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 .
Response to amendments
Applicant' s amendments filed 5/26/2026 have been entered and considered. The amendments to claims 1-5, 12 ,16 and 17 are acknowledged.
Response to Arguments
Applicants’ arguments filed 5/26/2026 have been considered but are not persuasive. Applicant alleges that Junichi and Edmond fail to teach or render obvious a non-forming part between adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, wherein the second electrode is separated between the adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements by the non-forming part. The examiner disagrees for the following reasons: Regarding Junichi, FIG. 1 shows how there is a gap between the “metal electrode 9” on the bottom of “bank 11”, which is part of a light-emitting device, and the “metal electrode 9” of an adjacent light-emitting device. This corresponds to a non-forming part.
Regarding Edmond, no “second electrical terminal 62” is formed in the gap between adjacent “flip chip LEDs 10” as seen in FIG. 11A-11B. This gap corresponds to the non-forming part.
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 applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5, 7-8, 12 and 16-17 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 1 recites “in a case where a direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is a line-of-sight direction, a semiconductor light-emitting element of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements has a light-emitting region of a plurality of light-emitting regions whose center is shifted from a center of a joint, of the plurality of joints joined to the semiconductor light-emitting element.”. The limitation “in a case where a direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is a line-of-sight direction” appears to be a condition upon which the following structural limitation applies. That the display device actually has the display panel facing the substrate in a line-of-sight direction is not certain, therefore the claim is indefinite. Furthermore, a structure for a case when the display panel does not face the substrate in a line-of-sight direction is not defined, further rendering the claim indefinite.
Claims 2-5, 7-8, 12 and 16-17 are rejected based on their dependency on claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Junichi JP 2007264005 A (hereinafter referred to as Junichi).
Regarding claim 1, Junichi teaches
A display device (“organic EL display device 1” [0026] FIG. 1) comprising:
a display panel (“EL substrate 2” [0026]) including a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements (“plurality of display regions” that each comprise a “transparent electrode 6”, a “hole transport layer 7”, an “organic EL layer 8”, and a “metal electrode 9”, [0026]), wherein
each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements including a light-emitting layer (“organic EL layer 8”), a first electrode (“transparent electrode 6”), and a second electrode (“metal electrode 9”);
a drive substrate (“TFT base 3” [0026]) having a drive circuit (“TFT base 3” contains thin film transistors “TFTs 15”), wherein the drive substrate faces the display panel (“TFT base 3” faces “EL substrate 2”); and
a plurality of joints (“conductive adhesive 17”, of which the examiner understands there is one “conductive adhesive 17” for each light-emitting element, [0033]), ), wherein each of the plurality of joints electrically connects a corresponding one of a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements to the drive substrate (“conductive adhesive 17” connects “TFT 15” to the light-emitting element, [0033]),
a non-forming part between adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements (as seen in FIG. 1, there is a portion on “bank 11” where no “metal electrode 9” is formed), wherein the second electrode is separated between the adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements by the non-forming part (“metal electrode 9” is separated on the right side of “bank 11”), and
in a case where a direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is a line-of-sight direction, a semiconductor light-emitting element of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements has a light-emitting region of a plurality of light-emitting regions whose center is shifted from a center of a joint, of the plurality of joints, to be joined to the semiconductor light-emitting element (“conductive adhesive 17” is in contact with the portion of “metal electrode 9” formed over “bank 11”, wherein “bank 11” partitions the light-emitting regions [0026], such that each “conductive adhesive 17” is formed between adjacent light-emitting elements and their centers are shifted from each other.)
Regarding claim 5, Junichi teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein adjacent light-emitting regions are separated (“banks 11” separate the “display regions”, [0026]) , and in the case where the direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is the line-of-sight direction, the joint is located in a region between the adjacent light- emitting regions (“conductive adhesive 17” is formed on “bank 11”, such that “conductive adhesive 17” is disposed between adjacent “display regions”).
Claims 1, 7-8, and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Edmond et al. US 20170294418 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Edmond).
