Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-02-21)
Rejection types: 102 - Lack of Novelty, 103 - Obviousness

CLAIMS:
Replace the Claims with the following amended Claims.

Claims:

1\. (Original) 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.

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\. (Currently amended) The touch panel according to claim l , 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\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 1, 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.

7\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 6, 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\. (Original) The touch panel according to claim 6, 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\. (Currently amended) The touch panel according to claim 12 , wherein the surface resistance of the first conductive material is about 10 flm2.

15\. (Currently amended) A display touch apparatus comprising a display panel and the touch panel according to claim l disposed on the display panel.

16\. (Currently amended) 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\. (Original) 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.

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.
2 3 4 5

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-16 and 18-21 filed September 30th 2022 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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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)
Consider claim 1, where Seo discloses a touch panel comprising: a planar region and a bent region located on at least one side of the planar region; (See Seo figs 1, 2, and pp 113, 162-163 where touch sensing device 200 where there is a first region DR1 and a second region DR2 inclined at an angle from DR1, thus bent)  wherein the touch panel has at least one notch adjacent to the bent region; (See Seo fig. 6 and pp 112-114 where there are notches in the four corners of the display panel)  the touch panel comprises at least one first touch peripheral region located around the at least one notch, (See Seo figs 1, 2, and pp 113, 162-163 where touch sensing device 200 where a touch input can travel from DR1 to DR2 to DR3)  and a light-transmitting first trace layer is provided in the at least one first touch peripheral region. (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200)
Consider claim 2, where Seo discloses 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. (See Seo fig. 6 where there are 4 corner regions that have a notch)
Consider claim 3, where Seo discloses 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. (See Seo fig. 6 where there are 4 corner regions that have a notch that are located between the bent regions DR2 and DR3)
Consider claim 4, where Seo discloses 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, (See Seo fig. 6 where a side of DR3 of SS1 of the display form a first straight line) a circular arc segment, (See Seo fig. 6 where DR1 forms a corner with a circular arc segment) and a second straight line segment connected sequentially, (See Seo fig. 6 where DR3 of LS1 of the display form a second straight line) 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; (See Seo fig. 6 where DR2 can form transition segments) an extension direction of the first straight line segment intersects an extension direction of the second straight line segment. (See fig. 6 where the vertical extension of DR3 of SS1 will intersect with the horizontal extension of DR3 of LS1)
Consider claim 5, where Seo discloses 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. (See Seo fig. 15 and pp 191-194 where the touch input extends to the edges of the display DR1 as well as the edge regions DR2 and DR3)
Consider claim 6, where Seo discloses the touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second touch peripheral region that is at least partially overlapped with at least one bent region, (See Seo fig 6 and pp 113-115 where there is a force touch region 513 that is partially overlapped with the 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; (See Seo fig 9, 6 and pp 155-158 where the pressure sensing layer (PSL) overlaps the touch sensing layer formed from TE1, RE1 and 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. (See Seo fig 2 and pp 102-105 where the pressure sensing unit 330 is electrically connected via the first connector 311 to the second circuit board 312 which is electrically connected to the touch driver 220)
Consider claim 15, where Seo discloses a display touch apparatus comprising a display panel and the touch panel according to claim 1 disposed on the display panel. (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200)
Consider claim 16, where Seo discloses 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; (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200, thus the touch panel is added on to the display panel) 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. (See Seo pp 77 where the force sensors form sensing cells, pressure sensors are cells placed on the display)
Consider claim 18, where Seo discloses 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. (See Seo fig. 6 where DR2 can form transition segments)
Consider claim 19, where Seo discloses 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. (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200, thus the touch panel and the display panel overlap)
Consider claim 20, where Seo discloses 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; (See Seo figs 1, 2, and pp 61, 113, 162-163 where touch sensing device 200 where there is a first region DR1 and a second region DR2 inclined at an angle from DR1, thus bent)   the touch panel has at least one notch adjacent to the bent region; (See Seo figs 1, 2, and pp 113, 162-163 where touch sensing device 200 where a touch input can travel from DR1 to DR2 to DR3)   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. (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200)
