DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This action is responsive to an Application filed on 04/10/2024.
Currently, claims 1-18 are examined as below.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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:
(Marked-Up Version) Display Panel with Reduced Color Mixing or Glare and Improved Display Effect and Display Device
(Clean Version) Display Panel with Reduced Color Mixing or Glare and Improved Display Effect and Display Device
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.
Claims 1-18 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.
Independent claim 1 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective black light-absorbing layer” in line 20 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the corresponding light-emitting element” in lines 20-21 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(3) The limitation “the respective reflective layer” in lines 21-22 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(4) The limitation “the corresponding light-emitting element” in line 22 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Claim 2 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective light-emitting element” in lines 4-5 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the respective second electrode” in line 11 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Claim 5 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective electrically controlled switching section” in lines 7-8 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the respective light-emitting element” in line 8 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Claim 9 is indefinite, because the limitation “the respective electrically controlled switching layer” in line 4 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Independent claim 13 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective non-opening area” in lines 11-12 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the respective black light-absorbing layer” in line 22 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(3) The limitation “the corresponding light-emitting element” in lines 22-23 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(4) The limitation “the respective reflective layer” in lines 23-24 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(5) The limitation “the corresponding light-emitting element” in line 24 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Claim 14 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective light-emitting element” in lines 4-5 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the respective second electrode” in line 12 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Claim 17 is indefinite, because:
(1) The limitation “the respective electrically controlled switching section” in lines 7-8 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
(2) The limitation “the respective light-emitting element” in line 8 is not mentioned before. There is insufficient antecedent basis.
Note the dependent claims 2-12 and 14-18 necessarily inherit the indefiniteness of the claims on which they depend.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claims 1-18 are rejected.
Claims 1-18 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.
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Regarding independent claim 1, US 2010/0302614 A1 to Peng et al. (“Peng”) in Fig. 3 and Annotated Fig. 3 teaches a display panel 210 (Fig. 3 & ¶ 27, display device 210), comprising a plurality of opening areas OA (Annotated Fig. 3, openings OA between the layers 114 accommodating layers 110, 112 ) and a plurality of non-opening areas NOA (Annotated Fig. 3), and further comprising:
a substrate 100 (Fig. 3, ¶ 16, first substrate 100);
a plurality of light-emitting elements LE (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 19, ¶ 22, sections LE in which first electrodes 110, second electrode 106 and organic light emissive layer 108 overlap), arranged corresponding to the plurality of opening areas OA, respectively (Annotated Fig. 3); wherein each light-emitting element LE comprises a bottom electrode 106 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, second electrode 106), a light-emitting layer 108 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, organic light emissive layer 108), and a top electrode 110 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, first electrode 110) that are stacked in sequence in a direction of getting farther away from the substrate 100, wherein the bottom electrode 106 is a transparent electrode 106 (¶ 22, the second electrode 106 comprises ITO or IZO, which is transparent conductive material1);
a plurality of pixel defining layers 112 (¶ 19, black matrix (BM) 114);
an encapsulation layer 105 (¶ 24, insulating layer 105), arranged to cover the plurality of light-emitting elements LE and the plurality of pixel defining layers 112 (Annotated Fig. 3, the layer 105 covers the lower surfaces of the elements LE and layers 112);
a color filter layer 114 (¶ 19, color filter array 114), arranged on the encapsulation layer 105 (Fig. 3); and
an electrically controlled switching layer 204 (¶ 27, electrophoretic display layer 204), arranged on a side of the plurality of light-emitting elements LE adjacent to the substrate 100 (Annotated Fig. 3);
wherein the electrically controlled switching layer 204 comprises a plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, polymer microcapsules); each of the plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 has a first side comprising a black light-absorbing layer 214a (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, black particles 214a absorbing light L1), and a second side comprising a reflective layer 214b (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, white particles 214b reflecting light L1); wherein each of the plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 has a first state (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, when a positive voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 90) in which the respective black light-absorbing layer 214a is disposed to face toward the corresponding light-emitting element LE (Annotated Fig. 3), and a second state (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, when a negative voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 90) in which the respective reflective layer 214b is disposed to face toward the corresponding light-emitting element LE (Annotated Fig. 3).
