DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Drawings
2. The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the
a. “…a plurality of pixel units, each comprising at least two of a blue subpixel, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…” (Claims 10; Claim 17 is similar).
Concerning the above claim limitation and similar to Specification [0010] that there are two blue (B) subpixels, one red (R) subpixel, and one green (G) subpixel.
However, FIG. 5 shows one blue (B) subpixel, one red (R) subpixel, and two green (G) subpixels.
It is NOT clear whether FIG. 5 illustrates the above limitation.
b. “…wherein at least two voltages of the first voltage, the third voltage, and the fourth voltage have different voltage values.”
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
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.
Appropriate correction(s) are required.
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.
3. Claims 10-32 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.
A. Regarding Claim 10,
I. The limitation “…each comprising at least two of a blue subpixel, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…” is NOT clear because:
Does “…each comprising at least two of a blue subpixel, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…” means:
a. “…each comprising at least two blue subpixels, two red subpixels, and two of green subpixels…” OR
b. “…each comprising at least a blue subpixel and a red subpixel…” OR
“…each comprising at least a blue subpixel and a green subpixel…” OR
“…each comprising at least a green subpixel and red subpixel…” OR
c. “…each comprising at least two blue subpixels, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…”
II. The limitation “…wherein at least two voltages of the first voltage, the third voltage, and the fourth voltage have different voltage values.” is NOT clear because:
a. There is only ONE voltage for each of a first, a second, a third, and a fourth voltage. That is,
“…wherein the blue subpixel is coupled between a first voltage and a second voltage, wherein the first voltage is larger than the second voltage;
the red subpixel is coupled between a third voltage and the second voltage, wherein the third voltage is larger than the second voltage; and
the green subpixel is coupled between a fourth voltage and the second voltage, wherein the fourth voltage is larger than the second voltage…” in the claim.
b. It is NOT clear that the limitations of the claim should be
“…a first voltage range…”
“…a second voltage range…”
“…a third voltage range…”
“…a fourth voltage range…”
There’s NOT enough disclosure in the Specification [0029]-[0031] for the Examiner to assume interpreting the above limitations.
Appropriate correction(s) are required.
B. Regarding Claim 17,
The limitation “…each of the pixel units comprises at least two of a blue subpixel, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…” is NOT clear because:
Does “…each of the pixel units comprises at least two of a blue subpixel, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…” means:
I. “…each of the pixel units comprises at least two blue subpixels, two of red subpixels, and two of green subpixels…” OR
II.
a. “…each of the pixel units comprises at least a blue subpixel and a red subpixel…” OR
b. “…each of the pixel units comprises at least a blue subpixel and a green subpixel…” OR
c. “…each of the pixel units comprises at least a red subpixel and a green subpixel…” OR
III. “…each of the pixel units comprises at least two blue subpixels, a red subpixel, and a green subpixel…”
To further advance prosecution, the Examiner interprets the above limitation according to scenario B. II. a.
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.
4. Claim(s) 1 and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KA et al. (US Patent/PGPub. No. 20220044634).
Regarding Claim 1,
KA et al. teach
a driver circuit ([0122], FIG. 18, i.e. data driver 420), configured to drive a display panel ([0122], FIG. 18, i.e. display panel 410), wherein the display panel comprises a plurality of data lines ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. data voltages VDAT) and a plurality of subpixels ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. red, green and blue pixels RPX, GPX and BPX), the driver circuit (i.e. please see above citation(s)) comprising:
a plurality of first driver units ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. blue pixel BPX1 (DL2)), supplied with a first operating voltage range ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. “a 0-gray voltage BVO for the blue pixel BPX may be about 6.5 V, a 255-gray voltage BV255 for the blue pixel BPX may be about 2 V” (that is a range of 6.5V – 2.0V = 4.5V)) and configured to drive blue subpixels ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. blue pixel); and
a plurality of second driver units ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. red/green pixel RPX1/GPX1 (DL1)), supplied with a second operating voltage range ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. “a 0-gray voltage RV0 for the red pixel RPX may be about 7 V, a 255-gray voltage RV255 for the red pixel RPX may be about 3 V” (that is a range of 7.0V – 3.0V = 4.0V)) and configured to drive red subpixels ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. red/green pixel), wherein the first operating voltage range (i.e. please see above citation(s)) is larger than ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. 4.5V > 4.0V) the second operating voltage range (i.e. please see above citation(s)).
