Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/896,693

DISPLAY DEVICE AND TILED DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 26, 2022
Examiner
TRAN, TAN N
Art Unit
2812
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 3m
To Grant
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allow Rate
941 granted / 1088 resolved
+18.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
1133
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
49.9%
+9.9% vs TC avg
§102
34.9%
-5.1% vs TC avg
§112
7.2%
-32.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1088 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION 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. Claims 1, 3 - 4, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (11,393,408) in view of Wang et al. (10424602) and further in view of Tsai et al. (2019/0317372). With regard to claim 1, Li et al. disclose a display device (for example, fig. 4, 7) comprising: a substrate (for example, see claim 1) that includes a display area (AA) and a non-display area (NA) disposed at a side of the display area, and the display area including: a first area including an antistatic circuit (electrostatic discharge circuits 50, fig. 7 functioning as an antistatic circuit); a second area including a fanout line (11); a third area including a demultiplexer (20); and a fourth area including a pixel circuit (a pixel circuit 80 forming in the display area AA, fig. 4 or 5), a first sub-area (referred to as “80A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) adjacent to at least one of the first area (area having fanout line 11); and a second sub-area (referred to as “80B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) excluding the first sub-area (80A), and the second sub-area (80B) includes: unit pixel rows respectively comprising a pair of pixel rows; first pixels (referred to as “80B1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) disposed in a first direction (for example, X-direction) in a first pixel row; second pixels (referred to as “80B2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) disposed in the first direction in a second pixel row that is a next row of the first pixel row, the second pixels (80B2) being spaced apart from the first pixels (80B1); a clock line (referred to as “21A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below; wherein the clock line 21A made from the clock line 21) extending in a second direction (Y direction) intersecting the first direction (X-direction). PNG media_image1.png 641 653 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 645 823 media_image2.png Greyscale Li et al. do not clearly disclose a gate driver including: a first stage disposed left of the clock line in a plan view; or a second stage disposed right of the clock line in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage and the second stage is disposed directly between two pixels wherein the first stage and the second stage are disposed between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows in the second direction, and are respectively disposed between two respective adjacent pixel columns in the first direction. However, Wang et al. discloses a gate driver (a gate driver circuit has a plurality of first driving units 200A, the second driving units 200B and the third driving units 200C wherein the gate driver circuit is formed as multi-stage driving unit with a plurality of driving units 200; for example, see column 7, lines 33 – 35; column 8, lines 23 - 26) including: a first stage (referred to as “200A1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the middle stage unit 200A1 is among stage units in the region 200A) disposed left of the clock line (CK as shown in fig. 4A below) in a plan view; and a second stage (referred to as “200C1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the middle stage unit 200C1 is among stage units in the region 200C) disposed right of the clock line (CK as shown in fig. 4A below) in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage (200A1) is disposed directly between two pixels (referred to as “102A” and “102B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the two pixels 102A and 102B are pixels 102) wherein the first stage (200A1) and the second stage (200C1) are disposed between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows (for example, see rows 1, 3 as shown in fig. 4A below) in the second direction, and are respectively disposed between two respective adjacent pixel columns (referred to as “C1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below) in the first direction. (for example, see fig. 4A). PNG media_image3.png 516 949 media_image3.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have modified the Li et al.’s device to have a gate driver including: a first stage disposed left of the clock line in a plan view; or a second stage disposed right of the clock line in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage and the second stage is disposed directly between two pixels wherein the first stage and the second stage are disposed between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows in the second direction, and are respectively disposed between two respective adjacent pixel columns in the first direction as taught by Wang et al. in order to output the gate signal efficiency of the device to pixels and for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device and prevent damage to the semiconductor patterns and enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection between the vias and the semiconductor patterns for a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Li et al. and Wang et al. do not clearly disclose the substrate being made of glass. However, Tsai et al. discloses the substrate (100) being made of glass. (for example, see paragraph [0026], fig. 4). PNG media_image4.png 510 732 media_image4.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have modified the Li et al. and Wang et al.’s device to incorporate the substrate being made of glass as taught by Tsai et al. in order to minimize the signal interference for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device and prevent damage to the semiconductor patterns and enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection between the vias and the semiconductor patterns for a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. With regard to claim 3, Wang et al. disclose the first stage (200A1) and the second stage (200C1) are provided in plural (plurality stages forming in the regions 200A, 200C), and one of the first stages (200A1) and one of the second stages (200C1) are disposed between the two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows (a gate driver circuit has a plurality of first driving units 200A, the second driving units 200B and the third driving units 200C wherein the gate driver circuit is formed as multi-stage driving unit with a plurality of driving units 200 inherently including multi-rows; for example, see column 7, lines 33 – 35; column 8, lines 23 - 26). With regard to claim 4, Wang et al. disclose the one (200A1) of the first stages and the one (200C1) of the second stages are disposed between the second pixel row (one of pixel row including pixels 102) of a first unit pixel row and the first pixel row (one of pixel row including pixels 102) of a second unit pixel row, among the two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows (a gate driver circuit has a plurality of first driving