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
The response filed 07/02/2026 is accepted, in which, Applicant elects Invention I, directed to claims 1-7 without traverse.
Claims 8-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected method, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 07/02/2026.
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.
Drawings
Figure 8 is objected to for minor informalities.
Figure 8 labels second conductive layer 170 over third conductive layer 172. 172 is shown on top of 170 in all other figures. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the correct arrangement is 172 on top of 170. Proper correction is required.
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 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 1-7 are rejected for indefiniteness.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites, "the pads." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "each of the plurality of pads." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites, "the substrate." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "a substrate." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites, "the same layer." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "a same layer." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites, "the pixel electrode." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "a pixel electrode of the plurality of pixel electrodes." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites, "the display area includes … a side surface of the third conductive layer," except that the third conductive layer is claimed to be part of each of the pads, which are claimed to be in the pad area outside the display area. It is unclear how the third conductive layer could have a smooth side surface in the display area if the third conductive layer is disposed in the pad area. Therefore, the claim is indefinite. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the clause, "a side surface of the third conductive layer has a smooth surface" should be included in limitations under "each of the pads includes" rather than after "the display area includes." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 3, the claim recites, "a side surface of the third conductive layer." The antecedent basis for this element is improper since this element was already claimed in claim 1. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "the side surface of the third conductive layer." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 4, the claim recites, "the upper and side surfaces of the third conductive layer." There is insufficient antecedent basis for "the upper surface" of the third conductive layer. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "an upper and the side surface[[s]] of the third conductive layer." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 5, the claim recites, "an uppermost surface of the at least one insulating layer." The antecedent basis for this element is improper since this element was already claimed in claim 3. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "the uppermost surface of the at least one insulating layer." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 6, the claim recites, "the same layer." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "a same layer." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 6, the claim recites, "the pad." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "the plurality of pads." Proper correction is required.
Regarding claim 7, the claim recites, "the upper surface of the third insulating layer." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this element. To further prosecution, Examiner will assume the claim should read, "an upper surface of the third insulating layer." Proper correction is required.
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.
(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 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by An (US 20210328107 A1).
Regarding claim 1, An teaches a display device (Fig 1; display device, [0002]), comprising:
a display area (DA) including a plurality of pixels (Px: pixels, not shown; pixels formed in DA, [0082]); and
a pad area (30, Fig 1) outside (shown outside) the display area (DA) and including a plurality of pads (PAD), wherein:
each of the pads (PAD) includes
a first conductive layer (170a, Fig 8) on (shown on) the substrate (100),
a second conductive layer (530c) on (shown on) the first conductive layer (170a),
a third conductive layer (530b) on (shown on) the second conductive layer (530c) and covering (shown covering) a side surface (530c1: left sidewall of 530c) of the second conductive layer (530c), and
a fourth conductive layer (530a) on (shown on) the third conductive layer (530b);
the display area (DA) includes
a plurality of pixel electrodes (191, Fig 3),
a fifth conductive layer (175) at the same layer (160) as the third conductive layer (530b) on (shown on) the substrate (100), and
a first insulating layer (180) between (shown between) the fifth conductive layer (175) and the pixel electrode (191);
no insulating layer at the same layer (160) as the first insulating layer (180) exists between (shown with no insulation between) the third conductive layer (530b) and the fourth conductive layer (530a) of the pad (PAD); and
a side surface (530b1: left sidewall of 530b) of the third conductive layer (530b) has a smooth surface (shown with smooth surface).
Regarding claim 2, An teaches the device of claim 1 and goes on to teach further comprising:
at least one insulating layer (180, Fig 19) between (shown between) the first conductive layer (170a) and the second conductive layer (530c), wherein
the at least one insulating layer (180) includes a first opening (180A: opening to right of 180) over (shown over) the first conductive layer (170a), and
the second conductive layer (530c) is electrically connected (shown electrically connected) to the first conductive layer (170a) through the first opening (180A).
Regarding claim 3, An teaches the device of claim 2 and goes on to teach wherein:
a side surface (530b1, Fig 19) of the third conductive layer (530b) contacts (shown in contact) an uppermost surface (180T: topmost surface of 180) of the at least one insulating layer (180).
Regarding claim 4, An teaches the device of claim 3 and goes on to teach wherein:
an encapsulation layer (400, Fig 3) is on (shown on) the pixel electrode (191), and
further comprising a second insulating layer (505) on (shown on) the encapsulation layer (400),
the encapsulation layer (400) includes at least one inorganic film (410; inorganic, [0110]) and at least one organic film (420; organic, [0110]), and
the second insulating layer (505) includes a portion (505P: pad area portion of 505) in contact (shown in contact, Fig 9) with the upper (530b2: top surface of 530b) and side surfaces (530b1) of the third conductive layer (530b) in the pad area (30).
Regarding claim 5, An teaches the device of claim 4 and goes on to teach wherein:
the second insulating layer (505, Fig 9) further includes a portion (505C: central portion of 505 in direct contact with 180) between (shown between) two adjacent pads (PAD; shown as pad 1: 531/171 and pad 2: 530/170) and contacting (shown contacting) an uppermost surface (180T) of the at least one insulating layer (180).
Regarding claim 6, An teaches the device of claim 5 and goes on to teach wherein:
the display area (DA, Fig 1) further includes a plurality of sensing electrodes (520/540, Fig 2) on (shown on, Fig 3) the pixel electrode (191); and
the fourth conductive layer (530a) of the pad (PAD) is on (shown on) the same layer (160) as the sensing electrode (520/540) and includes the same material (Ti; [0135], [0115]).
Regarding claim 7, An teaches the device of claim 6 and goes on to teach further comprising:
a third insulating layer (220, Fig 19) between (between; after 505 is applied to the device of Fig 19, 220 would be between 505 on the right and 530a on the left) the second insulating layer (505) and the fourth conductive layer (530a), wherein
the fourth conductive layer (530a) is in contact (shown in contact) with the upper surface (220T: top of 220) of the third insulating layer (220), and
the second insulating layer (505) and the third insulating layer (220) include a second opening (OP2: opening in pad area of 505 where 220 is not located; 505 may be removed in the pad area, [0154]) on the pad (PAD).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Byun (US 20230115802 A1) - Pads of multiple layers
Choi (US 20220416006 A1) - Pads with improved reliability
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jeremy D Watts whose telephone number is (703)756-1055. The examiner can normally be reached M-R 8:00am-4:30pm, F 8:00-3pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chad Dicke can be reached at (571) 270-7996. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEREMY DANIEL WATTS/Examiner, Art Unit 2897 /CHAD M DICKE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2897
Prosecution Insights