Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/559,477

LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT MANUFACTURING METHOD

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 07, 2023
Examiner
QUARTERMAN, KEVIN J
Art Unit
2875
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Sharp Display Technology Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allow Rate
706 granted / 857 resolved
+14.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
887
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
36.0%
-4.0% vs TC avg
§102
47.2%
+7.2% vs TC avg
§112
11.2%
-28.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 857 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. Claim Objections Claims 18-19 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 18 and 19 begin with “ The display device…” There is insufficient antecedent basis for this in the claims. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1 -16 and 18-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Bang (US 2018/0366524) . Regarding independent claim 1 , Bang teaches a light-emitting element (Fig. 11) comprising a bank including a base portion (Fig. 6 , Element 180; ¶ [ 0055]) and a first protruding portion (Fig. 6 , Element 182; ¶ [ 0056]) protruding from an upper face of the base portion; and a first function layer (Fig. 6 , Element 221B; ¶ [0094]) , wherein at least a part of an end portion of the first function layer is located above the upper face of the base portion or adjacently to a side face of the first protruding portion (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 2 , Bang teaches at least a part of the first function layer formed extending over the first protruding portion (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 3 , Bang teaches an inclination angle of the side face of the first protruding portion being less than 90 degrees (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 4 , Bang teaches a step between the upper face of the base portion and an upper face of the first protruding portion being less than 10 µ m ( ¶ [0084]) . Regarding claim 5 , Bang teaches the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer located above the upper face of the base portion (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 6 , Bang teaches the first function layer having a thick end portion as compared to a portion formed in an opening of the bank (Fig. 6; portion of functional layer 220B on top of convex portion 182 is thicker than the portion of functional layer 220B extending down lateral surface 182b into an opening of the bank ) . Regarding claim 7 , Bang teaches the first function layer includ ing at least any one layer of a light-emitting layer, a charge transport layer, and a charge injection layer ( ¶ [0094]) . Regarding claim 8 , Bang teaches the bank includ ing a second protruding portion (Fig. 7 , Element 181; ¶ [ 0056]) protruding from the upper face of the base portion, and the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer is located between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion (Fig. 7) . Regarding claim 9 , Bang teaches a step between the upper face of the base portion and the upper face of the first protruding portion being larger than a thickness of the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer, and a step between the upper face of the base portion and the upper face of the second protruding portion is larger than the thickness of the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer (Fig. 7) . Regarding claim 10 , Bang teaches an entire part of the end portion of the first function layer being located above the upper face of the base portion or adjacently to the side face of the first protruding portion (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 11 , Bang teaches the first protruding portion not surround ing an opening of the bank (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 12 , Bang teaches at least one side face (Fig. 17; upper side face ) of the first protruding portion including a meandering shape or a zigzag shape Regarding claim 13 , Bang teaches the first function layer including a plurality of layers (Fig. 6; ¶ [0094]). Regarding claim 14 , Bang teaches an insulating layer (Fig. 6, Element 170; ¶ [0050]); and an island-shaped electrode (Fig. 6, Element 210B; ¶ [0050]) located on the insulating layer, wherein the bank covers an end portion of the island-shaped electrode, a distance from an upper face of the insulating layer to the upper face of the base portion is equivalent to a distance from a surface of the end portion of the island-shaped electrode to the upper face of the first protruding portion, the island-shaped electrode has a uniform thickness, and the first protruding portion is located above the end portion of the island-shaped electrode (Fig. 13B; ¶ [0084]). Regarding claim 15 , Bang teaches an insulating layer (Fig. 6, Element 170; ¶ [0050]) ; and an island-shaped electrode (Fig. 6, Element 210B; ¶ [0050]) located on the insulating layer, wherein the bank covers an end portion of the island-shaped electrode, a distance from an upper face of the insulating layer to the upper face of the base portion is equivalent to a distance from an upper face of the island-shaped electrode to the upper face of the first protruding portion, at least a part of the end portion of the island-shaped electrode is thicker than a central portion of the island-shaped electrode corresponding to an opening of the bank, and the first protruding portion is located above the at least a part of the end portion of the island-shaped electrode (Fig. 13B; ¶ [0084]) . Regarding claim 16 , Bang teaches an insulating layer (Fig. 6, Element 170; ¶ [0050]) including a flat portion and a depressed portion depressed from the flat portion, wherein the bank covers the depressed portion, and the first protruding portion is located above the flat portion (Fig. 6). Regarding claim 18 , Bang teaches a display device comprising the light-emitting element according to claim 1, comprising a second function layer (Fig. 6, Element 220A; ¶ [0078]) including an end portion formed above the bank and located on a side opposite to the first function layer with respect to the bank, wherein at least a part of the second function layer is located above the upper face of the base portion or adjacently to the side face of the first protruding portion (Fig. 6) . Regarding claim 19 , Bang teaches a display device comprising the-light emitting element according to claim 1, comprising a second function layer (Fig. 6, Element 220A; ¶ [0078]) including an end portion formed above the bank and located on a side opposite to the first function layer with respect to the bank, wherein the bank further includes a second protruding portion (Fig. 7, Element 181; ¶ [0056]) protruding from the upper face of the base portion, and at least a part of an end portion of the second function layer is located between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion (Fig. 7). Regarding claim 20 , Bang teaches the display device according to claim 19, wherein the bank includes a third protruding portion (Fig. 17, central Element 2181; ¶ [0128]) protruding from the upper face of the base portion and being located between the first protruding portion (Fig. 17, right Element 2181; ¶ [0128]) and the second protruding portion (Fig. 17, left Element 2181; ¶ [0128]), at least a part of the first function layer (Fig. 17, Element 2220A; ¶ [0129]) is formed extending over the first protruding portion, at least a part of the second function layer (Fig. 17, Element 2230A; ¶ [0129]) is formed extending over the second protruding portion, the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer is located between the first protruding portion and the third protruding portion (Fig. 17), and the at least a part of the end portion of the second function layer is located between the second protruding portion and the third protruding portion (Fig. 17). Regarding claim 21 , Bang teaches the display device according to claim 19, wherein the bank includes a third protruding portion (Fig. 17, central Element 2181; ¶ [0128]) protruding from the upper face of the base portion and being located between the first protruding portion (Fig. 17, right Element 2181; ¶ [0128]) and the second protruding portion (Fig. 17, left Element 2181; ¶ [0128]), at least a part of the first function layer (Fig. 17, Element 22 3 0A; ¶ [0129]) is formed extending over the first protruding portion and the third protruding portion, at least a part of the second function layer (Fig. 17, Element 22 2 0A; ¶ [0129]) is formed extending over the second protruding portion and the third protruding portion, the at least a part of the end portion of the first function layer is located between the second protruding portion and the third protruding portion (Fig. 17) , and the at least a part of the end portion of the second function layer is located between the first protruding portion and the third protruding portion (Fig. 17). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Nishioka (US 2019/0363139) teaches an organic electroluminescent display apparatus with a lattice-shaped bank. Ochi (US 2019/0363275) teaches a display device with a frame-shaped bank surrounding the display region. Kim (US 2018/0026189) teaches a mask frame assembly with a rib portion surrounding a pattern portion . Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT Kevin Quarterman whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-2461 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday-Friday, 10am-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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT James Greece can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 272-3711 . 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. /Kevin Quarterman/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2875 4 April 2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 07, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12598863
DISPLAY PANEL AND DISPLAY APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12575299
DISPLAY MODULE AND DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12557517
DISPLAY DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12550584
DISPLAY DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Patent 12550580
DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
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
82%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+11.7%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 857 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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