Ex Parte Yang et al

Patent Trial and Appeal Board

Sep 28, 2015

11753831 (P.T.A.B. Sep. 28, 2015)

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
www.uspto.gov
APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO.
11/753,831 05/25/2007 Chih-hsiang Yang 67507-018 6252
65358 7590 09/28/2015
WPAT, PC
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEYS
8230 BOONE BLVD. SUITE 405
VIENNA, VA 22182
EXAMINER
YANG, KWANG-SU
ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER
2691
MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE
09/28/2015 PAPER
Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
____________________

BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
____________________

Ex parte CHIH-HSIANG YANG, SHENG-KAI HSU, and
CHUN-FAN CHUNG
____________________

Appeal 2013-009354
Application 11/753,831
Technology Center 2600
____________________

Before DEBRA K. STEPHENS, NATHAN A. ENGELS, and
GARTH D. BAER, Administrative Patent Judges.

ENGELS, Administrative Patent Judge.

DECISION ON APPEAL
Appellants appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134(a) from the Final Rejection
of claims 1, 6, 7, 11, 13, and 18. No other claims are pending. We have
jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b).
We affirm.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellants’ invention is directed to a liquid crystal display for
preventing residual image phenomenon and related method thereof. Claim
1, reproduced below, is illustrative of the claimed subject matter:
1. A liquid crystal display device for preventing residual
image, comprising:
Appeal 2013-009354
Application 11/753,831

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a liquid crystal panel comprising a plurality of pixel
units, for displaying an image;
a constant supply terminal for supplying a predetermined
voltage;
a power supply for generating a power supply signal;
a detecting circuit for generating the power switching
signal in response to a transition of the power supply signal
from a first voltage level to a second voltage level; and
a source driver, comprising:
a processing unit for providing a data signal;
a plurality of first switch units electrically coupled
to the processing unit, for conducting the data signal to
the plurality of pixel units when the power switching
signal is at a first state;
a plurality of second switch units for electrically
connecting the plurality of pixel units when the power
switching signal is at a second state; and
a third switch unit electrically coupled to the
constant supply terminal and one of the plurality of
second switch units, for conducting the predetermined
voltage level to the plurality of pixel units when the
power switching signal is at a third state.

APPELLANTS’ CONTENTIONS
Appellants contend the Examiner erred in rejecting claims 1, 6, 7, 11,
13, and 18 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable in view of the
combination of Akai (US 2005/0122321 A1; June 9, 2005), Toyozawa (US
2004/0104908 A1; June 3, 2004), and Kumeta (US 7,800,572 B2; Sept. 21,
2010).

ANALYSIS
Appellants argue that the Examiner’s combination of references fails
to teach or suggest “a constant supply terminal for supplying a
predetermined voltage” and “a source driver comprising a third switch unit
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Application 11/753,831

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electrically coupled to the constant supply terminal and one of the plurality
of second switch units, for conducting the predetermined voltage level to the
plurality of pixel units when the power switching signal is at a third state.”
Br. 6. Specifically, Appellants argue that Kumeta only discloses two states,
“i.e.[,] all switches 105a are turned on or turned off.” Br. 7.
The Examiner finds, and we agree, that Kumeta discloses power
switching signals in three states, the first state being switch “control signal
DOT_SW for the positive polarity for the data lines,” the second state being
switch “control signal DOT_SW for the negative polarity for the data lines,”
and the third state being “turning on the switch 105a which represents the
switches both outside and within the output-side polarity switch 105
corresponds to the third stage.” Final Act. 6–7. Further, the Examiner finds,
and we agree, that claim 1 does not require independent operation of the
second and third switch, only that the third switch conducts a predetermined
voltage, which Kumeta describes as half of the LCD drive voltage—a
potential of 5V. Final Act. 4–5; Ans. 11 (citing Kumeta Figs. 1, 2, col. 2, ll.
58–61 (describing that switches 105a precharge output terminals 108 to half
the LCD drive voltage)).
Having considered the Examiner’s rejection in light of each of
Appellants’ arguments and the evidence of record, we are unpersuaded of
error and sustain the Examiner’s rejection of claim 1. Appellants do not
advance independent persuasive arguments for the patentability of claims 6,
7, 11, 13, and 18, and we sustain the Examiner’s rejection of those claims
for the same reasons.
Appeal 2013-009354
Application 11/753,831

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DECISION
For the above reasons, the Examiner’s rejection of claims 1, 6, 7, 11,
13, and 18 is affirmed.
No time period for taking any subsequent action in connection with
this appeal may be extended. 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a)(1)(iv).

AFFIRMED

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