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 OA is in response to the amendment filled on 5/15/2026 that has been entered, wherein claims 3-4 and 11-17 are pending and claims 1-2 and 5-10 are canceled.
Specification
The objection to the title is withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendment of 5/15/20216.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 3, 4, 11, 13-15 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yokoyama (US 2013/0248837 A1) of record in view of Maeda (US 2016/0104760 A1) as cited in the IDS of 8/5/2024 of record and Akiyama (US 2013/0075761 A1).
Regarding claim 3, Yokoyama teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 1) comprising:
a first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) comprising:
a first lower electrode(14 of 10R, ¶0045) whose end portion has a first tapered shape(¶0046); and
a first organic compound layer(16 of 10R, ¶0046) over the first lower electrode(14 of 10R, ¶0045), the first organic compound layer(16 of 10R, ¶0046) having a shape along the first tapered shape(¶0046);
a second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) comprising:
a second lower electrode(14 of 10G, ¶0045) whose end portion has a second tapered shape(¶0046); and
a second organic compound layer(16 of 10G, ¶0046) over the second lower electrode(14 of 10G, ¶0045), the second organic compound layer(16 of 10G, ¶0046) having a shape along the second tapered shape(¶0046);
a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042);
an insulating layer(15, ¶0045) between the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) and between the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) and the light- receiving device; and
an auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) electrically connected to the common electrode(17, ¶0045).
Yokoyama is not relied on to teach a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the light-receiving device, wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) is over the common electrode(17, ¶0045), and wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises a region surrounding the light-receiving device.
Maeda teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3) wherein the auxiliary wiring(310, ¶0043) is over the common electrode(308, ¶0038). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the auxiliary wiring is over the common electrode, as taught by Maeda, in order to form a self-aligning auxiliary wiring with a high level of positioning accuracy even if high definition progresses while preventing a drop in an effective aperture ratio(¶0047).
Yokoyama and Maeda are not relied on to teach a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the light-receiving device, and wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises a region surrounding the light-receiving device.
Akiyama teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 23) comprising a light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110) comprising a lower electrode(301, ¶0050) and an active layer(305, ¶0050) over the lower electrode(301, ¶0050); a common electrode(607, ¶0110) included in the light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110), and wherein the auxiliary wiring(601, ¶0110) comprises a region surrounding the light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, to include a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode included in the light-receiving device, and wherein the auxiliary wiring comprises a region surrounding the light-receiving device, as taught by Akiyama, so that various kinds of information of a living body as well as those in the depth direction can be acquired(¶0041) and to greatly reduced or suppress a voltage drop in the common electrode(¶0110).
Regarding claim 4, Yokoyama teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 1) comprising:
a first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) comprising a first lower electrode(14 of 10R, ¶0045) whose end portion has a first tapered shape(¶0046) and a first organic compound layer(16 of 10R, ¶0046) having a shape along the first tapered shape(¶0046);
a second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) comprising a second lower electrode(14 of 10G, ¶0045) whose end portion has a second tapered shape(¶0046) and a second organic compound layer(16 of 10G, ¶0046) having a shape along the second tapered shape(¶0046);
a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042);
an insulating layer(15, ¶0045) between the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) and between the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) and the light- receiving device; and
an auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) electrically connected to the common electrode(17, ¶0045).
Yokoyama is not relied on a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the light-receiving device; wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) is over the common electrode(17, ¶0045), and wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises a region between the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the light-receiving device.
Maeda teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3) wherein the auxiliary wiring(310, ¶0043) is over the common electrode(308, ¶0038). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the auxiliary wiring is over the common electrode, as taught by Maeda, in order to form a self-aligning auxiliary wiring with a high level of positioning accuracy even if high definition progresses while preventing a drop in an effective aperture ratio(¶0047).
Yokoyama and Maeda are not relied on to teach a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode(17, ¶0045) included in the light-receiving device, and wherein the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises a region between the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) and the light-receiving device.
Akiyama teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 23) comprising a light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110) comprising a lower electrode(301, ¶0050) and an active layer(305, ¶0050) over the lower electrode(301, ¶0050); a common electrode(607, ¶0110) included in the light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110), and wherein the auxiliary wiring(601, ¶0110) comprises a region between the first light-emitting device(200, ¶0048) and the light-receiving device(301, 303, 305, 206, 607, ¶0050, ¶0052, ¶0110). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, to include a light-receiving device comprising a lower electrode and an active layer over the lower electrode; a common electrode included in the light-receiving device, and wherein the auxiliary wiring comprises a region between the first light-emitting device and the light-receiving device, as taught by Akiyama, so that various kinds of information of a living body as well as those in the depth direction can be acquired(¶0041) and to greatly reduced or suppress a voltage drop in the common electrode(¶0110).
