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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
Receipt is acknowledged of a request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) and a submission, filed on 04/09/2026.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) rejected have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on CAO et al. 20220123064 applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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.
Claims 1-3, 6 and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over LI et al. 20210012687 in view of CAO et al. 20220123064 (Cao).
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Regarding claim 1, figs. 1 and 6 of Li discloses a display panel comprising:
a substrate 1 including a first display area (area of layer 2 over region B (left) and A) and a second display area (area of layer 2 over region B (right) and A) connected to the first display area; and
light emitting diodes 2 (there exist more than 1 diode) disposed in the first display area and the second display area on the substrate,
wherein the substrate includes a folding area A folded about a folding axis (a-a’) extending in the first direction (Y-direction in fig. 1) and overlapping the first display area (A overlapping wit B + A area).
Li does not disclose that the substrate including first through-parts extending in a first direction and second through-parts extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction,
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction,
wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and
wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in a plan view.
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However, fig. 4 of CAO disclose a stretchable display device includes a display area having stretchable display area wherein the display area comprising a substrate, the substrate including first through-parts (as labeled by examiner above) extending in a first direction (Y) and second through-parts (as labeled by examiner above) extending in a second direction (X) that is perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction,
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction,
wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction, and
wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in plan view.
Note the different in width between the first through-parts and the second through-parts is to accommodate the degree of deformability require between the first direction and the second direction of the display area.
In view of such teaching, it would have been obvious to form a display panel of Li further comprising wherein the substrate including first through-parts extending in a first direction and second through-parts extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction, wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction, wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in a plan view such as taught by CAO in order to is to accommodate the degree of deformability require between the first direction and the second direction of the display area.
Regarding claim 2, fig. 4 of CAO discloses wherein the first through-parts and the second through-parts are alternately arranged in the first direction and the second direction.
It would have been obvious to form a structure wherein the first through-parts and the second through-parts are alternately arranged in the first direction and the second direction in order to form a stretchable structure.
Regarding claim 3, Li discloses wherein the second display area is disposed adjacent to the first display area in the second direction.
Regarding claim 6, Li discloses wherein the second display area is disposed adjacent to the first display area in the first direction and stretchable in the first direction.
Regarding claim 17, Li discloses the second display area (as the second area can be divided into sub-area as claimed) includes: a second-first display area disposed adjacent to the first display area in the second direction;
a second-second display area disposed adjacent to the first display area in the first direction; and
a second-third display area disposed between the second-first display area and the second-second display area.
Regarding claim 18, it would have been obvious to form a display panel comprising wherein a first width of each of the first through-parts formed in the second-third display area in the second direction is equal to a second width of each of the second through-parts formed in the second-third display area in the first direction in order to use the same processing steps.
Claims 5 and 8-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and CAO in view of Chou et al. 20210027670.
Regarding claim 5, Li and CAO disclose claim 3, but do not disclose wherein the folding area is spaced apart from the second display area.
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However, fig. 1 of Chou discloses a display panel comprising a substrate includes a folding area (12b/AX) folded about a folding axis AX and extending in a first direction (across the page), and wherein the folding area overlaps a first display area (AA1/AA2) and spaced apart from a second display area AA3.
In view of such teaching, it would have been obvious to form a display panel of Li and CAO further comprising wherein the folding area overlaps the second display area such as taught by Chou in order to have flexibility of folding.
Regarding claim 8, Li and CAO disclose claim 6, but do not wherein the folding area overlaps the second display area.
However, fig. 1 of Chou discloses a substrate includes a folding area (12B/14B) folded about a folding axis AX and extending in the first direction, and wherein the folding area overlaps each of a first display area AA1/AA2 and a second display area (AA4/AA3).
In view of such teaching, it would have been obvious to form a display panel of Li and CAO further comprising wherein the folding area overlaps the second display area such as taught by Chou in order to have flexibility of folding.
Regarding claim 9, fig. 6C of Li discloses further comprising pixel circuits disposed on the substrate and connected to the light emitting diodes, respectively
In addition, fig. 1 of Chou discloses wherein the second display area includes: an overlapping area AA4 overlapping the folding area (12b/14b) and a non-overlapping area spaced apart from the folding area AA3.
Furthermore, it would have been obvious to form a display panel comprising wherein a first pixel circuit connected to a first light emitting diode disposed in the non-overlapping area and disposed in the non-overlapping area, and a second pixel circuit connected to a second light emitting diode disposed in the overlapping area and disposed in the first display area that is disposed adjacent to the overlapping area in order to form a driving circuit for each of the desired area as claimed.
