Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/365,460

SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Aug 04, 2023
Examiner
SITTA, GRANT
Art Unit
2622
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Japan Display Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allow Rate
664 granted / 924 resolved
+9.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
956
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
§103
60.1%
+20.1% vs TC avg
§102
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
§112
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 924 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claim(s) 1-2 and 8-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by YoonJaeHo KR 10-2012-0030724, hereinafter, ‘724 In regards to claim 1, ‘724 teaches a semiconductor substrate comprising: an insulating substrate (abstract); PNG media_image1.png 310 884 media_image1.png Greyscale a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines formed above the insulating (fig. 8 GI pg. 9 1st para.) substrate (claim 1; )(fig. 4 source lines from 12) PNG media_image2.png 384 648 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 546 602 media_image3.png Greyscale a first electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and connected to the plurality of gate lines (claim 1((fig. 4 13 gate driving circuit above 10) (pg. 7); PNG media_image4.png 162 894 media_image4.png Greyscale a first lead line (fig. 8 VSTL) formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a first signal (fig 8.VST) (page 8); PNG media_image5.png 560 860 media_image5.png Greyscale a second lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the first electronic circuit (line to ST1 page 8); PNG media_image6.png 266 284 media_image6.png Greyscale PNG media_image7.png 856 604 media_image7.png Greyscale and a first inductor provided above the insulating substrate and electrically connected between the first lead line and the second lead line.(page 8) (fig. 8 (L between VSTL and ST1) PNG media_image8.png 590 778 media_image8.png Greyscale In regards to claim 2, ‘724 teaches The semiconductor substrate of claim 1, further comprising: a third lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a second signal; a fourth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the first electronic circuit; and a second inductor provided above the insulating substrate and electrically connected between the third lead line and the fourth lead line (fig. 4 20 for both the left and right side and corresponding lead lines). In regards to claim 8, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 1, wherein the first inductor is a coil.(fig. 8 coil L) In regards to claim 9, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 8, wherein the coil is formed above the insulating substrate (page 8 figs. 8-10 above GLS/GI). 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. Claim(s) 3-7 and 11-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ‘724 in view of Nitobe et al (2018/0024678) hereinafter, Nitobe. In regards to claim 11, ‘724 teaches an electronic device comprising (abstract): a semiconductor substrate including an insulating substrate, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines (fig. 4 lines from 12)) formed above the insulating substrate, a first electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate (fig. 8 GI pg. 9 1st para.) substrate (claim 1; ) and connected to the plurality of gate lines, a first lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a first signal and a second lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the first electronic circuit (fig. 4 clk1-n for left and right side) ‘724 fails to expressly teach a wiring substrate. However, Nitobe teaches a wiring substrate (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example). PNG media_image9.png 538 878 media_image9.png Greyscale It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of ‘724 to further include a wiring substrate as taught by Nitobe in order to save space with a wiring substrate that is flexible. Therefore, ‘724 in view of Nitobe teaches a wiring substrate including a third lead line electrically connected to the first lead line and a fourth lead line electrically connected to the second lead line, and coupled to the semiconductor substrate; and a first inductor provided on the wiring substrate and electrically connected between the third lead line and the fourth lead line. (line to ST1 page 8) (claim 1((fig. 4 13 gate driving circuit above 10) (pg. 7),(fig. 8 VSTL) (fig 8.VST) (page 8) fig. 4 for left or right side 20 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring and 34 for example) Nitobe. ; PNG media_image10.png 570 712 media_image10.png Greyscale In regards to claim 3, ‘724 fails to teach the semiconductor substrate of claim 1, further comprising: a second electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and connected to the plurality of source lines a third lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a second signal ; a fourth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the second electronic circuit; and a second inductor provided above the insulating substrate and electrically connected between the third lead line and the fourth lead line. However, Nitobe teaches a source amplifier and corresponding leads. (fig. 12 (118, 104s)) Nitobe. PNG media_image11.png 619 860 media_image11.png Greyscale It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of Nitobe to further include a source amplifier and corresponding leads in order to provide data to the pixels in a conventual means of driving displays, as taught by Nitobe, and to further include a second inductor as taught by ‘724 (fig. 4 20 on both sides) connected to the source driver in order to prevent flicker noise as suggested in the last paragraph of ‘724. Therefore, the semiconductor substrate of claim 1, further comprising: a second electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and connected to the plurality of source lines a third lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a second signal (fig. 12 (118, 104s)leads) Nitobe; a fourth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the second electronic circuit; and a second inductor provided above the insulating substrate and electrically connected between the third lead line and the fourth lead line ‘724 (fig. 4 20 on both sides). In regards to claim 4, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 3, further comprising: a display area in which the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines are provided; a non-display area outside the display area; and a plurality of pixel electrodes formed above the insulating substrate and located in the display area, (fig. 4 10 in-between gate drivers) ‘724 wherein the first electronic circuit is a gate line driving circuit located in the non-display area and electrically connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes to drive the plurality of pixel electrodes, and the second electronic circuit is a demultiplexer located in the non-display area and connected to the plurality of source lines. (fig. 12 (pixels in-between gate drivers and 104 mux outside of pixels) Nitobe. In regards to claim 5, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 4, further comprising: a common electrode formed above the insulating substrate, located in the display area, and having a plurality of electrodes; and a third electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and located in the non-display area(fig. 2 (48)[0052]) Nitobe, wherein the third electronic circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes and is a circuit for driving the plurality of electrodes. (fig. 4 data drivers 12) ‘724 and (fig. 12 (16) Nitobe). In regards to claim 6, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 5, wherein the first inductor is located in the non-display area. .