DETAILED ACTION
This correspondence is in response to the communications received February 23, 2024. Claims 1-10 are pending.
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 .
Election/Restrictions
A restriction requirement of a species requirement was initially contemplated, however the content either grouped electrodes, common top electrode and common bottom electrode are understood to be common variants of each other, see claims 3-5.
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 6 is 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. The recitation, “wherein the common top electrode comprises a color conversion layer for converting the light to a different color.”, renders the claim indefinite, as it is unclear how a transparent metal material can impart color in a manner such as a color filter or conversion layer. It is assumed the color filter is adjacent vertically in some manner and will be examined in that configuration.
Applicant’s Claim to Figure Comparison
It is noted that this comparison is merely for the benefit of reviewers of this office action during prosecution, to allow for an understanding of the examiner’s interpretation of the Applicant’s independent claims as compared to disclosed embodiments in Applicant’s Figures. No response or comments are necessary from Applicant.
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Regarding claim 1, the Applicant discloses in Fig. 1, an integrated system comprising:
a micro-device structure comprising:
a micro-device array (array of microdevices 106);
a bottom electrode system (104) for actuating the micro-device array;
a planarization layer (108) surrounding the micro-devices (106), the planarization layer including openings to enable access to the micro devices (access from above where 110 access 106); and
a backplane (114, ¶ 0046) including a top electrode system (“top electrodes 112”, ¶ 0046) for actuating each micro-device, separated from the bottom electrode system by the planarization layer (see Fig. 1).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1, 2, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ootorii et al. (US 2012/0256814) in view of Yeo et al. (US 2017/0005158).
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Regarding claim 1, the prior art of Ootorii discloses in Fig. 1B, an integrated system (system with integrated components of at least light emitting diodes and thin film transistors discussed in ¶ 0003) comprising:
a micro-device structure (“pixel chip 1”, ¶ 0055) comprising:
a micro-device array (array of plural 11, including 11R, 11G, 11B, where “light emitting devices 11”, ¶ 0061 are “micro LED”, ¶ 0060);
a bottom electrode system (“solder layer 48, a wiring layer 47, a wiring layer 46, a via 45, a wiring layer 44, a via 43, a wiring layer 42, and a solder layer 41”, ¶ 0063, hereinafter referred to as ‘BES’) for actuating the micro-device array (BES connect the micro LED 11 to “driver IC 20”, ¶ 0064, where the actuation occurs by electrical signals from the driving chip 20 signals through BES to the plural 11);
a planarization layer (35, ¶ 0063, where 35 is clearly shown as a material which fills gaps between each light emitter and ultimately has a planar top surface) surrounding the micro-devices (surrounding 11), the planarization layer including openings to enable access to the micro devices (discontinuities over each 11, where 12 reside); and
a backplane (The term “backplane” will be addressed in the combination rejection below. The element interpreted to be said backplane are the, “insulating layer 36 into which the wiring layer 51”, ¶ 0077) including a top electrode system (includes 51) for actuating each micro-device (51 provides driving signals to the 11 from the driver 20), separated from the bottom electrode system by the planarization layer (36/51 are separated from BES by way of at least 35).
The “top electrode system” of Ootorii is not explicitly labeled as a “backplane”.
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Yeo discloses in Fig. 2, wherein the pixel driving circuit region which is called a “TFT substrate” is also called a “backplane”, ¶ 0049.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of the understanding that the “top electrode system” is a “backplane”, as disclosed by Yeo in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of providing for the required electrical connections to operate the light emitting array. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 2, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 1, and Ootorii does not disclose wherein the backplane is composed of TFTs, however Yeo does disclose, wherein the backplane comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) structure (“a TFT substrate or a backplane”, ¶ 0049, where ‘TFT’ means “thin film transistor”).
Regarding claim 5, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 1, and Ootorii discloses, wherein the top electrode system comprises a common top electrode (51, in Fig. 1B); and
wherein the bottom electrode system comprises a patterned electrode system including individual electrodes for each micro-device (BES are individual electrodes for each 11), and
wherein the common top electrode comprises a transparent material enabling light generated by the micro-devices to pass therethrough (¶ 0064, “wiring layer 51 may be made of a transparent conductive material (for example, ITO)”).
Regarding claim 8, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 1, and Ootorii discloses in Fig. 1B, wherein the micro-device structure includes a substrate (layer 37, ¶ 0063) for supporting the micro-device array (supports the elements above).
Regarding claim 9, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 8, wherein the micro-device structure includes a buffer layer (31, ¶ 0063) between the bottom electrode (BES) and the substrate (37).
