structure comprises a thirteenth touch trace and a fourteenth touch trace arranged in the first direction; wherein a ratio of a ninth distance between the eleventh touch trace and the twelfth touch trace in the first direction to a tenth distance between the thirteenth touch trace and the fourteenth touch trace in the first direction ranges from 0.9 to 1.1; a ratio of the ninth distance to the first distance and a ratio of the ninth distance to the second distance both range from 0.9 to 1.1; and a ratio of the tenth distance to the first distance and a ratio of the tenth distance to the second distance both range from 0.9 to 1.1 (see figures 19A-19C; and paragraphs 371-375); (The touch window region S may include some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7).
Consider Claim 24, Kim et al shows a power supply, wherein the power supply assembly is configured to supply power to the touch panel (see figures 1C and 8).
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 2-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al (Publication number: US 2021/0191575) in view of Barton et al (Publication number: US 2013/0207911).
Consider Claim 2, Kim et al does not specifically show that the plurality of touch traces form a plurality of mesh structures with each of the mesh structures being in a hexagonal shape, the plurality of mesh structures comprising a first target mesh structure and a second target mesh structure that are arranged and adjacent in the first direction; wherein the first touch trace is a touch trace, away from the second target mesh structure, of the first target mesh structure, the second touch trace is a touch trace shared by the first target mesh structure and the second target mesh structure, and the third touch trace is a touch trace, away from the first target mesh structure, of the second target mesh structure.
In related art, Barton et al shows that the plurality of touch traces form a plurality of mesh structures with each of the mesh structures being in a hexagonal shape, the plurality of mesh structures comprising a first target mesh structure and a second target mesh structure that are arranged and adjacent in the first direction; wherein the first touch trace is a touch trace, away from the second target mesh structure, of the first target mesh structure, the second touch trace is a touch trace shared by the first target mesh structure and the second target mesh structure, and the third touch trace is a touch trace, away from the first target mesh structure, of the second target mesh structure (see paragraphs 56 and 57); (Preferred conductive micropatterns include regions with two dimensional meshes, e.g. square grids, rectangular (non-square) grids, or regular hexagonal networks, where conductive traces define enclosed open areas within the mesh that are not deposited with conductor that is in electrical contact with the traces of the mesh. The open spaces and associated conductor traces at their edges are referred to herein as cells. Other useful geometries for mesh cells include random cell shapes and irregular polygons).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the teaching of Barton et al into the teaching of Kim et al in order for the display to be viewed through the region of conductive micropattern (see Barton et al; paragraphs 56-57).
Consider Claim 3, Kim et al shows that the first direction is a column direction of the sub-pixels in the touch panel or a row direction of the sub-pixels in the touch panel. wherein the plurality of mesh structures further comprise a third target mesh structure adjacent to both the first target mesh structure and the second target mesh structure, wherein the third target mesh structure and the second touch trace are arranged in a second direction, the second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a touch trace shared by the third target mesh structure and the first target mesh structure intersects with both the first direction and the second direction, and a touch trace shared by the third target mesh structure and the second target mesh structure intersects with both the first direction and the second direction (see figures 19A-19C; and paragraphs 371-375); (The touch window region S may include some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-8, 14, 16-18, and 20-23 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL A FARAGALLA whose telephone number is (571)270-1107. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00.
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/MICHAEL A FARAGALLA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2624 06/26/2026
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