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 .
Response to Amendment
Acknowledgment is made of the amendment filed 08/28/2026, in which: claims 1 and 13 are amended; claims 21-22 are cancelled; and the rejection of the claims are traversed. Claims 1-20 are currently pending an Office action on the merits as follows.
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.
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.
Claims 1-9, 11-15, and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee et. al (US Publication 20180182832) in view of Choi et al. (US Publication 20140353611) and Yeo et al. (US Publication 20170005150).
Regarding independent claim 1, Lee teaches an organic light emitting display apparatus (fig. 1) comprising:
a substrate (fig. 2, 101) having a display area (fig. 1, AA) and a non-display area (NA) adjacent to the display area, the display area including a plurality of pixels (paragraph 0047);
a thin-film transistor (fig. 2, 150) disposed in the display area of the substrate;
a first planarization layer (124) disposed over the thin-film transistor;
a pixel connection electrode (168) penetrating through the first planarization layer and electrically connected with the thin-film transistor (fig. 2);
a second planarization layer (128) disposed over the pixel connection electrode;
a first electrode (132) disposed on the second planarization layer, and a first portion of the first electrode (area inside 120) penetrating the second planarization layer to be in contact with the pixel connection electrode (fig. 2);
a bank (138) disposed over the first electrode and defining a first opening (area occupied by 134) for exposing a second portion of the first electrode;
a light emitting stack (134) disposed over the first electrode and in the first opening;
a second electrode (134) disposed over the light emitting stack;
wherein the thin-film transistor comprises:
a gate electrode (152) disposed over the substrate;
a gate insulating film (112) disposed over the gate electrode;
a semiconductor layer (154) disposed on the gate insulating film;
a source electrode (160S) in contact with a first side of the semiconductor layer; and
a drain electrode (160D) in contact with a second side of the semiconductor layer and in contact with the pixel connection electrode (fig. 2).
Lee does not teach a metal formation inhibiting layer disposed over the second electrode and having a second opening for exposing a portion of the second electrode at a location above the bank; and an auxiliary electrode disposed above the bank, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode has a same width as the second opening on the bank and is formed only at a position overlapping the second opening, wherein an upper surface of the second electrode, exposed through the second opening, and an entire lower surface of the auxiliary electrode are in direct contact with each other, wherein the entire light emitting stack is disposed within the first opening of the bank so that the light emitting stack is not disposed on a top surface of the bank, and wherein the auxiliary electrode overlaps the entire gate electrode.
Choi teaches a metal formation inhibiting layer (fig. 3, 140) disposed over the second electrode (122) and having a second opening (area occupied by 130) for exposing a portion of the second electrode at a location above the bank (fig. 3); and
an auxiliary electrode (130) disposed above the bank, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode (paragraph 0093),
wherein the auxiliary electrode has a same width as the second opening on the bank and is formed only at a position overlapping the second opening (fig. 3),
wherein an upper surface of the second electrode, exposed through the second opening, and an entire lower surface of the auxiliary electrode are in direct contact with each other (fig. 3).
Yeo teaches wherein the entire light emitting stack (fig. 3, 175) is disposed within the first opening of the bank (area occupied by E) so that the light emitting stack is not disposed on a top surface of the bank (fig. 3)
Yeo does not explicitly teach and wherein the auxiliary electrode overlaps the entire gate electrode, but figure 3 of Yeo discloses the auxiliary electrode 150 to overlap a portion of gate electrode 125.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to arrange the auxiliary electrode to overlap the entire gate electrode, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee, the metal formation inhibition layer and auxiliary electrode of Choi, and the bank/gate electrode arrangements of Jeon in order to prevent generation of a large voltage drop (Choi paragraph 0092-0093) and expose the center portion of the first electrode (Jeon paragraph 0050).
Regarding dependent claim 2, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary electrode is arranged to have a stripe structure or a mesh structure (fig. 11, paragraph 0130).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode shape of Choi per reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 3, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary electrode is disposed in the second opening of the metal formation inhibiting layer (fig. 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 4, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary electrode is in contact with a side face (fig. 3, 140a) of the metal formation inhibiting layer exposed by the second opening of the metal formation inhibiting layer.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the metal formation inhibition layer and auxiliary electrode of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 5, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels include a light-emitting area (fig. 3, R1), and the bank covers a third portion of the first electrode to define the light-emitting area (fig. 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the light-emitting area of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 6, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary electrode overlaps the bank (fig. 3, 130 overlaps 119).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 7, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 4, wherein a thickness of the auxiliary electrode (fig. 4, 130) is greater than a thickness of the metal formation inhibiting layer (140) or a thickness of the second electrode (122, paragraph 0099).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode thickness of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 8, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a width of the auxiliary electrode is smaller than a width of the bank (fig. 3, see figure below).