Consider claim 21, where Seo discloses 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, (See Seo fig 6 and pp 113-115 where there is a force touch region 513 that is partially overlapped with the 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. (See Seo fig 2 and pp 102-105 where the pressure sensing unit 330 is electrically connected via the first connector 311 to the second circuit board 312 which is electrically connected to the touch driver 220)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 7-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo as applied to claim 1 above, in further view of Wang et al. (US2020/0033997)
Consider claim 7, where Seo discloses the touch panel according to claim 6, further comprising a touch region that is partially overlapped with both the planar region and the at least one bent region; (See Seo figs. 2, 6 and pp 61, 65 where there is a light emitting display panel 300 that is integrally formed with the touch panel 200) wherein multiple first touch units and multiple second touch units are disposed in the touch region; (See Seo fig 9, 6 and pp 155-158 where the touch sensing layer formed from multiple TE1 and RE1 units)
Seo teaches multiple first touch units and multiple second touch units, however Seo does not explicitly teach 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. However, in an analogous field of endeavor Wang teaches at least one first touch unit comprises multiple first touch electrodes and multiple first connecting portions arranged sequentially along a first direction; (See Wang figs 3, 4, 6 and pp 51-56 where the second electrodes 12 extend in the horizontal direction and are connected by connecting piece 12b)  at least one second touch unit comprises multiple second touch electrodes and multiple second connecting portions arranged sequentially along a second direction; (See Wang figs 3, 4, 6 and pp 51-56 where the first electrodes 11 extend in the vertical direction and are connected by second bridge connector 11b) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Wang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 8, where Seo in view of Wang teaches 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, (See Wang fig 6 and pp 56 where the connecting piece 12b, the first electrode bodies 11a, and the second electrode bodies 12a may be arranged in a same layer and formed of a same material) the multiple second connecting portions are disposed on a bridging layer, (See Wang fig 6 and pp 56 where the second bridge connector 11b is arranged on a 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; (See Wang fig 6 and pp 56 where the first electrode bodies 11a are connected to each other via the second bridge connector 11b over the insulating block 18) 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. (It would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to switch the labels of the first and second electrodes/bridges in the arrangement disclosed by Wang to arrive at the claimed arrangement) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Wang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 9, where Seo in view of Wang teaches the touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the first trace layer and the touch layer are of a same-layer structure, (See Wang figs 3, 4, 6 and pp 51-56 where the second electrodes 12 extend in the horizontal direction and are connected by connecting piece 12b, thus they are part of a same-touch layer structure)  and the second trace layer and the bridging layer are of a same-layer structure. (See Wang figs 3, 4, 6 and pp 51-56 where the first electrodes 11 extend in the vertical direction and are connected by second bridge connector 11b, thus they are part of a same-touch layer structure) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Wang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 10, where Seo in view of Wang teaches 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. (See Wang pp 52 and fig 4 where the plurality of signal lines includes a plurality of first signal lines 14 and a plurality of second signal lines 15. Each of the plurality of first electrodes 11 is connected to one of the plurality of first signal lines 14, and each of the plurality of second electrodes 12 is connected to one of the plurality of second signal lines 15 in the peripheral region) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Wang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 11, where Seo in view of Wang teaches 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. (See Wang fig 4,5 where the signal lines 14 and 15 are staggered) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Wang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Claim(s) 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo as applied to claim 1 above, in further view of Hwang et al. (US2012/0234663)
Consider claim 12, where Seo discloses the touch panel according to claim 6, however Seo does not explicitly teach 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. However, in an analogous field of endeavor Hwang teaches 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. (See Hwang figs 2, 14, 110-113 where the first router and the second router are made of the same material and have the same light width and height, thus the ratios are 1:1) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Hwang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 13, where Seo in view of Hwang teaches the touch panel according to claim 12, wherein the first conductive material comprises a conductive material having a light transmittance greater than about 90%. (See Hwang pp 115 where the light transmittance of the entire pattern comprising the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern may be in the range of 85% to 99%.) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Hwang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
Consider claim 14, where Seo in view of Hwang teaches the touch panel according to claim 12, wherein the surface resistance of the first conductive material is about 10 Ω/m2. (See Hwang pp 108 where the surface resistance of the metallic pattern may be acquired at a level of 0.5/0.05=10 ohm/square) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the TE1 and RE1 electrodes of Seo would be arranged in the manner taught by Hwang. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to perform the modification for the advantage of/ benefit of using known arrangements of touch electrodes to yield predictable results.
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

