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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of species B in the reply filed on April 20, 2026, is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that there is no undue burden and FIGS. 8A-8B should be classified under species B rather than species A.
This is not found persuasive because the inventions are independent or distinct for the reasons previously given and there would be a serious burden on the examiner if restriction were not required because the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art in view of their separate classification and differing field of search (e.g., searching different classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search queries); restriction for examination purposes as indicated is proper.
FIGS. 8A-8B both are drawn to species A as they both have connector 4a and not an exterior extension board 4b.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 2, 5-7, 9, 11, 13, and 18-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on April 20, 2026.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims.
Therefore, the “self-emission members” of claim 10 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are separately objected to because FIG. 7A-7H fail to include trace layer 3.
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.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 3-4, 8, 10, 12, and 14-17 are objected to because of the following informalities:
A non-exhaustive list of the minor informalities in the claims include:
Claim 1:
Lines 5-6: “each of the tile” should be “tiles” or “one or more tiles” or similar language.
Lines 4 and 7-9, “one or ones” is not idiomatic English.
Line 11: “corresponding of” should be, “corresponding one of”.
Line 11: “electrically connect” should be “electrically connected to” or similar language.
Claim 4 line 4, “through exterior extension board” should be, “through the exterior extension board”.
Claim 8, “further includes” should be, “further including”.
Claims 8, 10, and 14-15, “one or ones” is not idiomatic English.
Claim 10, “include a plural” is not idiomatic English.
Claim 10, “electrically connecting” should be “electrically connected to” or similar language.
Claim 16, “as thin film” is not idiomatic English.
The remaining claims are objected to by reason of their dependency.
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 14-15 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 14 recites, “which electrically either connects or disconnects the trace layer”. The meaning of this limitation is unclear. It is also not readily apparent if this limitation further limits the subject matter of the claim in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(d).
Claim 15 recites, “the pattern layer(s)” and, “the patterned layer”. These limitations lack antecedent basis (as claim 15 is not dependent upon claim 14).
These limitations renders the claims each indefinite, and accordingly, claims 14-15 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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 3, 8, 10, 12, and 14-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US Publication 2024/0290927 to Willem et al. (hereinafter Willem).
Claim 1
Willem (FIG. 1-2) discloses an electronic device, comprising:
one or more first substrates (120, paragraph 120); wherein each of the first substrates (120) defines a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other;
one or more tiles (110; paragraph 121) disposed on the first surface(s) of one or ones of the first substrates (120) in a first direction along the first surface thereof; wherein each of the tile (110) includes a second substrate (170; paragraph 121) and a patterned layer (160), and the patterned layer (160) is formed on the second substrate (170) and away from one or ones of the first substrates (120);
a trace layer (130) arranged between one or ones of the tiles (110) and a corresponding one of the first substrates (120) and electrically connected to the patterned layer (160);
and one or more connection components (for 155, paragraph 119) disposed at the second surface of the corresponding of the first substrates (120) and electrically connect the trace layer (130).
Claim 3
Willem discloses the electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a corresponding one of the connection components (for 155) includes an exterior extension board (155 or 140).
Claim 8
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further includes one or more cover members (150) covering at least part of one or ones of the connection components (for 155).
Claim 10
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or ones of the tiles (110) further include a plural of self-emission members (paragraph 119) electrically connecting the patterned layer (160).
Claim 12
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace layer (130) is arranged on the corresponding one of the first substrates (120).
Claim 14
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or ones of the first substrates (120) defines a conductive layer (for 155) formed on the second face thereof, which electrically either connects or disconnects the trace layer (130).
Claim 15
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace layer (FIG. 1: 130, paragraph 132, 145) electrically connects the patterned layer(s)(FIG. 2: 215) of one or ones of the tiles (FIG. 2: 200) by one or more top jumper structure (FIG. 2: 225), each of the top jumper structures (225) is provided with a top through hole (225) and a top conductive member (251), and the top conductive member (251) is disposed in the top through hole (225) and electrically connects the patterned layer (215) with the trace layer (130; paragraph 149-151).
Claim 16
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a partial region of either one or both of the patterned layer and the trace layer are defined as thin film (paragraph 142).
Claim 17
Willem discloses the electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the partial region defined as thin film of either one or both of the patterned layer and the trace layer has a thickness no greater than 1/4 mil (paragraph 115).
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.
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.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Willem in view of JP Publication 2008-76930 to Ueda et al. (hereinafter Ueda; see also machine translation).
Willem discloses the electrical device as claimed in claim 3, as shown above.
Willem does not expressly disclose one or more conjunctions electrically connecting the exterior extension board to the trace layer, wherein the conjunction is provided with a first through hole through the first substrate, a second through hole through exterior extension board, and a conductive member disposed in the first through hole and the second through hole, as recited in claim 4.
Ueda (FIG. 2) teaches one or more conjunctions (10) electrically connecting an exterior extension board (8) to a trace layer (6), wherein the conjunction (10) is provided with a first through hole (40) through a first substrate (4), a second through hole (30) through exterior extension board (8), and a conductive member (10) disposed in the first through hole (40) and the second through hole (30).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Ueda with Willem to incorporate a conductive member and through holes as taught by Ueda in the structure taught by Willem, as one having ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this with a reasonable expectation of success because such a combination and/or modification allows for both a mechanical and electrical connection, preventing peeling, and increased reliability and yield rate (Ueda “ADVANTAGEOUS-EFFECTS”).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN MILAKOVICH whose telephone number is (571) 270-3087. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST.
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, TIMOTHY DOLE can be reached at (571)272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NATHAN MILAKOVICH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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