PNG
media_image1.png
482
586
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode width of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 9, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary electrode is made of an opaque metal (paragraph 0093).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode material of Choi per reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 11, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal formation inhibiting layer is deposited using a fine metal mask (per MPEP 2213, interpreted as a layer extending to cover the light-emitting area as claimed, see also paragraph 0026) and extends to cover a light-emitting area (fig. 3, R1) of the plurality of pixels.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode material of Choi per reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding dependent claim 12, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the metal formation inhibiting layer contains an organic material (paragraph 0102).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the metal formation inhibiting layer material of Choi per reasons stated above in claim 1.
Regarding independent claim 13, Lee teaches an organic light emitting display apparatus (fig. 1) comprising:
a substrate (fig. 2, 101) having a display area (fig. 1, AA) configured to display images;
a thin-film transistor (fig. 2, 150) disposed in the display area;
a first planarization layer (124) disposed over the thin-film transistor and including a first pixel contact hole (162D);
a pixel connection electrode (168) disposed in the first pixel contact hole and electrically connected with the thin-film transistor;
a second planarization layer (128) disposed over the pixel connection electrode;
a second pixel contact hole (120) disposed through the second planarization layer;
a light emitting device (130) disposed over the second planarization layer, and including a light emitting layer (134) defining a first opening (fig. 2);
a bank (138) disposed in the first opening;
wherein the thin-film transistor comprises:
a gate electrode (152) disposed over the substrate;
a gate insulating film (112) disposed over the gate electrode;
a semiconductor layer (154) disposed on the gate insulating film;
a source electrode (160S) in contact with a first side of the semiconductor layer; and
a drain electrode (160D) in contact with a second side of the semiconductor layer and in contact with the pixel connection electrode (fig. 2).
Lee does not teach a metal formation inhibiting layer disposed over the light emitting device, and defining a second opening; and an auxiliary electrode disposed above the bank and in the second opening, wherein the auxiliary electrode has a same width as the second opening on the bank and is formed only at a position overlapping the second opening, wherein an upper surface of a second electrode, exposed through the second opening, and an entire lower surface of the auxiliary electrode are in direct contact with each other, wherein an entire light emitting stack is disposed within the first opening of the bank so that the light emitting stack is not disposed on a top surface of the bank, and wherein the auxiliary electrode overlaps the entire gate electrode.
Choi teaches a metal formation inhibiting layer (fig. 3, 140) disposed over the second electrode (122) and having a second opening (area occupied by 130) for exposing a portion of the second electrode at a location above the bank (fig. 3); and
an auxiliary electrode (130) disposed above the bank, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode (paragraph 0093),
wherein the auxiliary electrode has a same width as the second opening on the bank and is formed only at a position overlapping the second opening (fig. 3),
wherein an upper surface of the second electrode, exposed through the second opening, and an entire lower surface of the auxiliary electrode are in direct contact with each other (fig. 3).
Yeo teaches wherein the entire light emitting stack (fig. 3, 175) is disposed within the first opening of the bank (area occupied by E) so that the light emitting stack is not disposed on a top surface of the bank (fig. 3)
Yeo does not explicitly teach and wherein the auxiliary electrode overlaps the entire gate electrode, but figure 3 of Yeo discloses the auxiliary electrode 150 to overlap a portion of gate electrode 125.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to arrange the auxiliary electrode to overlap the entire gate electrode, since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee, the metal formation inhibition layer and auxiliary electrode of Choi, and the bank/gate electrode arrangements of Jeon in order to prevent generation of a large voltage drop (Choi paragraph 0092-0093) and expose the center portion of the first electrode (Jeon paragraph 0050).
Regarding dependent claim 14, Lee further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a pad area (see figure below) disposed adjacent to the display area.
PNG
media_image2.png
408
524
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Choi further teaches an encapsulation layer (fig. 2, 192) covering the entire display area, but not the pad area (can be configured to not cover pad area of Lee per MPEP 2144.04).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the encapsulation layer of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 13.
Regarding dependent claim 15, Lee further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first electrode is on the second planarization layer, and the second electrode is on the light emitting layer (fig. 2),
wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the thin-film transistor through the second pixel contact hole (fig. 2).
Choi further teaches and wherein the auxiliary electrode (fig. 3, 130) contacts the second electrode (122) through the second opening (fig. 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 13.
Regarding dependent claim 17, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 15, wherein a thickness of the auxiliary electrode is greater than at least one of a thickness of the metal formation inhibiting layer (fig. 4) and a thickness of the second electrode (paragraph 0099).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode thickness of Choi per the reasons stated in claim 13 above.
