DETAILED 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 § 103
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) 1 and 3-8, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al).
Concerning claim 1, Kamura discloses a display device comprising (Figs. 8C-8E and 21 [0171]-[0181], [0346]-[0361], [0390]-[0407] ):
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a substrate (21, Fig. 21) including a light emitting area (oval region in annotated Fig. 21 above) and a light blocking area (rectangular regions in annotated Fig. 21 above) that surrounds the light emitting area; a first bank structure (3) on the substrate corresponding to the light blocking area and having a first opening (oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 28) that corresponds to the light emitting area, a second bank structure (13+10) disposed on the first bank structure overlapping the first bank structure, and having a second opening (the region directly above the oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 13) that corresponds to the light emitting area, and a color converting layer disposed in the second opening (142, 152, 162), wherein each of the first bank structure and the second bank structure has a concave portion (Fig. 8C) on an upper surface (Fig. 8C and [0392]), wherein the color converting layer directly contacts a side surface of the second bank structure (Fig. 8C and [0175], note that the second bank structure includes the bank 13 and the light transmitting suppressing layer).
Kamura does not disclose the concave portion is formed to prevent a gap defect, wherein a same organic material is accommodated inside each of the concave portion and the opening of the first bank structure .wherein the organic material accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the organic material accommodated inside the opening of the first back structure are isolated from each other, or wherein a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the first bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion, of the first bank structure. However, Son discloses a configuration (Fig. 6F as seen below)
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in which a bank structure (1400) is etched to form a concave portion (BS) such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure. Son discloses that during the formation of such configuration a subsequently formed organic layer material (170a) can also be formed on the lower part of the bank recess and separated from the sidewall of the bank recess, whereby the organic layer material on the lower part of the bank recess and the organic layer located on the bank can be physically spaced apart from each other. Consequently, the organic layer can be divided between adjacent subpixels based on the bank recess making it therefore possible to prevent lateral leakage of current ([0050]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the shape of the recess of Yang such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure, wherein a same organic material is accommodated inside each of the concave portion and the opening of the first bank structure wherein the organic material accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the organic material accommodated inside the opening of the first back structure are isolated from each other, as disclosed by Son in order to form a display device without lateral leakage of current.
Continuing to claim 3, Kamura in view Son discloses wherein the concave portion of the first bank structure is spaced apart from an upper surface of the substrate (Kamura 8C, note that the concave portion does not reach the upper surface of the substrate).
Considering claim 4, Kamura in view Son discloses further comprising an organic light emitting diode disposed in the first opening (Kamura [0390]), wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises: a lower electrode (Kamura 25); a light emitting layer (Kamura 26) disposed on the lower electrode; and an upper electrode (Kamura 27) disposed on the light emitting layer (Kamura [0395]-[0397] and Fig. 21).
Regarding claim 5, Kamura in view Son discloses wherein the color converting layer comprises: a wavelength converting particle (Kamura [0182]-[0183]); and a resin portion (Kamura [0182]).
Pertaining to claim 6, Kamura in view Son discloses wherein the second bank structure includes a light blocking material (10 Kamura [0175]).
As to claim 7, Kamura in view Son discloses further comprising: a color filter layer (Kamura 141, 151, and 161) overlapping the color converting layer (Kamura Fig. 21); and a light blocking layer (Kamura 12 [0348]) overlapping the second bank structure (Kamura Fig. 21).
Referring to claim 8, Kamura in view Son disclose wherein the color filter layer (Kamura 141, 151, 161) is disposed between the color converting layer (Kamura 142, 152, 162) and a second substrate (Kamura 11), and wherein the light blocking layer is disposed between the second bank structure and the second substrate.
Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of US 20220052130 (Gao).
Pertaining to claim 2, Kamura in view Son discloses forming the concave portion in the bank (Yang Fig. 1).
