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 Amendment
1. Amendment filed on 12/30/2025 has been entered. Claims 1, 13, and 16 have been amended and claim 8 has been canceled.
Response to Arguments
2. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
3. Claim(s) 1-4 and 9-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (US 2021/0201793) in view of Moon et al (US 2023/0178034).
As to claim 1, Lin teaches a display device comprising:
a display panel including a pixel (plurality of pixels 51, fig. 1) and displaying an image (see fig. 1); and
a driver (circuit comprising a processing unit 1, a controller 2, a data driver 3 and a gate driver 4) converting input image data (input signal, IN, fig. 1) into image data (TX, fig. 1), generating a data signal based on the image data (frame data signal DATA, fig. 1), and providing the data signal to the pixel according to a refresh rate (DATA, fig. 1),
wherein when changing the refresh rate from a first refresh rate to a second refresh rate to display an image with a first luminance, the driver adjusts a luminance of a first frame in which the image is displayed at the second refresh rate to a second luminance which is different from the first luminance ([0025] In FIG. 5A, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is smaller than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is larger than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. As a result, in the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is smaller than the initial duty ratio. With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations), and
Lin does not teach wherein the driver as claimed.
However, Moon teaches wherein the driver converts the input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applies a weight to generate the image data of the first frame ([0108] FIG. 16 is a table illustrating a detailed example where weights reflected in a data voltage of an input gray level are differently set based on a refresh rate, [0120] The refresh rate setting unit 112 (Fig. 17) can adjust the number of anode reset frames disposed between adjacent refresh frames based on the refresh rate variation information to vary a refresh period of the digital video data DATA, [0127] The data modulator 118 can reflect the weight, generated by the weight generator 117, in the current frame data to modulate the current frame data).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin to teach, converting input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applying a weight, as suggested by Moon. The motivation would have been in order adjust “a level of a flicker compensation data voltage” ([0108]).
As to claim 2, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein when the second refresh rate is smaller than the first refresh rate, the driver reduces the second luminance to be lower than the first luminance (Lin: [0025] In FIG. 5A, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is smaller than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is larger than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. As a result, in the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is smaller than the initial duty ratio. With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
As to claim 3, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein in response to a change in the refresh rate, the driver changes an on-duty, which represents a ratio of time the pixel emits light during one frame, and a peak luminance according to the time of the image (Lin: [0025] With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations thereof).
As to claim 4, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the driver adjusts the peak luminance according to the time of the image in the first frame to be between a first peak luminance according to the first refresh rate and a second peak luminance according to the second refresh rate (Lin: [0025] In FIG. 5A, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is smaller than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is larger than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. As a result, in the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is smaller than the initial duty ratio. With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
8. (Canceled)
As to claim 9, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the driver drives the display panel to display the image having the first luminance in a second frame after the first frame (paragraph [0025] of Lin discloses that the display adjusts the luminance when the refreshing rate is changed. Examiner’s note: Consequently, it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that it is unnecessary to change the luminance when the refresh rate remains constant).
As to claim 10, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein when a difference between the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate is greater than a reference value, the driver adjusts the luminance of a second frame after the first frame to be between the first luminance and the second luminance (Lin: [0028] Another way performed based on the above illustrated structure is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Among the plurality of frame periods Pf, there is a middle frame period Pfm between the former frame period Pff and the latter frame period Pfl, while the middle frame period Pfm has a PWM part with a middle duty ratio between the initial duty ratio and the final duty ratio as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, [0025] With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
As to claim 11, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein when the second refresh rate is smaller than the first refresh rate, the driver increases the second luminance to be higher than the first luminance (Lin: [0025] in FIG. 5B, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is larger than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is smaller than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. In the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is larger than the initial duty ratio. Thereby, the decreased quantity of light caused by the shorter last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the increased quantities of light caused by the longer other on-durations DONL thereof).
As to claim 12, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device wherein when a difference or ratio between the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate is outside of a reference range, the driver adjusts the luminance of the first frame to the second luminance (Lin: see entire paragraph [0025]), and wherein when the difference or ratio is within the reference range, the driver maintains the luminance of the first frame at the first luminance (paragraph [0025] of Lin discloses that the display adjusts the luminance when the refreshing rate is changed. Examiner’s note: Consequently, it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that it is unnecessary to change the luminance when the refresh rate remains constant).
