Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2024-07-19)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims:

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Currently amended) A touch panel comprising:
a planar region and a bent region located on at least one side of the planar region;
wherein the touch panel has at least one notch adjacent to the bent region; the touch panel comprises at least one first touch peripheral region located around the at least one notch, and a light-transmitting first trace layer is provided in the at least one first touch peripheral region,
further comprising at least one second touch peripheral region that is at least partially overlapped with at least one bent region, a second trace layer is provided in the at least one second touch peripheral region, and the second trace layer and the first trace layer are of a different-layer structure: and the first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region is electrically connected with a second trace layer in an adjacent second touch peripheral region.

2\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the planar region has multiple corner regions, and the at least one notch is located at a periphery of at least one corner region of the planar region.

3\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the planar region is approximately in a shape of a rounded rectangle, bent regions are provided on four sides of the planar region, and a notch is provided between bent regions on adjacent two sides.

4\. (Previously presented) The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the touch panel corresponding to the at least one notch comprises a first straight line segment, a circular arc segment, and a second straight line segment connected sequentially, or an edge of the touch panel corresponding to the at least one notch comprises a first straight line segment, a first transition segment, a circular arc segment, a second transition segment, and a second straight line segment connected sequentially; an extension direction of the first straight line

segment intersects an extension direction of the second straight line segment.

5\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the first touch peripheral region around the at least one notch is partially overlapped with the planar region and is partially overlapped with the bent region adjacent to the at least one notch.

6\. (Cancelled)

7\. (Currently amended) The touch panel according to claim 61,further comprising a touch region that is partially overlapped with both the planar region and the at least one bent region;
wherein multiple first touch units and multiple second touch units are disposed in the touch region; at least one first touch unit comprises multiple first touch electrodes and multiple first connecting portions arranged sequentially along a first direction; at least one second touch unit comprises multiple second touch electrodes and multiple second connecting portions arranged sequentially along a second direction; the first direction intersects the second direction.

8\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the multiple first touch electrodes, the multiple second touch electrodes, and the multiple first connecting portions are disposed on a touch layer in a homo-layered manner, the multiple second connecting portions are disposed on a bridging layer, and a second connecting portion is interconnected with an adjacent second touch electrode through a via on a touch insulation layer between the bridging layer and the touch layer; or the multiple first touch electrodes, the multiple second touch electrodes, and the multiple second connecting portions are disposed on a touch layer in a homo-layered manner, the multiple first connecting portions are disposed on a bridging layer, and a first connecting portion is interconnected with an adjacent first touch electrode through a via on a touch insulation layer between the bridging layer and the touch layer.

9\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the first trace layer and the touch layer are of a same-layer structure, and the second trace layer and the bridging layer are of a same-layer structure.

10\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 7, wherein the second trace layer in the at least one second touch peripheral region comprises at least one of following: multiple first touch leads and multiple second touch leads; a first touch lead is connected with a first touch unit, and a second touch lead is connected with a second touch unit; and
the first trace layer in the at least one first touch peripheral region comprises multiple lead connecting lines, and at least one of the multiple lead connecting lines is configured to be connected with a first touch lead or a second touch lead in the adjacent second touch peripheral region.

11\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 10, wherein the multiple lead connecting lines of the first trace layer have connecting end portions, and connecting end portions of adjacent lead connecting lines are arranged in a staggered manner.

12\. (Currently amended) The touch panel according to claim 61,wherein a ratio of a width of a same trace on the first trace layer to a width of the same trace on the second trace layer is approximately equal to a ratio of a surface resistance of a first conductive material used for the first trace layer to a surface resistance of a second conductive material used for the second trace layer.

13\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 12, wherein the first conductive material comprises a conductive material having a light transmittance greater than about 90%.

14\. (Previously presented) The touch panel according to claim 12, wherein the surface resistance of the first conductive material is about 10 Q/m2.

15\. (Previously presented) A display touch apparatus comprising a display panel and the touch panel according to claim 1 disposed on the display panel.

16\. (Previously presented) The display touch apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a touch base substrate of the touch panel is disposed on the display panel to form an Add on Mode structure;
or,
an encapsulation layer of the display panel is used as a touch base substrate of the touch

panel to form an On-Cell structure.

17\. (Cancelled)

18\. (Original) The display touch apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one corner region of a planar region of the touch panel has a circular arc-shaped edge, and the circular arc-shaped edge of the corner region faces a circular arc-shaped edge of the display panel.

19\. (Original) The display touch apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an orthographic projection of at least one notch of the touch panel on the display panel is partially overlapped with a display region of the display panel.

20\. (Currently amended) A preparation method of a touch panel, wherein the touch panel comprises a planar region and a bent region located on at least one side of the planar region; the touch panel has at least one notch adjacent to the bent region;
the preparation method comprises:
forming a light-transmitting first trace layer in at least one first touch peripheral region located around the at least one notch,
the preparation method is used to prepare the touch panel according to claim 1.

