Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/474,442

DISPLAY DEVICE

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Sep 26, 2023
Examiner
NGUYEN, JIMMY H
Art Unit
2626
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allow Rate
382 granted / 664 resolved
-4.5% vs TC avg
Strong +33% interview lift
Without
With
+32.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
690
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§103
36.5%
-3.5% vs TC avg
§102
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
§112
30.1%
-9.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 664 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 . This Office Action is made in response to applicant’s amendment filed on 11/19/2025. Claims 1-21 are currently pending in the application. Claims 13 and 15 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 11/27/2024. Claims 1-12, 14 and 16-21 are considered below. Response to Arguments The objection of claim 18 in the previous Office action dated 08/19/2025 have been withdrawn in light of the amendment to claims 1 In response to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 103 in the previous Office action, Applicant has amended independent claims 1 and 18 and provided on pages 10-12 arguments which have been fully considered but they are not persuasive because: (i) as noted in the rejection of claim 1 in the below first set of rejections, Zhang discloses a limitation, “a first emission control transistor connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor,” as claimed, because this limitation does not require a first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor. (ii) Applicant is attacking references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986). In the instant case, the combination of Zhang and Yang or the combination of Jeong, Yang, and Zhang, as discussed in the below first and second sets of rejections, obviously renders a limitation, “a first emission control transistor connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor,” as claimed, because Zhang discloses the first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device and the first transistor and Yang discloses the four/ additional transistor directly connected to the first transistor, thereby obviously rendering the underlined limitation. (iii) See the new ground of rejections made below. Notice to Applicant(s) Examiner notes that the specification is not the measure of invention. Therefore, limitations contained therein can’t be read into the claims for the purpose of avoiding the prior art. See In re Sporck, 55 CCPA 743, 386 F.2d 924, 155 USPQ 687 (1968). Further, the names/ terms of the features/elements used in the pending application or pending claims may be different from the names/terms of the matching features/ elements of the prior arts; however, the matching features/ elements of the prior arts contain all characteristics/ functions of the features/elements DEFINED by the pending claims. Note that in order to avoid confusion, the below citations in the below rejection(s) are mere one or more places in the reference to disclose the "claimed" limitation(s) and/or are directed to one or more of embodiments disclosed by the cited reference(s). In other words, the “claimed” features/limitations may be read in other places in the reference or other embodiments of the reference. In order to better understand how the claimed limitations are taught by the reference(s), a review of the entire reference(s) is suggested by the examiner. Applicant is reminded a prior art reference must be considered in its entirety, i.e., as a whole, including portions that would lead away from the claimed invention as not all relevant paragraphs may have been cited in the rejection. W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. v. Garlock, Inc., 721 F.2d 1540, 220 USPQ 303 (Fed. Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 851 (1984). 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. 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 of this title, 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. FIRST SET OF REJECTIONS: Claims 1-6, 14, 16 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (CN 112951164A cited in IDS; see the corresponding US 2023/0351955 A1 for the following citations) in view of Kim et al. (US 2021/0065628 A1; hereinafter Kim.) As per claim 1, Zhang discloses a display device (see at least Fig. 3A; ¶ 3) comprising: a display panel including a pixel (see at least ¶ 84;) and a panel driver that drives the display panel (see at least Figs. 1C, 4C, disclosing a panel driver providing various signals [Data, WR, EM1-EM3] and voltages [V1, Vcm, OVDD, VI1, VI2],) wherein the pixel (see at least any of Figs. 1C, 4C) includes: a light emitting device [D1] electrically connected to a first power line [OVDD] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a first transistor [Td] electrically connected to a cathode of the light emitting device [D1] and operating depending on a potential of a first node [G] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a second transistor [Tda] electrically connected between a data line [Data] and a second node [a node between elements [Tda, Ts2, C3] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a third transistor [Ts2] electrically connected between a reference voltage line [VI] and the second node (see at least Fig. 1C;) a first capacitor [C3] electrically connected between the first node [G] and the second node (see at least Fig. 1C;) a fourth transistor electrically connected between the first transistor and a compensation voltage line (see at least Fig. 1C, disclosing a fourth transistor Ts1 electrically connected between the first transistor Td and a compensation voltage line Vcm;) and a first emission control transistor [Te2] connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor (note that this limitation does not require a first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor; see at least Fig. 1C, disclosing a first emission control transistor [Te2] [[directly]] connected to the cathode of the light emitting device D1 and the first transistor Td and [[indirectly]] connected to the fourth transistor [TS1] via the transistor Td.) Accordingly, Zhang discloses all limitations of this claim except for a second capacitor, as claimed. Note that since Fig. 2 of this application shows no electrical component between the node N5 and the unlabeled node between the node N5 and the first capacitor C1, a person of ordinary skill in the display art or the relevant art would have readily recognized the voltages and currents at the node N5 and the unlabeled node always being same. In other words, the elements [T8, C2] can be connected to either the same node N5 or two separate nodes [N5 and the unlabeled node, as shown in Fig. 2 of this application] because the voltages and currents at the node N5 and the unlabeled node are always same. Therefore, it is a mere obvious choice of how the pixel is drawn. As such, a person of ordinary skill in the display art or the relevant art would have readily redrawn or modified Fig. 3 of Kim without changing the operation of the pixel of Kim. See the below modified Fig. 3 of Kim. PNG media_image1.png 778 942 media_image1.png Greyscale However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses a related display device (see at least Fig. 1) comprising a display panel [10] including a plurality of pixels [PXs], wherein each pixel includes a second capacitor [C1] directly connected between to a third node [see the modified Fig. 3] disposed between the first capacitor [C2] and the second node [see the modified Fig. 3], and directly connected to the first power line [ELVDDL] (see the modified Fig. 3) to charge a charge corresponding to the threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor (see ¶ 80,) thereby sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor (see ¶ 7.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to modify the pixel of the Zhang reference to include a second capacitor, in view of the teaching in the Kim reference, to obtain the predictable result of sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor. As per claim 2, Zhang discloses the first power line [OVDD] directly connected to an anode of the light emitting device [D1] (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 3, Zhang discloses the first transistor [Td] being an N-type transistor (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 4, Zhang discloses the first transistor including: a first electrode electrically connected to the light emitting device [D1]; a second electrode electrically connected to a second power line [OVSS]; and a gate electrically connected to the first node [G] (see at least Fig. 1C) and the fourth transistor [Ts1] electrically connected to the first electrode (see at least Fig. 1C; note that "electrically connected" does not require "directly connected".) As per claim 5, Zhang discloses the fourth transistor [Ts1] including: a first electrode electrically connected to the compensation voltage line [Vcm]; a gate electrically connected to a compensation scan line {EM2]; and a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode of the first transistor [Td] (see at least Fig. 1C; note that "electrically connected" does not require "directly connected".) As per claim 6, Zhang discloses the pixel further including: a second emission control transistor [Te1] electrically connected between the second electrode and the second power line [OVSS] (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 14, Zhang discloses the display panel including a plurality of light-emitting devices and a plurality of pixel driving circuits (see at least ¶ 5) and the panel driver including a scan driver outputting a scan signal [WR] to the corresponding pixel and a data driver outputting a data signal [Data] to the corresponding data line (see at least Fig. 1C; ¶¶ 29-30,) but is silent to the scan driver that outputs a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines. However, Kim further discloses the panel driver [20-40] including a scan driver [20] that is electrically connected to a plurality of scan lines [SL11 …SL3n; Fig. 1] and outputs a plurality of scan signals to the plurality of scan lines (see at least Figs. 1, 3, 6;) and a data driver [30] that is electrically connected to a plurality of data lines [DL1-DLm] and outputs a plurality of data signals to the corresponding data lines, respectively (see at least Figs. 1, 3, 6,) thereby sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of a driving transistor for each pixel (see at least ¶ 7.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to recognize that Kim remedies for the above-discussed deficiency of Zhang or to further modify the above modified display device of Zhang to obtain the scan driver outputting a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines, in view of the teaching in the Kim reference, to obtain the predictable result of sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of a driving transistor for each pixel. As per claim 16, Zhang discloses a data writing period [S3] in which the second transistor [Tda] is turned on and a compensation period [S2] in which the fourth transistor [Ts1] is turned on do not overlap each other (see at least Fig. 2A, specifically the waveform of signals em2 and wr.) As per claim 17, Zhang discloses the compensation period [S2] appearing before the data writing period [S3] and the fourth transistor [Ts1] turned off during the data writing period [s3] (see at least Fig. 2A, specifically the waveform of signals em2 and wr.) Claims 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over