As to claim 13, Lin teaches an electronic device comprising:
a processor providing input image data ([0021] the processing unit 1 can receive the input signal IN); and
a display device displaying an image having a first luminance corresponding to the input image data ([0021] the processing unit 1 can receive the input signal IN to generate an image signal PI and a data enable signal DE based on the input signal IN. The image signal PI includes contents of frames to be displayed by the display panel 5),
wherein when the processor changes a refresh rate of the image from a first refresh rate to a second refresh rate, the display device displays the image at a second luminance which is different from the first luminance for at least one frame ([0025] In FIG. 5A, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is smaller than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is larger than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. As a result, in the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is smaller than the initial duty ratio. With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations), and displays the image at the first luminance after the at least one frame (Examiner’s note: if the refreshing rate changes back to the first refresh rate, the luminance also changes from the second luminance to the first luminance), and
Lin does not teach wherein the driver as claimed.
However, Moon teaches wherein the driver converts the input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applies a weight to generate the image data of the first frame ([0108] FIG. 16 is a table illustrating a detailed example where weights reflected in a data voltage of an input gray level are differently set based on a refresh rate, [0120] The refresh rate setting unit 112 (Fig. 17) can adjust the number of anode reset frames disposed between adjacent refresh frames based on the refresh rate variation information to vary a refresh period of the digital video data DATA, [0127] The data modulator 118 can reflect the weight, generated by the weight generator 117, in the current frame data to modulate the current frame data).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin to teach, converting input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applying a weight, as suggested by Moon. The motivation would have been in order adjust “a level of a flicker compensation data voltage” ([0108]).
As to claim 14, Lin in view of Moon teaches the electronic device, wherein when the second refresh rate is smaller than the first refresh rate, the display device reduces the second luminance to be lower than the first luminance (Lin: [0025] In FIG. 5A, the length LPG2 of the latter programming part is smaller than the length LPG1 of the former programming part due to the refresh rate variation, and thus the length LPWM2 of the latter PWM part is larger than the length LPWM1 of the former PWM part. As a result, in the compensation procedure, the controller 2 adjusts the duty ratio of the PWM part from the initial duty ratio of the former PWM part to the final duty ratio of the latter PWM part, and the final duty ratio is smaller than the initial duty ratio. With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
As to claim 15, Lin in view of Moon teaches the electronic device, wherein the display device changes a peak luminance according to a time of the image according to the refresh rate, and adjusts the peak luminance in the at least one frame to be between a first peak luminance according to the first refresh rate and a second peak luminance according to the second refresh rate (Lin: [0028] Another way performed based on the above illustrated structure is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Among the plurality of frame periods Pf, there is a middle frame period Pfm between the former frame period Pff and the latter frame period Pfl, while the middle frame period Pfm has a PWM part with a middle duty ratio between the initial duty ratio and the final duty ratio as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, [0025] With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
As to claim 16, Lin teaches a display device comprising:
a display panel including a pixel (plurality of pixels 51, fig. 1) and displaying an image (see fig. 1); and
a driver (circuit comprising a processing unit 1, a controller 2, a data driver 3 and a gate driver 4) converting input image data (input signal, IN, fig. 1) into image data (TX, fig. 1), generating a data signal based on the image data (frame data signal DATA, fig. 1), and providing the data signal to the pixel according to a refresh rate (DATA, fig. 1),
wherein when changing the refresh rate from a first refresh rate to a second refresh rate to display an image with a first luminance, in a third section between a first section displaying the image at the first refresh rate and a second section displaying the image at the second refresh rate, the driver adjusts a luminance of the image to a second luminance which is different from the first luminance ([0028] Among the plurality of frame periods Pf, there is a middle frame period Pfm between the former frame period Pff and the latter frame period Pfl, while the middle frame period Pfm has a PWM part with a middle duty ratio between the initial duty ratio and the final duty ratio as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Namely, the duty ratio is gradually adjusted during the compensation procedure, [0030] the change in quantity of light due to refresh rate variation can be compensated by the adjustment in duty ratios of PWM parts of frame periods Pf, so as to reduce the brightness change due to refresh rate variation as much as possible, Figs. 7A and 7B), and
Lin does not teach wherein the driver as claimed.
However, Moon teaches wherein the driver converts the input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applies a weight to generate the image data of the first frame ([0108] FIG. 16 is a table illustrating a detailed example where weights reflected in a data voltage of an input gray level are differently set based on a refresh rate, [0120] The refresh rate setting unit 112 (Fig. 17) can adjust the number of anode reset frames disposed between adjacent refresh frames based on the refresh rate variation information to vary a refresh period of the digital video data DATA, [0127] The data modulator 118 can reflect the weight, generated by the weight generator 117, in the current frame data to modulate the current frame data).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin to teach, converting input image data into the image data based on the refresh rate, and applying a weight, as suggested by Moon. The motivation would have been in order adjust “a level of a flicker compensation data voltage” ([0108]).
As to claim 17, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the driver adjusts the refresh rate of the image to a third refresh rate (Lin: see the PWM part of Pfm frame in fig. 7A) which is different from the first refresh rate (Lin: PWM part of Pff frame in fig. 7A) and the second refresh rate (Lin: PWM part of Pf1 frame in fig. 7A) in the third section (Lin: [0028], figs 7A and 7B).
