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 .
This communication is in response to the Preliminary claim’s amendment dated 6/5/2025.
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.
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Current Application:
1. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a folding region at which the display panel is foldable; and in order from the display panel:
a first plate facing the display panel and including a lower surface furthest from the display panel;
a heat dissipation layer facing the first plate; and
a second plate facing the heat dissipation layer, the second plate defining a first opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate, wherein the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view.
2.The display device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board connected to the display panel, the printed circuit board comprising:
a base layer; and
a conductive pattern on the base layer, wherein the printed circuit board faces the lower surface of the first plate with the second plate therebetween, and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the first opening of the second plate.
3. The display device of claim 2, further comprising a grounding pattern which is on the lower surface of the first plate and exposed to outside the second plate at the first opening of the second plate, wherein the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is in contact with the grounding pattern.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a timing controller facing the conductive pattern with the base layer therebetween.
5. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first plate comprises a plate folding portion which corresponds to the folding region of the display panel and defines a plurality of openings of the first plate.
6. The display device of claim 5, further comprising a cover layer between the first plate and the heat dissipation layer, wherein the cover layer covers the plurality of openings of the first plate.
7. The display device of claim 6, further comprising a step compensation layer between the cover layer and the second plate, the step compensation layer spaced apart from the heat dissipation layer in an extension direction along the display panel.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the step compensation layer defines a second opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the step compensation layer and which corresponds to the first opening of the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the second opening of the step compensation layer.
9. The display device of claim 6, wherein: the cover layer defines a third opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the cover layer and which corresponds to the first opening of the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the third opening of the cover layer.
10. The display device of claim 2, wherein: the display panel further comprises a first non-folding region, the folding region, and a second non-folding region in order along a first direction, the second plate comprises a first sub-plate corresponding to the first non-folding region and a second sub-plate corresponding to the second non-folding region; and the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are spaced apart from each other along the first direction, at the folding region.
11. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the first opening is defined in the second sub-plate; and the printed circuit board faces the first plate with the second sub-plate therebetween.
12. The display device of claim 10, further comprising: a sealing layer on the second sub-plate, and not overlapping the first opening in the plan view.
13. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a first adhesive layer between the first plate and the heat dissipation layer; and a second adhesive layer between the heat dissipation layer and the second plate.
14. The display device of claim 13, wherein: the first adhesive layer is in contact with the lower surface of the first plate, and an upper surface of the heat dissipation layer which is closest to the display panel; and the second adhesive layer is in contact with a lower surface of the heat dissipation layer which is furthest from the display panel, and an upper surface of the second plate which is closest to the display panel.
15. The display device of claim 13, wherein the first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer and the heat dissipation layer are non-overlapping with the first opening of the second plate.
16. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: an anti-reflection layer facing the first plate with the display panel therebetween; and a protective film facing the display panel with the anti-reflection layer therebetween.
17. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel further comprises a first non-folding region, the folding region, and a second non-folding region in order, and the heat dissipation layer comprises: a first heat dissipation portion corresponding to the first non-folding region; a second heat dissipation portion corresponding to the second non-folding region; a third heat dissipation portion corresponding to the folding region, and the third heat dissipation portion bent at the folding region.
18. A display device comprising: a display panel comprising a folding region at which the display panel is foldable;
a first plate below the display panel and including a lower surface furthest from the display panel;
a second plate below the first plate, the second plate defining a first opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate; a heat dissipation layer between the first plate and the second plate; and a step compensation layer between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the heat dissipation layer does not overlap the step compensation layer on a plane.
19. The display device of claim 18, further comprising a printed circuit board connected to the display panel, the printed circuit board comprising a base layer and a conductive pattern which is on the base layer, and wherein: the first plate further includes a grounding pattern which is on the lower surface, the first opening of the second plate at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is in contact with the grounding pattern.
20. An electronic device comprising: a display device comprising: a display panel comprising a folding region at which the display panel is foldable; and in order from the display panel:
a first plate facing the display panel and including a lower surface furthest from the display panel;
a heat dissipation layer facing the first plate; and
a second plate facing the heat dissipation layer, the second plate defining a first opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate, wherein the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view.
U.S. Patent 12,287,673:
1. A display device comprising:
a display panel comprising a folding region at which the display panel is foldable; and in order from the display panel:
a first plate facing the display panel and including a lower surface furthest from the display panel;
a heat dissipation layer facing the first plate; and
a second plate facing the heat dissipation layer, the second plate defining a first opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate, wherein the heat dissipation layer does not overlap the first opening on a plane.
2. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board connected to the display panel, the printed circuit board comprising:
a base layer; and
a conductive pattern on the base layer, wherein the printed circuit board faces the lower surface of the first plate with the second plate therebetween, and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the first opening of the second plate.
3. The display device of claim 2, further comprising a grounding pattern which is on the lower surface of the first plate and exposed to outside the second plate at the first opening of the second plate, wherein the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is in contact with the grounding pattern.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a timing controller facing the conductive pattern with the base layer therebetween.
5. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first plate comprises a plate folding portion which corresponds to the folding region of the display panel and defines a plurality of openings of the first plate.
6. The display device of claim 5, further comprising a cover layer between the first plate and the heat dissipation layer, wherein the cover layer covers the plurality of openings of the first plate.
