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 Status
Previous action: claims 1 through 6 and 10 through 13 rejected, claim 7 through 9 and 17 objected, claims 14 through 16 and 18 through 20 allowed
Present action: claims 1, 3 through 6 and 10 through 13 rejected, claim 7 through 9 and 17 objected, claims 14 through 16 and 18 through 20 allowed
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 5/28/2026 was filed after the mailing date of the non-final rejection on 5/1/2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Rejection Note: Italicized and struck through claim limitations indicate limitations that are not explicitly disclosed in the primary reference, but disclosed in the secondary reference(s).
Claim(s) 1, 3, 4, 5, and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai (US 2020/0220098) in view of Kim (US 2014/0183472) in view of Kim (US 2020/0144535) in view of Bae (US 2019/0165312).
Regarding claim 1.
Tsai teaches:
An electroluminescent display device comprising:
a display panel (fig 4:14; [para 0036]) including an active area (fig 4:AA; [para 0036]) and a non-active area;
a layer (fig 4:48; [para 0025]) extending to the non-active area of the display panel (fig 4:14; [para 0036]);
a bank on the layer (fig 4:48; [para 0025]) and extending to the non-active area, the bank including a trench (fig 4,7:412; [para 0036]) that exposes a portion of the layer (fig 4:48; [para 0025]) in the non-active area;
an organic layer (fig 4:44; [para 0036]) on the bank and separated by the trench (fig 4,7:412; [para 0036]), the organic layer (fig 4,7:44; [para 0036]) including a first organic layer in an inner direction area of the trench (fig 4,7:412; [para 0036]) and a second organic layer in an outer direction area of the trench (fig 4,7:412; [para 0036]);
a cathode (fig 4:46; [para 0033]) on the first organic layer (fig 4:44; [para 0036]) in the inner direction area of the trench (fig 4,7:412; [para 0036]);
and an adhesive layer (fig 4:70; [para 0035]) over the cathode (fig 4:46; [para 0033]),
wherein the adhesive layer (fig 4:70; [para 0035]) is directly in contact with the organic layer (fig 4:44; [para 0036]),
and wherein the cathode (fig 4:46; [para 0033]) is not disposed on an upper surface of the second organic layer (fig 4 annotated),
and wherein the trench (fig 4:412; [para 0036]) is in three surfaces of the non-active area (fig 1)
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Tsai does not teach that the structure comprises a planarization layer and encapsulation substrate.
Kim (472) teaches:
An electroluminescent display device comprising:
a display panel (fig 1a:100a; [para 0035]) including an active area (fig 1a:EA; [para 0040]) and a non-active area (fig 1a:TA; [para 0040]);
a planarization layer (fig 1a:134a; [para 0035]) extending to the non-active area (fig 1a:TA; [para 0040]) of the display panel (fig 1a:100a; [para 0035]);
a bank (fig 1a:a35a; [para 0035]) on the planarization layer (fig 1a:134a; [para 0035]) and extending to the non-active area (fig 1a:TA; [para 0040]), the bank (fig 1b:135a; [para 0035]) including a trench that exposes a portion of the planarization layer (fig 1a:134a; [para 0035]) in the non-active area (fig 1a:TA; [para 0040]);
and an adhesive layer (fig 1c:160c; [para 0085]) and an encapsulation substrate (fig 1c:115c; [para 0080]) over the cathode (fig 1c:145c; [para 0085]), wherein the adhesive layer (fig 1c:160c; [para 0085]) is in the outer direction area of the trench (fig 1c; [para 0085]),
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a planarization layer in order to form a level surface on which to fabricate the structure (paragraph 56), further providing an adhesive layer and encapsulation substrate over the entire structure will support and protect the elements of the display (paragraph 80).
Tsai does not teach that the adhesive layer is directly in contact with the second organic layer that is in the outer direction area of the trench
Kim (535) teaches:
the adhesive layer (fig 3:130; [para 0101]) is directly in contact with the second organic layer (fig 3:EL; [para 0094]) that is in the outer direction area of the trench
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the adhesive layer to contact the organic layer in the outer region because the adhesive material protects all underlying structures by forming an adhesive bond with the structures it lies over therefore where the organic layer is exposed in the outer region the adhesive material in the outer region will make contact.
