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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The references cited in the IDS have been considered by examiner.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING AN EMISSION DRIVER FOR CONTROLLING AN OFF PERIOD RATIO BASED ON DIMMING SIGNAL.
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).
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Claims 1-11, 13-15 and 17-20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 in view of Park et al (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2022/0319409) and in view of Kwon et al (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2019/0096331). Please see table below for details.
Current App. No. 19/073,492
U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306
Claim 1. An electronic device comprising: a processor configured to provide input image data; and
a display device configured to receive the input image data from the processor, and to display an image based on the input image data, the display device comprising:
Claim 1. A display device comprising:
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and wherein the off period ratio corresponds to a ratio of a sum of widths of a plurality of off-level pulses of the emission start signal to a time length of the two or more frame periods.
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and wherein the off period ratio corresponds to a ratio of a sum of widths of a plurality of off-level pulses of the emission start signal to a time length of the two or more consecutive frame periods.
Claim 2.
Claim 2.
Claim 3.
Claim 3.
Claim 4.
Claim 4.
Claim 5.
Claim 5.
Claim 6.
Claim 6.
Claim 7.
Claim 7.
Claim 8.
Claim 8.
Claim 9.
Claim 9.
Claim 10.
Claim 10.
Claim 11.
Claim 11.
Claim 13.
Claim 12.
Claim 14.
Claim 10.
Claim 15.
Claim 11.
However, U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 does not mention a processor configured to provide input image data as recited in claim 1.
In a similar field of endeavor, Park discloses an electronic device (fig. 1) comprising:
a processor (i.e. external processor) configured to provide input image data (i.e. timing controller 11 may receive an external input signal from an external processor. The external input signal may include a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a data enable signal, RGB data (or input image data), and the like); and
a display device (10) configured to receive the input image (RGB data) data from the processor (external processor), and to display an image based on the input image data, (fig. 1, [0042-0044]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skills in the art at the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306, by specifically providing the processor, as taught by Park, for the purpose of providing image signal to the display device.
Current App. No. 19/073,492
U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306
Claim 18. An electronic device comprising: a processor configured to provide input image data; and a display device configured to receive the input image data from the processor, and to display an image based on the input image data, the display device comprising:
Claim 1. A display device comprising:
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and a mode signal representing a first mode or a second mode, and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal,
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and
wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and wherein the off period ratio corresponds to a ratio of a sum of widths of a plurality of off-level pulses of the emission start signal to a time length of the two or more consecutive frame periods.
wherein the emission driver is configured to apply a same one of the emission signals to a first number of the emission lines in the first mode, and to apply a same one of the emission signals to a second number of the emission lines in the second mode.
12. The display device of claim 1, wherein: the controller is configured to receive a mode signal representing a first mode or a second mode, and the emission driver is configured to apply a same one of the emission signals to two emission lines of the emission lines in the first mode, and to apply a same one of the emission signals to four emission lines of the emission lines in the second mode.
Claim 19.
Claim 2.
Current App. No. 19/073,492
U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306
Claim 18. An electronic device comprising: a processor configured to provide input image data; and a display device configured to receive the input image data from the processor, and to display an image based on the input image data, the display device comprising:
Claim 13. A display device comprising:
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a display panel including pixels connected to emission lines;
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and a mode signal representing a first mode or a second mode, and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
a controller configured to receive a dimming signal and a mode signal representing a first mode or a second mode, and to generate an emission start signal, a first emission clock signal and a second emission clock signal; and
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal,
an emission driver configured to provide emission signals to the pixels through the emission lines in response to the emission start signal, the first emission clock signal and the second emission clock signal,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and
wherein the controller is further configured to determine an off period ratio for the pixels in units of two or more frame periods in response to the dimming signal, and
wherein the emission driver is configured to apply a same one of the emission signals to a first number of the emission lines in the first mode, and to apply a same one of the emission signals to a second number of the emission lines in the second mode.
wherein the emission driver is configured to apply a same one of the emission signals to a first number of the emission lines in the first mode, and to apply a same one of the emission signals to a second number of the emission lines in the second mode.
However, U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 does not mention a processor configured to provide input image data as recited in claim 18.
In a similar field of endeavor, Park discloses an electronic device (fig. 1) comprising:
a processor (i.e. external processor) configured to provide input image data (i.e. timing controller 11 may receive an external input signal from an external processor. The external input signal may include a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, a data enable signal, RGB data (or input image data), and the like); and
a display device (10) configured to receive the input image (RGB data) data from the processor (external processor), and to display an image based on the input image data, (fig. 1, [0042-0044]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skills in the art at the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306, by specifically providing the processor, as taught by Park, for the purpose of providing image signal to the display device.
Regarding claims 17 and 20, U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 in view of Park discloses everything as specified above in claims 1 and 18, respectively. However, U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 in view of Park does not mention wherein the electronic device comprises a television.
In a similar field of endeavor, Kwon et al (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2019/0096331) teaches wherein the electronic device comprises HMD device, a TV, a digital TV, a 3D TV, a PC, a home electronic device, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a PMP, a digital camera, a music player, a portable game console, a navigation device, a wearable device, and the like, [0185].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skills in the art at the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify U.S. Patent No. 12,266,306 in view of Park, by specifically providing the electronic device comprises various devices, as taught by Kwon, for the purpose of increasing functionality.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 12 and 16 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.
Reasons for Allowance
Claim 12, Song et al (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0055798) wherein a number of the emission lines is K (EM1-EMn), and the emission driver (140) includes K stages (142-1 to 142-4), where K is an integer greater than or equal to 4, and wherein the emission driver (140) further includes stage connection switches (T1) configured to cascade-connect the K stages in the first mode, (progressive emission mode 220), (figs. 2-3, [0067-0068]).
However, none of the prior art of record teaches alone or in combination the limitation “wherein the display panel further includes line connection switches configured to separate the K emission lines from each other in the first mode, and to connect the K emission lines to each other in units of four emission lines in the second mode, and to cascade-connect K/4 stages of the K stages in the second mode.”
Claim 16 is allowed for similar reason as mentioned above in claim 12.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Lim et al (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2022/0309998).
Inquiries
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LONG D PHAM whose telephone number is (571)270-5573. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 9am-5pm EST.
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/LONG D PHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2623