DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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.
Acknowledgement of preliminary amendment filed 07/31/2023 amending the specification.
Domestic Benefit
Present application 18/275,025 filed 07/31/2023 is a National Stage entry of PCT/CN2023/094033 with international filing date of 05/12/2023.
Foreign Priority
Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f). Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents (i.e., application number 202310325249.9 filed in China on 03/29/2023) have been electronically received on 10/23/2024 in this National Stage application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
Information Disclosure Statement
No information disclosure statement currently provided.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Figures 2-6 appear pixelated and blurry thereby making reading and comprehension difficult1; and
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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description:
Figure 2 lists reference number 66 that is not mentioned in the written description.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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. 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.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description:
Specification paragraph 0072 mentions reference number 405 not in the Figures and not in Figure 2.
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. 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.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title or similar is suggested:
-- DISPLAY PANEL WITH TOUCH WIRING ON SIDE OF BARRIER OPPOSITE DISPLAY REGION AND DISPLAY DEVICE THEREOF --.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Specification paragraph 0078 states, “the pixel defining layer 175 overlaps with the second planarization layer 105 to form barrier 63…” In Figure 2 and Figures 4-6 it does not appear that 175 overlaps 105 or vice versa. In fact 175 is formed in groove 65 therefore does not appear to overlap 105. Figure 2 has the same color-patterning for 105 and 175 therefore may-be they are made of the same material? The independent claims suggest that the barrier is part of the organic insulating layer. The Figures show a space-like void for barrier 63 between the encapsulation and 175. Please clarify.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-20 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.
Independent claim 1 is indefinite by reciting, “a second groove disposed between the barrier and the organic insulating portion…” because it is unclear what material the groove is formed in/within. For purpose of examination on the merits the second groove is formed in the claimed organic insulating layer.
Claim 1 is also indefinite because it is unclear if the “organic insulating portion” is part of the “organic insulating layer” or all-together different?
Dependent claims 2-9 do not remedy this indefiniteness from the independent claim and are rejected for incorporating the indefiniteness from claim 1.
Claim 5 is indefinite by defining a singular, “a third wiring hole” then at end of claim reciting, “third wiring holes.” For purpose of examination on the merits there is one third wiring hole.
Dependent claims 6-7 do not remedy this indefiniteness from claim 5 and are rejected for incorporating the indefiniteness from claim 5.
Claim 7 further mentions the singular third wiring hole.
Claim 7 is indefinite by defining a singular, “a fifth wiring hole” then at end of claim reciting, “fifth wiring holes.” For purpose of examination on the merits there is one fifth wiring hole.
Independent claim 10 and dependent claims 11-19 are rejected for same reasoning as independent claim 1 supra.
Claim 15 is indefinite by defining a singular, “a third wiring hole” then at end of claim reciting, “third wiring holes.” For purpose of examination on the merits there is one third wiring hole.
Dependent claims 16-17 do not remedy this indefiniteness from claim 15 and are rejected for incorporating the indefiniteness from claim 15.
Claim 17 further mentions the singular third wiring hole.
Claim 17 is indefinite by defining a singular, “a fifth wiring hole” then at end of claim reciting, “fifth wiring holes.” For purpose of examination on the merits there is one fifth wiring hole.
Independent claim 20 is rejected for same reasoning as independent claim 1 supra.
Allowable Subject Matter
Independent claims 1, 10 and 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure as listed on the current Notice of References Cited-892 Form.
US 2025/0107359 A1 to Bang et al: see Figure 4A. This is not prior-art and has Samsung Displays as assignee.
Regarding independent claims 1, 10 and 20, Bang teaches of a display panel 10 (“display panel”; Figure 1; paragraph 0051) comprising a display area DA (“display area”; Figure 1; paragraph 0060) and a non-display area PA (“peripheral area”; Figure 1; paragraph 0061, “In the peripheral area PA of the substrate 100, images may not be displayed”) disposed on a side of the display area DA, wherein the display panel 10 comprises:
a substrate 100 (“substrate”; Figure 4a; paragraph 0060);
an inorganic insulating layer 101 (“barrier layer”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0078 –described as “inorganic”) disposed on a surface of the substrate 100, the inorganic insulating layer 101 comprising a first groove BA (“bending area” Figure 4A; paragraph 0065 – as illustrated there is a filled opening/groove that goes through 101) disposed in the non-display area PA;
an organic insulating layer 109 (“organic insulating layers”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0085) disposed on a surface of the inorganic insulating layer 101 away from the substrate 100, the organic insulating layer comprising a barrier 120/113 (“walls”/“spacer”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0106) disposed between the first groove BA and the display area DA, an organic insulating portion (i.e., 109 portions on opposite side of 120/113 from DA as illustrated in Figure 4A) disposed on a side of the barrier 120/113 away from the display area DA, a second groove disposed between the barrier 123 and the organic insulating portion (i.e., 109 portions on opposite side of 120/113 from DA as illustrated in Figure 4A), and a first wiring hole (i.e., hole in Figure 4A in 3109 that has CL2 ) disposed in the organic insulating portion 3109 and located on a side of the first groove BA close to the display area DA;
a light emitting layer OLED1-3 disposed on a surface of the organic insulating layer 109 away from the substrate 100 and corresponding to the display area DA;
an encapsulation layer 330 (“encapsulation layer”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0097) disposed on a surface of the light emitting layer OLED1-3 away from the substrate 100, the encapsulation layer 330 being disposed in the display area DA and extending to the non-display area PA, the encapsulation layer 330 covering a part of the organic insulating portion (i.e., 109 portions on opposite side of 120/113 from DA as illustrated in Figure 4A) and not extending (see Figure 4A; 330 stops before hole that goes to CL2) to the first wiring hole (i.e., hole in 3109); and
a touch layer (i.e., as defined below) disposed on a surface of the encapsulation layer 330 away from the substrate 100, the touch layer comprising a first insulating sub-layer 420 (“touch insulating layer”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0097) and a first metal sub-layer 430 (“touch electrode”; Figure 4A; paragraph 0097), the first insulating sub-layer 420 covering a part of the encapsulation layer 330 and a part of the organic insulating portion (i.e., 109 portions on opposite side of 120/113 from DA as illustrated in Figure 4A),
Bang does not teach that the first insulating sub-layer 420 comprises a second wiring hole corresponding to the first wiring hole because 420 is etched completely away thereby making 420 near the first wire hole an edge as opposed to a hole. It does appear that the interconnect of Bang for CL2 is connected to touch wiring CL1 as stated in paragraph 0111.
US 2019/0019966 A1 to Jiang et al.: see Figure 4;
US 2020/0279871 A1 to Lee et al.: see Figure 3;
US 2019/0095007 A1 to Jeong et al.: see Figure 7;
US 2024/0032390 A1 to Yu et al.; see Figure 1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN P DULKA whose telephone number is (571)270-7398. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ELISEO RAMOS-FELICIANO can be reached at (571)272-7925. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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23 January 2026
/John P. Dulka/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2817
1 Reference number 20 and symbol α1 are too small to clearly read.