by Jeong (US 7,773,054 B2) in view of Yang et al. (US 2021/0358405 A1; hereinafter Yang) and Zhang. As per claim 18, Jeong discloses a display device (see at least Fig. 2) comprising: a display panel [100] including a pixel [110] (see at least Fig. 2;) and a panel driver [200, 300] that drives the display panel [110], and including a scan driver [300] electrically connected to a plurality of scan lines [S3.1-S3.N] (see at least Figs. 2, 9,) wherein the pixel (see Fig. 9) includes: a light emitting device [OLED] including: an anode electrically connected to a power line [Vdd] (see at least Fig. 9;) and a cathode electrically connected to a first electrode of a first transistor [M6"], wherein the first transistor operates depending on a potential of a first node [a node between the elements [M6", M2", Cvth], wherein the first node is electrically connected to a gate of the first transistor (see at least Fig. 9;) a second transistor [M1"] electrically connected between a data line [Dm] and the first node (see at least Fig. 9;) and a first capacitor [Cvth] electrically connected between the second transistor [M1"] and the first node (see at least Fig. 9.) and Accordingly, Jeong discloses all limitations of this claim except for an additional transistor and a first emission control transistor, as claimed. However, in the same field of endeavor, Yang discloses a related display device [1] (see at least Fig. 14) comprising a display panel [11] including a plurality of pixels [P] (see Fig. 14,) wherein the pixel comprising an additional transistor [T4] electrically connected between the first electrode of the first transistor [T1] and a compensation voltage line [Vref] to directly apply a compensation voltage [Vref] to the first electrode of the first transistor [T1] (see at least Fig. 13,) thereby eliminating the problem of the short-term after image that may occur due to the hysteresis effect of the display device (see at least ¶ 78.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to modify the pixel of the Jeong reference to include an additional transistor, in view of the teaching in the Yang reference, to obtain the predictable result of eliminating the problem of the short-term after image that may occur due to the hysteresis effect of the display device. The above combination of Jeong and Yang obviously renders all limitations of this claim, but is silent to a first emission control transistor, as claimed. However, in the same field of endeavor, Zhang discloses a related display device (see at least Fig. 3A; ¶ 3) comprising: a first emission control transistor [Te2] directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device [D1] and the first transistor [Td] (see at least Fig. 1C,) thereby reducing an influence of the voltage end [OVDD] (OVDD corresponding to Vdd of Jeong shown in Fig. 9) and on a voltage stored in the capacitor [C1] (C1 corresponding to Cvth” of Jeong shown in Fig. 9) (see at least ¶ 39.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to modify the pixel of the Jeong reference to include a first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device and the first transistor, in view of the teaching in the Zhang reference, to obtain the predictable result of reducing an influence of the voltage [Vdd] and on a voltage stored in the capacitor [Cvth”]. Since the above combination of Jeong and Yang, discussed above, obviously renders the additional transistor directly connected to the first transistor and the above combination of Jeong and Zhang, discussed above, obviously renders the first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device and the first transistor, the above combination of Jeong, Yang, and Zhang obviously renders the first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the additional transistor. Accordingly, the above combination of Jeong, Yang, and Zhang obviously renders all limitations of this claim. As per claim 19, the above modified Jeong in view of Yang and Zhang obviously renders wherein: the additional transistor is turned on depending on a compensation scan signal applied from the scan driver (see Yang at least Figs. 13-14, disclosing the additional transistor T4 turned on depending on a compensation scan signal Comp applied from the scan driver including the element 12 and the element generating the compensation scan signal Comp,) and the second transistor is turned on depending on a data writing scan signal applied from the scan driver (see Jeong at least Figs. 2, 9, disclosing the second transistor [M1"] turned on depending on a data writing scan signal [S3.n] applied from the scan driver.) As per claim 20, the above modified Jeong in view of Yang and Zhang obviously renders the additional transistor turned on before the second transistor and turned off during a period in which the second transistor is turned on (see Yang at least Figs. 8, 9, 13; ¶¶ 77-81, disclosing the additional transistor T4 turned on before the second transistor [T2] and turned off during a period in which the second transistor [T2] is turned on; note that Figs. 8-9 discuss the P-type of the transistor T4 which is turned on by the low level of the compensation signal Comp while Fig. 13 uses the N-type of the transistor T4 which is turned on by the high level of the compensation signal Comp.) SECOND SET OF REJECTIONS: Claims 1-6, 14 and 16-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (CN 112951164A cited in IDS; see the corresponding US 2023/0351955 A1 for the following citations) in view of Yang et al. (US 2021/0358405 A1; hereinafter Yang) and Kim et al. (US 2021/0065628 A1; hereinafter Kim.) As per claim 1, Zhang discloses a display device (see at least Fig. 3A; ¶ 3) comprising: a display panel including a pixel (see at least ¶ 84;) and a panel driver that drives the display panel (see at least Figs. 1C, 4C, disclosing a panel driver providing