DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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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Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of Ishizaki U.S. Patent No. 12,287,931.
Current application 19/089,771
U.S. Patent No. 12,287,931
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including:
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including:
a plurality of pixel electrodes; a first conductive line extending in a first direction; a second conductive line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction;
a plurality of pixel electrodes; a first conductive line extending in a first direction; a second conductive line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction;
a plurality of touch electrodes for touch detection; and
a plurality of touch electrodes for touch detection; and
an insulating layer between the touch electrodes and the first conductive line,
an insulating layer between the touch electrodes and the first conductive line,
wherein, one of the touch electrodes includes a plurality of openings,
wherein, one of the touch electrodes includes one or more inner slits,
each of the openings has ends inside the one of the touch electrodes such that each of the openings is contained within the one of the touch electrodes, and
each of the one or more inner slits has ends inside the one of the touch electrodes such that each of the one or more inner slits is contained within the one of the touch electrodes, and
the openings in the one of the touch electrodes overlap the first conductive line and arranged in the first direction.
the one or more inner slits in the one of the touch electrodes overlap the first conductive line, the second conductive line, or both the first conductive line and the second conductive line. And Claim 9. the one or more inner slits overlapping the first conductive line extend in the first direction
The differences between Claim 1 of the current application and claim 1 of the U.S. Patent No. 12,287,931 is the term “opening”. In the current application that term is similar to and interpreted as “inner slits”.
Claims 3-12 of the current application are rejected under double patenting as claims 3-12 of the current application are the same as claim 2-11 of the U.S. Patent No. 12,287,931 respectively.
The only difference is that in claims 9-12 of the current application the term “opening” is similar to and interpreted as “inner slits” that is mentioned in claims 8-11 of the U.S. Patent No. 12,287,931 respectively.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being
unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673.
Current application 19/089,771
U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including: a plurality of pixel electrodes;
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including: a plurality of pixel electrodes;
a first conductive line extending in a first direction; a second conductive line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction;
A first line extending in a first direction; a second line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction
a plurality of touch electrodes for touch detection; and
A plurality of detection electrodes; and
an insulating layer between the touch electrodes and the first conductive line, wherein, one of the touch electrodes includes a plurality of openings,
An insulating layer between the detection electrodes and the first line, wherein one of the detection electrodes includes one or more inner slits.
each of the openings has ends inside the one of the touch electrodes such that each of the openings is contained within the one of the touch electrodes, and
Each of the one or more inner slits has ends inside the one of the detection electrodes such that each of the one or more inner slits is contained within the one of the detection electrodes, and
the openings in the one of the touch electrodes overlap the first conductive line and arranged in the first direction.
The one or more inner slits in the one of the detection electrodes overlap the first line, the second line, or both the first line and the second line.
The Current Application differs from claim 1 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673 in that the current application mentions “a first conductive line” and “second conductive line”.
Wherein these terms are equivalent to the terms “first line” and “second line” in the limitations of claim 1 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673.
The current application differs from claim 1 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673 in that the current application mentions the term “a plurality of touch electrodes.” Wherein this term is equivalent to the term “a plurality of detection electrodes” of claim 1 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673.
The dependent claims of the current application, which are 3-12 are similar/same as the dependent claims 2-8, 10-12 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,960,673 respectively.
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being
unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,068,097 in view of Lim (U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0303193).
Current application 19/089,771
U.S. Patent No. 11,068,097
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including: a plurality of pixel electrodes;
1. A display device comprising a display layer, the display layer including a plurality of pixel electrodes;
a first conductive line extending in a first direction; a second conductive line extending in a second direction crossing the first direction;
A scanning line extending in a first direction; a signal line extending in the second direction crossing the first direction.
a plurality of touch electrodes for touch detection; and
A plurality of detection electrodes; and
an insulating layer between the touch electrodes and the first conductive line, wherein, one of the touch electrodes includes a plurality of openings,
an insulating layer between the detection electrodes and lines including the scanning line and the signal line, wherein one of the detection electrodes includes one or more inner slits,
each of the openings has ends inside the one of the touch electrodes such that each of the openings is contained within the one of the touch electrodes, and
Each of the one or more inner slits has ends inside the one of the detection electrodes such that each of the one or more inner slits is contained within the one of the detection electrodes, and
the openings in the one of the touch electrodes overlap the first conductive line and arranged in the first direction.
The one or more inner slits in the one of the detection electrodes overlap the scanning line, the signal line, or both the scanning line and the signal line.
The current application mentions a first conductive line and a second conductive line, which are equivalent to terms “a scanning line” and “a signal line” in the U.S. Patent No.11,068,097.
The current application mentions “a plurality of touch electrodes”, which are equivalent to the term “a plurality of detection electrodes” in the U.S. Patent No. 11,068,097.