NEXT 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

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref 20240213: [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 US20200033997: Claims:
1. A flexible touch substrate, comprising a plurality of sides, wherein each of at least one of the plurality of sides has notches at its both ends, each of the notches has two edges whose extension directions cross each other, and the two edges of each of the notches have a same length.
2. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 1, wherein edges of two notches at both ends of a same one of the plurality of sides have a same length.
3. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 2, comprising
a flexible substrate; and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes on the flexible substrate; wherein the plurality of first electrodes extend in a first direction, the plurality of second electrodes extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the plurality of first electrodes are insulated from the plurality of second electrodes, and the first direction is perpendicular to the side whose both ends have the two notches, respectively; in the second direction, a distance between an outer side of the outermost first electrode relative to each side of the flexible substrate and the side of the flexible substrate is smaller than a length of each of the edges of the notch at an end of the side of the flexible substrate; and in the first direction, a distance between an outer side of the outermost second electrode relative to each side of the flexible substrate and the side of the flexible substrate is smaller than a length of each of the edges of the notch at an end of the side of the flexible substrate.
4. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of signal lines on the flexible substrate, wherein the plurality of signal lines comprise a plurality of first signal lines and a plurality of second signal lines, each of the plurality of first electrodes is connected to one of the plurality of first signal lines, each of the plurality of second electrodes is connected to one of the plurality of second signal lines, and the plurality of first signal lines are insulated from the plurality of second signal lines.
5. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the plurality of second signal lines are located between the first electrode at least partially overlapping at least one of the notches in the first direction and the first signal line corresponding to the first electrode, the first electrode at least partially overlapping at least one of the notches in the first direction and the corresponding first signal line are connected to each other through a first bridge connector, and the first bridge connector is insulated from the second signal line crossing the first bridge connector.
6. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 5, wherein each of the first electrodes comprises a plurality of first electrode bodies arranged in the first direction, each of the second electrodes comprises a plurality of second electrode bodies arranged in the second direction, any two adjacent first electrode bodies are connected to each other through a second bridge connector, any two adjacent second electrode bodies are connected to each other through a connecting piece, and the connecting piece and the second bridge connector cross each other and are insulated from each other.
7. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 6, wherein the first bridge connector and the second bridge connector are arranged in a same layer and are made of a same material, and the connecting piece, the first electrode bodies and the second electrode bodies are arranged in a same layer and are made of a same material.
8. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines comprises a first transmission component and a second transmission component stacked on each other, the first transmission component is located between the second transmission component and the flexible substrate, and the first transmission component, the first electrode bodies and the second electrode bodies are arranged in a same layer and are made of a same material.
9. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 1, wherein the two edges of each of the notches are straight lines, and form an angle less than or equal to 90° therebetween.
10. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 6, wherein the first bridge connector and the second signal line crossing the first bridge connector are insulated from each other through a first insulating block.
11. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 10, wherein a size of the first insulating block in the second direction is not greater than a size of each of the first electrode bodies in the second direction, and two ends of the first bridge connector extend beyond the first insulating block in the first direction.
12. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 6, wherein the connecting piece and the second bridge connector are insulated from each other through a second insulating block.
13. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 12, wherein a size of the second insulating block in the second direction is greater than a size of the second bridge connector in the second direction, and two ends of the second bridge connector extend beyond the second insulating block in the first direction.
14. The flexible touch substrate according to claim 4, further comprising a protection layer covering the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of second electrodes, the plurality of first signal lines and the plurality of second signal lines.
15. A touch device, comprising a flexible touch substrate and a cover plate attached to the flexible touch substrate, wherein the flexible touch substrate is the flexible touch substrate according to claim 1.
16. The touch device according to claim 15, wherein the flexible touch substrate comprises a central touch region and a plurality of peripheral touch regions located outside of the central touch region, an extension of the central touch region towards any one of the plurality of sides of the flexible touch substrate does not overlap each of the notches, and the central touch region and the plurality of peripheral touch regions of the flexible touch substrate are bent towards the cover plate; and
the cover plate comprises a central surface and a plurality of lateral surfaces, which cover the central touch region and the plurality of peripheral touch regions of the flexible touch substrate, respectively.