21\. (Original) The preparation method according to claim 20, further comprising forming a second trace layer in a second touch peripheral region that is at least partially overlapped with at least one bent region, a first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region being electrically connected with a second trace layer in an adjacent second touch peripheral region.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-5, 7-16, 18-21 filed May 22nd 2024 are pending in the current action.
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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7-16, 18-21 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The applicant’s arguments filed May 21st 2024 regarding the teachings of Seo (US2020/0293140) are persuasive. Seo teaches that the display and touch components are connected via the flexible printed circuit, however, Seo does not teach the limitation “the first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region [being] electrically connected with a second trace layer in an adjacent second touch peripheral region” as shown in Applicant’s Figs. 10, 11, 13. Further searching was performed and found that Lee et al. (US2020/0110485) ¶43 teaches bonding pads in the border region that connect circuitry. There is insufficient motivation to combine Seo with Lee to arrive at the claimed limitation. Thus, Claim 1 is allowed. Claims 2-5, 7-16, 18-21 are allowed based on their dependence from claim 1.
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

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
The non-final Office Action dated February 21, 2024 has been carefully reviewed and the following amendments and remarks are responsive thereto.
Claims 1, 7, 12 and 20 are amended and claims 6 is deleted adaptively. No new matter is added.
Claims 1-5, 7-16 and 18-21 remain pending. Reconsideration and allowance are respectfully requested.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 & 103
Claim(s) 1-6, 15, 16, 18-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Seo (US2020/0293140).
Claim (s) 7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo, in further view of Wang et al. (US2020/0033997).
Claim(s) 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo, in further view of Hwang et al. (US2012/0234663).
Claim 1
Claim 1 is amended based on, e.g., claim 6.
Applicant respectfully submits that the amended claim 1 is not anticipated by Seo. Seo alone, or in any proper combination with Wang or Hwang, fails to disclose, suggest or render obvious all of the limitations of the amended claim 1. More particularly, the claim 1 of the present application, as amended, recites:
"A touch panel comprising:
a planar region and a bent region located on at least one side of the planar region;
wherein the touch panel has at least one notch adjacent to the bent region; the touch panel comprises at least one first touch peripheral region located around the at least one notch, and a light-transmitting first trace layer is provided in the at least one first touch peripheral region;
further comprising at least one second touch peripheral region that is at least partially overlapped with at least one bent region, wherein a second
trace la
y
er is provided in the at least one second touch peripheral region, and the second trace la
y
er and the first trace la
y
er are of a different-la
yer
structure
:
and the first trace la
y
er in the first touch peripheral region is electrically connected with the second trace la
y
er in an adjacent second touch peripheral region".
With regard to Seo, the display panel 300 cannot be regarded as the first trace layer 50 of claim 1 of the present application.
Seo doesn't disclose the first trace la
v
er 50
(including 501-505) of the present application, let alone the first trace layer
is provided in the at least one first touch peripheral re
g
ion
and
the trace la
v
er is li
g
ht-transmittin
g.
Besides, Seo doesn't disclose the second touch peripheral region E51, E52, E53, E54 of the present application. Seo
doesn't disclose
a force
touch
region 513, instead, Seo discloses the third force sensor 513 and a region where the third force sensor 513 located. The third force sensor 513 and a region where the third force sensor 513 located cannot be regarded as the second touch peripheral region E51, E52, E53, E54 of the present application, because
the
third force sensor 513 and a re
g
ion where the third force sensor 513 located do not shown located in the peripheral re
g
ion of a touch re
g
ion.
Taking a step back, even if a region where the third force sensor 513 located is regarded as the second touch peripheral region E51, E52, E53, E54 of the present application (it doesn't mean admitting), Seo doesn't disclose the third force sensor 513 and a region where the third force sensor 513 located provides a second trace layer. Factually, Seo doesn't disclose the second trace layer 40 of the present application. The pressure sensing layer (PSL) of Seo cannot be regarded as the second trace layer 40 of the present application, because