The configuration of Kamura in view Son (as described in reference to Fig. 8C of Kamura) does not disclose does not disclose wherein the concave portion reaches an upper surface of the first substrate. However, Kamura discloses several different bank configurations and Gao discloses a configuration of the bank structure used in a display device such that the concave portion 132 is open to the substrate (Fig. 4B) and organic layers are subsequently printed over ([0055]). In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966) (The court held that the configuration of the claimed disposable plastic nursing container was a matter of choice which a person of ordinary skill in the art would have found obvious absent persuasive evidence that the particular configuration of the claimed container was significant.). See MPEP 2144.04 IV B. Therefore, absent evidence that the claimed configuration is significant it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to form the concave portion such that it reaches an upper surface of the substrate in view of the invention of Gao.
Claim(s) 9-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al), US 20220310721 (Ma et al), and US 20210167147 (Nakatani).
Concerning claim 9, Kamura discloses a display device comprising (Figs. 8C-8E and 21 [0171]-[0181], [0346]-[0361], [0390]-[0407] ):
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a substrate (21, Fig. 21) including a light emitting area (oval region in annotated Fig. 21 above) and a light blocking area (rectangular regions in annotated Fig. 21 above) that surrounds the light emitting area; a first bank structure (3) on the substrate corresponding to the light blocking area and having a first opening (oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 28) that corresponds to the light emitting area, a second bank structure (13+10) disposed on the first bank structure, overlapping the first bank structure , and having a second opening that corresponds to the light emitting area (the region directly above the oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 13) wherein each of the first bank structure and the second bank structure has a concave portion (Fig. 8C) on an upper surface (Fig. 8C and [0392]),
Kamura does not disclose the concave portion is formed to prevent a gap defect, wherein the bank structure includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion, wherein the second portion has an ink repellency which is different from an ink repellency of the first portion ,wherein a same organic material is accommodated inside each of the concave portion and the opening of the first bank structure .wherein the organic material accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the organic material accommodated inside the opening of the first back structure are isolated from each other, or wherein a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the first bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion, of the first bank structure. However, Son discloses a configuration (Fig. 6F as seen below)
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in which a bank structure (1400) is etched to form a concave portion (BS) such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure. Son discloses that during the formation of such configuration a subsequently formed organic layer material (170a) can also be formed on the lower part of the bank recess and separated from the sidewall of the bank recess, whereby the organic layer material on the lower part of the bank recess and the organic layer located on the bank can be physically spaced apart from each other. Consequently, the organic layer can be divided between adjacent subpixels based on the bank recess making it therefore possible to prevent lateral leakage of current ([0050]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the shape of the recess of Yang such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure, wherein a same organic material is accommodated inside each of the concave portion and the opening of the first bank structure wherein the organic material accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the organic material accommodated inside the opening of the first back structure are isolated from each other, as disclosed by Son in order to form a display device without lateral leakage of current.
Additionally, Ma discloses a display device in which a bank structure (2 + 3) is formed between light emitting areas (Fig. 2) and a concave portion is formed in the bank such that the bank structure includes a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion (Fig. 2). Ma discloses that this configuration is beneficial because it is able to reduce the probability of scratching the spacer without any influence on the support force from the spacer, and prevent the encapsulation reliability from being adversely affected by the resultant debris from the spacer, thereby to improve the yield of the display panel ([0071]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the process of making the bank structure of Kamura such that the bank structure includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion as disclosed by Ma in order to reduce the probability of scratching the spacer without any influence on the support force from the spacer, and prevent the encapsulation reliability from being adversely affected by the resultant debris from the spacer, thereby to improve the yield of the display panel.
Also, Nakatani discloses a bank structure (Fig. 2C features 102 +103) that includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion, wherein the second portion has an ink repellency which is different from an ink repellency of the first portion. The first bank 102 is made of a resin that does not contain a liquid repellent component such as fluorine. Thus, first bank 102 is relatively easily wet with the ink that forms the functional thin films. Second banks 103 are required to store ink that forms light emitting layer 104 and the like, the ink being applied according to the ink jet method. Thus, it is desirable that second bank 103 has low wettability with ink and thus has liquid repellency. Therefore, second bank 103 is made of, for example, a resin containing a functional group having fluorine atoms. Consequently, second bank 103 having the liquid repellency to the ink is formed ([0063] and [0066]). Nakatani discloses that the light emitting device is capable of improving the wettability with ink at the ends of the first bank and the second bank and thus suppressing a short circuit between an anode and a cathode and a display panel having the same (Abstract). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the first bank structure such that the includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion, wherein the second portion has an ink repellency which is different from an ink repellency of the first portion as disclosed by Nakatani in order to suppress a short circuit between an anode and cathode in a display device.