Tsai does not teach a flexible film connection
Bae teaches:
the trench is in three surfaces of the non-active area (fig 32,33:180; [para 0319]) except for a side (fig 31:PA; [para 0317]) of the display panel to which a flexible film (fig 4:150; [para 0080,0317]) is connected.
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to place the trench structure on three sides of the display and not on the side attached to a flexible component in order that the trench does not disrupt the bonding or electrical connection of the pixel units to the eternal controller
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention for the adhesive layer to contact the organic layer in the outer region because the adhesive material protects all underlying structures by forming an adhesive bond with the structures it lies over therefore where the organic layer is exposed in the outer region the adhesive material in the outer region will make contact.
Regarding claim 3.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae teaches the electroluminescent display device of claim 1, further
Tsai teaches:
the cathode (fig 4:46; [para 0033]) is not disposed in the trench (fig 4:412; [para 0036]) and not on the second organic layer.
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Regarding claim 4.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae teaches the electroluminescent display device of claim 1, further
Tsai teaches:
the second organic layer is spaced apart from an end of the bank by a predetermined distance in the non-active area (annotated fig 4).
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Regarding claim 5.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae teaches the electroluminescent display device of claim 1, further
Tsai teaches:
the first organic layer extends over the bank in the inner direction area of the trench (fig 4 annotated).
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Regarding claim 10.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae teaches the electroluminescent display device of claim 1, further
Tsai teaches:
the trench (fig 4:412; [para 0036]) comprises a plurality of lines.
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Claim(s) 6, 11, 12, and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai (US 2020/0220098) in view of Kim (US 2014/0183472) in view of Kim (US 2020/0144535) in view of Bae (US 2019/0165312) as applied to claim 1 and further in view of Nomiyama (US 2022/0181582).
Regarding claim 6.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae teaches the electroluminescent display device of claim 1, above
Kim (472) teaches:
the first organic layer (fig 1a:144a; [para 0042]) and the cathode (fig 1a:145a; [para 0059]) extend over the bank (fig 1a:135a; [para 0035]) in the inner direction area of the trench,
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Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae does not teach a capping layer.
Nomiyama teaches:
wherein the electroluminescent display device (fig 1:1; [para 0016]) further includes a capping layer (fig 2:51a; [para 0054]) on the cathode (fig 2:33; [para 0026]) that is disposed to extend over the bank (fig 2:41; [para 0042]) in the inner direction area of the trench.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a capping layer on the light emitting device in order exclude moisture and oxygen (paragraph 47).
Regarding claim 11.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae in view of Nomiyama teaches the semiconductor device of claim 6.
Nomiyama teaches:
an inorganic layer (fig 2:51b; [para 0054]) on the capping layer (fig 2:51a; [para 0054]), the inorganic layer (fig 2:51b; [para 0054]) including an inner side surface of the trench (fig 2).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide a capping layer comprising an overlying inorganic layer on the light emitting device in order exclude moisture and oxygen (paragraph 47).
Regarding claim 12.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae in view of Nomiyama teaches the semiconductor device of claim 11.
Nomiyama teaches:
the inorganic layer (fig 2:51b; [para 0054]) comprises at least one of silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon nitride (SiNx), or a multilayer thereof (fig 2:51b; [para 0055]).
Regarding claim 13.
Tsai in view of Kim (472) in view of Kim (535) in view of Bae in view of Nomiyama teaches the semiconductor device of claim 6.
Tsai teaches:
the second organic layer (annotated fig 4 above) and on , .
Nomiyama teaches:
the inorganic layer (fig 2:51b; [para 0054]) is on the capping layer (fig 2:51a; [para 0054]), the inorganic layer (fig 2:51b; [para 0054]) including an inner portion of the trench (fig 2).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 5/28/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The applicant argues that Tsai does not teach all elements of the claim (page 8).
