DETAILED ACTION
1. This Office Action is in response to the communications dated 01/19/2026.
Claims 1-20 are pending in this application.
Remarks
2. Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered, but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection(s).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is not supported by either a specific and substantial asserted utility or a well-established utility.
Claims 1 and 20 recite limitations “a line hole in an island shape is defined in the line layer;”. Such limitation is not supported by the specification, including the drawings.
In the specification, paragraph [00165] is the only place where “an island shape” is discussed.
“[00165] The boundary hole VA-H may be defined or formed through at least a
portion of the insulation layers 10 to 60 from the third insulation layer 60. In an embodiment, for example, the boundary hole VA-H may extend from the third insulation layer 60 to the first lower insulation layer 10 disposed on the buffer layer
BFL. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the boundary hole VA-H may be defined only in the third insulation layer 60 disposed below the organic layer 71. Thus, at least a portion of the insulation layers 10 to 60 may be defined in a floating state. The floating state may be defined as a state of being electrically insulated in addition to a state of being disconnected in an island shape. According to an embodiment of the invention,
the boundary hole VA-H may individually disconnect the insulation layers 10 to 60 to prevent an external impact or a crack from being transmitted to the pixel circuit units PDU1 and PDU2 (refer to FIG. 5) through the insulation layers 10 to 60. Thus, the
display device DD (refer to FIG. lA) having improved durability may be provided.”
This does not provide any specific and essential support for the claimed limitations “a line hole in an island shape...”. One skilled in the art clearly would not know how to use the claimed invention.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 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.
6. Claims 1-20 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. Specifically, because the claimed invention is not supported by either a specific and substantial asserted utility or a well-established utility for the reasons set forth above, one skilled in the art clearly would not know how to use the claimed invention.
In the specification, paragraph [00165] is the only place where “an island shape” is discussed.
“[00165] The boundary hole VA-H may be defined or formed through at least a
portion of the insulation layers 10 to 60 from the third insulation layer 60. In an embodiment, for example, the boundary hole VA-H may extend from the third insulation layer 60 to the first lower insulation layer 10 disposed on the buffer layer
BFL. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the boundary hole VA-H may be defined only in the third insulation layer 60 disposed below the organic layer 71. Thus, at least a portion of the insulation layers 10 to 60 may be defined in a floating state. The floating state may be defined as a state of being electrically insulated in addition to a state of being disconnected in an island shape. According to an embodiment of the invention,
the boundary hole VA-H may individually disconnect the insulation layers 10 to 60 to prevent an external impact or a crack from being transmitted to the pixel circuit units PDU1 and PDU2 (refer to FIG. 5) through the insulation layers 10 to 60. Thus, the
display device DD (refer to FIG. lA) having improved durability may be provided.”
This does not provide any specific and essential support for the claimed limitations “a line hole in an island shape...”. One skilled in the art clearly would not know how a hole would be in an island shape.
Conclusion
7. 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Dao H. Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)272-1791. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Steven Loke, can be reached on (571)272-1657. The fax numbers for all communication(s) is 571-273-8300.
Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or proceeding should be directed to the receptionist whose telephone number is (571)272-1633.
/Dao H Nguyen/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2818
April 9, 2026
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