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 .
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 4-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chang et al. (US 2023/0200183).
Regarding claim 1, Chang discloses a display device (see figures 1-3, for instance), comprising: a display assembly (elements located on substrate 101), provided with a plurality of display areas (see figure 1), wherein each of the display areas is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas (R-SP, B-SP, G-SP), each of the sub-display areas comprises an information-displaying part (EA) and an information-shielding part (NEA, see figure 3, for instance), and the information-shielding part (NEW) is located beside the information-displaying part (EA); and a microlens array (200), disposed opposite to the display assembly (101), wherein the microlens array (200) comprises a plurality of microlenses (203) respectively opposite to the sub-display areas (R-SP, B-SP, G-SP, see figure 2).
Regarding claim 2, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the display assembly comprises a display panel, the display panel is provided with the display areas (see figure 1), and the information-displaying part (EA) and the information-shielding part (NEA) each comprise a plurality of pixels.
Regarding claim 4, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the display assembly comprises: a backlight module ([0050]); and an imaging sheet (102), disposed between the microlens array (200) and the backlight module ([0050]), wherein the imaging sheet is provided with the display areas (see figures 2-3, for instance).
Regarding claim 5, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (119) disposed between the imaging sheet (102) and the backlight module ([0050]), the shielding layer (119) is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns, and the shielding patterns are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (NEA) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 6, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (201) disposed between the imaging sheet (102) and the microlens array (203), the shielding layer (201) is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns, and the shielding patterns are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (NEA) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 7, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (201) disposed on one side of the microlens array (203) away from the imaging sheet (102), the shielding layer (201) is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns, and the shielding patterns are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (NEA) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 8, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the information-shielding part (NEA) of each of the sub-display areas is provided with a light-shielding pattern (119, 201).
Regarding claim 9, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the information-shielding part (119, NEA) is disposed beside at least one side edge of the information-displaying part (EA).
Regarding claim 10, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the information-shielding part (119, NEA) surrounds the information-displaying part (EA).
Claim(s) 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Parry-Jones et al. (US 2011/0018860).
Regarding claim 1, Parry-Jones discloses a display device (see figures 1-7 and 15-16, for instance), comprising: a display assembly, provided with a plurality of display areas (see figure 7), wherein each of the display areas is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas (each row includes sub-areas with elements 1, 2), each of the sub-display areas comprises an information-displaying part (1) and an information-shielding part (2), and the information-shielding part (2) is located beside the information-displaying part (1); and a microlens array (array of element 4), disposed opposite to the display assembly, wherein the microlens array (array of 4) comprises a plurality of microlenses (4) respectively opposite to the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 2, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the display assembly comprises a display panel (see figure 15, for instance), the display panel is provided with the display areas (12), and the information-displaying part (12) and the information-shielding part (13) each comprise a plurality of pixels.
Regarding claim 3, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 2, wherein the display assembly further comprises a backlight module (10) disposed opposite to the display panel (17).
Regarding claim 4, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the display assembly comprises: a backlight module (10); and an imaging sheet (11), disposed between the microlens array (4) and the backlight module (10), wherein the imaging sheet (11) is provided with the display areas (see figure 15).
Regarding claim 5, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (13) disposed between the imaging sheet (11) and the backlight module (10), the shielding layer is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns (13), and the shielding patterns are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (2) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 6, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (3) disposed between the imaging sheet (11) and the microlens array (4), the shielding layer (3) is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns (3), and the shielding patterns are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (13) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 7, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the display assembly further comprises a shielding layer (3) disposed on one side of the microlens array (4) away from the imaging sheet (11), the shielding layer is provided with a plurality of shielding patterns (3), and the shielding patterns (3) are respectively opposite to the information-shielding parts (13) of the sub-display areas.
Regarding claim 8, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 4, wherein the information-shielding part (13) of each of the sub-display areas is provided with a light-shielding pattern (13).
Regarding claim 9, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the information-shielding part (13) is disposed beside at least one side edge of the information-displaying part (12).
Regarding claim 10, Parry-Jones discloses the display device according to claim 1, wherein the information-shielding part (13) surrounds the information-displaying part (12).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chang in view of Parry-Jones.
Regarding claim 3, Chang discloses the display device according to claim 2, wherein the display assembly further comprises a backlight module ([0050]). However, Chang does not expressly disclose wherein the backlight module is disposed opposite to the display panel.
Parry-Jones discloses a display device (see figure 15, for instance), wherein the OLED ([0113]) display assembly (17) further comprises a backlight module (10) disposed opposite to the display panel (11).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the backlight module structure of Parry-Jones in the device of Chang. The motivation for doing so would have been to use an adaptable lighting method for transmissive displays while adding little or no extra thickness to the display panel, as taught by Parry-Jones ([0064]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHANAEL R BRIGGS whose telephone number is (571)272-8992. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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/NATHANAEL R BRIGGS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871 8/13/2026
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