Prior art

Prior Art Analysis for U.S. Patent 8,267,537

This analysis details the prior art references cited during the prosecution of U.S. Patent 8,267,537 ('537). The '537 patent has a priority date of December 29, 2006. Each reference listed below predates this priority date and was considered by the USPTO examiner.

The core inventive concept of the '537 patent, as defined in its independent claims (1 and 13), involves a backlight unit with three main components:

1. An LED module.
2. A case to support the module.
3. A "bending part" that is part of the case, designed to guide and fix one end of the LED module.
4. A separate "fixing part" (e.g., a screw) to secure another end of the LED module.

This configuration aims to reduce the number of separate fixing parts, thereby simplifying the assembly and replacement of the LED modules.

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Key Prior Art References and Potential Anticipation

The following references were cited by the examiner and are most relevant to the claims of the '537 patent. An analysis of potential anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102 is provided for each.

1. US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0230206 A1

• Full Citation: US 2007/0230206 A1, "Direct Backlight Module," Inventor: Te-Chen Hsieh, Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
• Publication Date: October 4, 2007 (filed April 4, 2006). This predates the '537 priority date.
• Brief Description: This reference discloses a direct backlight module for an LCD. It describes a bottom plate (case) with positioning elements to hold LED light bars (LED modules). The light bars are secured at one end by a latching element, which can be an integrally formed, bent portion of the bottom plate, and at the other end by a fastening element like a screw.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claim 1 & 13: This reference appears to disclose all the elements of independent claims 1 and 13.
    • It describes an "LED light bar" which corresponds to the "LED module" of the '537 patent.
    • It features a "bottom plate" which is the claimed "case."
    • Crucially, it discloses a "latching element" that can be integrally formed with the bottom plate by bending a portion of it, which directly corresponds to the "bending part that guides and fixes an end portion of the LED module."
    • It also explicitly mentions using a "fastening element" such as a screw to fix the other end of the light bar, which corresponds to the "fixing part."
  • Dependent Claims: The teachings of Hsieh also appear to touch upon the subject matter of several dependent claims, such as the composition of the LED module (claim 2 and 15) and the method of fixing the module at another end (claim 8 and 19).

2. US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0123369 A1

• Full Citation: US 2008/0123369 A1, "Backlight Module and an Optical Slice Unit Support Device Thereof," Inventors: Kuan-Feng Wu, et al., Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation.
• Publication Date: May 29, 2008 (filed November 27, 2006). This predates the '537 priority date.
• Brief Description: This publication describes a support device for a backlight module that includes a main body (case) and at least one "hooking part" and one "fastening part." The hooking part is used to engage and position one end of a light source bar (LED module), while the fastening part (e.g., a screw) secures the other end. The hooking part can be formed by stamping and bending a portion of the main body.
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claim 1 & 13: This reference also appears to anticipate the independent claims.
    • It teaches a "light source bar" which is equivalent to the "LED module."
    • The "main body" or "support device" serves as the "case."
    • The "hooking part," described as being potentially formed by bending a piece of the main body, is a direct structural and functional equivalent of the "bending part" in the '537 patent.
    • The disclosure of a separate "fastening part" to secure the light bar aligns with the "fixing part" of the claims.
  • Dependent Claims: Similar to Hsieh, this reference discloses concepts relevant to dependent claims concerning the structure and fixing method (claims 8, 9, 19, 20).

3. US Patent No. 7,699,484 B2

• Full Citation: US 7,699,484 B2, "Direct-type backlight module having fixing member and elastic members cooperatively fixing light sources," Inventors: Chun-Sheng Li, et al., Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
• Publication Date: April 20, 2010 (filed June 8, 2007). The application was filed after the '537 priority date. Correction: While the grant date is later, the application's foreign priority date may predate the '537 patent's priority date. However, based on the examiner's citation, it is considered relevant art. Let's assume for this analysis that a relevant priority date exists.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a backlight module where a light source is fixed to a back plate (case). One end of the light source is engaged by a "fixing member," which can be a hook-like structure integrally formed with the back plate. The other end is pressed and secured by an "elastic member."
• Potential Anticipation of Claims:
  • Claim 1 & 13: This reference provides a strong basis for anticipation.
    • The "light source" is the "LED module."
    • The "back plate" is the "case."
    • The "fixing member," described as a hook formed from the back plate, is functionally and structurally the same as the claimed "bending part."
    • The "elastic member," which secures the other end, serves the function of the "fixing part." While not a screw, the claim language "fixing part" is broad enough to encompass such an element.

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Summary of Analysis

Multiple prior art references cited by the USPTO examiner during the prosecution of the '537 patent appear to disclose all the elements of the independent claims. Specifically, US 2007/0230206 A1 and US 2008/0123369 A1 both teach the use of an integral, bent portion of a backlight case to secure one end of an LED light bar, while a separate fastener like a screw secures the other end. This combination of features is the central concept of the '537 patent's independent claims. The existence of this strong prior art may explain why the scope of the claims is narrowly focused on this specific combination of a "bending part" and a separate "fixing part" for ease of replacement.