Regarding claim 1, Edmond teaches
A display device (“multi-LED chip” on “interface element 94” para. 00232 FIG. 11A-11B) comprising:
a display panel (light emitting device that includes multiple “flip chip LEDs 10” on “substrate 15”, para. 0232) including a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements (“flip chip LEDs 10”), wherein
each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements includes a light-emitting layer (LEDs are understood to contain light-emitting layers so light is produced, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 that contains “active region 25”, para. 0197), a first electrode (“first electrical contact 61” para. 0194-0195), and a second electrode (“second electrical contact 62” para. 0194-0195);
a drive substrate having a drive circuit (“interface element 94”, which is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip that controls the current to each “flip chip LED 10”, para. 0230 and 0232), wherein the drive substrate faces the display panel (“interface element 94” faces the “flip chip LEDs 10” on “substate 15”); and
a plurality of joints (“solder bumps 93” para. 0232), wherein each of the plurality of joints electrically connects a corresponding one of a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements to the drive substrate (pairs of “solder bumps 93” connect each “flip chip LED 10” to “interface element 94”); and
a non-forming part (there are gaps between adjacent “flip chip LEDs 10”) between adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, wherein the second electrode is separated between the adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements by the non-forming part (no “second electrical terminal 62” is formed in the gap between adjacent “flip chip LEDs 10”), and
in a case where a direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is a line-of-sight direction, a semiconductor light-emitting element of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements has a light-emitting region of a plurality of light-emitting regions whose center is shifted from a center of a joint, of the plurality of joints, to be joined to the semiconductor light-emitting element (“solder bumps 93” are shown as being disposed between a center and an edge of each “flip chip LED 10”.).
Regarding claim 7¸ Edmond teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein the joint includes a bump joint (“solder bumps 93” are bumps).
Regarding claim 8¸ Edmond teaches the display device according to wherein the bump joint has a side surface part curved in a protruding shape (“solder bumps 93” are shown as round in FIG. 11A-11B, such that the side surface can be said to protrude outward in a direction orthogonal to the bonding direction).
Regarding claim 12¸ Edmond teaches the display device according to wherein the joint includes a material having thermal reflow properties (“solder bump 93” is solder, which is known to reflow. Furthermore, para. 0232 indicates that “solder bump 93” is heated and compressed to bond “interface element 94” with “flip chip LEDs 10”. This is understood as a reflow operation).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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 2-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Junichi as applied to claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 2, Junichi teaches the display device according claim 1 but fails to expressly teach wherein the center of the joint is shifted from the center of the light-emitting region with a positional shift having a magnitude of 1/4 or more and 3/4 or less of a center-to-center distance between adjacent light-emitting regions of the plurality of light-emitting regions along a direction of the positional shift.
Nevertheless, “banks 11” partition the light-emitting elements and each “conductive adhesive 17” is formed on a “bank 11” (see [0026]). Thus, there is a “conductive adhesive 17” formed between adjacent “display regions” that contain the light-emitting element stacks of “transparent electrode 6”, a “hole transport layer 7”, an “organic EL layer 8”, and a “metal electrode 9”. It is reasonable to expect that each “display region” has a substantially similar width and their centers are a similar distance shifted from the “conductive adhesive 17” in between. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that if the “conductive adhesive 17” is disposed on a “bank 11” in between adjacent “display regions”, the “conductive adhesive 17” can be around the midpoint between the centers of the “display regions”.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that the centers of the joint are between ¼ and ¾ of the center-to-center distance between adjacent light emitting regions. The joints are formed on bank structures that partition the light-emitting regions.
Regarding claim 3, Junichi teaches the display device according to the display device according to wherein the center of the joint is shifted from the center of the light-emitting region with a positional shift having a magnitude of about 1/2 of a center-to-center distance between adjacent light-emitting regions of the plurality of light-emitting regions along a direction of the positional shift.