Continuing to claim 10, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani wherein the concave portion of the first bank structure reaches an upper surface of the first portion of the first bank structure (Ma Fig. 2).
Considering claim 11, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani discloses the first bank configuration.
The disclosed configuration of Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani does not disclose wherein the concave portion of the first bank structure is spaced apart from an upper surface of the substrate. However, Kamura discloses several different bank configuration (Fig. 8C) with concave upper surfaces in which the concave portion is spaced apart from an upper surface of the substrate.. In re Dailey, 357 F.2d 669, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966) (The court held that the configuration of the claimed disposable plastic nursing container was a matter of choice which a person of ordinary skill in the art would have found obvious absent persuasive evidence that the particular configuration of the claimed container was significant.). See MPEP 2144.04 IV B. Therefore, absent evidence that the claimed configuration is significant, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to form the concave portion such that it is spaced apart from an upper surface of the substrate in view of the other embodiments of Kamura.
According to claim 12, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani discloses further comprising an organic light emitting diode disposed in the first opening (Kamura [0390]), wherein the organic light emitting diode comprises: a lower electrode (Kamura 25); a light emitting layer (Kamura 26) disposed on the lower electrode; and an upper electrode (Kamura 27) disposed on the light emitting layer (Kamura [0395]-[0397] and Fig. 21).
Regarding claim 13, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani discloses further comprising a color converting layer (Kamura 142, 152, 162) disposed in the second opening, wherein the color converting layer comprises: a wavelength converting particle (Kamura [0182]-[0183]); and a resin portion (Kamura [0182]).
Pertaining to claim 14, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani discloses wherein the second bank structure includes a light blocking material (Kamura [0175]).
As to claim 15, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani discloses further comprising: a color filter layer (Kamura 141, 151, and 161) overlapping the color converting layer (Kamura Fig. 21); and a light blocking layer (Kamura 12 [0348]) overlapping the second bank structure (Kamura Fig. 21).
Referring to claim 16, Kamura in view Son, Ma, and Nakatani disclose wherein the color filter layer (Kamura 141, 151, 161) is disposed between the color converting layer (Kamura 142, 152, 162) and a second substrate (Kamura 11), and wherein the light blocking layer is disposed between the second bank structure and the second substrate.
Claim(s) 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al) and US 20200239713 (Kanesaka et al).
Pertaining to claim 17, Kamura discloses a method of manufacturing a display device, the method comprising (Figs. 8C-8E and 21 [0171]-[0181], [0346]-[0361], [0390]-[0407] ):
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preparing a substrate (21, Fig. 21) including a light emitting area (oval region in annotated Fig. 21 above) and a light blocking area (rectangular regions in annotated Fig. 21 above) that surrounds the light emitting area; forming a first bank structure (3) disposed on the substrate and having a first opening (oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 28) wherein the first opening corresponds to the light emitting area of the substrate , a second bank structure (13+10) disposed on the first bank structure overlapping the first bank structure , and having a second opening, wherein the second opening corresponds to the light emitting area of the substrate (the region directly above the oval region in annotated Fig. 21, note that an opening is formed between adjacent bank structures 13) forming a concave portion on an upper surface of each of the first bank structure and the second bank structure has a concave portion (Fig. 8C) on an upper surface (Fig. 8C and [0392]), . . .wherein a color converting layer is disposed in the second opening (142, 152, 162),and the color converting layer directly contacts a side surface of the second bank structure (Fig. 8C and [0175], note that the second bank structure includes the bank 13 and the light transmitting suppressing layer).
