Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 18, 2026
Application No. 18/194,081

DISPLAY PANEL, DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Mar 31, 2023
Examiner
RAMPERSAUD, PRIYA M
Art Unit
2897
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
199 granted / 283 resolved
+2.3% vs TC avg
Strong +29% interview lift
Without
With
+28.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
298
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
51.9%
+11.9% vs TC avg
§102
22.9%
-17.1% vs TC avg
§112
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 283 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
/CHAD M DICKE/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2897 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. Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I, Species 1 in the reply filed on 03/13/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 6-7 and 13-17 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected Invention II, Species 2-4, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/12/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. 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. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the appl icant regards as his invention. Claim 5 and 12 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. Claim 5 recites the limitation " the first opening " in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appear that claim 5 should actually be dependent on claim on claim 4, not on claim 1. Claim 12 recites the limitation " the first opening " in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It appear that claim 1 2 should actually be dependent on claim on claim 11 , not on claim 8 . 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 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 s 1 - 4 and 8 - 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wen et al. [CN 111554715 A], “Wen” in view of Tu [WO 2022/246906 A1] . ( Examiner note: machine translation CN 111554715 A and US PUB [US 2024 / 0016029 A1] are used for easier referencing ) . Regarding claim 1 , Wen discloses a display panel (as shown in Fig. 1 , abstract ) , compr ising: an array substrate (10 and abstract ); an anode layer (121 and 13 ), positioned on the array substrate (as shown), wherein the anode layer comprises a reflective layer (121); the reflector layer (121 – page 4 the first electrode is a light reflecting anode ) has a plurality of reflective surfaces on one side of the reflector layer facing away from the array substrate (as shown); and two adjacent reflective surfaces are intersected (as shown); and a light-emitting layer (123 , page 4 light emitting layer ), positioned on one side of the anode layer first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate (as shown). Wen does not explicitly disclose the anode layer also includes a first electrode layer positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate such that the light-emitting layer is positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate. However, having a plurality of layers for an anode layer is well-known in the semiconductor art. Tu discloses a display panel (Fig. 8, abstract) , comprising: an array substrate (¶[0105] and 101) ; an anode layer ( 23, 21 and 22) , positioned on the array substrate (as shown) , wherein the anode layer comprises a reflective layer (21, ¶[0054] and ¶[0070]) and a first electrode layer (22, ¶[0052]) positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate (as shown) ; the reflector layer has a plurality of reflective surfaces on one side of the reflector layer facing away from the array substrate; and two adjacent reflective surfaces are intersected (as shown) ; and a light-emitting layer (302, ¶[0109]) , positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate (as shown) . The second conductive layer (22) is a light-transmitting conductive layer (¶[0052]) and aids in the light extraction efficiency of the display panel is improved (¶[0055]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use a second conductive layer as a part of the anode structure as taught in Tu in the device of Wen such that the anode layer also includes a first electrode layer positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate such that the light-emitting layer is positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate because such a modification will aid in the light extraction efficiency of the display panel is improved (¶[0055] of Tu). Regarding claim 2 , Wen as modified disclose claim 1, Wen further discloses the anode layer (Fig. 1, (121/13) further comprises: a second electrode layer (13 and page 5 teaches the material of the position-occupying protrusion 13 may also be a conductive material ) , positioned between the reflective layer (121) and the array substrate (10) . Regarding claim 3, Wen as modified disclose claim 2 , Wen further discloses the second electrode layer (Fig. 1, 13) comprises a first opening (as shown) on one side of the second electrode layer facing away from the array substrate (10) , and the reflective layer (121) is partially located (as shown) within the first opening so that the reflective layer has a concave area corresponding to the first opening on one side of the reflective layer facing away from the array substrate (10) – See Fig. 1. Regarding claim 4 , Wen as modified disclose claim 3, Wen further discloses the first opening extends along a thickness direction of the second electrode layer and runs through the second electrode layer (as shown in Fig. 1 and 2). Regarding claim 8, Wen discloses a display device (as shown in Fig. 1, abstract) comprising a display panel, the display panel (abstract and Fig. 1) comprising: an array substrate (10, abstract) ; an anode layer (121 and 13) , positioned on the array substrate (10) , wherein the anode layer comprises a reflective layer (121 – page 4 the first electrode is a light reflecting anode) ; the reflector layer (121) has a plurality of reflective surfaces (as shown) on one side of the reflector layer facing away from the array substrate (10) ; and two adjacent reflective surfaces are intersected (as shown in Fig. 1) ; and a light-em itting layer (123 , page 4 teaches light emitting layer) positioned on one side of the anode layer facing away (as shown) from the array substrat e (10) . Wen does not explicitly disclose the anode layer also includes a first electrode layer positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate such that the light-emitting layer is positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate. However, having a plurality of layers for an anode layer is well-known in the semiconductor art. Tu discloses a display panel (Fig. 