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 in response to the application filed October 31, 2025.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: DISPLAY SUBSTRATEAND DISPLAY APPARATUS INCLUDING MULTI-PORTION FUNCTIONAL MATERIAL LAYERS.
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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the first portion spaces" in line 10; and
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the second anode portion spaces" in line 6, page 3.
There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claims 1 and 4 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.
In regard to claim 1 and “the first portions spaces apart adjacent subpixel”, does the statement mean the first portion is spaced apart from an adjacent subpixel; the first portion is spaced apart by an adjacent subpixel or the first portion spaces are apart from an adjacent subpixel, etc. For examination purposes the first portion is interpreted as being between adjacent subpixels.
In regard to claim 4 and “the second anode portion spaces apart adjacent subpixels”, does the statement mean the second anode portion is spaced apart from an adjacent subpixel; the second anode portion is spaced apart by an adjacent subpixel or the second anode portion spaces are apart from an adjacent subpixel, etc. For examination purposes the second anode portion is interpreted as being between adjacent subpixels.
Claims 2-3, 10-14 and 17-18 are rejected as being dependent upon rejected claim 1.
Claims 4-9 and 15 are rejected as being dependent upon rejected claim 4.
Allowable Subject Matter
As best understood, claims 1-15 and 17-18 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The following patents are cited to further show the state of the art with respect to display structures:
Cheng et al. (US 2018/0061896 A1) Harada et al. (US 9,012,897 B2)
Hatano et al. (US 2012/0187394 A1) Sakamoto et al. (US 2011/0074272 A1)
Tseng et al. (US 2022/0013724 A1) Xu et al. (US 2019/0386088 A1).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IDA M SOWARD whose telephone number is (571)272-1845. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 7am to 5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chang Leonard can be reached on 571-570-3691. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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IMS
November 21, 2025
/IDA M SOWARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2898