The current patent application does not mention “a plurality of touch electrode for touch detection” wherein the prior art reference of Lim (U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0303193) teaches a plurality of touch electrodes (SLxf) for touch detection ([0030], lines 2-7).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to have added the touch electrodes of Lim to the display device of the current Application because for sensing points touched by a user, [0006].
The dependent claims of the current application, which are claims 4-9, 11, and 12 are similar/same as the dependent claims 3-8, 12, and 14 of the U.S. Patent No. 11,068,097 respectively.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 are allowed if these claims overcome the double patenting rejection shown above.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Utsunomiya (U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0231607) discloses a liquid crystal display device integrated with a capacitive touch panel designed to improve touch-position detection accuracy by mitigating noise caused by parasitic capacitance between display electrodes and touch electrodes. The device includes a liquid crystal panel formed by opposing substrates with pixel electrodes, scanning lines, and data lines on an element substrate, and a touch panel disposed on the viewing side. The touch panel includes plural detection electrodes arranged in two intersecting directions (X and Y), separated by an insulating layer, and formed of transparent conductive material such as ITO.
A central problem addressed is that voltage variations at the pixel electrodes induce noise in the touch detection electrodes through parasitic capacitance, degrading touch accuracy. To address this, Utsunomiya proposes dynamically controlling the displayed image such that regions of the display overlapping the selected detection electrodes are driven to a fixed luminance level (preferably black) during touch detection. By fixing the pixel electrode potentials under the active detection electrodes, noise coupling is suppressed, improving the reliability of detected position signals.
The detection electrodes are elongated conductive patterns formed parallel to respective directions and composed of connected sub-electrodes arranged orthogonally. A position signal generating circuit sequentially selects detection electrodes, monitors voltage decay characteristics influenced by a pointing object, and determines the touch location. The invention further describes multiple electrode geometries, scanning schemes, and alternative embodiments, including oblique electrode arrangements and simultaneous selection of multiple electrodes. The focus of Utsunomiya is thus on system-level coordination between display driving and touch sensing, rather than on specific geometric features of openings within touch electrodes.
Utsunomiya partially reads on Claim 1, but it does not teach several key structural limitations. Utsunomiya clearly teaches a display device with a display layer including pixel electrodes, as well as conductive lines extending in intersecting directions in the form of scanning lines and data lines on the element substrate. It also discloses a plurality of touch (detection) electrodes for touch detection, arranged in two crossing directions, and an insulating layer between touch electrodes of different orientations. These teachings correspond generally to Claim 1’s recitation of pixel electrodes, first and second conductive lines extending in different directions, touch electrodes, and an insulating layer separating touch electrodes from underlying conductive structures. However, Utsunomiya does not teach or suggest the specific structural configuration required by Claim 1 concerning openings formed within a single touch electrode. Claim 1 requires that one of the touch electrodes includes a plurality of openings, that each opening is entirely contained within the touch electrode with its ends inside the electrode, and that the openings overlap the first conductive line and are arranged in the first direction. Utsunomiya’s detection electrodes are continuous conductive patterns composed of connected sub-electrodes, but no disclosure describes openings formed within a touch electrode, let alone openings having ends fully contained within the electrode body. Moreover, Utsunomiya does not disclose openings that are directionally arranged to overlap an underlying conductive line for optical, capacitive, or interference-reduction purposes. Its solution to parasitic noise relies on temporal luminance control, not geometric patterning of touch electrodes. Accordingly, while Utsunomiya teaches a touch-integrated display with intersecting electrodes and insulation, it fails to read on the opening-based structural limitations that are central to Claim 1.
Utsunomiya (U.S. Pub. No. 2008/0180407) discloses an input-capable liquid crystal display device that integrates capacitive touch sensing while suppressing noise generated by liquid-crystal driving signals. The device includes a first (element) substrate on which pixel electrodes, scanning lines, data lines, and thin-film transistors are formed, and a second (opposite) substrate facing the first through a liquid crystal layer. A detection electrode for touch input is provided on the outer surface of the second substrate, with a dielectric film (which may also function as a polarizer) laminated above the detection electrode. Touch position is detected by measuring electrostatic capacitance formed between the detection electrode and a user’s finger through the dielectric film.
To address degradation of touch accuracy caused by electric fields from the pixel and common electrodes, Utsunomiya introduces a shield conductor formed on the inner side of the second substrate, adjacent to the liquid crystal layer. The shield conductor is held at a fixed electric potential and blocks electric fields generated by the display-driving electrodes from coupling into the detection electrode. In some embodiments, the shield conductor also serves as a light-shielding film, thereby reducing component count and device thickness.
