Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/217,578

DISPLAY APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
May 23, 2025
Priority
Dec 23, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0183593 +1 more
Examiner
AGGARWAL, YOGESH K
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1026 granted / 1144 resolved
+29.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
1164
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
§103
52.4%
+12.4% vs TC avg
§102
36.8%
-3.2% vs TC avg
§112
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1144 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 1 and 2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (KR 20160076765A) in view of Blackburn (US PGPUB 20140074283). [Claim 1] Kim teaches a display apparatus comprising: a display module (200. Fig. 2); a cabinet (main frame 300, fig. 2) to which the display module is coupled thereto (see figs. 1-2); a circuit case (figs. 2 and 3, power supply unit 500) coupled to the cabinet and configured to receive a printed circuit board (Paragraph 43, The main board 600 may transmit a display signal and power to the display panel 200. The main board 600 may be connected to the power supply unit 500 to receive power and simultaneously transmit a display signal for displaying characters or images to be displayed on the display panel 200. The main board 600 may include a general PCB substrate); a power connector (520) on one wall of the circuit case and configured to supply power to the printed circuit board (Paragraphs 43-46, fig. 5, main board 600). Kim fails to teach a cover detachably coupled to the power connector; and a locking member coupled to the one wall of the circuit case and configured to lock the cover to prevent the cover from being removed by preventing rotation of the cover in a state in which the cover is coupled to the power connector. However Blackburn teaches a cover 101 (fig. 1) connected to body 110 that contains power source connection 302 (Paragraph 92). The locking mechanism 120 may be an electronic lock which may include locking hardware or locking arms 440 controlled by a motor 215. In one embodiment, the motor may be connected to a microcontroller. In this embodiment, the microcontroller may send a signal to the motor based on user input such as a correct passcode, information provided by an administrative user from a networked external computing device via the communication or any other means for communicating that an administrative user may access the interior of the apparatus. To unlock the lid, once the signal to unlock is sent to the microcontroller, the microcontroller may initiate the motor 215 and the motor may rotate counter-clockwise causing the arms or locking hardware to retract from the locking ends 301 and 303. To lock the lid, a signal or user input may be sent to the microcontroller instructing it to lock the apparatus. Upon receipt of the locking input, the microcontroller may initiate the motor 215 clockwise, rotating the motor 215 clockwise and extending the locking hardware 440 locking end 303, biasing the locking hardware against the apparatus preventing removal of the cover 101 (Paragraph 70). Therefore taking the combined teachings of Kim and Blackburn, it would be obvious to one skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to have been motivated to have a cover detachably coupled to the power connector; and a locking member coupled to the one wall of the circuit case and configured to lock the cover to prevent the cover from being removed by preventing rotation of the cover in a state in which the cover is coupled to the power connector in order to prevent the cover from opening easily or accidentally thereby ensuring a secure connection. [Claim 2] Blackburn teaches wherein the locking member is configured to slide toward the cover to contact the cover (fig. 3 shows the locking ends 301 in contact with cover 101 and Paragraph 80, The locking mechanism's 120 first and second locking ends 301, 303 may include a plurality of bores or slots 311, 411. The plurality of bores or slots 311, 411 may line up when the first and second locking ends 301, 303 are nestled within each other. In one embodiment, at least one piece of locking hardware 440 may be extended through the bore or slot 311, 411. When a piece of locking hardware, such as a locking arm 440 extends through the first and second locking ends 301, 303 the mechanism may be said to have been placed in the locked position) in order to prevent the cover from opening easily or accidentally thereby ensuring a secure connection. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3-15 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. The prior art fails to teach or suggest as in claim 3, “a fastening portion fastened to the one wall of the circuit case; and a locking portion connected to the fastening portion, contactable with the cover, and configured to prevent the rotation of the cover” and claim 11, “wherein the wire conduit comprises: a wire conduit connecting portion connected to the power connector; and a wire conduit cover configured to cover a perimeter of the wire conduit connecting portion, and wherein, in a state in which the cover is removed from the power connector, the wire conduit is coupled to the power connector and the locking member contacts the wire conduit cover and is configured to prevent rotation of the wire conduit cover”. Claims 4-10 and 12-15 are allowed because of their dependency from claims 3 and 11. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YOGESH K AGGARWAL whose telephone number is (571)272-7360. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:30-6. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sinh Tran can be reached at 5712727564. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /YOGESH K AGGARWAL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2637
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 23, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12737969
INTERACTIVE IMAGE GENERATION
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12732690
DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD
2y 3m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12726734
PIXEL OF IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE SENSOR
1y 9m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12720176
IMAGING ELEMENT UNIT AND IMAGING DEVICE
3y 0m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12713152
SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SENSOR DEVICE
2y 2m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+6.9%)
2y 5m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1144 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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