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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Sheet drawing numbers (“1 of 17”, “2 of 17”, and “1”, “2”, etc.) fail to conform to the standards set forth in 37 CFR 1.84(t), which recites “The sheets of drawings should be numbered in consecutive Arabic numerals, starting with 1, within the sight as defined in paragraph (g) of this section. These numbers, if present, must be placed in the middle of the top of the sheet, but not in the margin. The numbers can be placed on the right-hand side if the drawing extends too close to the middle of the top edge of the usable surface. The drawing sheet numbering must be clear and larger than the numbers used as reference characters to avoid confusion. The number of each sheet should be shown by two Arabic numerals placed on either side of an oblique line, with the first being the sheet number and the second being the total number of sheets of drawings, with no other marking.”
Solid black shading is not permitted. See Fig. 3, for example.
Fewer than all letters, numerals, and reference characters measure at least 1/8 inch in height as required by 37 CFR 1.84(p)(3). See Fig. 6, for example.
Some letters, numerals, and reference characters cross or mingle with lines, contrary to 37 CFR 1.84(p)(3) which recites “Numbers, letters, and reference characters … should not be placed in the drawing so as to interfere with its comprehension. Therefore, they should not cross or mingle with the lines.” See Fig. 18, for example.
Fewer than all lines are “sufficiently dense and dark, and uniformly thick and well-defined. … heavy enough to permit adequate reproduction” as required by 37 CFR 1.84(l). See Fig. 20, for example.
Figure 20 should be designated by a legend such as --Prior Art-- because only that which is old is illustrated. See MPEP § 608.02(g).
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because Fig. 20 includes the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, DTL101, AZL101, DSL111, WSL101, ND114, Vofs, etc.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The substitute specification filed 04/10/2025 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5 and 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Independent claim 1 recites “determined in advance” in line 4 and “determined in advance” in line 5. The term “advance” is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “advance” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. In advance of what?
A similar recitation in independent claim 11 is similarly indefinite.
Claim 2 recites “the write period for at least one other pixel circuit” in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. Although “the write period for each of the pixel circuits” was previously recited, the limitation “the write period for at least one other pixel circuit” appears to refer to a different write period.
Independent claim 11 recites “writing a voltage corresponding to the data voltage to the first capacitor” in lines 35-36. This is misdescriptive. A threshold voltage of a drive transistor appears to compensate image data, such that the voltage written to the first capacitor is not “a voltage corresponding to the data voltage”.
Claim 12 recites “the data voltage, the data voltage … the data voltage … the data voltage … the data voltage … the data voltage” in lines 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5, respectively. It is unclear whether these recitations correspond to the same data voltages or to different data voltages.
Other rejected claims are indefinite by virtue of dependency from at least one indefinite claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-10 are allowed.
Claims 1-5 and 11-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest prior art of record is Chen et al (US 20180374419 A1). See Fig. 3, for example. Chen et al show a display element (see light emitting diode symbol), drive transistor T0, write control switching element T2, initialization switching element T1, reference voltage supply control switching element T4, first light emission control switching element T5, second light emission control switching element T3, first capacitor C11, and second capacitor C12. Although second capacitor C12 has a first electrode connected to source terminal s of drive transistor T0, a second electrode of C12 is not connected to the first terminal of the display element.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Julie Anne Watko whose telephone number is (571)272-7597. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Tuesday 9AM-5PM, Wednesday 10:30AM-5PM, Thursday-Friday 9AM-5PM, and occasional Saturdays.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ke Xiao can be reached at 571-272-7776. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
JULIE ANNE WATKO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2627
/Julie Anne Watko/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2627
04/08/2026
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