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
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-3, 5 and 7-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim 10,490,770.
Regarding claim 1, Kim discloses a module (Abstract) comprising: a display (DP, Fig 3A) having a flat plate shape (as depicted Fig 3A); a circuit board (MCB and/or including FCB1, Fig 3A) disposed below the display (Fig 3B) to overlap the display (Figs 3A, 3B), and equipped with a shield member (FCB2, Fig 3B) that covers a circuit element (covering side of circuit element PCN, Fig 3B) on a surface facing the display (interior surface of FCB2 facing DP, Fig 3B); and a buffer member (SCF, Fig 3B) that is disposed on an upper surface of the shield member (SCF on upper surface of FCB2, Fig 3B) and abuts on a lower surface of the display (on lower surface where SCF contacts, Fig 3B).
Regarding claim 2, Kim discloses the module according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the display (Fig 3B).
Regarding claim 3, Kim discloses the module according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is in surface contact with the lower surface of the display and the upper surface of the shield member (as depicted in Fig 3B).
Regarding claim 5, Kim discloses the module according to claim 1, wherein the shield member is held by a holder fixed onto the circuit board (indirectly via AM5, Fig 3B).
Regarding claim 7, Kim discloses an electronic device (Title) comprising: the module according to claim 1; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (one assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 8, Kim discloses an electronic device (Title)comprising: the module according to claim 2; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (once assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 9, Kim discloses an electronic device comprising: the module according to claim 3; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (once assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 10, Kim discloses an electronic device comprising: the module according to claim 4; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (once assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 11, Kim discloses an electronic device comprising: the module according to claim 5; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (once assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 12, Kim discloses an electronic device comprising: the module according to claim 6; and a device case (EDC/BZA, Fig 1B) that accommodates the display and the circuit board having the shield member (once assembled, Fig 1A).
Regarding claim 13, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the display and the buffer member are fixed by being sandwiched between the device case and the circuit board having the shield member (Figs 1A-3B).
Regarding claim 14, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display and the buffer member are fixed by being sandwiched between the device case and the circuit board having the shield member (Figs 1A-3B).
Regarding claim 15, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the display and the buffer member are fixed by being sandwiched between the device case and the circuit board having the shield member (Figs 1A-3B).
Regarding claim 16, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the display and the buffer member are fixed by being sandwiched between the device case and the circuit board having the shield member (Figs 1A-3B).
Regarding claim 17, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the buffer member is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the device case (inner peripheral of EDC, Fig 1B) and an outer peripheral surface of the display in plan view (Figs 1B, 3B).
Regarding claim 18, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the buffer member is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the device case (inner peripheral of EDC, Fig 1B) and an outer peripheral surface of the display in plan view (Figs 1B, 3B).
Regarding claim 19, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the buffer member is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the device case (inner peripheral of EDC, Fig 1B) and an outer peripheral surface of the display in plan view (Figs 1B, 3B).
Regarding claim 20, Kim discloses the electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the buffer member is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the device case (inner peripheral of EDC, Fig 1B) and an outer peripheral surface of the display in plan view (Figs 1B, 3B).
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.
Claim(s) 4 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim 10,490,770.
Regarding claim 4, Kim discloses the module according to claim 1, except wherein a plurality of the buffer members is disposed at or near symmetrical positions while avoiding a central portion of the display.
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 buffer of Kim to include more than one, at or near symmetrical positions while avoiding a central portion of the display, in order to help balance physical weight or pressure or stop display screen from bending while keeping the main viewing area clear and free of visual obstructions, thereby improving structural integrity of the display surface. And, since it has been held that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art.
Regarding claim 6, Kim discloses the module according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the shield members is provided (see multiple section of shield member FCB2 in Fig 3A, for example), except and the buffer member is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of shield members.
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 buffer of Kim to include more than one, corresponding to each of the plurality of shield members, in order to even out support by spreading physical push or weight so the display panel does not warp and to provide better balance by stopping the display structure from tilting or shaking by using equal side placement, thereby improving structural integrity of the display surface. And, since it has been held that mere duplication of the essential working parts of a device involves only routine skill in the art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: see PTO 892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RASHEN E MORRISON whose telephone number is (571)272-8852. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani Hayman can be reached at 571-270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RASHEN E MORRISON/Examiner, Art Unit 2841 /IMANI N HAYMAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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