DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s Remarks filed on 07/09/2026.
Currently, claims 1-2, 4-9, 12, 15-16, and 18-20 are pending in the application.
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
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/09/2026 has been entered.
Election/Restrictions
Claims 1 and 14 are allowable. Claims 7-8 and 18-19, previously withdrawn from consideration as a result of a restriction requirement, require all the limitations of the allowable claim. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in MPEP § 821.04(a), the restriction requirement between species I-II, as set forth in the Office action mailed on 12/17/2024, is hereby withdrawn and claims 7-8 and 18-19 are hereby rejoined and fully examined for patentability under CFR 1.104.
In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant(s) are advised that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application.
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/08/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the Examiner.
Response to Amendments
Applicant's amendments and arguments with respect to the rejection of claim(s) 1-2, 4-6, 9, 12, 15-16, and 20 under 35 USC § 103 have been fully considered and overcome the previous grounds of rejection (see allowable subject matter below). However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of clarity issues with previously withdrawn dependent claims 7-8 and 18-19 (see 35 USC § 112 rejections below). The Examiner has attempted to contact Applicant’s representative Won Yoon through telephone to address the aforementioned clarity issues but no response has been received.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 7-8 and 18-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 7 and 18 recites the limitation “a bank provided between the plurality of second subpixels to cover the second light path changing layer”. It is unclear if the bank of claims 7 and 18 are separate from or are the same as the bank defined in independent claims 1 and 14. Therefore, the claim has an indefinite scope. For the purpose of examination, this limitation will be read as: “the bank is provided between the plurality of second subpixels to cover the second light path changing layer”
Claims 8 and 19 are also rejected under 112(b) as they depend on base claims 7 and 18 respectively.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 4-6, 9, 12, 15-16, and 20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding independent claim 1, Park (US Pub. No. 2022/0367841) teaches a display device (Figs.3 & 4) comprising:
a substrate (Fig. 4, 100, ¶ [0058]) provided with a plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 3 & 4, TA, ¶ [0056]);
a plurality of light emitting elements (Fig. 3, Pa, ¶ [0056]) having a first electrode (Fig. 4, 221a, ¶ [0110]) and a light emitting layer (Fig. 4, 222ab, ¶ [0115]) disposed between the plurality of transmissive areas;
a plurality of driving transistors (Fig. 4, TFTa, ¶ [0067]) connected to the plurality of light emitting elements;
a planarization layer (Fig. 4, 118, ¶ [0107]) disposed over the plurality of driving transistor; and
a bank (Fig. 4, 119, ¶ [0111]) covering an edge of the first electrode,
wherein the substrate further includes a light emission area (Fig. 4, area of 221a not covered by 119) defined by the bank (Fig. 4),
wherein the light emission area is spaced apart from the plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 3 & 4),
wherein the plurality of light emitting elements further includes a second electrode (Fig. 4, 223a, ¶ [0116]) provided on the light emitting layer,
wherein the first electrode (Fig. 4, 221a is not in transmission area TA) is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas,
However, Park does not explicitly teach a first light path changing layer disposed between the plurality of transmissive areas, changing a path of light directed from the light emitting layer toward the substrate,
wherein the first light path changing layer is disposed between the first electrode and the planarization layer,
wherein the light emitting layer is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas,
wherein the second electrode is in contact with the planarization layer in each of the plurality of transmissive areas, and
wherein the first light path changing layer overlaps with the light emission area and the bank, and is non-overlapping with each of the plurality of transmissive areas,
wherein the first light path changing layer is partially disposed between each of the plurality of driving transistors and the first electrode, and
wherein the first electrode penetrates the first light path changing layer and is electrically connected to each of the plurality of driving transistors.
However, Kitahara (US Pub. No. 2019/0074473) is a pertinent art that teaches a first light path changing layer (Fig. 8, 160, ¶ [0039]) disposed between the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 8, 106, ¶ [0028]), changing a path of light (¶ [0039] teaches that 160 scatters the light emitted from light emitting unit 140) directed from the light emitting layer toward the substrate,
wherein the first light path changing layer is disposed between the first electrode and the planarization layer (Kitahara Fig. 8 teaches that the light path changing layer 160 is directly beneath and in contact with first electrode 110. Therefore, Park modified by Kitahara’s light path changing layer would be directly beneath Park’s first electrode 221a (Park Fig. 4) and would therefore fulfill this limitation),
wherein the first light path changing layer overlaps with the light emission area (Fig. 8, area of region 102 where first electrode 110 is not covered by insulating layer 150, ¶ [0036]) and the bank (Fig. 8, 150, ¶ [0034]), and is non-overlapping with each of the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 8, 160 overlaps with 102 and 150 but does not overlap with 106).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Park’s display device according to the teaching of Kitahara (Fig. 8) in order to improve light extraction efficiency (Kitahara ¶ [0007]).