As to claim 18, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the third refresh rate (Lin: see the PWM part of Pfm frame in fig. 7A) is a value between the first refresh rate (Lin: PWM part of Pff frame in fig. 7A) and the second refresh rate (Lin: PWM part of Pf1 frame in fig. 7A).
As to claim 19, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the driver changes a peak luminance according to a time of the image according to the refresh rate, and adjusts the peak luminance in the third section to be between a first peak luminance according to the first refresh rate and a second peak luminance according to the second refresh rate (Lin: [0028] Another way performed based on the above illustrated structure is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Among the plurality of frame periods Pf, there is a middle frame period Pfm between the former frame period Pff and the latter frame period Pfl, while the middle frame period Pfm has a PWM part with a middle duty ratio between the initial duty ratio and the final duty ratio as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, [0025] With the final duty ratio smaller than the initial duty ratio, although the last on-duration DON2 of the latter PWM part is longer than the last on-duration DON1 of the former PWM part, each of the other on-durations DONL of the latter PWM part is shorter than the other on-durations DONF of the former PWM part, thus the increased quantity of light caused by the longer last on-duration of the latter PWM part can be compensated by the decreased quantities of light caused by the shorter other on-durations).
As to claim 20, Lin in view of Moon teaches the display device, wherein the third section includes two or less frames (Lin: [0028] Although FIGS. 7A and 7B only show one middle frame period Pfm between the former frame period Pff and the latter frame period Pfl, there may be more than one middle frame periods Pfm between them, with the middle duty ratios of the PWM parts of these middle frame periods Pfm gradually increased or decreased from the initial duty ratio to the final duty ratio).
4. Claim(s) 5-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (US 2021/0201793) in view of Moon et al (US 2023/0178034) and further in view of Foo et al (US 2022/0270547).
As to claim 5, Lin in view of Moon do not teach the peak luminance as claimed.
However, Foo teaches the display device, wherein the peak luminance of the first frame (90Hz frame, fig. 2C) is within a range of about 85% to about 97% of the second peak luminance (fig. 2C illustrates that the peak luminance of a 90 Hz frame is within a range of about 85% to about 97% the 60Hz frame luminance).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin in view of Moon to teach, wherein the peak luminance of the first frame is within a range of about 85% to about 97% of the second peak luminance, as suggested by Foo. The motivation would have been in order to reduce power consumptions or improve image quality based on the refreshing rate ([0002]).
As to claim 6, Lin in view of Moon does not teach the peak luminance as claimed.
However, Foo teaches the display device, wherein the peak luminance of the first frame (90Hz frame, fig. 2C) is within a range of about +10% of an average of the first peak luminance and the second peak luminance (Fig. 2C illustrates that the peak luminance of a 90 Hz frame is within a range of about +10% of an average luminance 212A or 212B).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin in view of Moon to teach, wherein the peak luminance of the first frame is within a range of about +10% of an average of the first peak luminance and the second peak luminance, as suggested by Foo. The motivation would have been in order to reduce power consumptions or improve image quality based on the refreshing rate ([0002]).
5. Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (US 2021/0201793) in view of Moon et al (US 2023/0178034) and further in view of Chae et al (US 2022/0223091) and further in view of Jo et al (US 2023/0197000).
As to claim 7, Lin in view of Moon does not teach the display device as claimed.
However, Chae teaches the display device, wherein the driver selects one of gamma voltages based on a grayscale value of the image data for the pixel and outputs the selected one of gamma voltages as the data signal ([0070] the data driver 130 may select one gamma voltage among gamma voltages corresponding to a grayscale in the image data and output the selected one gamma voltage as the data signal).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin in view of Moon to teach, wherein the driver selects one of gamma voltages based on a grayscale value of the image data for the pixel and outputs the selected one of gamma voltages as the data signal, as suggested by Chae. The motivation would have been in order to prevent reduction in display quality ([0034]).
Lin in view of Moon and further in view of Chae does not teach sets gamma voltages in the first frame to be different from gamma voltages for the second peak luminance.
However, Jo teaches sets gamma voltages in the first frame to be different from gamma voltages for the second peak luminance ([0093] different gamma voltages are set for the first refresh rate and the second refresh rate).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Lin, Moon and Chae to teach, wherein gamma voltages in the first frame to be different from gamma voltages for the second peak luminance, as suggested by Jo. The motivation would have been in order to reduce luminance difference during the low grayscale implementation ([0093]).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AMEN W BOGALE whose telephone number is (571)270-1579. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:AM-6:PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nitin Patel can be reached at (571)272-7677. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AMEN W BOGALE/ Examiner, Art Unit 2628
/NITIN PATEL/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2628