17. The touch device according to claim 16, further comprising a display panel, wherein the display panel has a front surface and a back surface, which are perpendicular to a thickness direction of the display panel, and a plurality of lateral surfaces connecting the front surface and the back surface to each other, the central touch region is attached to the front surface of the display panel, the plurality of peripheral touch regions are attached to at least three of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the display panel, respectively, and the front surface and the lateral surfaces, which are attached to respective peripheral touch regions of the flexible touch substrate, of the display panel all have a touch function.
18. The touch device according to claim 17, wherein an intersection point of the two edges of each notch is a vertex of the notch; and
the central touch region is a polygonal region, the vertex of each notch is located at an intersection point of two adjacent sides of the central touch region, and the two edges of each notch are attached to each other and located at a connection position of adjacent two of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the display panel.
Ref US20120234663: Claims:
1. A single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen, comprising:
a substrate; a first conductive pattern disposed on the substrate in a vertical direction and comprising at least two pattern columns having two or more conductive pattern regions electrically connected with each other; a second conductive pattern which is disposed on the same surface of the substrate as the surface where the first conductive pattern is disposed, is not electrically connected with the first conductive pattern, and comprises two or more conductive pattern regions not electrically connected with each other; a transparent conductive bridge electrically connecting the conductive pattern regions of the second conductive pattern in a horizontal direction; and a transparent insulating part disposed between the transparent conductive bridge and the first conductive pattern to electrically insulate the transparent conductive bridge and the first conductive pattern.
2. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, further comprising:
a first router unit electrically connected to the first conductive pattern; and a second router unit electrically connected to the second conductive pattern electrically connected through the transparent conductive bridge, wherein the first router unit and the second router unit are provided on the same surface as the surface where the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are disposed on the substrate.
3. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 2, wherein the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern, the first router unit, and the second router unit are made of the same material.
4. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein an angle between each pattern column of the first conductive pattern and each pattern column of the second conductive pattern is 80 to 100 degrees.
5. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein a light transmittance deviation to a light transmittance average value of a circle having a diameter of 1 inch in the entire area where the first and second conductive patterns, the transparent insulating part, and the transparent conductive bridge are formed is 7% or less.
6. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein the light transmittance of the conductive pattern itself in a region where the transparent conductive bridge is formed is different from the light transmittance of the conductive pattern in the rest of the regions.
7. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, further comprising:
a third conductive pattern which is not electrically connected to any one of the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern.
8. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein the entire pattern area configured by the first to third conductive patterns comprises two or more conductive lines spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction and a distance between the nearest ends of the two or more spaced conductive lines is 20 μm or less.
9. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein a light transmittance deviation to a light transmittance average value of a circle having a diameter of 1 inch in the entire area where the first to third conductive patterns, the transparent insulating part, and the transparent conductive bridge are formed is 7% or less.
10. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein the light transmittance of the conductive pattern itself in a region where the transparent conductive bridge is formed is different from the light transmittance of the conductive pattern in the rest of the regions.
11. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein the third conductive pattern is made of the same material as the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern.
12. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein line heights of the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are 10 to 500 nm.
13. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein a line height of the third conductive pattern is 10 to 500 nm.
14. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein any one of the transparent insulating part and the transparent conductive bridge is formed by an inkjet method or a dispensing method.
15. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein the transparent insulating part comprises a thermosetting or photocurable acryl-based resin.
16. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive bridge comprises a transparent conductive polymer or nano wired ink.
17. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern comprise a metal layer and a light absorption layer provided on at least one side of the metal layer.
18. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 7, wherein the third conductive pattern comprises a metal layer and a light absorption layer provided on at least one side of the metal layer.
19. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 17 or 18, wherein the light absorption layer is disposed closer to a side of the touch screen viewed from a user than the metal layer.
20. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 17 or 18, wherein a sum of thicknesses of the metal layer and the light absorption layer is 10 to 500 nm.
21. The single-sided one-sheet type capacitive touch screen of claim 1, wherein a protective layer is further provided
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