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Regarding claim 10, the prior art of Ootorii discloses in Fig. 1B (viewed “upside down”), a method of integrating a micro device structure (1, “pixel chip 1”, ¶ 0065) with a backplane electrical control system (20, “the driver IC 20”, ¶ 0065), comprising:
providing a micro-device structure (portion of 11, 35 and 12/51 of 1, “micro device” aspect will be addressed below) comprising:
a micro-device array (array of plural 11, including 11R, 11G, 11B, where “light emitting devices 11”, ¶ 0061 are “micro LED”, ¶ 0060, hereinafter referred to as ‘MDA’);
a bottom electrode system (“first electrode 12 … wiring layer 51”, ¶ 0066, hereinafter referred to as ‘BES’) for actuating the micro-device array (BES used to operate the array of 11 in MDA, carrying electrical signals from driver 20);
a planarization layer (35, ¶ 0063, where 35 is clearly shown as a material which fills gaps between each light emitter and ultimately has a planar top surface) surrounding the micro-devices (35 surrounding plural 11), the planarization layer including openings to enable access to the micro devices (discontinuities over each 11, where 12 reside); and
mounting a backplane (20, “driver IC 20”, ¶ 0064) on the micro-device structure (20 mounted on MDA), the back plane including a top electrode system (“solder layer 48, a wiring layer 47, a wiring layer 46, a via 45, a wiring layer 44, a via 43, a wiring layer 42, and a solder layer 41”, ¶ 0063, hereinafter referred to as ‘TES’) for actuating each micro-device (each 11 is supplied with its own electrical connection), separated from the bottom electrode system by the planarization layer (TES is separated from BES by 35).
The “top electrode system” of Ootorii is not explicitly labeled as a “backplane”.
Yeo discloses in Fig. 2, wherein the pixel driving circuit region which is called a “TFT substrate” is also called a “backplane”, ¶ 0049.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of the understanding that the “top electrode system” is a “backplane”, as disclosed by Yeo in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of providing for the required electrical connections to operate the light emitting array. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ootorii et al. (US 2012/0256814) in view of Yeo et al. (US 2017/0005158) in view of Wu (US 2017/0220150).
Regarding claim 3, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 1, however Ootorii discloses the opposite configuration, so Ootorii does not disclose,
“wherein the bottom electrode system comprises a common bottom electrode; and
wherein the top electrode system comprises a patterned electrode system including individual electrodes for each micro-device.”
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Wu discloses in Fig. 6,
wherein the bottom electrode system comprises a common bottom electrode (where “one anode 30 (common electrode)”, ¶ 0026); and
wherein the top electrode system comprises a patterned electrode system including individual electrodes (plural 50) for each micro-device (equivalent devices 4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of,
“wherein the bottom electrode system comprises a common bottom electrode; and
wherein the top electrode system comprises a patterned electrode system including individual electrodes for each micro-device.”, as disclosed by Wu in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of providing for the required electrical connections to operate the light emitting array. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ootorii et al. (US 2012/0256814) in view of Yeo et al. (US 2017/0005158) in view of Lerman et al. (US 2011/0193114) in view of Yamazaki et al. (US 2012/0161167).
Regarding claim 4, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 3, however Ootorii does show the top and bottom electrode configuration, but not the particular wiring arrangement of,
“wherein the top electrode system comprises a first and second groups of series electrodes connecting first and second groups of micro devices, respectively, in series; and
first and second column electrodes for connecting the first and second groups of series electrodes in parallel.”
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Lerman discloses in Figs. 20A to 20C,
wherein the top electrode system (198) comprises a first (upper group in Fig. 20C) and second groups (lower group in Fig. 20C) of series electrodes (198, 194) connecting first and second groups of micro devices (two groups of two), respectively, in series (series shown).
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Yamazaki discloses in Fig. 9B,
first (left most finger of 133a) and second column (middle most finger of 133b) electrodes for connecting the first (one of the intervening series connected group of three 1100) and second groups (other one of the intervening series connected group of three 1100) of series electrodes in parallel (parallel connection between the two identified first and second columns of series strings therebetween).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of,
“wherein the top electrode system comprises a first and second groups of series electrodes connecting first and second groups of micro devices, respectively, in series; and
first and second column electrodes for connecting the first and second groups of series electrodes in parallel.”, as disclosed by Lerman/Yamazaki in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of providing for the required electrical connections to operate the light emitting array. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Claims 6 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ootorii et al. (US 2012/0256814) in view of Yeo et al. (US 2017/0005158) in view of Bok et al. (US 2017/0269749).
Regarding claim 6, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 5, however Ootorii does not disclose, “wherein the common top electrode comprises a color conversion layer for converting the light to a different color.”
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Bok discloses in Fig. 19, wherein the common top electrode (construction including 334 and 1902) comprises a color conversion layer (1901, ¶ 0165) for converting the light to a different color (“A color filter 1901 may be arranged over the LED 325. The color filter 1901 may transform light emitted from the LED 325 or increase color purity.”, ¶ 0165).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of,
“wherein the common top electrode comprises a color conversion layer for converting the light to a different color”, as disclosed by Bok in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of tuning the outgoing light to a desired wavelength for the purpose of improving visual communication. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 7, the prior art of Ootorii et al. disclose the system according to claim 1, but does not disclose, “wherein the backplane comprises a touch sensing structure.”
Bok discloses in Fig. 12, wherein the backplane comprises a touch sensing structure (element 1128, 1129 are part of a touch sensing structure, ¶ 0132, where the backplane is every component under the pixel electrode 328, where 1128, 1129 are included in an interpretation in said backplane).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to use the limitation of,
“wherein the backplane comprises a touch sensing structure”, as disclosed by Bok in the system of Ootorii, for the purpose of allowing the user to physically interact and input control information to operate the display device. (G) Some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art that would have led one of ordinary skill to modify the prior art reference or to combine prior art reference teachings to arrive at the claimed invention.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eduardo A Rodela whose telephone number is (571)272-8797. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 8:30-5:00pm ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Yara B Green can be reached on (571) 270-3035. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EDUARDO A RODELA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2893