8, abstract), comprising: an array substrate (¶[0105] and 101); an anode layer (23, 21 and 22), positioned on the array substrate (as shown), wherein the anode layer comprises a reflective layer (21, ¶[0054] and ¶[0070]) and a first electrode layer (22, ¶[0052]) positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate (as shown); the reflector layer has a plurality of reflective surfaces on one side of the reflector layer facing away from the array substrate; and two adjacent reflective surfaces are intersected (as shown); and a light-emitting layer (302, ¶[0109]), positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate (as shown). The second conductive layer (22) is a light-transmitting conductive layer (¶[0052]) and aids in the light extraction efficiency of the display panel is improved (¶[0055]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use a second conductive layer as a part of the anode structure as taught in Tu in the device of Wen such that the anode layer also includes a first electrode layer positioned sequentially along a direction away from the array substrate such that the light-emitting layer is positioned on one side of the first electrode layer facing away from the array substrate because such a modification will aid in the light extraction efficiency of the display panel is improved (¶[0055] of Tu). Regarding claim 9 , Wen as modified disclose claim 8, Wen further discloses the anode layer (Fig. 1, (121/13) further comprises: a second electrode layer (13 and page 5 teaches the material of the position-occupying protrusion 13 may also be a conductive material) , positioned between the reflective layer (121) and the array substrate (10) . Regarding claim 10, Wen as modified disclose claim 9, Wen further discloses the second electrode layer (Fig. 1, 13) comprises a first opening on one side of the second electrode layer facing away from the array substrate (as shown), and the reflective layer (121) is partially located within the first opening so that the reflective layer has a concave area corresponding to the first opening (as shown) on one side of the reflective layer facing away from the array substrate (10). Regarding claim 11, Wen as modified disclose claim 10, Wen further discloses the first opening extends along a thickness direction of the second electrode layer (Fig. 1, 13) and runs through the second electrode layer (as shown). Claims 5 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wen et al. [CN 111554715 A], “Wen” in view of Tu [WO 2022/246906 A1] as applied to claims 1 and 8, and further in view of Lee et al. [US 2022/0123078 A1], “Lee”. (Examiner note: machine translation CN 111554715 A and US PUB [US 2024/0016029 A1] are used for easier referencing). Regarding claim 5, Wen as modified discloses claim 1, Wen further discloses a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle of 90 degrees (see Fig. 1 of Wen). Wen does not disclose a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle between 5 degrees to 80 degrees. However, Lee discloses an pattern electrode structure (Fig. 4, PE) can be formed with an angle in order to improve the emission efficiency (¶[0085] of Lee). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to before the effective filing date of the invention to optimize the shape of the electrode structure as taught in Lee in the device of Wen as modified such that a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle between 5 degrees to 80 degrees because such a modification would improve the emission efficiency (¶[0085] of Lee). Future, it has been held that adjusting the shape of an article involves only routine skill in the art. In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966). See MPEP 2144.04. Regarding claim 12 , Wen as modified discloses claim 8 , Wen further discloses a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle of 90 degrees (see Fig. 1 of Wen). Wen does not disclose a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle between 5 degrees to 80 degrees. However, Lee discloses an pattern electrode structure (Fig. 4, PE) can be formed with an angle in order to improve the emission efficiency (¶[0085] of Lee). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to before the effective filing date of the invention to optimize the shape of the electrode structure as taught in Lee in the device of Wen as modified such that a side wall of the first opening and a side of the second electrode facing the array substrate form an angle between 5 degrees to 80 degrees because such a modification would improve the emission efficiency (¶[0085] of Lee). Future, it has been held that adjusting the shape of an article involves only routine skill in the art. In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1966). See MPEP 2144.04. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chen et al. [ US 2023 / 0030283 A1 ] discloses t he organic light emitting diode includes: a base; a micro-nano structure layer on a side of the base; a first electrode on a side of the micro-nano structure layer away from the base; an electroluminescence layer on a side of the first electrode away from the micro-nano structure layer; and a second electrode on a side of the electroluminescence layer away from the first electrode. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT PRIYA M RAMPERSAUD whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-3464 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Mon-Wed 9am-6pm . Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Chad Dicke can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-7996 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. FILLIN "Examiner Stamp" \* MERGEFORMAT PRIYA M. RAMPERSAUD Examiner Art Unit 2897 /PRIYA M RAMPERSAUD/ Examiner, Art Unit 2897
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 31, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 14, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 31, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604735
DEVICE WITH AIRGAP STRUCTURE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12575238
DISPLAY DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12550402
Nanostructure Field-Effect Transistor Device and Method of Forming
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Patent 12538712
MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT ELEMENT AND CRYSTALLIZATION METHOD OF FERROMAGNETIC LAYER
2y 5m to grant Granted Jan 27, 2026
Patent 12538618
DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Jan 27, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
70%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+28.9%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 283 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month