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 .
Status of Claims
Claims 1-20 are pending in the application and are examined on merits herein.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Abstract and paragraphs 0008, 0009, 0177 refer to different circuit units (or light emitting units) identifying them by numbers – such as “k” or “k+1” – and state that “k” or “k+1” are natural numbers greater than 1. However, paragraph 0180 describes “k+1” as an odd number and describes “k” as an even number. If the statement of paragraph 0180 applies to the entire application, the examiner suggests showing this earlier in the specification, such as in Abstract and in paragraphs 0008-0009, since no other paragraph citing “k” and “k+1”, such as paragraphs 0181, 0197, 0199-0200, etc. – does not have a statement similar to the above-cited description of paragraph 0180. Otherwise, paragraph 0180 shall be corrected to avoid confusion between this paragraph and other paragraphs of the specification.
Paragraph 0122 of the published application (US 2024/0224670) states that Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line I-I’ of Fig. 4. However, line I-I’ in Fig. 4 passes only through a portion PT2 of a substrate, while Fig. 6 shows also a portion PT3 of the substrate.
Paragraph 0132 of the published application refers to a second extension line as both - EX2 and EX1, but it shall only be EX2.
Specification of the application is not quite clear with respect to the first and second connection electrodes CNE1 and CNE2: Electrodes CNE1 and CNE2 are initially identified as connection electrodes existing in a first pixel (of Fig. 5, e.g., the first pixel disposed on region PT1 of the substrate, paragraph 0109 of the published application). However, later on, the application refers to these electrodes describing Fig. 6, which is directed to a second pixel (disposed on region PT2 of the substrate) without explaining whether second pixels have connection electrodes similar to connection electrodes of the first pixel or if a reference is made to connection electrodes of the first pixel. Based on Fig. 6, it is possible to suggest that first and second connection electrodes exist in second pixels, but this shall also be stated in the specification or clearly shown in Fig. 6; this additional statement in the amended specification will not be considered as a new matter.
Paragraph 0158 of the published application uses abbreviation YIC for an area of PT2 on which circuit units ICU are located (meaning: “yes ICU”?) and uses abbreviation NIC for an area of PT2 on which circuit units ICU are not located as NIC (“no ICU”?); Fig. 7C shows these two different areas with absent circuit elements in the area NIC. However, Fig. 6 (aspects of which are shown in Figs. 7A-7D, paragraph 0017) shows both areas - YIC and NIC - as having circuit elements (transistors). What is correct – paragraph 0158 or Fig. 6?
Paragraph 0170 has a sentence that is difficult to understand, such as: “Because the circuit units ICU and the fourth contact holes CH4 in FIGS. 8A to 8C are the same as the transistors in FIGS. 7A to 7C, descriptions thereof will be omitted or simply provided”. Please, clarify the sentence.
In view of a related disclosure, the following sentence of paragraph 0171 is difficult to understand: “the first extension lines EX1 may be located in the fourth contact holes CH4 defined in the circuit units ICU”: Contrary to the above statement, Figs. 8A and Fig. 8D show that each of first extension lines EX1 has an extending length before reaching CH4. Paragraph 0181 has a similar sentence as paragraph 0171. Do the sentences mean to say that the first extension line passes through CH4?
Appropriate corrections/clarifications are required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 1-20 recite: “k-th” and “k+1-th” when describing “circuit units”, and some claims state that “k” is just a natural number greater than 1. However, this statement is inconsistent with paragraph 0180 of the published application, teaching that “k-th” is an even number, while “k+1-th” is an odd number.
If the above statement of paragraph 0180 is applicable for the entire application, appropriate corrections are required to make claims consistent with this paragraph.
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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) 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.
In re Claims 1-20: Many claims, including two independent Claims 1 and 17, recite numbers “k” and “k+1” following by statements (providing at least in Claims 1 and 17) that “k” is a natural number greater than 1. However, paragraph 0180 states that “k+1” is an odd number, while “k” is an even number.
Appropriate correction is required to clarify the claim language.
For this Office Action, since no other paragraph of the specification supports the above-cited recitation of paragraph 0180, all references to “k” and “k+1” where interpreted such that “k” and “k+1” are just natural numbers.
Claims not citing “k” and “k+1” are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) due to dependency on Claim 1 or Claim 17.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 17 (as interpreted) contain allowable subject matter.
Reason for Indicating Allowable Subject Matter
Re Claims 1 and 17: The prior arts of record, alone or in combination, fail(s) to anticipate or render obvious such limitations of Claims 1 and 17 as: “a plurality of first extension lines connected to the circuit units; and a plurality of second extension lines connected to the first extension lines and the light emitting units”, in combination with other limitations of the claim: Such prior arts as Park et al. (US 2022/0352280) or Park et al. (US 2022/0310760), directed to display devices having more light emitting units than circuit units used for turning ON and OFF light emitting elements of light emitting units, explicitly teach(es) or make(s)s obvious most limitations of Claims 1 and 17, but each of their extension lines (regardless of their different positions and identifications) is connected to a corresponding circuit unit and to a few light emitting devices without being separated into a first extension line and a second extension line connected to each other. Other relevant prior arts of record, including Youn (US 2021/0210584), Wang (US 2022/0336524), Hu (US 2023/0016095), Lee et al. (US 2021/0134768), and/or Oh (US 2022/0139319) also directed to similar type of displays, do(es) not cure the above deficiency.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to GALINA G YUSHINA whose telephone number is 571-270-7440. The Examiner can normally be reached between 8 AM - 7 PM Pacific Time (Flexible).
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The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300; a fax phone number of Galina Yushina is 571-270-8440.
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/GALINA G YUSHINA/Primary Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2811, TC 2800,
United States Patent and Trademark Office
E-mail: galina.yushina@USPTO.gov
Phone: 571-270-7440
Date: 04/24/26
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