Regarding Claim 17,
KA et al. teach
a display device ([0122], FIG. 18, i.e. OLED display device 400), comprising:
a display panel ([0122], FIG. 18, i.e. display panel 410), comprising a plurality of data lines ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. data voltages VDAT) and a plurality of pixel units ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. RPX/GPX/BPX), wherein each of the pixel units comprises at least two of a blue subpixel ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. BPX), a red subpixel ([0124], FIG. 18, i.e. RPX), and a green subpixel; and
a driver circuit ([0122], FIG. 18, i.e. data driver 420), configured to drive the display panel (i.e. please see above citation(s)), and comprising:
a plurality of first driver units ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. blue pixel BPX1 (DL2)), supplied with a first operating voltage range ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. “a 0-gray voltage BVO for the blue pixel BPX may be about 6.5 V, a 255-gray voltage BV255 for the blue pixel BPX may be about 2 V” (that is a range of 6.5V – 2.0V = 4.5V)) and configured to drive the blue subpixels ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. blue pixel); and
a plurality of second driver units ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. red/green pixel RPX1/GPX1 (DL1)), supplied with a second operating voltage range ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. “a 0-gray voltage RV0 for the red pixel RPX may be about 7 V, a 255-gray voltage RV255 for the red pixel RPX may be about 3 V” (that is a range of 7.0V – 3.0V = 4.0V)) and configured to drive the red subpixels ([0072], FIG. 4, i.e. red/green pixel), wherein the first operating voltage range (i.e. please see above citation(s)) is larger than ([0067], FIG. 3, i.e. 4.5V > 4.0V) the second operating voltage range (i.e. please see above citation(s)).
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claim(s) 2-9 is/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.
6. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
KA et al. (US Patent/PGPub. No. 20220044634) teach a display panel of an OLED display device includes a first pixel configured to emit first color light, a second pixel configured to emit second color light, and a third pixel configured to emit third color light. Each of the first, second and third pixels includes at least two transistors, at least one capacitor and an organic light emitting diode. At least one of at least two transistors or at least one capacitor included in the third pixel has a size different from a size of a corresponding one at least two transistors or at least one capacitor included in the first pixel or the second pixel.
Cheng (US PGPUB./Pat. No. 20230386415) teaches a source driver includes a first DAC for driving a first-color subpixel and a second DAC for driving a second-color subpixel. Each DAC is configured to output at least one output voltage according to an N-bit data code, and includes a plurality of sub-DACs, an interpolation circuit and a switch circuit. Each sub-DAC receives m bits of the N-bit data code and generates a set of intermediate voltages accordingly. The interpolation circuit performs an interpolation on a selected set of intermediate voltages according to k bits of the N-bit data code and at least one interpolation control signal, to generate the output voltage. The switch circuit electrically connects the interpolation circuit and a selected sub-DAC which outputs the selected set of intermediate voltages. The interpolation circuit of the first DAC and the interpolation circuit of the second DAC respectively perform the interpolation according to different numbers of interpolation bits.
The subject matter of the independent claims could either not be found or was not suggested in the prior art of record. The subject matter not found was a display device including
“…wherein the first driver units are always supplied with the first operating voltage range and the second driver units are always supplied with the second operating voltage range in odd line periods and even line periods.” (Claim 2),
“…a first switch unit, configured to connect one first driver unit of the first driver units to a first data line in a first line period and connect the first driver unit to a second data line in a second line period next to the first line period, and also connect one second driver unit of the second driver units to the second data line in the first line period and connect the second driver unit to the first data line in the second line period.” (Claim 3),
“…a plurality of third driver units, supplied with one of the first operating voltage range and the second operating voltage range and configured to drive green subpixels.” (Claim 5),
“…wherein the first driver units are supplied with the first operating voltage range to drive the blue subpixels in a first line period and are supplied with the second operating voltage range in place of the first operating voltage range to drive the red subpixels in a second line period next to the first line period; and
wherein the second driver units are supplied with the second operating voltage range to drive the red subpixels in the first line period and are supplied with the first operating voltage range in place of the second operating voltage range to drive the blue subpixels in the second line period.” (Claim 7),
“…the minimum voltage of the first operating voltage range is the same as that of the second operating voltage range, and the maximum voltage of the first operating voltage range is larger than that of the second operating voltage range.” (Claim 8),
“…the minimum voltage of the first operating voltage range is lower than that of the second operating voltage range, and the maximum voltage of the first operating voltage range is the same as that of the second operating voltage range.” (Claim 9),
in combination with the other elements (or steps) of the device or apparatus and method recited in the claims.
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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VINH TANG LAM whose telephone number is (571) 270-3704. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nitin K Patel can be reached at (571) 272-7677. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VINH T LAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628