the pressure sensin
gi
la
v
er (PSL) doesn't include trace of line,
and
the PSL is not provided in the third force sensor 513 or a re
g
ion where the third force sensor 513 located.
However, for people skilled in the art, the second trace layer 40 of the present application necessarily include trace of various line, and in the present application, a second trace layer is provided in the at least one second touch peripheral region.
Furthermore, in the present application, the first trace layer 50 (including 501-505) in the first touch peripheral region E12, E22, E32, E42 is electrically connected with the second trace layer 40 (including 401-405) in an adjacent second touch peripheral region E51, E52, E53, E54, please refer to the Figs 10, 11 and 13 of the present application shown as below. Seo doesn't disclose such feature of claim 1 of the present application.
Fig.10 of the present application
Fig.13 of the present application
Specifically, Seo doesn't disclose the second trace layer and the first trace layer which are of a different-layer structure. FIG. 6 of Seo is a bottom view of
an arrangement relationship between a displa
y
panel and force sensors
according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first force sensor, a second force sensor, a third force sensor, a fourth force sensor, and bumps according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of region A of FIG. 7 in detail. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an example taken along line III-III' of FIG. 8. Therefore, the corresponding paragraphs [0155] to [0158] of Figs.6 to 9 are about configuration of force sensors, they do refer to the first trace layer and the second trace layer.
Seo also doesn't disclose the first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region is
electrically connected with the second trace layer in an adj acent second touch peripheral region. Fig 2 and paragraphs [0102] to [0105] of Seo refer to a connection between the display circuit board 310 and the third circuit board 550 and a connection between the second connection cable 314 and the main connector 730 of the main circuit board 700. From the above analysis, it can be seen that Seo doesn't refer to the first trace layer and the second trace layer, Seo doesn't disclose the connection between them then.
Fig.2 of Seo Therefore, Seo does not disclose at least the following features in the amended claim 1: "a light-transmitting first trace layer is provided; Page 10 of 12
further comprising at least one second touch peripheral region that is at least partially overlapped with at least one bent region, wherein a second trace layer is provided in the at least one second touch peripheral region, and the second trace layer and the first trace la
y
er are of a different-la
yer
structure
;
and the first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region is electrically connected with the second trace layer in an adjacent second touch peripheral region".
Therefore, the amended claim 1 is new with respect to Seo.
With the above distinguishing features,
an influence of
settin
g
of the notches on a displa
y
effect of a displa
y
re
gi
on of a displa
y
touch apparatus where the touch panel is located may be avoided
by setting the first trace layer in the first touch peripheral region to be light-transmitting (see page 10, the third paragraph of specification as filed). Besides,
a pitch between the ad
j
acent lead connectin
g
lines may be reduced by
arranging the connecting end portions of the adjacent lead connecting lines in the staggered manner,
to support implementation of a touch panel with a narrow border(see
page 13, the second paragraph of specification as filed).
Other cited references such as Wang and Hwang fail to cure the deficiencies of Seo.
Especially, paragraphs [0114] and [0117] of Hwang both refer to that the light
transmission rate is controlled by changing the pattern spacing or disconnecting the pattern, i.e., its "light transmission rate" essentially refers to the light transmittance rate of the entire display area. Besides, from the materials in paragraph [0109], it can be seen that the trace itself is not light-transmitting. Therefore, Hwang doesn't disclose the feature "the trace layer is light-transmitting" of the present application.
In light of the above, Seo fails to teach, suggest, or render obvious all of the limitations of the amended claim 1. The subject matter of claim 1 would have been non-obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art. Thus claim 1 is allowable. Applicant respectfully requests this rejection be withdrawn.
Claims 2-5, 7-16 and 18-21 are also allowable at least by virtue of their dependencies.
Conclusion