7. The display device of claim 6, further comprising a step compensation layer between the cover layer and the second plate, the step compensation layer spaced apart from the heat dissipation layer in an extension direction along the display panel.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the step compensation layer defines a second opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the step compensation layer and which corresponds to the first opening of the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the second opening of the step compensation layer.
9. The display device of claim 6, wherein: the cover layer defines a third opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the cover layer and which corresponds to the first opening of the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the third opening of the cover layer.
10. The display device of claim 2, wherein: the display panel further comprises a first non-folding region, the folding region, and a second non-folding region in order along a first direction, the second plate comprises a first sub-plate corresponding to the first non-folding region and a second sub-plate corresponding to the second non-folding region; and the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are spaced apart from each other along the first direction, at the folding region.
11. The display device of claim 10, wherein: the first opening is defined in the second sub-plate; and the printed circuit board faces the first plate with the second sub-plate therebetween.
12. The display device of claim 10, further comprising: a scaling (typo: should sealing layer) layer on the second sub-plate, and not overlapping the first opening on the plane.
13. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a first adhesive layer between the first plate and the heat dissipation layer; and a second adhesive layer between the heat dissipation layer and the second plate.
14. The display device of claim 13, wherein: the first adhesive layer is in contact with the lower surface of the first plate, and an upper surface of the heat dissipation layer which is closest to the display panel; and the second adhesive layer is in contact with a lower surface of the heat dissipation layer which is furthest from the display panel, and an upper surface of the second plate which is closest to the display panel.
15. The display device of claim 13, wherein the first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer and the heat dissipation layer are non-overlapping with the first opening of the second plate.
16. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: an anti-reflection layer facing the first plate with the display panel therebetween; and a protective film facing the display panel with the anti-reflection layer therebetween.
17. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel further comprises a first non-folding region, the folding region, and a second non-folding region in order, and the heat dissipation layer comprises: a first heat dissipation portion corresponding to the first non-folding region; a second heat dissipation portion corresponding to the second non-folding region; a third heat dissipation portion corresponding to the folding region, and the third heat dissipation portion bent at the folding region.
18. A display device comprising: a display panel comprising a folding region at which the display panel is foldable;
a printed circuit board connected to the display panel, the printed circuit board comprising a base layer and a conductive pattern which is on the base layer; and in order from the display panel:
a first plate facing the display panel; a heat dissipation layer facing the first plate; and
a second plate facing the heat dissipation layer, the second plate defining a first opening, wherein the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is inside the first opening of the second plate, and the heat dissipation layer does not overlap the first opening on a plane.
19. The display device of claim 18, wherein: the first plate comprises a lower surface which is furthest from the display panel and a grounding pattern which is on the lower surface, the first opening of the second plate at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate; and the conductive pattern of the printed circuit board is in contact with the grounding pattern.
20. An electric device comprising: a display device comprising: a display panel comprising a non-folding region, and a folding region which is adjacent to the non-folding region; a printed circuit board connected to the display panel; and in order from the display panel: a first plate facing the display panel;
a heat dissipation layer facing the first plate; and
a second plate facing the heat dissipation layer, the second plate defining a first opening corresponding to the non-folding region of the display panel, wherein a portion of the printed circuit board is inside the first opening of the second plate, and the heat dissipation layer does not overlap the first opening on a plane.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. Patent 12,287,673. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Claim 1 of U.S. Patent 12,287,673 teaches every limitations of claim 1 (see above claim comparison table) of the current application, except: wherein the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view.
Even though, claim 1 of U.S. Patent 12,287,673 does not specifically teach that the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view, however, it appears that the heat dissipation layer would be disposed inside an edge of the second plate if the size of the second plate is larger/longer than the size of said heat dissipation layer.
it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to adjust/change the size of said heat dissipation layer or the size of the second plate such that the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component, for optimal heat dissipation purpose. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
Claims 2-17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 2-17 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. Patent 12,287,673. (see above claim comparison table).
Claim 20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. U.S. Patent 12,287,673. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because:
Claim 1 of U.S. Patent 12,287,673 teaches every limitations of claim 20 (see above claim comparison table) of the current application, except: wherein the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view.
Even though, claim 1 of U.S. Patent 12,287,673 does not specifically teach that the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view, however, it appears that the heat dissipation layer would be disposed inside an edge of the second plate if the size of the second plate is larger/longer than the size of said heat dissipation layer.
it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to adjust/change the size of said heat dissipation layer or the size of the second plate such that the heat dissipation layer is disposed inside an edge of the second plate in a plan view, since such a modification would have involved a mere change in the size of a component, for optimal heat dissipation purpose. A change in size is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Rose, 105 USPQ 237 (CCPA 1955).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 18-19 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 18, the prior art of record fails to teach, disclose or fairly suggest a display device, in combination with all the positively recited elements/limitations of claim 18, wherein the second plate defining a first opening at which the lower surface of the first plate is exposed to outside the second plate; a heat dissipation layer between the first plate and the second plate; and a step compensation layer between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the heat dissipation layer does not overlap the step compensation layer on a plane.
Claim 19 is dependent from claim 18, and therefore, is allowed for at least the same reason.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HUNG Q DANG whose telephone number is (571)272-3069. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10-6PM..
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/HUNG Q DANG/Examiner, Art Unit 2841
/ANTHONY M HAUGHTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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