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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed by the Applicant on 2/8/26 is acknowledged and are moot in light of new grounds of rejection for the amended claims.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, for claims 3 and 13:
a mass of a black material on one side of one of the organic layers close to the substrate is greater than a mass of the black material on one side of another one of the organic layers away from the substrate.
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Masuda (US 20140127480 A1)
Regarding claim 1, Masuda teaches a display panel (Fig.15 and 1), having a display area (wherein filters 122 and anodes 113; [0099]-[0103]), a non-display area (123b in Fig.15 and [0208]) located on a periphery of the display area, and a cutting surface ([0208] and Fig.15) on a peripheral of the display panel, and further comprising: a substrate 121; a light emitting device layer 115 arranged on the substrate; and a color filter layer 122, arranged on the light emitting device layer, and comprising a light shielding layer and a plurality of color resist units with different colors embedded in the light shielding layer 123 ([0110]); wherein the light shielding layer comprises a first light shielding part 123b ([0208]) disposed in the non-display area, the first light shielding part is provided with a first opening (below that is shown in a circle)
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going through the first light shielding part and comprises a second side surface adjacent to the first opening, the first opening is adjacent to the cutting surface and is empty, and the second side surface (shown by horizontal arrow) is retracted toward the display area with respect to the cutting surface.
Regarding claim 11, Masuda teaches a display module (Fig.15 and 1), comprising a display panel ([0023]), the display panel having a display area (wherein 113 and 122 are located), a non-display area (wherein 123b is located, [0208]) located on a periphery of the display area, and a cutting surface (see Figures in Fig.15) on a peripheral of the display panel; the display panel further comprising:
a substrate; a light emitting device layer arranged on the substrate; and a color filter layer, arranged on the light emitting device layer, and comprising a light shielding layer and a plurality of color resist units with different colors embedded in the light shielding layer; wherein the light shielding layer comprises a first light shielding part disposed in the non-display area, the first light shielding part is provided with a first opening going through the whole first light shielding part along a thickness direction of the light shielding layer and comprises a second side surface adjacent to the first opening, the first opening is adjacent to the cutting surface and is empty, and the second side surface is retracted toward the display area with respect to the cutting surface.
Claims 2 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Masuda and further in view of Lim (KR 20190062667 A, cited previously)
Regarding claims 2 and 12, Masuda teaches the invention set forth in claims 1 and 11 above but is silent regarding the included angle between the cutting surface and the substrate ranges from 100 to 120 degrees.
Lim teaches discloses in a display device: To form an inclined surface IP that is inclined with respect to the inclined surface IP. The predetermined angle alpha may be greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, or greater than 60 degrees and less than 95, therefore the angles as claimed are achieved by subtracting alpha in Lim from 180 degrees, and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to form the angle, as disclosed in Lim, in the device of Masuda in order to achieve improved bonding with adhesives.
Claims 3,5,8, 13, 15 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Masuda and further in view of KR (KR 20210130896 A, cited previously) ; Jung (US 20200066804 A1, cited previously) and Choi (US 20230048544 A1)
Regarding claims 3 and 13, Masuda teaches a display wherein the display panel further comprises a plurality of organic layers disposed on the substrate, different layers (organic light emitting layer ([0113]) and resin layer 13, [0019]) of the organic layers are at different distances from the substrate 111, and comprising a first flat layer 121 arranged on a side of the color filter layer away from the light emitting device layer and being in direct contact with the color filter layer, a second flat layer 112 disposed between the substrate and the light emitting device layer; a pixel definition layer 114 ([0100]), disposed on the second flat layer and being provided with a plurality of pixel openings; wherein the light emitting device layer 115 comprising a light emitting layer disposed in the pixel openings; and a first organic encapsulation layer (resin layer 13, [0019]) disposed between the light emitting device layer and the color filter layer.
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Masuda does not teach the organic layers comprise: the first flat layer, the second flat layer; the pixel definition layer,
and
a mass of a black material on one side of one of the organic layers close to the substrate is greater than a mass of the black material on one side of another one of the organic layers away from the substrate (see objection to drawing above).
KR discloses the display panel that comprises a plurality of organic layers disposed on the substrate (See in KR: For example, the base substrate 103 may be one of a film substrate and a plastic substrate including a polymer organic material; OR The semiconductor layer CH may include amorphous silicon, poly silicon, or an organic semiconductor OR The pixel defining layer 115 may include an organic material or an inorganic material OR organic emission layer 122 OR The encapsulation layer 116 includes at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer OR The third touch insulating layer 133 may include an organic material), and comprising a first side surface adjacent to the cutting surface (right side vertical margin of 150 in KR); wherein the first side surface is inwardly recessed (the arrow area below) relative to the cutting surface;
a second flat layer disposed between the substrate (114 in KR: the via layer 114 may include a material such as acrylic or polyimide) and the light emitting device layer (122 in KR); a pixel definition layer 115 (in KR), disposed on the second flat layer and being provided with a plurality of pixel openings; wherein the light emitting device layer comprising a light emitting layer disposed in the pixel openings; and a first organic encapsulation layer 133 (The third touch insulating layer 133 may include an organic material. In KR) disposed between the light emitting device layer 122 (KR) and the color filter layer (161_R in KR)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the material, as disclosed in KR, in the device of Masuda in order to achieve robust protection from external elements.
