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 Group I, claims 1-10, in the reply filed on 01 December 2025 is acknowledged.
Claims 11-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 01 December 2025.
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.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tanaka (JP 2008-135325, cited by applicant).
Regarding independent claim 1, Tanaka teaches a display device comprising a first pixel electrode (Fig. 4, Element 2) disposed in a first emission area on a substrate (Fig. 4, Element 1); an insulating layer (Fig. 4, Element 3) covering edges of the first pixel electrode; a first light-emitting layer (Fig. 4, Element 4) disposed on the first pixel electrode and the insulating layer; a first common electrode (Fig. 4, Element 5) disposed on the first light-emitting layer; banks (Fig. 4, Element 6) disposed on the insulating layer and surrounding the first emission area; and an organic pattern (Fig. 4, Element 4) surrounding the first emission area, disposed on the banks, and including a same material as the first light-emitting layer, wherein side surfaces of each of the banks are spaced apart from side surfaces of the insulating layer (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 2, Tanaka teaches the banks comprising a first bank (Fig. 4, Element 9) disposed on the insulating layer and including a metal material; a second bank (Fig. 4, Element 10) disposed on the first bank; and a third bank (Fig. 4, Element 8) disposed between the first bank and the insulating layer.
Regarding claim 3, Tanaka teaches the side surfaces of the first bank inwardly recessed from the side surfaces of the second bank and the side surfaces of the third bank (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 4, Tanaka teaches the second bank including tips protruding from the side surfaces of the first bank toward the first emission area (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 5, Tanaka teaches the first common electrode extending to the side surfaces of each of the banks and is in contact with the side surfaces of the first bank and a top surface of the third bank (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 6, Tanaka teaches a second pixel electrode (Fig. 4, Element 2) disposed in a second emission area on the substrate; a second light-emitting layer (Fig. 4, Element 4) disposed on the second pixel electrode; and a second common electrode (Fig. 4, Element 5) disposed on the second light-emitting layer.
Regarding claim 7, Tanaka teaches the first and second common electrodes electrically connected through the first bank and third bank (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 8, Tanaka teaches the banks comprising a first bank disposed on the insulating layer and including a metal material; and a second bank disposed on the first bank (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 9, Tanaka teaches the side surfaces of the first bank inwardly recessed from the side surfaces of the second bank (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 10, Tanaka teaches a second pixel electrode (Fig. 4, Element 2) disposed in a second emission area on the substrate; a second light-emitting layer (Fig. 4, Element 4) disposed on the second pixel electrode; and a second common electrode (Fig. 4, Element 5) disposed on the second light-emitting layer.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Liu (US 12,349,578) teaches an organic light emitting display panel with an anti-reflection layer. Lin (US 11,610,954) teaches an OLED panel with advanced sub-pixel overhangs. Chen (US 11,527,732) teaches an anode structure for an organic light emitting display device including transparent conductive oxides. Kim (US 11,189,814) teaches an organic light emitting display apparatus with an active area and a pad area.
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 14 March 2026
Prosecution Insights