Regarding claim 7, Yokoyama, in view of Maeda, teaches the display apparatus according to claim 1, but is not relied on to teach a light- receiving device,
wherein the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) is between the second light-emitting device(10G, ¶0042) and the light-receiving device.
Kim teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 6) comprising a light-receiving device(not illustrated, camera, a photo-sensor, ¶0029), and wherein the insulating layer(109e, ¶0082, ¶0120) is between the second light-emitting device(E, ¶0063) and the light-receiving device(not illustrated, camera, a photo-sensor, ¶0029). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, to include a light-receiving device, and wherein the insulating layer is between the second light-emitting device and the light-receiving device, as taught by Kim, in order to reduce the hole bezel region(¶0138) and to resolve the problems of a deviation of current being produced and a non-uniformity of brightness being caused due to an increase of resistance of a driving low voltage line(¶0139).
Regarding claim 10, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) has a shape where a center portion thereof rises up more than an end portion(Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 11, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) comprises an upper portion with a flat shape(Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 13, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 3, but is not relied on to teach the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises an organic material.
Maeda teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3) wherein the auxiliary wiring(310, ¶0043) comprises an organic material(carbon black, ¶0043). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the auxiliary wiring comprises an organic material, as taught by Maeda, in order to form a self-aligning auxiliary wiring with a high level of positioning accuracy even if high definition progresses while preventing a drop in an effective aperture ratio(¶0047).
Regarding claim 14, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) has a shape where a center portion thereof rises up more than an end portion(Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 15, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) comprises an upper portion with a flat shape(Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 17, Yokoyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 4, but is not relied on to teach the auxiliary wiring(17a, ¶0066) comprises an organic material.
Maeda teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3) wherein the auxiliary wiring(310, ¶0043) comprises an organic material(carbon black, ¶0043). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the auxiliary wiring comprises an organic material, as taught by Maeda, in order to form a self-aligning auxiliary wiring with a high level of positioning accuracy even if high definition progresses while preventing a drop in an effective aperture ratio(¶0047).
Claims 12 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yokoyama (US 2013/0248837 A1) of record, Maeda (US 2016/0104760 A1) as cited in the IDS of 8/5/2024 of record and Akiyama (US 2013/0075761 A1), as applied to claim 3 and 4 above, further in view of Okazaki et al. (US 2022/0320184 A1) as cited in the IDS of 8/5/2024 of record.
Regarding claim 12, Yokoyama, in view of Maeda and Akiyama, teaches the display apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) further comprises a first light-emitting layer(light emitting layer of 16 of 10R, ¶0046).
Yokoyama, Maeda and Akiyama are not relied on to teach the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer(light emitting layer of 16 of 10R, ¶0046) and the common electrode(17, ¶0045).
Okazaki teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3B) wherein the insulating layer(118, 119, 125, 127, ¶0217, ¶0218) comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer(113a, ¶0115) and the common electrode(115, ¶0105). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the insulating layer comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the common electrode, as taught by Okazaki, in order to prevent disconnection between a carrier-injection layer and the common electrode(¶0218).
Regarding claim 16, Yokoyama, in view of Maeda and Akiyama teaches the display apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the first light-emitting device(10R, ¶0042) further comprises a first light-emitting layer(light emitting layer of 16 of 10R, ¶0046).
Yokoyama, Maeda and Akiyama are not relied on to teach the insulating layer(15, ¶0045) comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer(light emitting layer of 16 of 10R, ¶0046) and the common electrode(17, ¶0045).
Okazaki teaches a display apparatus(Fig. 3B) wherein the insulating layer(118, 119, 125, 127, ¶0217, ¶0218) comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer(113a, ¶0115) and the common electrode(115, ¶0105). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Yokoyama, so that the insulating layer comprises a region interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the common electrode, as taught by Okazaki, in order to prevent disconnection between a carrier-injection layer and the common electrode(¶0218).
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 3 and 4 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 LAURA DYKES whose telephone number is (571)270-3161. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30 am-5 pm.
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, N. Drew Richards can be reached at 571-272-1736. 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.
/LAURA M DYKES/Examiner, Art Unit 2892
Prosecution Insights