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 .
DETAILED ACTION
RCE, received 7/14/2026, has been entered.
Claims 1-5 and 8-12 are elected for examination, and claims 6-7 and 13-17 are withdrawn from consideration.
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 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 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) 1-5 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Codama et al. (US Pub. No. 2002/0014836 A1), hereafter referred to as Codama.
As to claim 1, Codama discloses a display device (fig 1B, [0045]) comprising:
a rib (fig 1B, 3) including an aperture (aperture in rib 3) and an upper surface (upper surface of 3);
a partition (5) arranged on the upper surface of the rib (upper surface of 3);
a first electrode (2) overlapping with the aperture (aperture in rib 3);
an organic layer (6) including a first end portion located on the upper surface (end of 6 on upper surface of 3), and covering the first electrode (2);
a second electrode (7) including a second end portion located on the upper surface (end of 7 on upper surface of 3), and covering the organic layer (6);
a first inorganic layer (8; [0077]) arranged on the rib (3), the first inorganic layer being arranged apart from the partition (5); and
a second inorganic layer (9; [0079]) covering the partition (5), the second electrode (7), and the first inorganic layer (8),
wherein at least a part of the first inorganic layer (8) is located between the first end portion (end of 6 on upper surface of 3) and the partition (5) and is in contact with the second inorganic layer (9).
As to claim 2, Codama discloses the display device of claim 1 (paragraphs above),
wherein the second end portion (end portion of 7) is located between the first end portion (end portion of 6) and the first inorganic layer (8).
As to claim 3, Codama discloses the display device of claim 1 (paragraphs above),
wherein the partition (5 through 4) is in contact with the upper surface of the rib (upper surface of 3), and
the first inorganic layer (8) is located between the first end portion (end portion of 6) and the partition (5).
As to claim 4, Codama discloses the display device of claim 3 (paragraphs above),
wherein the first inorganic layer (8) has a frame shape surrounding the aperture in plan view (layer 8 provides a frame shape surrounding aperture in rib 3 in plan view).
As to claim 5, Codama discloses the display device of claim 1 (paragraphs above),
wherein the partition (5) is arranged on the first inorganic layer (8).
As to claim 8, Codama discloses the display device of claim 1 (paragraphs above),
wherein the partition (5/4) includes a first portion (5) having a first width, and
a second portion (4) having a second width smaller than the first width (width of 5), and
the second portion (4) is located between the first portion (5) and the rib (3).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
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(s) 9-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Codama in view of Choung et al. (US Pub. No. 2022/0077251 A1), hereafter referred to as Choung.
As to claim 9, Codama discloses the display device of claim 1 (paragraphs above).
Codama does not disclose a power supply line.
Nonetheless, Choung discloses an organic display device including a power supply line (222) arranged on a rib (126),
wherein a second electrode (114) is in contact with the power supply line (222).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing of the claimed invention to include the power supply line on the rib as taught by Choung in the display device of Codama since this will improve electrical connection of the common electrode and prevent voltage drop regions of the display.
As to claim 10, Codama in view of Choung disclose the display device of claim 9 (paragraphs above).
Choung further discloses wherein the power supply line (222) is located between the first inorganic layer (202) and the first end portion (end portion of 112), on the upper surface of the rib (upper surface of 126).
As to claim 11, Codama in view of Choung disclose the display device of claim 10 (paragraphs above).
Choung further discloses wherein the power supply line (222) has a frame shape surrounding the aperture in plan view (aperture 124A).
As to claim 12, Codama in view of Choung disclose the display device of claim 9 (paragraphs above).
Choung further discloses wherein the first inorganic layer (202) covers a part of the power supply line (222).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-5 and 8-12 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.
Pertinent Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 12,120,938B2; and US 2012/0228603A1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAUN M CAMPBELL whose telephone number is (571)270-3830. The examiner can normally be reached on MWFS: 7:30-6pm Thurs 1-2pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Purvis, Sue can be reached at (571)272-1236. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAUN M CAMPBELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893 9/14/2026
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