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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/23/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim (US 20190245126) in view of CHOI et al. (US 20210020707) .
Regarding claim 1, Lim discloses that a display device comprising:
an alignment electrode including:
a first electrode El1 & MM (Fig. 5B); and
a second electrode EL2 surrounding the first electrode MM (Fig. 8K, partially surrounding and applicant argues that fully surrounding);
a first organic layer INS1 (para. 0101, note: the organic insulating layer) disposed on the alignment electrode EL1, MM EL2 and defining an opening OPN (Fig. 8C-D) partially exposing the alignment electrode (Fig. 8D); and
a light-emitting element LDb provided in the opening of the first organic layer (Fig. 8F).
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Lin fails to specify that a second electrode helically surrounding the first electrode.
However, CHOI suggests that a second electrode E2 helically surrounding the first electrode E1 (Fig. 12).
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Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before effective filing date of applicant(s) claimed invention was made to provide Lim with a second electrode surrounding the first electrode as taught by Yang in order to enhance outgassing of the insulating layer (para. 0101), using different methods to form stacked electrodes and also, the claim would have been obvious because a particular know technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art.
Reclaim 2, Lim & CHOI disclose that an insulating layer INS2 between the first electrode and the second electrode EL2 (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 3, Lim & CHOI disclose that a first end portion of the light-emitting element DLb is exposed at an upper portion of the first organic layer INS1(Lim, Fig. 8H).
Reclaim 4 , Lim & CHOI disclose that a connecting electrode CM on the first end portion of the light-emitting element (Lim, Fig. 8H).
Reclaim 5, Lim & CHOI disclose that the first end portion of the light-emitting element LDb is electrically connected to the connecting electrode CM (Lim, Fig. 8H).
Reclaim 6, Lim & CHOI disclose that a second end portion of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the alignment electrode EL1, EL1, EL2 (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 7, Lim & CHOI disclose that the second end portion of the light-emitting element is in electrical contact with the alignment electrode exposed by the opening of the first organic layer (Lim, Fig. 8J).
Reclaim 8, Lim & CHOI disclose that a second organic layer INS2 on the first organic layer INS1 (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 9, Lim & CHOI disclose that the second organic layer is provided in the opening of the first organic layer (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 10, Lim & CHOI disclose that the second organic layer exposes the first end portion of the light-emitting element (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Regarding claim 11, Lim & CHOI disclose that a display device comprising:
an alignment electrode including:
a lower electrode EL1 & MM; a
an upper electrode El2 electrically contacting the lower electrode (Lim in view of Yang’s Fig. 1F, a lower electrode 50 and an upper electrode can be 60) ; and
a core electrode CM helically surrounding by the lower electrode and the upper electrode (CHOI, Fig. 12);
a first organic layer INS1 disposed on the alignment electrode and defining an opening partially exposing the alignment electrode (Lim, Fig. 8C-D); and
a light-emitting element LDb provided in the opening of the first organic layer. 12 INS1 (Lim, Fig. 8H).
Reclaim 12, Lim & CHOI disclose that a first insulating layer INS2 between the lower electrode and the core electrode CM (Lim, Fig. 8I).
Reclaim 13, Lim & CHOI disclose that a second insulating layer between the core electrode CM and the upper electrode EL2 (Lim, Fig. 8K, para. 0109).
Reclaim 14, Lim & CHOI disclose that the lower electrode and the upper electrode are electrically connected to each other (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 15, Lim & CHOI disclose that the upper electrode EL2 is in electrical contact with the lower electrode EL1 or MM through a contact hole penetrating the second insulating layer and the first insulating layer (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 16, Lim & CHOI disclose that a first end portion of the light-emitting element is exposed at an upper portion of the first organic layer (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 17, Lim & CHOI disclose that a connecting electrode on the first end portion of the light-emitting element (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 18, Lim & CHOI disclose that a second end portion of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the alignment electrode exposed by the opening of the first organic layer (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 19, Lim & CHOI disclose that a second organic layer on the first organic layer (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Reclaim 20, Lim & CHOI disclose that the second organic layer exposes the first end portion of the light-emitting element (Lim, Fig. 8K).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SU C KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-5972. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 to 5:00.
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/SU C KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2899
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