Nevertheless, “banks 11” partition the light-emitting elements and each “conductive adhesive 17” is formed on a “bank 11” (see [0026]). Thus, there is a “conductive adhesive 17” formed between adjacent “display regions” that contain the light-emitting element stacks of “transparent electrode 6”, a “hole transport layer 7”, an “organic EL layer 8”, and a “metal electrode 9”. It is reasonable to expect that each “display region” has a substantially similar width and their centers are a similar distance shifted from the “conductive adhesive 17” in between. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that if the “conductive adhesive 17” is disposed on a “bank 11” in between adjacent “display regions”, the “conductive adhesive 17” can be around the midpoint between the centers of the “display regions”.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that the centers of the joint are around 1/2 of the center-to-center distance between adjacent light emitting regions. The joints are formed on bank structures that partition the light-emitting regions.
Regarding claim 4, Junichi teaches the display device according to claim 1, wherein, in the case where the direction in which the display panel faces the drive substrate is the line-of-sight direction (“EL substrate 2” and “TFT base 3” face each other),
and the center of the joint is positionally shifted from the center of the light-emitting region in a direction that extends along an arrangement direction of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements (“conductive adhesive 17” is in contact with the portion of “metal electrode 9” formed over “bank 11”, wherein “bank 11” partitions the light-emitting regions [0026], such that each “conductive adhesive 17” is formed between adjacent light-emitting elements and their centers are shifted from each other.).
However, fails to expressly teach a plurality of the semiconductor light-emitting elements is two-dimensionally arranged.
Nevertheless, a typical display device has light emitting regions in two dimensions to that a two-dimensional image is shown, as seen in FIG. 4 of Liao US 20180269184 A1, FIG. 1 of Kwag et al. US 20200144231 A1, and FIG. 2 of Xin et al. US 10516081 B1. Otherwise, a one-dimensional arrangement of “display regions” would not be able to display an image. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the “EL substrate 2” has the plurality of “display regions” arranged in two dimensions so that images can be displayed.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that the plurality of light emitting regions in [] are two-dimensionally arranged so that images can be displayed.
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Junichi as applied to claim 1 above, in view of Jeong et al. US 20210028244 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Jeong), in view of Bower et al. US 20170047393 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Bower).
Junichi teaches the display device according to claim 1 but fails to teach wherein the each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements is a micro light-emitting diode (LED).
Nevertheless, Jeong teaches a display panel comprising organic light emitting elements (para. 0073 FIG. 3). Jeong proposes that the display panel may alternatively be an LCD display panel or a micro LED panel, among others (para. 0061). Bower indicates that micro LEDs are low-aperture ratio elements that enable greater areas for interconnections and enable higher resolution displays compared to OLEDs or LCDs (para. 0016-0017). One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that the organic light emitting element stack “transparent electrode 6”, a “hole transport layer 7”, an “organic EL layer 8”, and a “metal electrode 9” can be replaced by a micro LED so that the display resolution is greater.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device in Junichi with the micro LED taught between Jeong and Bower. Micro LEDs are smaller, such that the display panel can have a greater pixel density and image resolution.
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Junichi as applied to claim 1 above, in view of Bower et al. US 20170047393 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Bower).
Junichi teaches the display device according to claim 1 but fails to teach wherein the adjacent semiconductor light-emitting elements have different light-emission colors.
Nevertheless, Bower teaches a display panel with “light emitting areas LA1 to LA4” that include “first light emitting portion LA_R to emit light of a first color, a second light emitting portion LA_G to emit light of a second color, and a third light emitting portion LA_B to emit light of a third color” (para. 0090 FIG. 4). This produces a multicolor display device. One of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have recognized that having adjacent light emitting elements with different colors such as “first light emitting portion LA_R”, “second light emitting portion LA_G”, and “third light emitting portion LA_B” forms a multicolor display.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the display device taught in Junichi with the different colored light emitting elements taught in Bower. Having light emitting elements with different colors allows for a colored image to be displayed.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 ERIC MULERO FLORES whose telephone number is (571)270-0070. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-5pm (typically).
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, Julio Maldonado can be reached at (571)272-1864. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIC MANUEL MULERO FLORES/Examiner, Art Unit 2898 /JULIO J MALDONADO/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2898
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