Claims 20-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and CAO in view of Wu et al. 20200133335 in view of Kim et al. 20220214852.
Regarding claim 20, figs. 1 and 6 of Li discloses display device comprising:
a display panel including a first display area (area of layer 2 over region B (left) and A) and a second display area (area of layer 2 over region B (right) and A) connected to the first display area;
wherein the display panel includes a folding area A folded about a folding axis (a-a’) extending in the first direction (Y-direction in fig. 1) and overlapping the first display area (A overlapping wit B + A area).
Li does not disclose that the substrate including first through-parts extending in a first direction and second through-parts extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction,
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction,
wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and
wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in a plan view.
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However, fig. 4 of CAO disclose a stretchable display device includes a display area having stretchable display area wherein the display area comprising a substrate, the substrate including first through-parts (as labeled by examiner above) extending in a first direction (Y) and second through-parts (as labeled by examiner above) extending in a second direction (X) that is perpendicular to the first direction;
wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction,
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction,
wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and
wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction, and
wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in plan view.
Note the different in width between the first through-parts and the second through-parts is to accommodate the degree of deformability require between the first direction and the second direction of the display area.
In view of such teaching, it would have been obvious to form a display panel of Li further comprising wherein the substrate including first through-parts extending in a first direction and second through-parts extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; wherein each of the first through-parts has a uniform width in the second direction and a uniform length in the first direction, wherein each of the second through-parts has a uniform width in the first direction and a uniform length in the second direction, wherein, in at least a portion of the display area, a first width of each of the first through-parts in the second direction is greater than a second width of each of the second through-parts in the first direction in an unstretched state; and wherein each of the first through-parts and the second through-parts is entirely surrounded by the substrate in a plan view such as taught by CAO in order to is to accommodate the degree of deformability require between the first direction and the second direction of the display area.
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Li and CAO do not disclose of a supporter disposed under the display panel and including a hinge overlapping a folding axis, a first support part spaced apart from the second display area, and a second support part overlapping the second display area; and a housing accommodating the display panel and the supporter, and including a first housing overlapping the first support part, and a second housing overlapping the second support part.
However, Wu discloses a display device comprising:
a display panel including a first display area DR1 and a second display area DR2 disposed adjacent to the first display area in a first direction and stretchable in the first direction (across the page of fig. 3, see fig. 1 and fig. 4 showing OP making it stretchable);
a supporter 226 (par [0041]) disposed under the display panel and including a hinge (par [0029]) overlapping a folding axis,
a first support part 266 (on left of fig. 3) spaced apart from the second display area, and
a second support part 266 (on right of fig. 3) overlapping the second display area.
In view of such teaching, it would have been obvious to form a display device of Li and CAO comprising a supporter disposed under the display panel and including a hinge overlapping a folding axis, a first support part spaced apart from the second display area, and a second support part overlapping the second display area such as taught by Wu in order to form a rigid structure for the display device.
LI and CAO and Wu do not disclose of a housing accommodating the display panel and the supporter, and including a first housing overlapping the first support part, and a second housing overlapping the second support part.
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However, fig. 1B of Kim disclose a display device comprising a housing accommodating a display panel including a first housing overlapping the first display area 140, and a second housing overlapping the second display area.
Note forming a housing of Kim to the structure of Li and CAO would result in a housing accommodating the display panel and the supporter, and including a first housing overlapping the first support part, and a second housing overlapping the second support part.
As such it would have been obvious to form a display device of Li and CAO and Wu further comprising a housing accommodating the display panel and the supporter, and including a first housing overlapping the first support part, and a second housing overlapping the second support part such as taught by Kim in order to protect the display device.
Regarding claim 21, the resulting structure would have been one wherein the second support part or the second housing is configured to guide stretching and contraction of the second display area of the display panel in the first direction.
Claim 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and CAO in view of Wu and Kim in view of LI et al. 20220100302 (Li302).
Regarding claim 22, fig. 2 of Li302 wherein the first through-parts S3 and the second through-parts S3are formed through the substrate.
As such it would have been obvious to form a display device comprising wherein the first through-parts and the second through-parts are formed through the substrate in order to form a stretchable display device.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li and CAO and Li302.
Regarding claim 19, fig. 2 of Li302 wherein the first through-parts S3 and the second through-parts S3are formed through the substrate.
As such it would have been obvious to form a display device comprising wherein the first through-parts and the second through-parts are formed through the substrate in order to form a stretchable display device.
Conclusion
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/VONGSAVANH SENGDARA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893
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