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 .
DETAILED ACTION
RCE, received 5/18/2026, has been entered.
Claims 1 and 3-19 are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 18-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Byun et al. (US Pub. No. 2021/0066419 A1), hereafter referred to as Byun.
As to claim 18, Byun discloses a light emitting display apparatus (fig 1, apparatus 1) comprising:
a dam (fig 11, lower portion of 113/115 at region XIII) disposed on a substrate (100) and located at a boundary between a display area and a non-display area (see annotated fig 11 below);
a division portion (upper portion of 113/115) disposed on the dam (lower portion of 113/115);
a display area emission layer (320 in DA) disposed on a first side of the dam (right side) and in the display area (DA);
a non-display area emission layer (320 on left side of the dam) disposed on a second side of the dam (left side) and in the non-display area (non-display area);
a division portion emission layer (320 on 115-3) disposed on the division portion (upper portion of 113/115);
an encapsulation layer (400) including a first passivation layer (410), a second passivation layer (420), and a third passivation layer (430); and
a first groove having a concave shape in an upper surface of the division portion (groove TH3 in upper surface of 113),
wherein the division portion emission layer, the display area emission layer and the non-display area emission layer are separated from each other (320 on 115-3; 320 to left of the dam and 320 to the right of the dam are separated from each other),
wherein the second passivation layer (420) is disposed across the display area and terminates before the non-display area (see annotated fig 11 below),
wherein the first passivation layer (410) and the third passivation layer (430) both extend across the display area (DA), over the division portion and into the non-display area (see annotated fig 11 below), and
wherein the first groove (TH3) extends continuously along the dam (portion of 113/115).
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As to claim 19, Byun discloses the light emitting display apparatus of claim 18 (paragraphs above),
wherein a cross section of the division portion has a V-shape, a U-shape or a trapezoid shape with an opening at the upper surface of the division portion (fig 11, shape of upper portion of 113/115 with TH3).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 2-17 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record fails to teach or suggest all of the limitations of independent claim 9, specifically, a bank and a first display area division portion on an upper surface of the bank. Claims 10-17 are allowable because of their dependence from claim 9. The prior art of record fails to teach or suggest a dam disposed on a planarization layer; a division portion and a first groove having a concave shape in the upper surface of the division portion, wherein the first groove extends continuously along the dam, as recited in claim 1. Claims 3-8 are allowable because of their dependence from claim 1.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 4/13/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argued that claim 18 is in condition for allowance because it now includes the limitations from claim 2.
Examiner disagrees because claims 1-2 were previously rejected as anticipated by Jang, while claims 18-19 were previously rejected as anticipated by Byun. Applicant has failed to show a reason for the belief that Byun fails to anticipate the amended limitations. Byun, as detailed in the office action above, does anticipate the limitations of claim 18.
Pertinent Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Pub. 2021/0210723; US Pub. 2022/0131106; US 11,316,131; US Pub. 2021/0280823; US Pub. 2021/0184172; US Pub. 2016/0365396; US Pub. 2016/0260928; and US Pub. 2005/0133802A1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAUN M CAMPBELL whose telephone number is (571)270-3830. The examiner can normally be reached on MWFS: 7:30-6pm Thurs 1-2pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Purvis, Sue can be reached at (571)272-1236. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAUN M CAMPBELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893 7/17/2026
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