Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/434,831

Display Panel, Preparation Method and Display Apparatus

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Feb 07, 2024
Priority
Feb 21, 2023 — CN 202310144365.0
Examiner
VALENZUELA, PATRICIA D
Art Unit
2812
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
HKC Corporation Limited
OA Round
2 (Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
652 granted / 722 resolved
+22.3% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+2.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
83 currently pending
Career history
804
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
68.2%
+28.2% vs TC avg
§102
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
§112
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 722 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . 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) 1-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang(USPGPUB DOCUMENT: 2020/0168842, hereinafter Huang) in view of Chen (USPGPUB DOCUMENT: 2024/0147779, hereinafter Chen) and Nishikiori (USPGPUB DOCUMENT: 2020/0227661, hereinafter Nishikiori). Re claim 1 Huang discloses a display panel, comprising a display substrate(100), wherein each display pixel in the display substrate(100) comprises a plurality of subpixel regions(regions of 305); and an encapsulation layer, located on a light outlet side of the display substrate(100), and comprising a first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) and an organic layer(320) which are successively arranged in a direction away from the display substrate(100), Huang does not discloses wherein the first inorganic layer comprises light transmitting regions and thickening regions, each light transmitting region correspondingly covers at least one subpixel region in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100), and a thickness of each thickening region is greater than a thickness of the light transmitting region; wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions; Chen discloses in Fig 5 wherein the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT) comprises light transmitting regions(ACP/CFO of Chen) and thickening regions[0113,0114 of Chen], each light transmitting region correspondingly covers at least one subpixel region (PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(BP of Chen), It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Chen to the teachings of Huang in order to minimize cross-color, resulting in abnormal pictures [0002, Chen]. In doing so, a thickness of each thickening region[0113,0114 of Chen] is greater than a thickness of the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen). Huang and Chen does not discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions; Nishikiori discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions(100se)[0089] is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions[0072] in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100x); wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions(left/right/middle 522Y) located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions(522zB/522zG/522zR); It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Nishikiori to the teachings of Huang in order to improve image quality of light transmissive organic EL display panels [0002, Nishikiori]. Re claim 2 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein the thickness of each thickening region[0113,0114 of Chen] is at least 1.2 times the thickness of the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen). Re claim 3 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein the thickness of each thickening region[0113,0114 of Chen] is within 3 times the thickness of the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen). Re claim 4 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein the thickness of each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) ranges from 0.5pm to 1.5pm. Re claim 5 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein a width of each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) is greater than a width of the corresponding subpixel region (PDL of Chen) in the orthographic direction of the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen). Re claim 6 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein each display pixel comprises a first subpixel region (PDL of Chen), a second subpixel region (PDL of Chen) and a third subpixel region (PDL of Chen), and correspondingly, each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) comprises a first light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen), a second light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) and a third light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen); the first light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) correspondingly covers the first subpixel region (PDL of Chen) in the orthographic direction, the second light transmittingregion correspondingly covers the second subpixel region (PDL of Chen) in the orthographic direction, and the third light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) correspondingly covers the third subpixel region (PDL of Chen) in the orthographic direction; and a thickness of the first light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) is a first thickness, a thickness of the second light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) is a second thickness, an a thickness of the third light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) is a third thickness. Re claim 7 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 6, wherein the first thickness, the second thickness and the third thickness are all different[0130 of Chen]. Re claim 8 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 6, wherein two of the first thickness, the second thickness and the third thickness are the same, and are not the same as the thickness of the third party[0130 of Chen]. Re claim 9 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 6, wherein an overall thickness of the encapsulation layer is less than or equal to 20pm[0130 of Chen], and the overall thickness of the encapsulation layer is equal to or greater than a thickness of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310). Re claim 10 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein a width W of each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) is greater than a width L of the subpixel region (PDL of Chen), and meets a following condition: L<W L+5pm. Re claim 11 Huang and Chen disclose the display panel of claim 1, wherein a material of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) is any one of SiOx, SiNx, SiNOx and ceramic. Re claim 12 Huang discloses a preparation method of a display panel, comprising: forming a first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) on a light outlet side of a display substrate(100), wherein each display pixel in the display substrate(100) comprises a plurality of subpixel regions(regions of 305); Huang does not discloses forming a mask layer on a side of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) away from the display substrate(100);performing perforating machining on a photoresist layer corresponding to a plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to expose the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100); and etching each light transmitting region on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to etch the light transmitting region to a preset thickness; wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to first thickness, wherein non-etched portions of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. Chen discloses forming a mask layer[0127 of Chen] on a side of the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT of Chen) away from the display substrate(BP of Chen);performing perforating machining on a photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] to expose [0169 of Chen] the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region(PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching[0130 of Chen] to etch the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) to a preset thickness[0113,0114 of Chen]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Chen to the teachings of Huang in order to minimize cross-color, resulting in abnormal pictures [0002, Chen]. In doing so, a mask layer[0127 of Chen] on a side of the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT of Chen) away from the display substrate(BP of Chen);performing perforating machining on a photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] corresponding to a plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to expose [0169 of Chen] the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region(PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100); and