Kamura does not disclose the concave portion is formed to prevent a gap defect, applying an ink into the first opening, and drying or curing the ink, wherein the ink applied into the first opening is accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the opening of the first bank structure , wherein a first portion of the ink accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and a second portion of the ink accommodated inside the first opening are isolated from each other, or wherein a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the first bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion, of the first bank structure. However, Son discloses a configuration (Fig. 6F as seen below)
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in which a bank structure (1400) is etched to form a concave portion (BS) such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure. Son discloses that during the formation of such configuration a subsequently formed organic layer material (170a) can also be formed on the lower part of the bank recess and separated from the sidewall of the bank recess, whereby the organic layer material on the lower part of the bank recess and the organic layer located on the bank can be physically spaced apart from each other. Consequently, the organic layer can be divided between adjacent subpixels based on the bank recess making it therefore possible to prevent lateral leakage of current ([0050]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the shape of the recess of Kamura such that a width of an upper part of the concave portion, which levels with the upper surface of the bank structure is greater than a width of a portion of the upper surface, which is not the concave portion of the bank structure, wherein a same organic material is accommodated inside each of the concave portion and the opening of the first bank structure wherein the organic material accommodated inside the concave portion of the first bank structure and the organic material accommodated inside the opening of the first back structure are isolated from each other, as disclosed by Son in order to form a display device without lateral leakage of current.
Additionally, Kamura discloses forming an organic light emitting layer, but does not disclose that it is an ink. Kanesaka discloses a light emitting layer, formed as an ink and subsequently dried, that is suitable for use in display devices that that contains a wavelength conversion material for a light emitting device ([0393]). The selection of a known material based on its suitability for its intended use supported a prima facie obviousness determination in Sinclair & Carroll Co. v. Interchemical Corp., 325 U.S. 327, 65 USPQ 297 (1945). See MPEP 2144.07. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the light emitting containing a wavelength conversion material ink that is subsequently dried of Kanesaka as the organic layer in Kamura because it is a known suitable material for use in a light emitting device.
As to claim 18, Kamura in view of Son and Kanesaka disclose wherein the ink contains an organic light emitting material (Kanesaka [0309] and [0393]).
Concerning claim 19, Kamura in view of Son and Kanesaka the ink contains a wavelength converting particle (Kanesaka [0393]).
Claim(s) 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al) and US 20200239713 (Kanesaka et al) as applied to claim 17 above, and further in view of US 20220310721 (Ma et al).
As to claim 20, Kamura in view of Son and Kanesaka disclose forming the bank structure.
Kamura in view of Son and Kanesaka does not disclose wherein the bank structure includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion or that the area that surrounds the light emitting area is a light blocking area. However, Ma discloses a display device in which a bank structure (2 + 3) is formed between light emitting areas (Fig. 2) and a concave portion is formed in the bank such that the bank structure includes a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion (Fig. 2). Ma discloses that this configuration is beneficial because it is able to reduce the probability of scratching the spacer without any influence on the support force from the spacer, and prevent the encapsulation reliability from being adversely affected by the resultant debris from the spacer, thereby improving the yield of the display panel ([0071]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to form the bank structure of Kamura in view of Son and Kanesaka such that the bank structure includes a first portion and a second portion that is disposed on the first portion and includes the concave portion as disclosed by Ma in order to reduce the probability of scratching the spacer without any influence on the support force from the spacer, and prevent the encapsulation reliability from being adversely affected by the resultant debris from the spacer, thereby to improve the yield of the display panel.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 05/19/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. It is argued that the second bank structure identified as (13) in the previous office action has an intervening layer (10) formed between the bank and the color converting layer. The examiner has modified the rejection to include the light transmission suppressing layer as a part of the second bank structure. Therefore the second bank structure which now includes bank (13) and light transmission suppressing layer (10) is formed directly contacting a side surface of the color converting layer. Therefore, the arguments are not found to be persuasive.
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 10, filed 05/19/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 9-16 under 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of US 20160372528 (Kamura et al) in view of US 20210183972 (Son et al), US 20220310721 (Ma et al), and US 20210167147 (Nakatani).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VALERIE N NEWTON whose telephone number is (571)270-5015. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, CHAD DICKE can be reached on (571) 270-7996. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VALERIE N NEWTON/ Examiner, Art Unit 2823 08/22/26
/CHAD M DICKE/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2897
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