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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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)(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 1-17 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Ahn (US 2024/0260422).
Regarding claim 1, Ahn discloses a display apparatus comprising:
a substrate (100, fig. 1 and paragraph 0053);
subpixels comprising:
first color subpixels (red, SP1, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061) comprising a (1-1)th color subpixel (PR1 of SP1, fig. 2) and a (1-2)th color subpixel (PR2 of SP1, fig. 2) for emitting light of a same color, light reflected from the (1-1)th color subpixel having a phase difference with respect to light reflected from the (1-2)th color subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080);
second color subpixels (blue, SP3, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061); and
third color subpixels (green, SP4, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061), each of the subpixels comprising a subpixel electrode (E1, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105), an emission layer (EL, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105) over the subpixel electrode, and an opposite electrode (E2, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105) over the emission layer;
a bank layer defining lower opening portions defining an emission area in each
of the subpixels (170, fig. 3 and paragraph 0114);
a light-blocking layer above the bank layer, and defining upper opening portions
respectively overlapping the lower opening portions (111, fig. 3 and paragraph 0094); and color filters above the light-blocking layer, and comprising first color filters,
second color filters, and third color filters (150, fig. 3 and paragraphs 0115-0008).
Regarding claim 2, Ahn further discloses wherein the second color subpixels
comprise a (2-1)th color subpixel and a (2-2)th color subpixel for emitting light of a
same color (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080), and
wherein light reflected from the (2-1)th color subpixel has a phase difference
with respect to light reflected from the (2-2)th color subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP3, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 3, Ahn further discloses wherein the third color subpixels
comprise a (3-1)th color subpixel and a (3-2)th color subpixel for emitting light of a
same color (PR1, PR2 of SP4, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080), and
wherein light reflected from the (3-1)th color subpixel has a phase difference
with respect to light reflected from the (3-2)th color subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP4, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 4, Ahn further discloses wherein the light reflected from the (1-1)th color subpixel and the light reflected from the (1-2)th color subpixel have a same
wavelength in a vacuum (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 5, Ahn further discloses wherein the light reflected from the (1-
1)th color subpixel and the light reflected from the (1-2)th color subpixel have a phase
difference therebetween greater than about 0 and less than about 2n (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 6, Ahn further discloses wherein a vertical distance from the
substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (1-1)th color subpixel is different from a
vertical distance from the substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (1-2)th color
subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 3 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 7, Ahn further discloses wherein a vertical distance from the
substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (2-1)th color subpixel is different from a
vertical distance from the substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (2-2)th color
subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP3, fig. 3 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 8, Ahn further discloses wherein a vertical distance from the
substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (3-1)th color subpixel is different from a
vertical distance from the substrate to the subpixel electrode of the (3-2)th color
subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP4, fig. 3 and paragraphs 0076-0080).
Regarding claim 9, Ahn further discloses wherein the (1-1)th color subpixel and
the (1-2)th color subpixel are adjacent to each other, wherein the (2-1)th color subpixel and the (2-2)th color subpixel are adjacent to each other, and wherein the (3-1)th color subpixel and the (3-2)th color subpixel are adjacent to each other (fig. 2).