Further regarding the claimed mass of black material, KR discloses: wherein one side of at least one of the organic layers close to the cutting surface is provided with a material comprising carbon chips (From the teachings of: Meanwhile, when the display panel 10 is cut by the laser LS, a member including an organic material, for example, the base substrate 103 and the via layer 114 is cut and exposed by the laser LS. The side surface may include a carbonized surface. As another example, when the display panel 10 is cut by the laser LS, a member including an organic material, for example, the base substrate 103 and the via layer 114 is cut by the laser LS. On the exposed side, carbonized particles (CPL) may be formed. The formed carbonized particles (CPL) may be disposed on adjacent members, for example, side surfaces of the buffer layer 111, the gate insulating layer 112, and the interlayer insulating layer 113 in KR, that applies to any cutting edge of organic layers in KR).
Therefore, as shown in Figure of KR below,
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the mass of black material CPL is a byproduct of the method of making the device, wherein when a method of laser is used to cut the device, carbonized particles or mass of black material is generated on the side surfaces. Therefore, the mass of black material are considered as an outcome of a method step, and is not an element within a product.
Therefore, when the elements as claimed are disclosed in the prior art, including the laser for cutting and dicing the device (which is again a method step and is not germane to a product claim); then the outcome of formation of mass of black material as claimed, is an inherent outcome of the use of laser in cutting an OLED
and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to see the mass of black materials appear, at the surface of the display device, that is diced with a laser, from the teachings of KR, in the device of Masuda, with the use of a laser and the materials within the OLED; when a laser is used for precise dicing of the display elements (the mass of black material is not of any benefit to the product).
Masuda in view of KR does not teach: the organic layers comprise: the color filter layer.
Jung discloses: [0125] The color filter CF may be formed of an organic insulating material and [0126] In an embodiment, the organic material of the color filter CF and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to use an organic pigment for the color filter, in the device of Masuda in view of KR, from the teachings of Jung, in order to achieve precise control of color characteristics.
Masuda in view of KR and Jung does not teach: wherein the first side surface of the first flat layer is inwardly recessed relative to the cutting surface. Choi teaches in Fig.5 and 27, the passivation layer PTL covering the color filter CF1 and away from the substrate, that has the first side surface inwardly recessed relative to the side vertical surface, in the non-display area NEA (see arrows below):
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and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the shape as disclosed in Choi , in the device of Masuda in view of KR and Jung, in order to use the recess in the display area for color filters.
Regarding claims 5 and 15, Masuda in view of KR , Jung and Choi teaches a display panel, wherein the first flat layer is the via layer 114 (in KR) may include a material such as acrylic or polyimide (wherein acrylic-based materials are widely used as adhesives in OLED displays) AND the second flat layer is a transparent thermosetting resin adhesive, but does not explicitly teach: a material of the first flat layer is provided with the same organic material as the second flat layer. However acrylic based materials for the first flat layer are widely used as adhesives while the second flat layer is also a resin adhesive. Therefore; it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the same material for both the layers as claimed, in order to achieve easy manufacturing.
Regarding claims 8 and 17, Masuda in view of KR. Jung and Choi teaches the light shielding layer further comprises a second light shielding part disposed in the display area (140 in both sides of 161_G) and disposed on a side of the first light shielding part away from the cutting surface, but does not teach a thickness of the second light shielding part is greater than a thickness of the first light shielding part.
However, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to use the thickness variation as claimed, in the device of Masuda in view of KR and Jung in order to reduce light leaking between the pixels in the display area.
Claims 10 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Masuda in view of KR, Jung and Choi and further in view of Kim (CN 100405138 C,cited previously)
Regarding claims 10 and 19, Masuda in view of KR, Jung and Choi teaches the invention set forth in claims 1 and 11 above but is silent regarding a thickness of the first flat layer is less than or equal to a thickness of the second light shielding part.
Kim teaches a thin layer of flattening film 230 in Fig. 3 whereas the light shielding layer is 210, and it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention, to reduce the thickness of the flattening layer as compared to the light shielding layer, by routine experimentation, in the device of Masuda in view of KR, Jung and Choi, in order to achieve an optimize thin display device.
Other art
CN 108568603 B discloses carbonized chips due to laser cutting:
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Response to Arguments
The arguments filed by the Applicant on 2/8/26 is acknowledged and are moot in light of new grounds of rejection for the amended claims. For claims 3 and 13, and those that are dependent on them, it is not clear how the by-product of laser dicing, that is, the mass of the black material, is claimed as an element within a product. The carbonized particles, recited as mass of black material are not explicit elements of the product as claimed, as they are the outcome/disadvantage of using lasers for dicing and cutting the display devices. They are not beneficial as they are a by-product of a method step when a laser is used to dice the display device. Appropriate correction is needed.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Fatima Farokhrooz whose telephone number is (571)-272-6043. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday- Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the Examiner’s Supervisor, James Greece can be reached on (571) 272-3711.
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/Fatima N Farokhrooz/
Examiner, Art Unit 2875
Prosecution Insights