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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 09/03/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-5, 7-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jeon et al. (US 2020/0365674) hereinafter “Jeon”.
Regarding claim 1, Figs. 2, 5 and 6 of Jeon teach a display device (Paragraph 0002) comprising: a substrate (Item 112) comprising a transmissive display area (Item SA) comprising a first pixel area (Pg to the left of TA in Fig. 5), a second pixel area (Pg to the right of TA in Fig. 5), and an opening area (Item TA) between the first pixel area and the second pixel area and defining a substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112) extending through an entire thickness of the substrate; a light-emitting element layer above the substrate (Item 112) and comprising a first light-emitting element (Pa in Pg to the left of Item TA in Fig. 5) in the first pixel area and a second light-emitting element (Pa in Pg to the right of Item TA in Fig. 5) in the second pixel area; and a first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 310) above the light-emitting element layer and extending from the first pixel area to the second pixel area across the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112).
Regarding claim 2, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches an organic encapsulation layer (Item 320) above the first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 310) and comprising: a first organic encapsulation portion (Portion of Item 320 over Item Pa of Pg to the left of Item TA in Fig. 5) overlapping the first light-emitting element in plan view; a second organic encapsulation portion (Portion of Item 320 over Item Pa of Pg to the right of Item TA in Fig. 5) overlapping the second light-emitting element in the plan view; and a third organic encapsulation portion (Portion of Item 320 over Item TA) overlapping the substrate opening portion in the plan view and extending between the first light-emitting element and the second light-emitting element; and a second inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 330) above the organic encapsulation layer (Item 320).
Regarding claim 3, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches where the first organic encapsulation potion, the second organic encapsulation portion and the third organic encapsulation portion are integrally provided.
Regarding claim 4, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches an inorganic insulating layer (Combination of Items 113 and 115) between the substrate (Item 112) and the light-emitting element layer, defining an inorganic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Items 113 and 115) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112) in plan view, and directly contacting the first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 310); and an organic insulating layer (Item 117; Paragraph 0154) between the inorganic insulating layer (Item IL) and the light-emitting element layer and defining an organic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 117) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 111) in the plan view, a width of the organic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 117) being greater than a width of the inorganic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item IL).
Regarding claim 5, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches an organic encapsulation layer (Item 320) above the first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 310) and having at least a portion in the inorganic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Items 113 and 115) and the organic insulating layer opening portion (Portion of H1 in Item 117); and a second inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 330) above the organic encapsulation layer (Item 320).
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches where the light-emitting element layer comprises: a first pixel electrode (Item 221) in the first pixel area (Pg to the left of TA in Fig. 5); a first emission layer (Item 222b) above the first pixel electrode (Item 221); a second pixel electrode (Item 221) in the second pixel area (Pg to the right of TA in Fig. 5); a second emission layer (Item 222b) above the second pixel electrode (Item 221); and an opposite electrode (Item 223) above the first emission layer and the second emission layer and defining an opposite electrode opening portion (Portion of Item 223 that has been removed to form H1) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 223) in a plan view.
Regarding claim 9, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches where the light-emitting element layer further comprises: a first functional layer (Item 222a) between the first pixel electrode (Item 221) and the first emission layer (Item 222b) and defining a first functional layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 222b) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112) in plan view; a second functional layer (Item 222c) between the first emission layer (Item 222c) and the opposite electrode (Item 223) and defining a second functional layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 222c) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in 112) in plan view; and a capping layer (Item 250) above the opposite electrode (Item 223) and defining a capping layer opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 250) overlapping the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112) in the plan view.
Regarding claim 11, Fig. 2 of Jeon further teaches the device further comprising a component (Item 20) overlapping the first pixel area, the opening area, and the second pixel area in plan view.
Regarding claim 12, Fig. 2 of Jeon teaches where the substrate further comprises a display area (Item DA) surrounding at least a portion of the transmissive display area (Item SA), and wherein the light-emitting element layer further comprises a third light-emitting element (Item Pm) in the display area (Item DA).
Regarding claim 13, Fig. 5 of Jeon teaches the opening area (Item TA) comprises a plurality of opening areas (Items TA) in the transmissive display area (Item SA), the plurality of opening areas comprising first opening areas spaced apart from one another along a virtual first straight line extending in a first direction (Left to right across the page); and second opening areas spaced apart from one another along a virtual second straight line parallel to the virtual first straight line, wherein a virtual third straight line that is between adjacent ones of the first opening areas, and that extends in a second direction (Up and down across the page) crossing the first direction (Left to right across the page), passes through a center of one of the second opening areas.
Under an alternate interpretation of Jeon, Regarding claim 1, Figs. 2, 5 and 6 of Jeon teach a display device (Paragraph 0002) comprising: a substrate (Item 112) comprising a transmissive display area (Item SA) comprising a first pixel area (Pg to the left of TA in Fig. 5), a second pixel area (Pg to the right of TA in Fig. 5), and an opening area (Item TA) between the first pixel area and the second pixel area and defining a substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112) extending through an entire thickness of the substrate (Item 112); a light-emitting element layer above the substrate (Item 112) and comprising a first light-emitting element (Pa in Pg to the left of Item TA in Fig. 5) in the first pixel area and a second light-emitting element (Pa in Pg to the right of Item TA in Fig. 5) in the second pixel area; and a first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 310) above the light-emitting element layer and extending from the first pixel area to the second pixel area across the substrate opening portion (Portion of Item H1 in Item 112).
Under the alternate interpretation of Jeon, Regarding claim 10, Fig. 6 of Jeon further teaches a protective layer (Item 101) below the substrate (Item 112), overlapping the opening area (Item H1) in plan view, and comprising an inorganic protective layer comprising an inorganic material (Paragraph 0123).