In response to applicant's arguments against the references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
The applicant argues that Bae teaches element 180 is an auxiliary buffer layer not a trench (page 8,9).
The applicant will note the examiner did not claim that reference numeral 180 indicated a trench, the examiner noted that the trench adjacent to the auxiliary buffer layer indicated by reference numeral 180 was a trench (see annotated figure above). The teaching of which is forming a trench on three sides of the display leaving one side available for attachments.
The test for obviousness is not whether the features of a secondary reference may be bodily incorporated into the structure of the primary reference; nor is it that the claimed invention must be expressly suggested in any one or all of the references. Rather, the test is what the combined teachings of the references would have suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981).
In response to applicant's argument that the examiner's conclusion of obviousness is based upon improper hindsight reasoning, it must be recognized that any judgment on obviousness is in a sense necessarily a reconstruction based upon hindsight reasoning. But so long as it takes into account only knowledge which was within the level of ordinary skill at the time the claimed invention was made, and does not include knowledge gleaned only from the applicant's disclosure, such a reconstruction is proper. See In re McLaughlin, 443 F.2d 1392, 170 USPQ 209 (CCPA 1971).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 are allowed.
Claims 7, 8, 9, and 17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 7, the prior art does not teach in combination with other elements of the claim:
an electroluminescent display device comprising: a trench that exposes a portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area; an organic layer on the bank and separated by the trench,; a cathode on the first organic layer in the inner direction area of the trench; wherein the adhesive layer is directly in contact with the second organic layer that is in the outer direction area of the trench, and wherein the cathode is not disposed on an upper surface of the second organic layer.
a capping layer on the cathode that is disposed to extend over the bank in the inner direction area of the trench, the capping layer and the cathode are spaced apart from an inner end of the second organic layer by a predetermined distance.
Regarding claim 8, the prior art does not teach in combination with other elements of the claims:
an electroluminescent display device comprising: a trench that exposes a portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area; an organic layer on the bank and separated by the trench; a cathode on the first organic layer in the inner direction area of the trench; wherein the adhesive layer is directly in contact with the second organic layer that is in the outer direction area of the trench, and wherein the cathode is not disposed on an upper surface of the second organic layer.
a capping layer on the cathode that is disposed to extend over the bank in the inner direction area of the trench, inner ends of the bank in the outer direction area of the trench and the second organic layer coincide with one another.
Regarding claim 14, the prior art does not teach in combination with other elements of the claims:
an electroluminescent display comprising a display panel including an active area and a non-active area; a trench that exposes a portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area; an organic layer on the bank and separated by the trench; an adhesive layer and an encapsulation substrate over the cathode; and a step alleviation layer on the portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area, wherein the adhesive layer is directly in contact with the second organic layer that is in the outer direction area of the trench.
Regarding claim 17, the prior art does not teach:
an electroluminescent display device comprising: a trench that exposes a portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area; an organic layer on the bank and separated by the trench, wherein the adhesive layer is directly in contact with the second organic layer that is in the outer direction area of the trench, and wherein the cathode is not disposed on an upper surface of the second organic layer.
the trench further includes an extension portion extending outwardly from a side of the display panel.
Regarding claim 18, the prior art does not teach in combination with other elements of the claims:
an electroluminescent display device comprising: a substrate including an active area and a non-active area; the bank including a trench in the non-active area that exposes a portion of the planarization layer in the non-active area;
a first organic layer and a second organic layer on the bank and respectively separated by the trench; a cathode and a capping layer disposed on the first organic layer; and an adhesive layer and an encapsulation substrate disposed on the capping layer, wherein the cathode and the capping layer are not disposed on the second organic layer and the cathode and the capping layer are not disposed in the trench.
Conclusion
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DAVID J GOODWIN whose telephone number is (571)272-8451. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 11:00 - 19:00.
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, Kretelia Graham can be reached at (571)272-5055. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/D.J.G/Examiner, Art Unit 2817
/ANTONIO B CRITE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817
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