However, Park modified by Kitahara does not explicitly teach that the first light path changing layer is partially disposed between each of the plurality of driving transistors and the first electrode, and
wherein the first electrode penetrates the first light path changing layer and is electrically connected to each of the plurality of driving transistors the light emitting layer is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas.
However, Park modified by Kitahara’s light path changing layer would be directly underneath and in contact with Park’s first electrode. As it is not pertinent to the particulars of their invention, Kitahara is silent in regards to pixel driving circuitry. Park’s first electrode 221a is physically and electrically connected to the thin film transistor TFTa underneath the first electrode 221a in order for Park’s light emitting device to operate (Park ¶ [0070]). Because Park modified by Kitahara’s light path changing layer would be directly underneath Park’s first electrode 110, Park modified by Kitahara’s first electrode must either go around or go through Park modified by Kitahra’s light path changing layer.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Park modified by Kitahara’s first electrode to penetrate through Park modified by Kitahara’s light path changing layer in order to connect to corresponding pixel driving circuitry.
However, Park modified by Kitahara does not explicitly teach that the light emitting layer is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas, and wherein the second electrode is in contact with the planarization layer in each of the plurality of transmissive areas.
However, Kwak (US Pub. No. 2021/0193749) is a pertinent art that teaches the light emitting layer (Fig. 9, 220’, ¶¶ [0158] & [0176]) is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 9 & 11B, TA, ¶ [0177] teaches a transmission portion that includes a planarization layer and multiple insulating layers), and wherein the second electrode (Fig. 9, 230’, ¶¶ [0162] & [0176]) is in contact with the planarization layer (Fig. 9, 113, ¶ [0177]) in each of the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 9, a portion of electrode 230’ is in direct contact with the planarization layer 113 in transmission portion TA).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Park modified by Kitahara’s first electrode, organic layer, and transmissive area according to the teaching of Kwak (Fig. 9) in order to reduce manufacturing costs (Park modified by Kitahara modified by Kwak would at least not require a hole to be formed in Park’s planarization and insulation layers and would also require less organic light emitting material).
However, none of the prior art of record teaches or suggests, alone or in combination, the first light path changing layer has one surface in contact with the first electrode and another surface in contact with the planarization layer, wherein the planarization layer includes a contact hole, the first electrode penetrates the first light path changing layer and the contact hole of the planarization layer, in combination with the remaining limitations of independent claim 1.
Regarding independent claim 9, Park teaches a display device comprising:
a display panel (Fig. 1) to display an image; and
an optical sensor (Fig. 2, 40, ¶ [0064]) disposed below the display panel, wherein the display panel includes:
a substrate (Fig. 4, 100, ¶ [0058]) provided with a first display area (Figs. 3 & 4, DA1, ¶ [0056]) and a second display area (Figs.3 & 4, DA2, ¶ [0056]) at least partially overlapping with the optical sensor;
a plurality of first subpixels (Fig.3, Pm, ¶ [0056]) disposed in the first display area;
a plurality of second subpixels (Fig. 3, Pa, ¶ [0056]) disposed in the second display area.
wherein the substrate further includes a plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 3 & 4, TA, ¶ [0056]) provided in the second display area,
wherein the light emitting element further includes:
a light emitting layer (Fig. 4, 222ab, ¶ [0115]) provided on the first electrode, and
a second electrode (Fig. 4, 223a, ¶ [0116]) provided on the light emitting layer,
wherein the first electrode is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 4, 221a is not in transmission area TA),
wherein each of the plurality of second subpixels includes:
a bank (Fig. 4, 119, ¶ [0111]) covering an edge of the first electrode; and
a light emission area (Fig. 4, area of 221a not covered by 119) defined by the bank (Fig. 4),
wherein the light emission area is spaced apart from the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 4),
However, Park does not explicitly teach a first light path changing layer at least partially overlapping with each of the second subpixels and changing a path of light directed from the second subpixels toward the substrate,
wherein the first light path changing layer has one surface in contact with a first electrode of a light emitting element of each of the second subpixels, and another surface in contact with a planarization layer made of an organic material;
wherein the light emitting layer is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas, and
wherein the second electrode is in contact with the planarization layer in each of the plurality of transmissive areas,
wherein the first light path changing layer overlaps with the light emission area and the bank, and is non-overlapping with each of the plurality of transmissive areas.