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.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeon et al. (US 2020/0365674) hereinafter “Jeon” in view of Choi (US 2010/0051910) hereinafter “Choi”.
Regarding claim 6, Jeon teaches all of the elements of the claimed invention as stated above except further comprising an inorganic layer between the organic insulating layer and the light-emitting element layer, defining an inorganic layer opening portion overlapping the substrate opening portion in the plan view, and having at least a portion of a lower surface thereof in direct contact with the first inorganic encapsulation layer, the lower surface facing the substrate.
Choi teaches where an inorganic layer (Item 119) between an organic layer (Item 118) and a light emitting layer.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include an inorganic layer between the organic insulating layer and the light-emitting element layer because the inorganic layer acts as a buffer layer which blocks outgassing from the organic layer (Choi Paragraph 0052).
When the inorganic layer of Choi is included in the structure of Jeon as stated above, an inorganic layer opening portion overlapping the substrate opening portion in the plan view will be present, and have at least a portion of a lower surface thereof in direct contact with the first inorganic encapsulation layer, the lower surface facing the substrate.
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeon et al. (US 2020/0365674) hereinafter “Jeon” in view of Zeng et al. (US 2023/0056754) hereinafter “Zeng”.
Regarding claim 7, Jeon teaches all of the elements of the claimed invention as stated above except wherein the substrate comprises: an organic substrate layer defining an organic substrate opening portion as part of the substrate opening portion; and an inorganic substrate layer above the organic substrate layer and defining an inorganic substrate opening portion as another part of the substrate opening portion, wherein a width of the organic substrate opening portion is greater than a width of the inorganic substrate opening portion, and wherein the first inorganic encapsulation layer is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lower surface of the inorganic substrate layer, the lower surface facing the organic substrate layer.
Figs. 2c and 11b of Zeng teach where a lowermost layer (Item 10) comprises alternating organic and inorganic layers, where the top two layers are considered a substrate: an organic substrate layer (Item 10E) defining an organic substrate opening portion as part of a substrate opening portion; and an inorganic substrate layer (Item 10F) above the organic substrate layer (Item 10E) and defining an inorganic substrate opening portion as another part of the substrate opening portion, wherein a width of the organic substrate opening portion is greater than a width of the inorganic substrate opening portion, and wherein a first inorganic encapsulation layer (Item 24) is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lower surface of the inorganic substrate layer (Item 10F), the lower surface facing the organic substrate layer (Item 10E).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have the substrate opening portion extend further into the structure of Jeon such that the substrate comprises: an organic substrate layer defining an organic substrate opening portion as part of the substrate opening portion; and an inorganic substrate layer above the organic substrate layer and defining an inorganic substrate opening portion as another part of the substrate opening portion, wherein a width of the organic substrate opening portion is greater than a width of the inorganic substrate opening portion, and wherein the first inorganic encapsulation layer is in direct contact with at least a portion of a lower surface of the inorganic substrate layer, the lower surface facing the organic substrate layer because the substrate opening portions allow for the substrate to be flexible such that the display substrate can be stretched (Zeng Paragraph 0035).
When the teaching in Zeng is applied to the lowermost layer of Jeon (Item 100), and the two topmost layers of Item 100 (Items 103, organic, and 104, inorganic) plus the layers IL and 117 are considered to be the substrate, the opening portion will extend entirely through the substrate and read on all of the limitations of claims 1 and 6 respectively.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeon et al. (US 2020/0365674) hereinafter “Jeon” in view of Yim et al. (US 20136/0314647) hereinafter “Yem” and in further view of Waldern et al. (US 2020/0292745) hereinafter “Waldern”.
Regarding claim 14, Jeon teaches all of the elements of the claimed invention as stated above except where an anti-reflection layer above the first inorganic encapsulation layer and comprising a first circular polarization layer; a light reflection layer below the substrate; and a light compensation layer between the substrate and the light reflection layer and comprising a second circular polarization layer.
Fig. 7 of Yem teaches a display comprising a first anti-reflection layer (Item 71) comprising a first circular polarization layer on one side of the display; and a light compensation layer comprising a second circular polarization layer (Item 72) below a substrate (Item 3) on another side of the display.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have an anti-reflection layer above the first inorganic encapsulation layer and comprising a first circular polarization layer; and a light compensation layer below the substrate comprising a second circular polarization layer because this is known to adjust light exiting the the display (Yem Paragraph 0006).
Jeon does not teach a light reflection layer below the substrate, such that the light compensation layer is between the substrate and the light reflection layer.
Waldern teaches where a mirror is provided along with a polarization layer (Paragraph 0089).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include a light reflection layer below the substrate such that the light compensation layer is between the substrate and the light reflection layer because the mirror provides reflection of incident light while the light compensation layer changes it polarization orthogonally (Waldern Paragraph 0089).
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jeon et al. (US 2020/0365674) hereinafter “Jeon” in view of Mairs (US 2019/0096965) hereinafter “Mairs”.
Regarding claim 15, Jeon teaches all of the elements of the claimed invention as stated above except a solar cell layer below the substrate.
Mairs teaches where a solar cell layer (Item 3) is below a substrate (Item 2).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have a solar cell layer below the substrate because the solar cell layer can act as a secondary charging method for a battery which operates the device (Mairs Paragraph 0010).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Applicant’s REMARKS/ARGUMENTS, filed 07/30/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1 under 35 USC 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of an alternative interpretation of Jeon.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC K ASHBAHIAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5187. The examiner can normally be reached 8-5:30 PM.
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/ERIC K ASHBAHIAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2891
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