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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
While Applicant was correct in observing that US 20180374409 A1 (Lee et al) did not teach all of the limitations of amended claim 1 (Applicant’s remarks pages 10-11), after further search and consideration the limitations of amended claim 1 have been found obvious in view of the disclosure of US 20240268135 A1 (Jin et al).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US patent publications US 20180374409 A1 (Lee et al hereinafter Lee) in view of US 20240268135 A1 (Jin et al hereinafter Jin).
Regarding claim 1, Lee discloses a display apparatus (the display apparatus of FIG. 9 ¶ [0102]) comprising: first sub-pixels of a first color (FIG. 9, red sub-pixels such as the central sub-pixel in the illustration ¶ [0095]), second sub-pixels of a second color (FIG. 9, green sub-pixels such as the left sub-pixel in the illustration ¶ [0095]), and third sub-pixels of a third color (FIG. 9, blue sub-pixels such as the right sub-pixel in the illustration ¶ [0095]) which are apart from each other with a non-pixel area (FIG. 9, there is a non-pixel area spaced between the lower electrodes 10 and color controller 201’s discrete layers) disposed between the first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels; organic light-emitting diodes (FIG. 9, OLED substrate 101 has OLEDs ¶ [0104]) disposed over a lower substrate (FIG. 9, TFT array substrate 1 ¶ [0103]) to correspond to the first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels, respectively, and each comprising: a first electrode (FIG. 9, each of the sub-pixels includes one of first electrodes 10a, 10b, or 10c ¶ [0104]); at least two emission layers emitting light of different colors (FIG. 9, light emitting layers 20, 30, and 40 emit both blue and green light ¶ [0104]); and a second electrode (FIG. 9, second electrode 50 ¶ [0104]);
a color conversion layer (FIG. 9, second color control element 70b disposed over electrode 10b which defines the first/red sub-pixel ¶ [0083]) disposed over one of the organic light-emitting diodes corresponding to one of the first sub-pixels, and comprising quantum dots (second color control element 70b includes quantum dots for red conversion ¶ [0083]) converting incident light into light of the first color; a first color filter (FIG. 9, second color filter 80b disposed over color control element 70b ¶ [0083]) disposed over the color conversion layer and transmitting light of the first color (FIG. 9, second color filter 80b transmits red light ¶ [0085]); a first transmission layer (FIG. 9, light transmits through first color control element 70a disposed over electrode 10a which defines the second/green sub-pixel ¶ [0083]) disposed over one of the organic light-emitting diodes corresponding to one of the second sub-pixels; a second color filter (FIG. 9, first color filter 80a disposed over color control element 70a ¶ [0083]) disposed over the first transmission layer and transmitting light of the second color different from the first color (FIG. 9, first color filter 80a transmits green light ¶ [0085]); a second transmission layer (FIG. 9, light scattering element 71c disposed over electrode 10c which defines the third/blue sub-pixel ¶ [0091]) disposed over one of the organic light-emitting diodes corresponding to one of the third sub-pixels and transmitting light generated by the organic light-emitting diode without wavelength conversion (FIG. 9 scattering element 71c does not convert light ¶ [0091]); and a third color filter (FIG. 9, third color control element 75c disposed over light scattering element 71c transmits blue light ¶ [0084]) disposed over the second transmission layer and transmitting light of the third color different from the first color and the second color, and a material of the first transmission layer (first color control element 70a includes both a resin and light scattering particles ¶ [0084]) is identical to a material of the second transmission layer (light scattering element 71c includes both a resin and light scattering particles, either of which may be the identical material ¶ [0091]; the claim does not require that the first and second transmission layers consist entirely of identical materials, with neither having even one material that the other lacks).
Lee does not disclose the first transmission layer transmitting light generated by the organic light-emitting diode without wavelength conversion.
However, Jin discloses a display device (the device of FIG. 11) wherein an organic light emitting diode (FIG. 11, luminescent layers 13, which may have a variety of structures e.g. the embodiment of FIG. 1, which includes first and second luminescent layers 131 and 132 ¶ [0115]; layers 131 and 132 may emit blue and green light respectively ¶ [0095, 0100-0106]) emits both green and blue light, comprising a green subpixel (FIG. 11, second green-color subpixel G2 ¶ [0185]) which includes a first transmission layer (FIG. 11, first transmitting pattern TP1 transmits light without color conversion ¶ [0186, 0170]) transmitting light generated by the organic light-emitting diode without wavelength conversion. Jin further discloses another green subpixel (FIG. 11, first green-color subpixel G1 ¶ [0185]) which includes a color conversion layer (FIG. 11, second color converting pattern CCP2 is a color conversion layer ¶ [0162]). A person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would further note that, configurations for green subpixels being disclosed that may transmit light with or without color conversion, it would be obvious to implement a configuration that may transmit light without color conversion (as demonstrated by subpixel G2 of Jin) in view of considerations of cost and light emission spectrum would are subject to optimization and routine experimentation (Jin notes that not providing the color conversion pattern may simplify the manufacturing process ¶ [0170]).
Lee and Jin both pertain to the field of display devices, placing them in the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have found it obvious to modify the device of Lee in view of Jin such that the first transmission layer transmits light generated by the organic light-emitting diode without wavelength conversion, as a matter of routine experimentation and optimization of the light emission spectrum and cost/manufacturing complexity of the device of Lee.
