DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in response to amendment filed 4/13/2026.
Claims 9-22 and 30-32 are pending. Claims 1-8 and 23-29 have been canceled. Claims 30-32 are new. Claims 9 and 18 have been amended.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the recitation “the gate electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 9-22 and 30-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 9 reciting “wherein the gate electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” lacks adequate written description. While Applicant’s original disclosure describes (¶ 140) “[t]he gate electrode GE can be electrically connected to the source electrode SE of the driving transistor DT”, there is no support for the gate electrode being electrically connected to the drain electrode or being electrically connected to both the source electrode and the drain electrode as encompassed by “at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” as recited in the claim.
Claim 9 reciting “wherein the first connection electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” lacks adequate written description. Applicant’s original disclosure describes (e.g. ¶ 147) “[t]he first connection electrode CE1 can be electrically connected to one of the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DE of the driving transistor DT”, there is no support for the gate electrode being electrically connected to both the source electrode and the drain electrode as encompassed by “at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” as recited in the claim.
Claim 18 reciting “the power lines includes … a high-potential voltage line… and a low-potential voltage line” in combination with claim 9 reciting “the second connection electrode is electrically connected to the power line” lacks adequate written description. Applicant’s disclosure describes in one embodiment, e.g. FIG. 9 (elected), where the second connection electrode CE2 is electrically connected to a high-potential voltage line VL1. Applicant further discloses in another embodiment, e.g. FIG. 10 (non-elected), where the second connection electrode CE2 is electrically connected to a low-potential voltage line VL2. However, a second connection electrode CE2 being electrically connected to both the high-potential voltage line VL1 and the low-potential voltage line VL2 is not support by the original disclosure.
Claim 31 reciting “at least one of the power lines is electrically connected to at least one of a plurality of voltage pads” lacks adequate written description. The limitation encompass one of the power line being electrically connected to more than one voltage pads, and more than one power lines being electrically connected to one voltage pad. However, there is in sufficient disclosure to such one to many or many to one electrical connections between the power lines and the voltage pads.
Other claims are rejected for depending on a rejected claim.
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 applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 9-22 and 30-32 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 9 reciting “the driving transistor comprises … a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed over the gate electrode … and … wherein the gate electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear how would a driving transistor perform its function in driving the light-emitting element when its gate electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode and/or the drain electrode. Applicant’s original disclosure does not provide details on the electrical connection between the gate electrode GE and the source electrode SE and drain electrode DE. Furthermore, a driving transistor is not typically understood in the art to be electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode. Therefore, it is unclear what is intended by “electrically connected” and how such gate electrode “electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” would operate as a driving transistor for the light-emitting element in the display device.
Claim 9 reciting “wherein the first connection electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode” renders the claim indefinite. Applicant’s original disclosure does not provide details on the electrical connection between the first connection electrode CE2 and both of the source electrode SE and drain electrode DE. Furthermore, it is unclear how would the display operate with the first connection electrode electrically connected to both the source electrode and the drain electrode as encompassed by the claimed scope. Therefore, it is unclear what is intended by “electrically connected”.
Claim 13 reciting “a driving transistor” renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear how does this driving transistor relates to the “driving transistor” previously recited in claim 9. Is the “driving transistor” recited in claim 13 referring to an additional driving transistor or is it intended to refer to the same “driving transistor” as that previously recited in claim 9?
Claim 15 reciting “the driving transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer or a polysilicon semiconductor layer” renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear how does “an oxide semiconductor layer or a polysilicon semiconductor layer” relates to the “active layer” of the driving transistor previously recited in claim 9. Is the “oxide semiconductor layer” and “polysilicon semiconductor layer” recited in claim 15 intended to further limit the “active layer” previously recited in claim 9 or are they referring to an additional active layer in the driving transistor?
Claim 18 reciting “the power lines includes … a high-potential voltage line… and a low-potential voltage line” in combination with claim 9 reciting “the second connection electrode is electrically connected to the power line” renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear how does the second connection electrode CE2 electrically connected to both the high-potential voltage line VL1 and the low-potential voltage line VL2. Applicant’s original disclosure does not provide clarifying description.
Claim 31 reciting “at least one of the power lines is electrically connected to at least one of a plurality of voltage pads” renders the claim indefinite. The limitation encompass one of the power line being electrically connected to more than one voltage pads, and more than one power lines being electrically connected to one voltage pad. However, it is unclear how such electrical connection is possible in forming an operating display device.
Other claims are rejected for depending on a rejected claim.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 9-22 and 30-32 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.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YU CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7881. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 9AM-5PM ET.
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, WILLIAM KRAIG can be reached on 5712728660. 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.
/YU CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2896
YU CHEN
Examiner
Art Unit 2896
Prosecution Insights