Regarding dependent claim 18, Choi teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary electrode has a stripe shape and extends in one direction (fig. 13, paragraph 0132).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode shape of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 13.
Regarding dependent claim 19, Choi further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the auxiliary electrode has a grid shape and extends in two directions that are perpendicular to each other (fig. 11, paragraph 0130).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode shape of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 13.
Regarding dependent claim 20, Lee further teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 13, wherein the bank is disposed above the second pixel contact hole (fig. 2, 138 sits above 120).
Choi further teaches and the auxiliary electrode is made of an opaque metal (paragraph 0103).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the organic light emitting display device of Lee and the auxiliary electrode material of Choi per the reasons stated above in claim 13.
Claims 10 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Choi as applied to claims 1 and 15 above respectively, and further in view of Lee, herein referred to as Lee 398 (US Publication 20150008398).
Regarding dependent claim 10, Lee in view of Choi teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 1.
Lee in view of Choi does not teach wherein the second electrode and the auxiliary electrode are connected to a common voltage line.
PNG
media_image3.png
382
590
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Lee 398 teaches wherein the second electrode (fig. 2, C) and the auxiliary electrode (CB) are connected to a common voltage line (see figure below).
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 organic light emitting display device of Lee in view of Choi by forming a connection between the second and auxiliary electrode using a common voltage line described by Lee 398 as a means to improve the flow of electricity within the display apparatus (Lee 398, paragraph 0042).
Regarding dependent claim 16, Lee in view of Choi teaches the organic light emitting display apparatus of claim 15.
Lee in view of Choi does not teach wherein the second electrode and the auxiliary electrode are connected to a common voltage line disposed in a non-display area adjacent to the display area.
PNG
media_image3.png
382
590
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Lee 398 teaches wherein the second electrode (fig. 2 C) and the auxiliary electrode (CB) are connected to a common voltage line (partially) disposed in a non-display area adjacent to the display area (see figure below).
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 organic light emitting display device of Lee in view of Choi by forming a connection between the second and auxiliary electrode using a common voltage line described by Lee 398 as a means to improve the flow of electricity within the display apparatus (Lee 398, paragraph 0042).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 08/28/2026 have been fully considered but are not persuasive.
Applicant argues on pages 10-11 of the instant Remarks: “In re Japikse applies only where parts are shifted without any new or unexpected functional cooperation. In the present application, the arrangement is not a mere relocation of parts. By combining the isolation of the entire light emitting stack within the first opening with the self- aligned formation of the auxiliary electrode that overlaps the entire gate electrode, the claimed apparatus achieves significant technical synergy. For example, confining the light emitting stack within the opening prevents step-coverage cracking at bank edges and eliminates lateral leakage currents/optical crosstalk between adjacent pixels. Also, direct contact of the auxiliary electrode across the auxiliary electrodes entire lower surface with the thin second electrode dramatically reduces cathode sheet resistance and prevents Mura effect from being visible across large displays. Further, positioning the auxiliary electrode directly above the gate electrode over the bank (dead space) shields the underlying gate electrode from ambient light (preventing Vth shift) and eliminates unwanted parasitic capacitance (Cgs) between the first electrode and the gate electrode. These synergistic effects result from the specific, interdependent layout recited in claim 1, which goes far beyond a routine rearrangement discussed in In re Japikse. Furthermore, Choi also fails to cure the deficiencies of Lee and Yeo. Choi discloses a third electrode 130 located in an outer peripheral area (R2) for voltage drop compensation. Choi does NOT teach an auxiliary electrode overlapping a gate electrode within the display area. Modifying Choi's auxiliary electrode to extend into the pixel area to overlap the entire gate electrode, while attempting to integrate Yeo's isolated stack structure, would render Choi's device inoperable for its intended purpose by destroying Choi's light transmission mechanism in the pixel region (R1) and outer voltage compensation layout. Under In re Gordon (733 F.2d 900), a proposed modification that renders a prior art reference inoperable for its intended purpose negates any motivation to combine.”
In response to Applicant’s argument, it has been held that the test of obviousness is not whether the features of one reference may be bodily incorporated into the other to produce the claimed subject matter but simply what the combination of references makes obvious to one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. In re Bozek, 163 USPQ 545 (CCPA 1969). Also, applicant’s currently filed specification does not mention the auxiliary electrode overlapping the entire gate electrode nor does the specification disclose the benefits/function of the auxiliary electrode overlapping the entire gate electrode. Therefore, claims 1 and 13, along with their dependent claims, are rejected.
Conclusion
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GRACE Y CHA whose telephone number is (703)756-5393. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and every other Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacob Choi can be reached at (469) 295-9060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/GRACE CHA/Examiner, Art Unit 2897
/JACOB Y CHOI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2897