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref 20240529: [content unavailable]
Ref US20200293140: Claims:
1. A display device, comprising:
a display panel that includes an upper surface, a first side surface portion that extends from a first side of the upper surface, and a second side surface portion that extends from a second side connected to the first side; a first force sensor disposed in the first side surface portion and a second force sensor disposed in the second side surface portion; and a controller that determines a type and a state of an application being executed when a first input signal is sensed through the first force sensor and executes an operation that corresponds to the type and the state of the application being executed hen a second input signal is sensed through the second force sensor within a preset time from an interruption of the first input signal.
2. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a corner portion that is a non-display region formed between the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion.
3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the corner portion is curved in a plan view.
4. The display device of claim 2, wherein the preset time increases in proportion to a length of the corner portion.
5. The display device of claim 1, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a photo album and the state of the application corresponds to a photo view mode, the controller executes an operation of rotating an image displayed on the display panel by 90° from a direction of the first side to a direction of the second side.
6. The display device of claim 1, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a photo album and the state of the application corresponds to a thumbnail view mode, the controller executes an operation of dragging an icon displayed at a position at which the first input signal is generated and dropping the icon at a position at which the second input signal is generated.
7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel further comprises a first upper curved surface portion formed between the upper surface and the first side surface portion, and a second upper curved surface portion formed between the upper surface and the second side surface portion.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the first force sensor is disposed in the first upper curved surface portion and the first side surface portion, and the second force sensor is disposed in the second upper curved surface portion and the second side surface portion.
9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the first force sensor and the second force sensor each include a plurality of sensing cells.
10. The display device of claim 8, wherein the controller displays a guide mark on the first upper curved surface portion or the second upper curved surface portion according to the type and the state of the application.
11. A display device, comprising:
a display panel that includes an upper surface, a first side surface portion that extends from a first side of the upper surface, a second side surface portion that extends from a second side connected to the first side, a third side surface portion that extends from a third side opposite to the first side, and a fourth side surface portion that extends from a fourth side opposite to the second side; a first force sensor disposed in the first side surface portion, a second force sensor disposed in the second side surface portion, a third force sensor disposed in the third side surface portion, and a fourth force sensor disposed in the fourth side surface portion; and a controller that determines a type and a state of an application being executed when a first input signal is sensed through the first force sensor and the third force sensor, and that executes a function that corresponds to the type and the state of the application being executed when a second input signal is sensed through at least one of the first to fourth force sensors in a state in which the first input signal is maintained.
12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the second input signal is sensed through the second force sensor or the fourth force sensor.
13. The display device of claim 11, wherein the first force sensor, the second force sensor, the third force sensor, and the fourth force sensor each include a plurality of sensing cells.
14. The display device of claim 13, wherein the first input signal is a squeezing signal of concurrently pressing one or more sensing cells of the first force sensor and the third force sensor.
15. The display device of claim 13, wherein the second input signal corresponds to a tap gesture of intermittently pressing some of the plurality of sensing cells of the second force sensor or the fourth force sensor, or a swipe gesture of sequentially pressing the plurality of sensing cells of the second force sensor or the fourth force sensor.
16. The display device of claim 15, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a music player and the second input signal corresponds to a tap gesture, the controller plays or stops music.
17. The display device of claim 15, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a music player and the second input signal corresponds to a swipe gesture sensed through the second force sensor, the controller adjusts a volume according to a direction and a movement distance of the swipe gesture.
18. The display device of claim 15, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a music player and the second input signal corresponds to a swipe gesture sensed through the fourth force sensor, the controller plays a previous piece of music or a next piece of music according to a direction of the swipe gesture.
19. The display device of claim 11, wherein the second input signal is sequentially sensed through the first force sensor and the fourth force sensor, or sequentially sensed through the first force sensor and the second force sensor.
20. The display device of claim 19, wherein, when the type of the application corresponds to a camera, the controller zooms in or zooms out on a subject, according to whether the second input signal is sequentially sensed through the first force sensor and the fourth force sensor, or sequentially sensed through the first force sensor and the second force sensor.
Ref US20200110485: Claims:
1. A touch sensor panel comprising:
a substrate including a first side and a second side; a passivation layer; a first plurality of touch electrodes formed on the first side of the substrate; and a second plurality of touch electrodes formed on the second side of the substrate, wherein a component of the touch sensor panel, other than the first plurality of touch electrodes and the second plurality of touch electrodes, is configured to prevent light configured to activate the passivation layer during fabrication of the touch sensor panel from being transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate.
2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein:
the component is the substrate, and the substrate is configured with a transmissivity less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.
3. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein:
the component is an attenuation mask formed in a same material layer as the first plurality of touch electrodes.
4. The touch sensor panel of claim 3, wherein the attenuation mask is not patterned.
5. The touch sensor panel of claim 3, wherein the attenuation mask is patterned.
6. The touch sensor panel of claim 5, wherein the pattern of the attenuation mask is such that a transmissivity of the patterned attenuation mask is less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.
7. The touch sensor panel of claim 5, wherein the pattern of the attenuation mask is such that the attenuation mask does not overlap an alignment feature included in the same material layer as the first touch electrodes.
8. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein:
the component is a light-absorptive layer formed on the first side or the second side of the substrate, and the light-absorptive layer is configured with a transmissivity less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.
9. A method of fabricating a touch sensor panel, the method comprising:
forming a first plurality of touch electrodes on a first side of a substrate of the touch sensor panel; forming a second plurality of touch electrodes on a second side of the substrate of the touch sensor panel; and forming and activating a first passivation layer on the first side of the substrate and a second passivation layer on the second side of the substrate, wherein a component of the touch sensor panel, other than the first plurality of touch electrodes and the second plurality of touch electrodes, is configured to prevent light configured to activate the passivation layer during the activation from being transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein:
the component is the substrate, and the substrate is configured with a transmissivity less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein:
the component is an attenuation mask formed in a same material layer as the first plurality of touch electrodes.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the attenuation mask is not patterned.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the attenuation mask is patterned.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pattern of the attenuation mask is such that a transmissivity of the patterned attenuation mask is less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pattern of the attenuation mask is such that the attenuation mask does not overlap an alignment feature included in the same material layer as the first touch electrodes.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the component is a light-absorptive layer formed on the first side or the second side of the substrate, and the light-absorptive layer is configured with a transmissivity less than or equal to a transmissivity threshold at which an intensity of the light transmitted from the first side of the substrate to the second side of the substrate is equal to an activation intensity threshold of the passivation layer.