However, Kitahara is a pertinent art that teaches a first light path changing layer (Fig. 8, 160, ¶ [0039]) at least partially overlapping with each of the second subpixels (Fig. 8, 140, ¶ [0030]) and changing a path of light (¶ [0039] teaches that 160 scatters the light emitted from light emitting unit 140) directed from the second subpixels toward the substrate (Fig. 8, 100, ¶ [0029]),
wherein the first light path changing layer has one surface in contact with a first electrode of a light emitting element of each of the second subpixels (Each of Park’s first electrodes would be modified according to the teaching of Kitahara Fig. 8 and would therefore fulfill this limitation),
and another surface in contact with a planarization layer made of an organic material (Kitahara Fig. 8 teaches that the light path changing layer 160 is directly beneath and in contact with first electrode 110 (Kitahara ¶ [0028]). Therefore, Park modified by Kitahara’s light path changing layer would be directly beneath and in contact with the bottom surface of Park’s first electrode 221a (Park Fig. 4) and a surface of Park’s organic planarization layer (Park Fig. 4, 118, ¶ [0107]). Therefore, Park modified by Kitahara would fulfill this limitation);
wherein the first light path changing layer overlaps with the light emission area (Fig. 8, area of region 102 where first electrode 110 is not covered by insulating layer 150, ¶ [0036]) and the bank (Fig. 8, 150, ¶ [0034]), and is non-overlapping with each of the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 8, 160 overlaps with 102 and 150 but does not overlap with 106),
wherein the second display area (Figs.3 & 4, DA2, ¶ [0056]) includes the plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 3 & 4, TA, ¶ [0056]) and a plurality of non-transmissive areas (Fig. 3, areas in between TA) disposed between the plurality of transmissive areas, and each of the plurality of second subpixels (Fig. 3, Pa, ¶ [0056]) is disposed in each of the plurality of non-transmissive areas,
wherein the optical sensor receives external light through the plurality of transmissive areas (¶¶ [0064]-[0065] teaches that Park’s optical sensor 50 receives light transmitted through transmission areas TA).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Park’s display device according to the teaching of Kitahara (Fig. 8) in order to improve light extraction efficiency (Kitahara ¶ [0007]).
However, Park modified by Kitahara does not explicitly teach that
wherein the light emitting layer is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas, and
wherein the second electrode is in contact with the planarization layer in each of the plurality of transmissive areas, and
wherein the second subpixels are turned off so that an image is not displayed on the second display area when an operation of the optical sensor is turned on, and the second subpixels are turned on so that an image is displayed on the second display area when the operation of the optical sensor is turned off.
However, Kwak is a pertinent art that teaches the light emitting layer (Fig. 9, 220’, ¶¶ [0158] & [0176]) is not provided in the plurality of transmissive areas (Figs. 9 & 11B, TA, ¶ [0177] teaches a transmission portion that includes a planarization layer and multiple insulating layers), and wherein the second electrode (Fig. 9, 230’, ¶¶ [0162] & [0176]) is in contact with the planarization layer (Fig. 9, 113, ¶ [0177]) in each of the plurality of transmissive areas (Fig. 9, a portion of electrode 230’ is in direct contact with the planarization layer 113 in transmission portion TA).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Park modified by Kitahara’s first electrode, organic layer, and transmissive area according to the teaching of Kwak (Fig. 9) in order to reduce manufacturing costs (Park modified by Kitahara modified by Kwak would at least not require a hole to be formed in Park’s planarization and insulation layers and would also require less organic light emitting material).
However, Park modified by Kitahara modified by Kwak does not explicitly teach that the second subpixels are turned off so that an image is not displayed on the second display area when an operation of the optical sensor is turned on, and the second subpixels are turned on so that an image is displayed on the second display area when the operation of the optical sensor is turned off.
However, Yue (US Pub. No. 2022/0208897) is a pertinent art that teaches the second subpixels are turned off so that an image is not displayed on the second display area (Fig. 1, 120, ¶ [0059]) when an operation of the optical sensor (Fig. 1, 200, ¶ [0059]) is turned on, and the second subpixels are turned on so that an image is displayed on the second display area when the operation of the optical sensor is turned off (¶ [0080] teaches that pixels in the under screen camera area can be turned on and off depending on the operation of the camera module).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Park modified by Kitahara’s display device according to the teaching of Yue (Fig. 1) in order to prevent stray light from affecting image shooting (Yue ¶ [0080]).
However, none of the prior art of record teaches or suggests, alone or in combination, the first light path changing layer includes a plurality of convex patterns for each of the second subpixels, the plurality of convex patterns being convex toward the substrate from the first electrode, and wherein the first light path changing layer has a refractive index higher than that of the planarization layer, in combination with the remaining limitations of independent claim 9.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submission should be clearly labeled "Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Cited Prior Art
The Examiner has pointed out particular references contained in the prior art of record within the body of this action for the convenience of the Applicant.
Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RHYS P. SHEKER whose telephone number is (703)756-1348. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm.
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/R.P.S./
Examiner, Art Unit 2813
/STEVEN B GAUTHIER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2813
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