Ex Parte Tanaka et al

Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences

Oct 30, 2007

10271594 (B.P.A.I. Oct. 30, 2007)

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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BEFORE THE BOARD OF PATENT APPEALS
AND INTERFERENCES
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Ex parte SHIGEKI TANAKA and SHIGEKI TAMAI
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Appeal 2007-3283
Application 10/271,594
Technology Center 2600
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Decided: October 30, 2007
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Before KENNETH W. HAIRSTON, LEE E. BARRETT, and ROBERT E.
NAPPI, Administrative Patent Judges.

HAIRSTON, Administrative Patent Judge.

DECISION ON APPEAL
This is an appeal under 35 U.S.C. §§ 6(b) and 134 from the final
rejection of claims 1, 3, 5, and 8 to 10.
Claim 1 is representative of the claimed invention, and it reads as
follows:
1. A method of driving a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of
pixels arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixels each including a pair
Appeal 2007-3283
Application 10/271,594

of electrodes and liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween, and being divided
into a plurality of pixel groups each composed of plural pixels,
the method comprising:
performing a predetermined computing operation at intervals of a
predetermined horizontal period by adding all gradation display data
representative of gradations of pixels of one of the pixel groups;
correcting a voltage determined from gradation data of each pixel of
the one pixel group, on the basis of a result of the computing operation, to
obtain a corrected voltage; and
applying the corrected voltage between a pair of electrodes of each
pixel of the one of the pixel groups during the predetermined horizontal
period in order to reduce non-uniformity of a display.
The prior art relied upon by the Examiner in rejecting the claims on
appeal is:
Tamai US 5,642,127 Jun. 24, 1997
Kimura US 5,892,494 Apr. 6, 1999
The Examiner rejected claims 1, 3, 5, and 10 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
based upon the teachings of Kimura. The Examiner rejected claims 8 and 9
under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) based upon the teachings of Kimura and Tamai.
Appellants contend that the claimed correction voltage is applied
between a pair of electrodes of each pixel of a group of pixels during a
predetermined horizontal period whereas the reference to Kimura describes
correcting an application voltage based upon the length of time a pixel has
been turned on (i.e., making the correction after the need for the correction
has occurred) (Br. 10 to 12). According to the Examiner:
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Appeal 2007-3283
Application 10/271,594

Kimura et al disclose correcting a voltage determined from
gradation data of each pixel of the one pixel group, on the basis of a
result of the computing operation, to obtain corrected voltage and
applying the corrected voltage between a pair of electrodes of each
pixel of the one of the pixel groups during the predetermined
horizontal period in order to reduce non-uniformity of a display in col.
3, lines 44-53, col. 4, lines 17-27, col. 10, lines 15-50, and col. 13,
lines 55-65
(Answer 3).

In Kimura, the Abstract, column 3, lines 44 to 53, column 4, lines 17
to 27, column 5, lines 14 to 20, column 13, lines 55 to 65, and column 15,
lines 31 to 56 all support the Appellants’ position that the correction voltage
in Kimura is applied to the switching element of a pixel after the need for the
correction has occurred (i.e., after the switching element has been turned
off). Kimura specifically states that the correction is made “irrespective of
the horizontal scanning period” (col. 15, ll. 55 and 56). Thus, the
obviousness rejection of claims 1, 3, 5, and 10 is reversed because the
Examiner’s articulated reasoning in the rejection does not possess a rational
underpinning to support a legal conclusion of obviousness. In re Kahn, 441
F.3d 977, 988, (Fed. Cir. 2006). The obviousness rejection of claims 8 and 9
is reversed because the teachings of Tamai do not cure the noted
shortcomings in the teachings of Kimura.
The decision of the Examiner is reversed.
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Appeal 2007-3283
Application 10/271,594

REVERSED

eld

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