( fig. 4 for left or right side 20 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example) Nitobe. In regards to claim 7, ‘724 teaches semiconductor substrate of claim 4, wherein the first inductor is located in the non-display area. .( fig. 4 for left or right side 20 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example) Nitobe. In regards to claim 12, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 11, further comprising: a second inductor, wherein the semiconductor substrate further includes a fifth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a second signal, and a sixth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the first electronic circuit, (line to ST1 page 8) (claim 1((fig. 4 13 gate driving circuit above 10) (pg. 7),(fig. 8 VSTL) (fig 8.VST) (page 8) for left and right side ‘724 the wiring substrate further includes a seventh lead line electrically connected to the fifth lead line and an eighth lead line electrically connected to the sixth lead line, and the second inductor is provided on the wiring substrate and is electrically connected between the seventh lead line and the eighth lead line (fig. 4 for left or right side 20 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example) Nitobe. In regards to claim 13, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 11, further comprising: a second inductor, wherein the semiconductor substrate further includes a second electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and connected to the plurality of source lines, a fifth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and provided with a second signal, and a sixth lead line formed above the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the second electronic circuit (fig. 4 left and right gate drivers 13s) ‘724, the wiring substrate further includes a seventh lead line electrically connected to the fifth lead line and an eighth lead line electrically connected to the sixth lead line, and the second inductor is provided on the wiring substrate and is electrically connected between the seventh lead line and the eighth lead line. (fig. 4 for left or right side 13 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example) Nitobe. In regards to claim 14, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 13, wherein the semiconductor substrate further includes a display area in which the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines are provided, a non-display area outside the display area, and a plurality of pixel electrodes formed above the insulating substrate and located in the display area (fig. 4 10 in-between gate drivers) ‘724, the first electronic circuit is a gate line driving circuit located in the non-display area and electrically connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes to drive the plurality of pixel electrodes, and the second electronic circuit is a demultiplexer located in the non-display area and connected to the plurality of source lines.(fig. 12 (pixels in-between gate drivers and 104 mux outside of pixels) Nitobe. In regards to claim 15, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 14, wherein the semiconductor substrate further includes a common electrode including a plurality of electrodes formed above the insulating substrate and located in the display area (fig. 2 (48)[0052]) Nitobe, and a third electronic circuit formed above the insulating substrate and located in the non-display area, and the third electronic circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes and is a circuit for driving the plurality of electrodes (fig. 4 data drivers 12) ‘724 and (fig. 12 (16) Nitobe). In regards to claim 16, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first inductor is a coil. (fig. 8 coil L) ‘724 In regards to claim 17, ‘724 teaches electronic device of claim 16, wherein the coil is formed inside the wiring substrate.( fig. 4 for left or right side 20 ‘724 in view of (fig. 1 (28) wiring for 34 for example) Nitobe. Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ‘724 in view of Hatano et al (2015/0212623) hereinafter, Hatano. In regards to claim 10, ‘724 fails to teach the semiconductor substrate of claim 1, wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead. However, Hatano teaches wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead [112]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of ‘724 to further include wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead through simple substitution of one known inductor for another and the results would have been predictable at removing noise. [112] Claim(s) 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ‘724 and Nitobe in view of Hatano et al (2015/0212623) hereinafter, Hatano. In regards to claim 18, ‘724 and Nitobe fail to teach the electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead. However, Hatano teaches wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead [112]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the teachings of ‘724 and Nitobe to further include wherein the first inductor is a ferrite bead through simple substitution of one known inductor for another and the results would have been predictable at removing noise. [112] Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GRANT SITTA whose telephone number is (571)270-1542. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-4:00. 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, Patrick Edouard can be reached at 571-272-6084. 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. /GRANT SITTA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2622
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 04, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
72%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+13.9%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 924 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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