units 200A, the second driving units 200B and the third driving units 200C wherein the gate driver circuit is formed as multi-stage driving unit with a plurality of driving units 200 inherently including multi-rows; for example, see column 7, lines 33 – 35; column 8, lines 23 - 26). With regard to claim 20, Li et al. disclose a tiled display device comprising: display devices disposed in a matrix format, each of the display devices (for example, fig. 4, 7) comprising: a substrate (for example, see claim 1) that includes a display area (AA) and a non-display area (NA) disposed at a side of the display area, and the display area including: a first area including an antistatic circuit (electrostatic discharge circuits 50, fig. 7 functioning as an antistatic circuit); a second area including a fanout line (11); a third area including a demultiplexer (20); and a fourth area including a pixel circuit (a pixel circuit 80 forming in the display area AA, fig. 4 or 5), a first sub-area (referred to as “80A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) adjacent to at least one of the first area (area having fanout line 11); and a second sub-area (referred to as “80B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) excluding the first sub-area (80A), and the second sub-area (80B) includes: unit pixel rows respectively comprising a pair of pixel rows; first pixels (referred to as “80B1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) disposed in a first direction (for example, X-direction) in a first pixel row; second pixels (referred to as “80B2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below) disposed in the first direction in a second pixel row that is a next row of the first pixel row, the second pixels (80B2) being spaced apart from the first pixels (80B1); a clock line (referred to as “21A” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 5 below; wherein the clock line 21A made from the clock line 21) extending in a second direction (Y direction) intersecting the first direction (X-direction). PNG media_image1.png 641 653 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 645 823 media_image2.png Greyscale Li et al. do not clearly disclose a gate driver including: a first stage disposed left of the clock line in a plan view; or a second stage disposed right of the clock line in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage and the second stage is disposed directly between two pixels wherein the third stage is between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows in the second direction, and between two adjacent pixel columns in the first direction. However, Wang et al. discloses a gate driver (a gate driver circuit has a plurality of first driving units 200A, the second driving units 200B and the third driving units 200C wherein the gate driver circuit is formed as multi-stage driving unit with a plurality of driving units 200; for example, see column 7, lines 33 – 35; column 8, lines 23 - 26) including: a first stage (referred to as “200A1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the middle stage unit 200A1 is among stage units in the region 200A) disposed left of the clock line (CK as shown in fig. 4A below) in a plan view; and a second stage (referred to as “200C1” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the middle stage unit 200C1 is among stage units in the region 200C) disposed right of the clock line (CK as shown in fig. 4A below) in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage (200A1) is disposed directly between two pixels (referred to as “102A” and “102B” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the two pixels 102A and 102B are pixels 102) wherein the third stage (referred to as “200C2” by examiner’s annotation shown in fig. 4A below; wherein the stage unit 200C2 is among stage units in the region 200C) is between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows (rows as shown in fig. 4A) in the second direction, and between two adjacent pixel columns (columns C1 as shown in fig. 4A) in the first direction. (for example, see fig. 4A). PNG media_image5.png 520 958 media_image5.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have modified the Li et al.’s device to have a gate driver including: a first stage disposed left of the clock line in a plan view; or a second stage disposed right of the clock line in a plan view, wherein at least one of the first stage and the second stage is disposed directly between two pixels wherein the first stage and the second stage are disposed between two adjacent ones of the unit pixel rows in the second direction, and are respectively disposed between two respective adjacent pixel columns in the first direction as taught by Wang et al. in order to output the gate signal efficiency of the device to pixels and for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device and prevent damage to the semiconductor patterns and enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection between the vias and the semiconductor patterns for a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Li et al. and Wang et al. do not clearly disclose the substrate being made of glass. However, Tsai et al. discloses the substrate (100) being made of glass. (for example, see paragraph [0026], fig. 4). PNG media_image4.png 510 732 media_image4.png Greyscale Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to have modified the Li et al. and Wang et al.’s device to incorporate the substrate being made of glass as taught by Tsai et al. in order to minimize the signal interference for enhancing a stability operation of the semiconductor device and prevent damage to the semiconductor patterns and enhancing the reliability of the electrical connection between the vias and the semiconductor patterns for a stability operation of the semiconductor device, as is known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Allowable Subject Matter 3. Claims 5 - 19 are allowable over the prior art of record, because none of these references disclose or can be combined to yield the claimed invention such as a gap between the first stage and the clock line in the first direction and a gap between the second stage and the clock line in the first direction are same as recited in claim 5. Response to Amendment Applicant's arguments with respect to claims have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection. Conclusion 5. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAN N TRAN whose telephone number is (571) 272 - 1923. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30-5:00PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Davienne Monbleau can be reached on (571) 272-1945. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /TAN N TRAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 26, 2022
Application Filed
Apr 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jul 17, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 28, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Sep 23, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Sep 23, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 29, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 28, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Nov 05, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 03, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+10.2%)
2y 3m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1088 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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