Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/542,680

DISPLAY PANELS AND DISPLAY DEVICES

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Dec 17, 2023
Examiner
CHIEN, LUCY P
Art Unit
2871
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Guangzhou China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
745 granted / 898 resolved
+15.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +5% lift
Without
With
+5.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
932
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
55.9%
+15.9% vs TC avg
§102
38.7%
-1.3% vs TC avg
§112
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 898 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 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. Claim(s) 1,11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KWON SERA et al (KR 20240047260 A) in view of Zhao et al (US 20240036375) and in view of Liu (US 20190203388) Regarding Claim 1, KWON SERA et al discloses (Drawing 5a, also pasted below) a substrate (110), comprising a base (111) and a plurality of solder pad terminals (130) disposed on the base; a plurality of conductive connectors (121) disposed on the plurality of the solder pad terminals (130); and a plurality of miniature light emitting diodes (120) comprising a plurality of connection terminals (“…According to one embodiment, one micro LED may be a flip chip. According to one embodiment, one micro LED 51 may include a pair of connection pads 52. For example, the pair of connection pads 52 includes a first connection pad 52-1 and a second connection pad 52-2 disposed to be spaced apart from the first connection pad 52-1. can do. According to one embodiment, a pair of connection pads 52 of each micro LED 51 may be disposed on one side (eg, a side facing the substrate 70) of each micro LED 51.…”), wherein the connection terminals are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the solder pad terminals (130) through the conductive connectors; wherein the conductive connectors comprise a thermoplastic material and a conductive material (shown in black dots) distributed in the thermoplastic material. KWON SERA et al does not disclose a melting point of the thermoplastic material is less than or equal to 200 degrees Celsius, the conductive connectors cover entire surfaces of corresponding ones of the solder pad terminals, and an overlapping surface area between each conductive connector and corresponding each solder pad terminal is larger than a contact area between each connection terminal and corresponding each conductive connector. Liu discloses wherein a melting point of the thermoplastic material is less than or equal to 200 degrees Celsius.[0049] Zhao et al discloses (Fig. 2) the conductive connectors (41) cover entire surfaces of corresponding ones of the solder pad terminals (2), and an overlapping surface area between each conductive connector (41) and corresponding each solder pad terminal (2) is larger than a contact area (where 3) between each connection terminal and corresponding each conductive connector. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Kwon Sera et al and Ohsawa et al to include Liu’s melting point of the thermoplastic material is less than or equal to 200 degrees Celsius, motivated by the desire to be able to create a melting point for the thermoplastic so it can be melted [0049], to further include Zhao et al’s conductive connectors (41) cover entire surfaces of corresponding ones of the solder pad terminals (2), and an overlapping surface area between each conductive connector (41) and corresponding each solder pad terminal (2) is larger than a contact area (where 3) between each connection terminal and corresponding each conductive connector motivated by the desire to provide a reliable strong electrical connection between the elements [0077]. PNG media_image1.png 526 592 media_image1.png Greyscale Regarding Claim 11, KWON SERA et al discloses (Drawing 5a, also pasted above) comprising a liquid crystal display panel (background art) and a backlight, ) a substrate (110), comprising a base (111) and a plurality of solder pad terminals (130) disposed on the base; a plurality of conductive connectors (121) disposed on the plurality of the solder pad terminals (130); and a plurality of miniature light emitting diodes (120) comprising a plurality of connection terminals (“…According to one embodiment, one micro LED may be a flip chip. According to one embodiment, one micro LED 51 may include a pair of connection pads 52. For example, the pair of connection pads 52 includes a first connection pad 52-1 and a second connection pad 52-2 disposed to be spaced apart from the first connection pad 52-1. can do. According to one embodiment, a pair of connection pads 52 of each micro LED 51 may be disposed on one side (eg, a side facing the substrate 70) of each micro LED 51.…”), wherein the connection terminals are electrically connected to corresponding ones of the solder pad terminals (130) through the conductive connectors; wherein the conductive connectors comprise a thermoplastic material and a conductive material (shown in black dots) distributed in the thermoplastic material. 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. Claim(s) 2-4,6-10,12-14,16-20, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KWON SERA et al (KR 20240047260 A) and of Liu (US 20190203388) in view of Ohsawa et al (US 20170279125) Regarding Claim 2,12, Kwon Sera et al and Liu discloses everything as disclosed above. Kwon Sera et al and Liu does not disclose wherein the conductive material is black in color. Ohsawa et al discloses wherein the conductive material is black in color [0033]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Kwon Sera et al and Liu to include Ohsawa et al’s conductive material is black in color [0033] motivated by the desire to improve the output performance. Regarding Claim 3,13, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , Ohsawa et al discloses wherein the conductive material comprises at least one of carbon nanotubes, graphene, MXene, iron black, pyrrole, or aniline [0041-0042]. Regarding Claim 4,14, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , Ohsawa et al discloses wherein the conductive material further comprises silver powder or tin powder [0056] and [0044]. Regarding Claim 6,16, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu, and Ohsawa et al, Liu discloses wherein the melting point of the thermoplastic material ranges from 100 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius [0049]. Regarding Claim 7,17, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , Ohsawa et al discloses wherein the thermoplastic material comprises at least one of epoxy resin, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, or polyethylene terephthalate [0064]. Regarding Claim 8,18, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , Ohsawa et al discloses wherein the thermoplastic material is a thermal curing material or an ultraviolet curing material [0100]. Regarding Claim 9,19, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , KWON SERA et al discloses (Drawing 5a, also pasted above) wherein the conductive connectors (121) cover the solder pad terminals (130). Regarding Claim 10,20, In addition to Kwon Sera et al, Liu and Ohsawa et al , KWON SERA et al discloses (Drawing 5a, also pasted above) wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of driving circuits, and the driving circuits drive corresponding ones of the miniature light-emitting diodes to emit light. (“… According to one embodiment, the display device 1 may further include a processor (not shown). According to one embodiment, the plurality of display modules 20 include an IC chip, and the IC chip generates a driving signal for a plurality of micro LEDs based on an image signal received from a processor, and generates a plurality of driving signals for the plurality of micro LEDs based on the driving signal. An image can be displayed by controlling the emission of a plurality of pixels included in the display modules 20…”) 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 LUCY P CHIEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8579. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-5PM PST Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 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, Michael Caley can be reached at 571-272-2286. 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. /LUCY P CHIEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2871
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 17, 2023
Application Filed
Jul 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Oct 30, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 17, 2025
Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12601944
DISPLAY MODULE, DRIVING METHOD, AND DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12591159
TRANSPARENT DISPLAY APPARATUS
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ACHROMATIC OPTICAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+5.2%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 898 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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