various signals [Data, WR, EM1-EM3] and voltages [V1, Vcm, OVDD, VI1, VI2],) wherein the pixel (see at least any of Figs. 1C, 4C) includes: a light emitting device [D1] electrically connected to a first power line [OVDD] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a first transistor [Td] electrically connected to a cathode of the light emitting device [D1] and operating depending on a potential of a first node [G] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a second transistor [Tda] electrically connected between a data line [Data] and a second node [a node between elements [Tda, Ts2, C3] (see at least Fig. 1C;) a third transistor [Ts2] electrically connected between a reference voltage line [VI] and the second node (see at least Fig. 1C;) a first capacitor [C3] electrically connected between the first node [G] and the second node (see at least Fig. 1C;) and a first emission control transistor [Te2] [[directly]] connected to the cathode of the light emitting device [D1] and the first transistor [Td] (see at least Fig. 1C.) Accordingly, Zhang discloses all limitations of this claim except for a fourth transistor and a second capacitor, as claimed. Regarding to the missing fourth transistor, in the same field of endeavor, Yang discloses a related display device [1] (see at least Fig. 14) comprising a display panel [11] including a plurality of pixels [P] (see Fig. 14,) wherein the pixel comprising a fourth transistor [T4] electrically and directly connected between the first electrode of the first transistor [T1] and a compensation voltage line [Vref] to directly apply a compensation voltage [Vref] to the first electrode of the first transistor [T1] (see at least Fig. 13,) thereby eliminating the problem of the short-term after image that may occur due to the hysteresis effect of the display device (see at least ¶ 78.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to modify the pixel of the Zhang reference to include an additional transistor, in view of the teaching in the Yang reference, to obtain the predictable result of eliminating the problem of the short-term after image that may occur due to the hysteresis effect of the display device. Since Zhang, discussed above, discloses the first emission control transistor directly connected to the cathode of the light emitting device and the first transistor and the above modified Zhang in view of Yang, discussed above, obviously renders the fourth transistor directly connected to the first transistor, the above combination of Zhang and Yang obviously renders the first emission control transistor connected to the cathode of the light emitting device, the first transistor, and the fourth transistor, as claimed Accordingly, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang obviously renders all limitations of this claim except for a second capacitor, as claimed. Note that since Fig. 2 of this application shows no electrical component between the node N5 and the unlabeled node between the node N5 and the first capacitor C1, a person of ordinary skill in the display art or the relevant art would have readily recognized the voltages and currents at the node N5 and the unlabeled node always being same. In other words, the elements [T8, C2] can be connected to either the same node N5 or two separate nodes [N5 and the unlabeled node, as shown in Fig. 2 of this application] because the voltages and currents at the node N5 and the unlabeled node are always same. Therefore, it is a mere obvious choice of how the pixel is drawn. As such, a person of ordinary skill in the display art or the relevant art would have readily redrawn or modified Fig. 3 of Kim without changing the operation of the pixel of Kim. See the below modified Fig. 3 of Kim. PNG media_image1.png 778 942 media_image1.png Greyscale Regarding to the missing second capacitor, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses a related display device (see at least Fig. 1) comprising a display panel [10] including a plurality of pixels [PXs], wherein each pixel includes a second capacitor [C1] directly connected between to a third node [see the modified Fig. 3] disposed between the first capacitor [C2] and the second node [see the modified Fig. 3], and directly connected to the first power line [ELVDDL] (see the modified Fig. 3) to charge a charge corresponding to the threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor (see ¶ 80,) thereby sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor (see ¶ 7.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to modify the pixel of the Zhang reference to include a second capacitor, in view of the teaching in the Kim reference, to obtain the predictable result of sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of the first/ driving transistor. Accordingly, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders all limitations of this claim, as claimed. As per claim 2, Zhang discloses the first power line [OVDD] directly connected to an anode of the light emitting device [D1] (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 3, Zhang discloses the first transistor [Td] being an N-type transistor (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 4, the above modified Zhang obviously renders the first transistor including: a first electrode electrically connected to the light emitting device [D1]; a second electrode electrically connected to a second power line [OVSS]; and a gate electrically connected to the first node [G] (see Zhang at least Fig. 1C) and the fourth transistor electrically connected to the first electrode (see Yang least Fig. 13, disclosing the fourth transistor T4 electrically connected to the first electrode of the first/driving transistor T1.) As per claim 5, the above modified Zhang obviously renders the fourth transistor including: a first electrode electrically connected to the