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 .
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 1-8, 10, and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hwang (US 2023/0016706).
Regarding independent claim 1, Hwang teaches a display device comprising a display panel (Fig. 14, Element 20; ¶ [0072]); and a protective film (Fig. 14, Element 10; ¶ [0072]) attached to a rear surface of the display panel through an adhesive layer (Fig. 3, Element 110; ¶ [0078]), wherein the display panel includes a first side (Fig. 11, Element SDA3; ¶ [0134]) extended in a first direction (Fig. 11, Element X of the XYZ coordinates); a second side (Fig. 11, Element SDA2; ¶ [0134]) extended in a second direction (Fig. 11, Element Y of the XYZ coordinates) intersecting the first direction; and a panel corner portion (Fig. 11, Element CP; ¶ [0141]) connecting the first side and the second side and having a curvature, wherein the protective film includes recessed patterns (Fig. 8, Element SPA; ¶ [0112]) disposed adjacent to the panel corner portion and overlapping the adhesive layer (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 2, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns disposed at an inner side and at a distance from an outer side surface of the protective film (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 3, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns extended to an outer side surface of the protective film on a plane (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 4, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns disposed within a region of ±20 degrees or more based on a line connecting a center of curvature from a point of maximum curvature of the panel corner portion (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 5, Hwang teaches each of the recessed patterns having a stripe shape in which the recessed patterns are extended along a direction intersecting each of the first direction and the second direction on a plane (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 6, Hwang teaches each of the recessed patterns extended in a direction toward a center of curvature of the panel corner portion from one point of an edge of the panel corner portion (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 7, Hwang teaches an angle between reference lines parallel to extension directions of recessed patterns adjacent to each other among the recessed patterns being 3 degrees or more (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 8, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns comprising first to n-th recessed patterns, wherein an angle between a first reference line parallel to an extension direction of the first recessed pattern and a n-th reference line parallel to an extension direction of the n-th recessed pattern is 65 degrees or more, and the n is a natural number of 2 or greater (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 10, Hwang teaches in a thickness direction, a depth of each of the recessed patterns being equal to or less than a thickness of the protective film (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 12, Hwang teaches a width of each of the recessed patterns decreasing with proximity to the display panel (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 13, Hwang teaches the display panel comprising a main display portion (Fig. 11, Element MDA; ¶ [0131]) parallel to the first direction and the second direction; a first side display portion (Fig. 11, Element SDA3; ¶ [0134]) extended from the main display portion in the second direction and curved; and a second side display portion (Fig. 11, Element SDA2; ¶ [0134]) extended from the main display portion in the first direction and curved, wherein the first side and the second side are respectively defined in the first side display portion and the second side display portion (Fig. 11).
Regarding claim 14, Hwang teaches the display panel including a base layer; a circuit layer disposed on the base layer; a display element layer disposed on the circuit layer and including light emitting elements; and an encapsulation layer disposed on the display element layer, wherein the protective film is attached to the base layer. Each of the features of the display panel discussed above is inherent in display panels.
Regarding claim 15, Hwang teaches a light blocking layer disposed below the protective film and overlapping the recessed patterns (¶ [0069]).
Regarding claim 16, Hwang teaches a window (Fig. 12, Element 30; ¶ [0127]) disposed on the display panel, and an adhesive member disposed between the display panel and the window (¶ [0129]).
Regarding independent claim 17, Hwang teaches a display device comprising a display panel (Fig. 14, Element 20; ¶ [0072]) including a panel corner portion (Fig. 11, Element CP; ¶ [0141]) having at least one curvature; and a protective film (Fig. 14, Element 10; ¶ [0072]) disposed on a rear surface of the display panel and including recessed patterns (Fig. 8, Element SPA; ¶ [0112]) adjacent to the panel corner portion, wherein the recessed patterns are disposed within a region of ±20 degrees or more based on a line connecting the center of curvature from a point of maximum curvature of the panel corner portion (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 18, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns comprising first to n-th recessed patterns, wherein an angle between a first reference line parallel to an extension direction of the first recessed pattern and a n-th reference line parallel to an extension direction of the n-th recessed pattern is 65 degrees or more, and the n is a natural number of 2 or greater (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 19, Hwang teaches an angle between reference lines parallel to extension directions of recessed patterns adjacent to each other among the recessed patterns being 3 degrees or more (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 20, Hwang teaches the recessed patterns have a stripe shape or a mesh shape (Fig. 8).
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.
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 9 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hwang (US 2023/0016706).
Regarding claim 9, Hwang teaches the limitations of independent claim 1 discussed earlier but fails to exemplify the recessed patterns having a mesh shape in which the recessed patterns are connected by intersecting each other on a plane.
It would have been an obvious choice of design to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the recessed patterns of Hwang having a mesh shape in which the recessed patterns are connected by intersecting each other on a plane, since there is no evidence that the mesh shape is significant (MPEP § 214404(IV)(B)).
Regarding claim 11, Hwang teaches the limitations of claim 10 discussed earlier but fails to exemplify a width of each of the recessed patterns being constant along the thickness direction.
It would have been an obvious choice of design to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the recessed patterns of Hwang having a constant width along the thickness direction, since there is no evidence that the change in shape is significant (MPEP § 214404(IV)(B)).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Li (US 2023/0178526) teaches a folded display with 3D compound curvature. Lu (US 2021/0408460) teaches a flexible display panel with protective film in stress concentration area. Jung (US 2021/0265580) teaches a display device with input sensing circuit. Dai (US 11,094,895) teaches a display panel with a plurality of openings provided in the corners of the display regions. Lee (US 2019/0347989) teaches a display device with sub-wirings connected through contact holes.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Kevin Quarterman whose telephone number is (571)272-2461. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 10am-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, James Greece can be reached at (571) 272-3711. 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.
/Kevin Quarterman/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875 7 March 2026