The display itself employs an active-matrix architecture with intersecting scanning lines and data lines and pixel electrodes arranged at their intersections. The pixel electrodes may have stripe-like geometries to support fringe-field switching or in-plane switching modes. Across its embodiments, Utsunomiya focuses on substrate-level shielding and layer stacking to reduce noise in capacitive touch detection, rather than on modifying the geometry of the touch electrode itself. No emphasis is placed on patterned openings within the touch electrode; instead, the detection electrode is generally described as a continuous transparent conductive layer extending over the display area.
Utsunomiya partially reads on Claim 1, but it does not teach several of the claim’s critical structural limitations.
Utsunomiya discloses a display device including a display layer with a plurality of pixel electrodes, and it clearly teaches conductive lines extending in intersecting directions, namely, scanning lines and data lines crossing one another in an active-matrix arrangement. It also teaches a touch electrode for touch detection and an insulating/dielectric layer between the touch electrode and underlying display structures. To that extent, Utsunomiya corresponds to Claim 1’s recitation of pixel electrodes, first and second conductive lines extending in different directions, touch electrodes, and an insulating layer positioned between touch electrodes and display-side conductors.
However, Utsunomiya does not read on the opening-based limitations of Claim 1. Claim 1 requires that one of the touch electrodes includes a plurality of openings, that each opening is entirely contained within the touch electrode with its ends inside the electrode, and that the openings overlap the first conductive line and are arranged in the first direction. In contrast, Utsunomiya consistently describes the detection electrode as a substantially continuous planar conductive layer covering the display area. While Utsunomiya discloses openings in other layers, such as openings in a common electrode to maintain electrical isolation, there is no disclosure of openings formed in a touch electrode, nor any teaching that such openings are directionally arranged or positioned to overlap underlying conductive lines.
Moreover, Utsunomiya’s solution to noise suppression relies on electrical shielding via a fixed-potential shield conductor, not on geometrically patterning the touch electrode itself. As a result, the specific structural configuration of touch-electrode openings recited in Claim 1 is neither disclosed nor suggested by Utsunomiya.
Gray (U.S. Pub. No. 2010/0045614) discloses an extended touchscreen conductive pattern designed to improve touch-location accuracy in capacitive touchscreens without increasing the number of sensing lines. The touchscreen includes a plurality of conductive sensing lines arranged in intersecting row and column directions, which may be coplanar or separated by a dielectric layer. Each sensing line is not a simple continuous strip but instead includes shaped conductive areas and shaped voids (openings) distributed along the length of the line.
A key feature of Gray is that the row and column conductors are complementary in geometry. Voids in one conductor are aligned with conductive extensions in the orthogonal conductor, and vice versa. This complementary meshing increases the number of conductive features beneath a user’s finger during a touch, thereby improving interpolation accuracy and reducing “stair-step” artifacts when tracking finger movement. The openings may take various shapes, such as diamonds, circles, or polygons, and are intentionally arranged along the length of the conductor.
Gray emphasizes that these openings are internal voids within the conductor, rather than gaps that break the conductor into separate segments. Signal paths remain continuous through interconnected conductive regions surrounding the openings. The conductive patterns are typically formed from transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and may be deposited on a substrate and separated from other layers by dielectric materials. The invention is directed primarily to touch electrode geometry and patterning, rather than display-driving structures such as pixel electrodes, scanning lines, or data lines.
Gray partially reads on Claim 1, particularly with respect to the touch-electrode geometry, but it does not teach several display-specific limitations.
Gray teaches a device that includes a plurality of touch electrodes for touch detection arranged in first and second directions that cross one another, corresponding to row and column conductors. Gray also discloses that these conductors may be separated by a dielectric material, which generally corresponds to Claim 1’s insulating layer between conductive structures. Most significantly, Gray teaches that one touch electrode includes a plurality of openings, where the openings are voids entirely contained within the conductor, with their ends located inside the touch electrode. These openings are arranged along the direction of the conductor and form part of a repeating pattern. Thus, Gray reads directly on the limitations requiring internal openings within a touch electrode and directional arrangement of those openings.
However, Gray does not teach or suggest several other elements of Claim 1. Claim 1 requires a display layer including a plurality of pixel electrodes, as well as a first conductive line and a second conductive line associated with display driving (such as scanning lines and data lines) that cross each other. Gray is directed to standalone touchscreen patterns and does not describe pixel electrodes, active-matrix display wiring, or a display layer integrated with the touch electrodes. In addition, Claim 1 requires that the openings in the touch electrode overlap the first conductive line of the display layer. Gray discusses overlap and coupling between row and column touch conductors, but does not disclose overlap between touch-electrode openings and underlying display conductive lines. Accordingly, while Gray strongly supports the touch-electrode opening structure recited in Claim 1, it does not read on the display-layer integration and pixel-electrode limitations of the claim.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Mamba (U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0213090) teaches a touch panel having sensing electrode pads, each with a plurality of slits.
Inquiry
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/PEGEMAN KARIMI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2623