compensation voltage line; a gate electrically connected to a compensation scan line; and a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode of the first transistor (see Yang at least Fig. 13, disclosing the fourth transistor T4 including: a first electrode electrically connected to the compensation voltage line Vref; a gate electrically connected to a compensation scan line Comp; and a second electrode electrically connected to the first electrode of the first transistor T1.) As per claim 6, Zhang discloses the pixel further including: a second emission control transistor [Te1] electrically connected between the second electrode and the second power line [OVSS] (see at least Fig. 1C.) As per claim 14, Zhang further discloses the display panel including a plurality of light-emitting devices and a plurality of pixel driving circuits (see Zhang at least ¶ 5) and the panel driver including a scan driver outputting a scan signal [WR] to the corresponding pixel and a data driver outputting a data signal [Data] to the corresponding data line (see Zhang at least Fig. 1C; ¶¶ 29-30,) but is silent to the scan driver that outputs a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines. However, Kim further discloses the panel driver [20-40] including a scan driver [20] that is electrically connected to a plurality of scan lines [SL11 …SL3n; Fig. 1] and outputs a plurality of scan signals to the plurality of scan lines (see at least Figs. 1, 3, 6;) and a data driver [30] that is electrically connected to a plurality of data lines [DL1-DLm] and outputs a plurality of data signals to the corresponding data lines, respectively (see at least Figs. 1, 3, 6,) thereby sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of a driving transistor for each pixel (see at least ¶ 7.) Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of invention of the pending application to recognize that Kim remedies for the above-discussed deficiency of Zhang or to further modify the above modified display device of Zhang to obtain the scan driver outputting a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines, in view of the teaching in the Kim reference, to obtain the predictable result of sufficiently securing time for compensating for a threshold voltage of a driving transistor for each pixel. As per claim 16, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders a data writing period in which the second transistor is turned on and a compensation period in which the fourth transistor is turned on do not overlap each other (see Zhang at least Fig. 2A, specifically the waveform of signals em2 and wr; Yang at least Figs. 8, 9, 13.) As per claim 17, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders the compensation period appearing before the data writing period and the fourth transistor turned off during the data writing period [s3] (see Zhang at least Fig. 2A, specifically the waveform of signals em2 and wr; Yang at least Figs. 8, 9, 13.) As per claim 18, see the rejection of claims 1 and 14 for similar limitations. Note that an additional transistor of claim 18 corresponds to a fourth transistor of claim 1. The above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders the additional transistor electrically connected between the first electrode of the first transistor and a compensation voltage line to directly apply a compensation voltage to the first electrode of the first transistor (see Yang at least Fig. 13, disclosing the additional transistor T4 electrically connected between the first electrode of the first transistor T1 and a compensation voltage line Vref to directly apply a compensation voltage to the first electrode of the first transistor T1.) As per claim 19, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders the additional transistor turned on depending on a compensation scan signal applied from the scan driver and the second transistor turned on depending on a data writing scan signal applied from the scan driver (see Yang at least Figs. 8, 9, 13.) As per claim 20, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders the additional transistor turned on before the second transistor and turned off during a period in which the second transistor is turned on (see Yang at least Figs. 8, 9, 13.) As per claim 21, the above modified Zhang in view of Yang and Kim obviously renders the fourth transistor directly connected to the first electrode of the first transistor (see Yang at least Fig. 13, disclosing the fourth transistor T4 directly connected to the first electrode of the first transistor T1.) Allowable Subject Matter Claims 7-12 are allowed. See the statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter of claim 7 in the previous Office action dated 12/19/2024. 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 Jimmy H Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 272-7675. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8:30AM-6PM. 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, Temesghen Ghebretinsae, can be reached at (571) 272-3017. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Jimmy H Nguyen/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2626
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 26, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 14, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Feb 25, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 25, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Jul 02, 2025
Interview Requested
Jul 15, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Jul 15, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jul 30, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 31, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Nov 19, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 29, 2026
Final Rejection — §103 (current)

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