Detailed Action
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
2. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Obviousness-Type Double Patenting
3. 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 Langi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761(CCPA1982); 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 §§ 706.02(1)(1) - 706.02(1)(3) 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process /file/ efs/quidance/eTD-info-l.jsp.
4. Claims 1-13 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 and 12-15 of U.S. Patent No. 12494080 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Present application (19396088) US Patent 12494080 B2
Claim 1
Claim 1
A display device, comprising:
A foldable display device, comprising:
a display system including a display stack;
a display system including a display stack;
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness configured to allow the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, wherein the stiffener layer thickness corresponds to a transmission coefficient in a range from 10 percent to 30 percent for ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 6 MHz.
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness configured to allow the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, wherein the stiffener layer thickness corresponds to a transmission coefficient in a range from 10 percent to 30 percent for ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 6 MHz.
As shown in the comparison above, the instant application claim 1 is essentially same as or broader in every aspect than the patent claim 1 of US 12494080 B2 and is therefore an obvious variant thereof. Claims 2-13 recite the same or similar limitations as claims 2-9 and 12-15 of US 12494080 B2, and therefore are rejected.
5. Claims 14-25 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 17-28 of U.S. Patent No. 12494080 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Present application (19396088) US Patent 12494080 B2
Claim 14
Claim 17
A display device, comprising:
A foldable display device, comprising:
a display system including a display stack;
a display system including a display stack;
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system configured to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system configured to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness that is less than one-fifth of a wavelength corresponding to the peak frequency, wherein the stiffener layer comprises a stainless steel layer, a titanium layer, a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) layer or a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) layer having a thickness in a range from 30 microns to 200 microns, or an aluminum layer having a thickness in a range from 100-300 microns.
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness that is less than one-fifth of a wavelength corresponding to the peak frequency, wherein the stiffener layer comprises a stainless steel layer, a titanium layer, a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) layer or a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) layer having a thickness in a range from 30 microns to 200 microns, or an aluminum layer having a thickness in a range from 100-300 microns.
As shown in the comparison above, the instant application claim 14 is essentially same as broader in every aspect than the patent claim 17 of US 12494080 B2 and is therefore an obvious variant thereof. Claims 15-25 recite the same or similar limitations as claims 18-28 of US 12494080 B2, and therefore are rejected.
6. Claim 26 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 29 of U.S. Patent No. 12494080 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Present application (19396088) US Patent 12494080 B2
Claim 26
Claim 29
A display device, comprising:
A foldable display device, comprising:
a display system including a display stack;
a display system including a display stack;
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness configured to allow the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, wherein:
a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness configured to allow the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, wherein:
the display stack includes a display glass layer residing between the stiffener layer and an outer surface of the display device, the display glass layer comprising glass, transparent plastic, or a combination thereof;
the display stack includes a display glass layer residing between the stiffener layer and an outer surface of the foldable display device, the display glass layer comprising glass, transparent plastic, or a combination thereof;
a first acoustic resonator is bounded by the stiffener layer and the display glass layer, the first acoustic resonator being configured to cause a first local maximum of ultrasonic wave transmission; and
a first acoustic resonator is bounded by the stiffener layer and the display glass layer, the first acoustic resonator being configured to cause a first local maximum of ultrasonic wave transmission; and
the first acoustic resonator includes at least one first-resonator flexible optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer, the at least one first-resonator flexible OCA layer having a thickness that is substantially an odd or even multiple of one-eighth of a wavelength corresponding to ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 14 MHz, wherein substantially indicates being within plus or minus 10 per cent.
the first acoustic resonator includes at least one first-resonator flexible optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer, the at least one first-resonator flexible OCA layer having a thickness that is substantially an odd or even multiple of one-eighth of a wavelength corresponding to ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 14 MHz, wherein substantially indicates being within plus or minus 10 percent.
As shown in the comparison above, the instant application claim 26 is essentially same as broader in every aspect than the patent claim 29 of US 12494080 B2 and is therefore an obvious variant thereof.
Allowable Subject Matter
7. Claims 1-28 would be allowable if double patenting rejections are overcome. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The present invention is directed to a foldable display device including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The closet prior arts, Ryu (US 20240147642 A1), Dickinson (US 20170323130 A1), Baek (US 20190354738 A1), and Strohmann (US 20220004728 A1), individually or in combination, discloses a display device, comprising: a display system including a display stack; an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system including an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack; and a stiffener layer residing between the display stack and the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system stack, the stiffener layer having a stiffener layer thickness configured to allow the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system to operate in a near-field mode having a peak frequency in a range from 1 megahertz (MHz) to 6 MHz, but fails to teach wherein the stiffener layer comprises a stainless steel layer, a titanium layer, a CFRP layer or a GFRP layer having a thickness in a range from 30 microns to 200 microns, or an aluminum layer having a thickness in a range from 100 microns to 300 microns, and wherein the stiffener layer thickness corresponds with a transmission coefficient in a range from 10 percent to 30 percent for ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 6 MHz, wherein the first acoustic resonator includes at least one first-resonator flexible optically clear adhesive (OCA) layer, the at least one first-resonator flexible OCA layer having a thickness that is substantially an odd or even multiple of one-eighth of a wavelength corresponding to ultrasonic waves in the range from 1 MHz to 14 MHz, wherein substantially indicates being within plus or minus 10 percent.
Inquiry
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YUZHEN SHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1407. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chanh Nguyen can be reached on 571-272-7772. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/YUZHEN SHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2623
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