Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/519,283

DISPLAY PANEL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Nov 27, 2023
Priority
Dec 23, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0183563
Examiner
ARMAND, MARC ANTHONY
Art Unit
2813
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
888 granted / 1064 resolved
+15.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1087
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
81.0%
+41.0% vs TC avg
§102
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
§112
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1064 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
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 . 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 claims 4,9,14,19 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. That is, the limitation: “the second thin film layers include a third thin film layer and a fourth thin film layer,” is not shown in the drawings. FIG. 12 appears to show second thin film layers split in multiple layers. A third thin film layer and a fourth thin film layer is not shown. 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 4-8,9,10,14-18,19,20 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. The limitation: “the second thin film layers include a third thin film layer and a fourth thin film layer,” is not clear. That’s is, the second thin film layers appear to be split in multiple layers, not a third thin film layer and a fourth thin film layer. In fact, the split layers must comprise the same material, however, the claim recites that the third thin film layer and the semiconductor layer include a same material, and the fourth thin film layer includes a metallic material. This is also not clear. 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 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) 1-3,11-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Son et al., (Son) US 2015/0255022. Regarding claim 1, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a display panel [0085] including a display area and a non-display area (DA,NA)[0052], comprising: cell IDs (400,500)[0087,0088] (IDs can be provided in multiple areas, as shown in FIG. 5C) disposed on a substrate in the non-display area (NA) and indicating identification information for identifying the display panel [0085-0089]; and an insulating film GI insulating layer) disposed on the substrate (SUB1) and the cell IDs (400,500)(both 400,500 can be cell IDs, they comprise the same material)[0088,0095], wherein the cell IDs include a first cell ID and a second cell ID disposed on the substrate (FIG. 5 shows multiple IDs)in the non-display area (NA), the first cell ID and the second cell ID are disposed in different areas (400,550 shown in different areas, see FIG. 5C), the first cell ID includes a single film (400) structure including a first thin film layer, and the second cell ID includes a stacked structure of second thin film layers (stack of 400,500). Regarding claim 2, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a display panel, wherein a material in the second thin film layers (500) has a higher reflectance with respect to light than a material in the first thin film layer (500 can be made of aluminum, titanium, that are known material with high reflectance. Therefore, the reflectance will be higher than a material of the first thin film, that is likely a semiconductor material) [0095]. Regarding claim 3, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a display panel, wherein at least one of the second thin film layers (500) includes an opaque material (Aluminum or titanium are considered to be opaque material) [0095]. Regarding claim 11, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a manufacturing method of a display panel including a display area and a non-display area (DA, NA), comprising: providing cell IDs (400,500) indicating identification information for identifying the display panel on a substrate in the non-display area (NA); and providing an insulating film (GI) on the substrate (SUB1) and the cell IDs (400,500), wherein the providing of the cell IDs includes: providing a first cell ID (400) on a portion of the substrate in the non-display area (NA); and providing a second cell ID (400,500)(see FIG. 5C) on another portion of the substrate in the non-display area, the first cell ID (400) includes a single film structure including a first thin film layer, and the second cell ID (400,500) includes a stacked structure of second thin film layers. Regarding claim 12, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a manufacturing method of the display panel, wherein a material in the second thin film layers has a higher reflectance with respect to light than a material in the first thin film layer (500 can be made of aluminum, titanium, that are known material with high reflectance. Therefore, the reflectance will be higher than a material of the first thin film, that is likely a semiconductor material) [0095]. Regarding claim 13, Son shows in FIG. 1-5C, a manufacturing method of the display panel wherein at least one of the second thin film layers (500) (includes an opaque material (Aluminum or titanium are considered to be opaque material) [0095]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARC-ANTHONY ARMAND whose telephone number is (571)272-5178. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm. 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, Steven B Gauthier can be reached at 571-270-0373. 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. MARC - ANTHONY ARMAND Primary Examiner Art Unit 2813 /MARC-ANTHONY ARMAND/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2813
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 27, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+3.9%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1064 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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