Regarding claim 10, Ahn further discloses further comprising a phase difference
pattern layer above the bank layer, and comprising pattern portions respectively
corresponding to the subpixels,
wherein the pattern portions comprise a (1-1)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (1-1)th color subpixel, and a (1-2)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (1-2)th color subpixel and different from the (1-1)th color pattern
portion with respect to at least one of refractive index or thickness (PGP, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 11, Ahn further discloses wherein the (1-1)th color pattern
portion and the (1-2)th color pattern portion respectively comprise different materials
with different refractive indexes (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 12, Ahn further discloses wherein the (1-1)th color pattern
portion and the (1-2)th color pattern portion comprise a same material, and
wherein a thickness of the (1-1)th color pattern portion is different from a
thickness of the (1-2)th color pattern portion (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 13, Ahn further discloses wherein the (1-1)th color pattern
portion and the (1-2)th color pattern portion respectively comprise different materials
with different refractive indexes, and
wherein a thickness of the (1-1)th color pattern portion is different from a
thickness of the (1-2)th color pattern portion (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 14, Ahn further discloses wherein the second color subpixels
comprise a (2-1)th color subpixel and a (2-2)th color subpixel for emitting light of a
same color,
wherein light reflected from the (2-1)th color subpixel has a phase difference
with respect to light reflected from the (2-2)th color subpixel, and
wherein the pattern portions further comprise a (2-1)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (2-1)th color subpixel, and a (2-2)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (2-2)th color subpixel and different from the (2-1)th color pattern
portion with respect to at least one of refractive index or thickness (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 15, Ahn further discloses wherein the third color subpixels
comprise a (3-1)th color subpixel and a (3-2)th color subpixel for emitting light of a
same color, wherein light reflected from the (3-1)th color subpixel has a phase difference with respect to light reflected from the (3-2)th color subpixel, and
wherein the pattern portions further comprise a (3-1)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (3-1)th color subpixel and a (3-2)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (3-2)th color subpixel and different from the (3-1)th color pattern
portion with respect to at least one of refractive index or thickness (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 16, Ahn further discloses wherein each of the pattern portions
has a width that is greater than a width of a corresponding subpixel among the
subpixels (PGP, PR1, PR2, figs. 2-3 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 17, Ahn further discloses wherein the pattern portions comprise
an organic insulating material or an inorganic insulating material (PGP, PR1, PR2, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
Regarding claim 19, Ahn further discloses a cover window
over the color filters, wherein the phase difference pattern layer is between the subpixels and the cover window (400, fig. 3).
Regarding claim 20, Ahn discloses a display apparatus comprising:
a substrate (100, fig. 1 and paragraph 0053);
subpixels comprising:
first color subpixels (red, SP1, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061) comprising a (1-1)th color subpixel (PR1 of SP1, fig. 2) and a (1-2)th color subpixel (PR2 of SP1, fig. 2) for emitting light of a same color, light reflected from the (1-1)th color subpixel having a phase difference with respect to light reflected from the (1-2)th color subpixel (PR1, PR2 of SP1, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0076-0080);
second color subpixels (blue, SP3, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061); and
third color subpixels (green, SP4, fig. 2 and paragraph 0061), each of the subpixels comprising a subpixel electrode (E1, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105), an emission layer (EL, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105) over the subpixel electrode, and an opposite electrode (E2, fig. 3 and paragraph 0105) over the emission layer;
a bank layer defining lower opening portions defining an emission area in each
of the subpixels (170, fig. 3 and paragraph 0114);
a light-blocking layer above the bank layer, and defining upper opening portions
respectively overlapping the lower opening portions (111, fig. 3 and paragraph 0094); and color filters above the light-blocking layer, and comprising first color filters,
second color filters, and third color filters (150, fig. 3 and paragraphs 0115-0008); and
a phase difference pattern layer above the bank layer, and comprising pattern portions respectively corresponding to the subpixels,
wherein the pattern portions comprise a (1-1)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (1-1)th color subpixel, and a (1-2)th color pattern portion
corresponding to the (1-2)th color subpixel and different from the (1-1)th color pattern
portion with respect to at least one of refractive index or thickness (PGP, fig. 2 and paragraphs 0075-0080).
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.
Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ahn (US 2024/0260422).
Regarding claim 18, Ahn discloses the display apparatus of claim 10, as mentioned above, and further discloses an encapsulation layer over the subpixels and the bank layer (200, fig. 3 and paragraph 0131). Ahn does not disclose wherein a touch sensor layer over the encapsulation layer, wherein the phase difference pattern layer is between the encapsulation layer and the touch sensor layer.
However, the use of touch sensors in displays was widely commonly practiced at the time of filing and would therefore be deemed obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to incorporate into Ahn’s disclosure.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent Application Publication 2024/0215408 disclose a display device including a phase change pattern.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DOUGLAS M MENZ whose telephone number is (571)272-1877. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm.
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, Jacob Choi can be reached at 469-295-9060. 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.
/DOUGLAS M MENZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2897 7/25/26
Prosecution Insights