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 Objections
Claims 1, 3, 10, 16 and 18-19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claims 1, 10 and 16, the limitations “the state-changed output signal” should be amended to read --- a state-changed output signal---. Furthermore, claims 1 and 10 recites “change the output signal of the power management circuit”. These limitations should be amended to read ---change the state of the output signal of the power management circuit---.
Regarding claim 3, the limitations recite “the touch circuit” and “the display circuit”. However, claim 3 is a dependent claim of claim 1, wherein claim 1 does not recite “a touch circuit” and “a display circuit”. The touch circuit and the display circuit are introduced in claim 2. Therefore, the limitations “the power management circuit according to claim 1” should be amended to read --- the power management circuit according to claim 2---.
Regarding claim 18, the limitations recite “the touch circuit”. However, claim 18 is a dependent claim of claim 16, wherein claim 16 does not recite “a touch circuit”. The touch circuit is introduced in claim 17. Therefore, the limitations “the method according to claim 16” should be amended to read --- the method according to claim 17---. Furthermore, the limitations “the intensity of the output signal” should be amended to read ---an intensity of the output signal---.
Regarding claim 19, the limitations recite “the touch circuit” and “the display circuit”. However, claim 19 is a dependent claim of claim 16, wherein claim 16 does not recite “a touch circuit” and “a display circuit”. The touch circuit and the display circuit are introduced in claim 17. Therefore, the limitations “the method according to claim 16” should be amended to read --- the method according to claim 17---.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites “wherein the power control signal includes first information on changing a state of an output signal according to the driving mode of the panel and second information on changing a control target circuit to which the state-changed output signal is to be transferred; an output signal change circuit configured to change the output signal of the power management circuit in response to the first information included in the power control signal; a control target selection circuit configured to select a control target circuit to which the output signal is to be transferred in response to the second information included in the power control signal; and an output signal transmission circuit configured to transfer the output signal to the control target circuit”. It is unclear if the output signal corresponds to the state-changed output signal. For examination purpose, “the output signal” and the state-changed output signal will be interpreted to be the same.
Claims 10 and 16 have similar issues and therefore are similarly rejected.
Claim 6 recites the limitation “the output signals” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 2-5, 7-15, 17 and 20 are rejected due to their dependency from claims 1, 10 and 16 respectively.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1 and 10 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 14 of U.S. Patent No. Yoon et al. (US 12,259,772). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the present claims are merely obvious variations of the patented claims.
Below is a comparison between present claim 1 and patented claim 14:
Present claim 1
Patented claim 14
A power management circuit comprising:
a control signal reception circuit configured to receive a power control signal, for controlling an operation of the power management circuit in correspondence to a driving mode of a panel, from a microcontroller which receives information on the driving mode of the panel,
wherein the power control signal includes first information on changing a state of an output signal according to the driving mode of the panel and second information on changing a control target circuit to which the state-changed output signal is to be transferred;
an output signal change circuit configured to change the output signal of the power management circuit in response to the first information included in the power control signal;
a control target selection circuit configured to select a control target circuit to which the output signal is to be transferred in response to the second information included in the power control signal; and
an output signal transmission circuit configured to transfer the output signal to the control target circuit.
A microcontroller for acquiring touch information of a panel, comprising:
a driving mode determination circuit configured to receive information on a driving mode of the panel from a host device and to determine a touch or display operation of the panel;
a control signal generation circuit configured to generate a power control signal which changes an output signal of a power management circuit in correspondence to the driving mode of the panel; and a communication circuit configured to communicate with the power management circuit by transferring the power control signal to the power management circuit,
The microcontroller according to claim wherein the power control signal is configured to trigger changing a target to which the output signal of the power management circuit is to be transferred or a state of the output signal according to the driving mode of the panel.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art:
I. to use “a control signal reception circuit configured to receive a power control signal, for controlling an operation of the power management circuit in correspondence to a driving mode of a panel, from a microcontroller which receives information on the driving mode of the panel” corresponding to the “control signal generation circuit configured to generate a power control signal which changes an output signal of a power management circuit in correspondence to the driving mode of the panel” of patented claim 10;
II. that in order for “the power control signal is configured to trigger changing a target to which the output signal of the power management circuit is to be transferred or a state of the output signal according to the driving mode of the panel” in patented claim 14,
a) the “trigger by the power control signal of the changing of a target to which the output signal of the power management circuit is to be transferred” could be implemented by a control target selection circuit configured to select a control target circuit for such changing of the target, and information of the power control signal, nominally “second information” to enable/carry out such trigger by the power control signal;
b) the “trigger by the power control signal of the changing of a state of the output signal according to the driving mode of the panel” could be implemented by an output signal change circuit configured to change the output signal of the power management circuit for such changing of a state of the output signal, and information of the power control signal, nominally “first information” to enable/carry out such trigger by the power control signal.
Claim 10 is similarly rejected over patented claim 14.
Allowable Subject Matter
7. Claim 16 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
8. Claims 2-9, 11-15 and 17-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
9. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jang et al. (US 2019/0121476) discloses a display device comprising a power management circuit configured to receive a simple timing signal from a timing controller, a microcontroller configured to provide a touch synchronization signal to the timing controller and a power circuit, and a driving mode of a panel including a normal mode and a sleep mode.
Shin et al. (US 2020/0019270) discloses a display device comprising a power management circuit configured to supply power to an integrating integrated circuit SRIC, a gate driving circuit GDC and a touch power integrated circuit TPIC based on a voltage from a first power source or a second power source, a touch controller configured to receive a voltage from the second power source and a driving mode of a panel comprising a normal mode, a low power wake-up gesture mode and a sleep mode.
Kim et al. (US 2017/0102825) discloses a display device comprising a power control circuit, a signal control circuit and a driving mode of a panel comprising a display mode and a touch mode.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HONG ZHOU whose telephone number is (571)270-5372. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00-5:00 PM.
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/HONG ZHOU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2629