etching[0130 of Chen] each light transmitting region on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to etch the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) to a preset thickness[0113,0114 of Chen]. Huang and Chen does not discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to first thickness, wherein non-etched portions of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. Nishikiori discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions(100se)[0089] is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions[0072] in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100x); and etching[0127,0128] each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to first thickness, wherein non-etched portions(left/right/middle 522Y) of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions(522zB/522zG/522zR) form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Nishikiori to the teachings of Huang in order to improve image quality of light transmissive organic EL display panels [0002, Nishikiori]. Re claim 13 Huang and Chen disclose the preparation method of the display panel of claim 12, further comprising: clearing away the mask layer[0127 of Chen], and forming other encapsulation layers on the side of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) away from the display substrate(100). Re claim 14 Huang and Chen disclose the preparation method of the display panel of claim 13, wherein the other encapsulation layers comprise an organic layer(320) and a second inorganic layer(upper/lower310), and the second inorganic layer(upper/lower310) is located on a side of the organic layer(320) away from the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310). Re claim 15 Huang discloses a display apparatus, comprising a display panel, wherein the display panel comprises:a display substrate(100), wherein each display pixel in the display substrate(100) comprises a plurality of subpixel regions(regions of 305); and an encapsulation layer, located on a light outlet side of the display substrate(100), and comprising a first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) and an organic layer(320) which are successively arranged in a direction away from the display substrate(100), Huang does not discloses wherein the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) comprises light transmitting regions and thickening regions, each light transmitting region correspondingly covers at least one subpixel region in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100), and a thickness of each thickening region is greater than that of the light transmitting region; wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions; Chen discloses in Fig 5 wherein the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT of Chen) comprises light transmitting regions(ACP/CFO of Chen) and thickening regions[0113,0114 of Chen], each light transmitting region correspondingly covers at least one subpixel region(PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(BP of Chen), and a thickness of each thickening region is greater than that of the light transmitting region. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Chen to the teachings of Huang in order to minimize cross-color, resulting in abnormal pictures [0002, Chen]. In doing so, a thickness of each thickening region[0113,0114 of Chen] is greater than a thickness of the light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen). Huang and Chen does not discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions; Nishikiori discloses wherein each of the plurality of subpixel regions(100se)[0089] is covered by a respective one of the light transmitting regions[0072] in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100x); wherein the thickening regions are formed by non-light-transmitting regions(left/right/middle 522Y) located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions(522zB/522zG/522zR); It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Nishikiori to the teachings of Huang in order to improve image quality of light transmissive organic EL display panels [0002, Nishikiori]. Re claim 16 Huang discloses a display apparatus, comprising a display panel, wherein a preparation method of the display panel comprises: forming a first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) on a light outlet side of a display substrate(100), wherein each display pixel in the display substrate(100) comprises a plurality of subpixel regions(regions of 305); Huang does not discloses forming a photoresist layer on a side of the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310) away from the display substrate(100); performing exposure and development on the photoresist layer corresponding to a plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to expose the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100); and etching each light transmitting region on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to etch each light transmitting region to a preset thickness, and forming thickening regions between the adjacent light transmitting regions; each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to a preset first thickness, wherein non-etched portions of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness Chen discloses forming a photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] on a side of the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT of Chen) away from the display substrate(BP of Chen); performing exposure and development on the photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] to expose the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region(PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching each light transmitting region on the first inorganic layer, to etch each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) to a preset thickness[0113,0114 of Chen], and forming thickening regions [0113,0114 of Chen]between the adjacent light transmitting regions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Chen to the teachings of Huang in order to minimize cross-color, resulting in abnormal pictures [0002, Chen]. In doing so, forming a photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] on a side of the first inorganic layer(CFO/CFB/CFT of Chen) away from the display substrate(BP of Chen); performing exposure and development on the photoresist layer[0129 of Chen] corresponding to a plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to expose the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), each light transmitting region correspondingly covering at least one subpixel region(PDL of Chen) in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100); and etching each light transmitting region on the first inorganic layer(upper/lower310), to etch each light transmitting region(ACP/CFO of Chen) to a preset thickness[0113,0114 of Chen], and forming thickening regions[0113,0114 of Chen] between the adjacent light transmitting regions. Huang and Chen does not discloses each of the plurality of subpixel regions is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions in an orthographic direction on the display substrate; and etching each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to a preset first thickness, wherein non-etched portions of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness Nishikiori discloses each of the plurality of subpixel regions(100se)[0089] is covered by a respective one of the plurality of light transmitting regions[0072] in an orthographic direction on the display substrate(100x); and etching each of the plurality of light transmitting regions on the first inorganic layer, to a preset first thickness, wherein non-etched portions(left/right/middle 522Y) of the first inorganic layer located between adjacent ones of the light transmitting regions(522zB/522zG/522zR) form thickening regions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the invention to apply the teachings of Nishikiori to the teachings of Huang in order to improve image quality of light transmissive organic EL display panels [0002, Nishikiori]. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-16 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 PATRICIA D VALENZUELA whose telephone number is (571)272-9242. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10am-6pm 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, William Partridge can be reached at 571-270-1402. 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. /PATRICIA D VALENZUELA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 07, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 02, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+2.0%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
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