Regarding claim 6, Lee in view of Jin discloses the limitations of claim 1 as detailed above, and Jin further discloses that the organic light-emitting diodes emit blue light and green light (Lee FIG. 9, light emitting layers 20, 30, and 40 emit both blue and green light ¶ [0104]), and the quantum dots convert incident light into red light (second color control element 70b includes quantum dots for red conversion ¶ [0083]).
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Jin as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of US 20200373359 A1 (Lee et al hereinafter Lee 2).
Lee in view of Jin discloses the limitations of claim 1 as detailed above, but does not further disclose that a column spacer is arranged between two adjacent third sub-pixels among the third sub-pixels.
However, Lee 2 discloses a display device (display panel DP, a cross-section of which is shown in FIG. 4A ¶ [0046-0047]) wherein a column spacer (FIG. 4A, wall base BK-SB is a spacer having a column shape ¶ [0098-0099]) is arranged between two adjacent third sub-pixels (FIG. 3 illustrates that instances of light emitting region PXA-B are arranged, and FIG. 4A further illustrate that wall base BK-SB would be located between multiple instances of light emitting region PXA-B) among a plurality of third sub-pixels (FIGS. 3-4A, instances of light emitting region PXA-B form a plurality of third sub-pixels ¶ [0058-0060]). Lee 2 also teaches that their wall structure having a reflective layer and a spacer layer enables an improvement to luminous efficiency and brightness in the device (¶ [0158]).
Lee, Jin, and Lee 2 all pertain to the field of display devices, placing them in the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have found it obvious to modify the device of Lee in view of Jin further in view of Lee 2 to include the wall structure of Lee 2 such that a column spacer is arranged between two adjacent third sub-pixels among the third sub-pixels, in order to improve the luminous efficiency and brightness in the device.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Jin and Lee 2 as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of US patent publication US 20210066399 A1 (Bae et al hereinafter Bae).
Lee in view of Jin and Lee 2 discloses the limitations of claim 3 as detailed above, but did not explicitly state that the column spacer, the first transmission layer, and the second transmission layer comprise a same material. However, Lee taught that the first transmission layer and the second transmission layer comprise a same resin material (Lee ¶ [0084, 0091]), and Lee 2 taught that the column spacer included a polymer resin material (¶ 0102]). In addition, Bae discloses a display device (title, abstract, FIGS. 1A-2B) and teaches that a polymer resin is a suitable base resin for the color conversion layers and transmission layers (¶ [0083, 0118]).
Lee, Jin, Lee 2, and Bae all pertain to the field of display devices, placing them in the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have found it obvious to modify the device of Lee in view of Jin, Lee 2, and Bae such that the same polymer resin material is used in both the column spacers and the transmission layers, such that the column spacer, the first transmission layer, and the second transmission layer comprise a same material, in order to provide a suitable base resin for the transmission layers, taking into consideration materials costs and changing market conditions.
Claims 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Jin as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of US patent publication US 20210104578 A1 (Jo et al hereinafter Jo).
Regarding claim 12, Lee in view of Jin discloses the limitations of claim 1 as detailed above, but does not further disclose a capping layer, wherein a first portion of the capping layer is disposed on a lower surface of the color conversion layer, a second portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of the first transmission layer, and a third portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of the second transmission layer.
However, Jo discloses a display device (FIGS. 1A-2B, display device 1 which includes color panel 10 ¶ [0040-0041]) comprising a capping layer (FIG. 2B, barrier layers 170 and 180 form a capping layer ¶ [0058]), wherein a first portion of the capping layer is disposed on a lower surface of a color conversion layer (FIG. 2B, wherein the orientation is vertically flipped so that the color filters 130abc are above light conversion/transmission layers 140abc as in the figures of Lee, second barrier layer 180 is on a lower surface of color conversion portion 140a ¶ [0058]), a second portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of a first transmission layer (FIG. 2B, wherein the orientation is vertically flipped so that the color filters 130abc are above light conversion/transmission layers 140abc as in the figures of Lee, first barrier layer 170 is on an upper surface of color conversion portion 140c, which transmits green light ¶ [0058]), and a third portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of a second transmission layer (FIG. 2B, wherein the orientation is vertically flipped so that the color filters 130abc are above light conversion/transmission layers 140abc as in the figures of Lee, first barrier layer 170 is on an upper surface of transmission portion 140b ¶ [0058]). A person of ordinary skill in the art would also recognize that including the capping layer would insulate the color conversion and transmission layers’ materials and protect them from contaminants such as oxygen or moisture, since the capping layer is formed of known insulation materials such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride (¶ [0058]).
Lee, Jin, and Jo all pertain to the field of display devices, placing them in the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have found it obvious to modify the device of Lee in view of Jin further in view of Jo such that it includes a capping layer, wherein a first portion of the capping layer is disposed on a lower surface of the color conversion layer, a second portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of the first transmission layer, and a third portion of the capping layer is disposed on an upper surface of the second transmission layer, in order to insulate the materials of the color conversion and transmission layers and protect them from contaminants such as oxygen or moisture.
Regarding claim 13, Lee in view of Jin and Jo discloses the limitations of claim 12 as detailed above, and they further disclose that the capping layer comprises a light-transmissive inorganic material (first and second barrier layers 170 and 180 both are formed of a inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride, which transmit light, Jo ¶ [0058]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-17 and 22 are allowed.
Claims 2 and 4 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.
Cited Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: US patent US 12550596 B2 and US patent publication US 20260026229 A1.
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.
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/E.R.C./Examiner, Art Unit 2813
/STEVEN B GAUTHIER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2813
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