However, the prior art of record, singularly or in combination, fails to disclose or suggest, in combination with the other claimed elements in claim 1, a plurality of pixel defining layers, arranged corresponding to the plurality of non-opening areas, respectively.
Therefore, independent claim 1 would be allowable.
Claims 2-12 would be allowable, because they depend from the allowable claim 1.
Regarding independent claim 13, Peng in Figs. 2-3 and Annotated Fig. 3 teaches a display device 210 (Fig. 3 & ¶ 27, display device 210), comprising a driving circuit 102a (Figs. 2-3, ¶ 18, pixel unit 102a including thin film transistors (TFTs) 20, 30, 40) and a display panel 210 (Fig. 3 & ¶ 27, display device 210), the driving circuit 102a being used to drive the display panel 210 to display; wherein the display panel 210 comprises a plurality of opening areas OA (Annotated Fig. 3, openings between the layers 114 accommodating layers 110, 112 ) and a plurality of non-opening areas NOA (Annotated Fig. 3), wherein the display panel 210 further comprises:
a substrate 100 (Fig. 3, ¶ 16, first substrate 100);
a plurality of light-emitting elements LE (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 19, ¶ 22, sections LE in which first electrodes 110, second electrode 106 and organic light emissive layer 108 overlap), arranged corresponding to the plurality of opening areas OA, respectively (Annotated Fig. 3); wherein each light-emitting element LE comprises a bottom electrode 106 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, second electrode 106), a light-emitting layer 108 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, organic light emissive layer 108), and a top electrode 110 (Annotated Fig. 3, ¶ 22, first electrode 110) that are stacked in sequence in a direction of getting farther away from the substrate 100, wherein the bottom electrode 106 is a transparent electrode 106 (¶ 22, the second electrode 106 comprises ITO or IZO, which is transparent conductive material2);
a plurality of pixel defining layers a plurality of pixel defining layers 112 (¶ 19, black matrix (BM) 114);
an encapsulation layer 105 (¶ 24, insulating layer 105), arranged to cover the plurality of light-emitting elements LE and the plurality of pixel defining layers 112 (Annotated Fig. 3, the layer 105 covers the lower surfaces of the elements LE and layers 112);
a color filter layer 114 (¶ 19, color filter array 114), arranged on the encapsulation layer 105 (Annotated Fig. 3); and
an electrically controlled switching layer 204 (¶ 27, electrophoretic display layer 204), arranged on a side of the plurality of light-emitting elements LE adjacent to the substrate 100 (Annotated Fig. 3);
wherein the electrically controlled switching layer 204 comprises a plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, polymer microcapsules); each of the plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 has a first side comprising a black light-absorbing layer 214a (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, black particles 214a absorbing light L1), and a second side comprising a reflective layer 214b (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, white particles 214b reflecting light L1); wherein each of the plurality of double-sided flipping balls 214 has a first state (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, when a positive voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 90) in which the respective black light-absorbing layer 214a is disposed to face toward the corresponding light-emitting element LE (Annotated Fig. 3), and in a second state (Fig. 3, ¶ 28, when a negative voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 90) in which the respective reflective layer 214b is disposed to face toward the corresponding light-emitting element LE.
However, the prior art of record, singularly or in combination, fails to disclose or suggest, in combination with the other claimed elements in claim 13, a plurality of pixel defining layers a plurality of pixel defining layers, arranged corresponding to the respective non-opening area, respectively.
Therefore, independent claim 13 would be allowable.
Claims 14-18 would be allowable, because they depend from the allowable claim 13.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2012/0218622 A1 to Bae et al. relates to an electrophoretic display device including a lower substrate; an upper substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the lower substrate; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; an electronic ink layer positioned between the lower substrate and the upper substrate; a plurality of partitions disposed on the upper substrate; a reflecting layer disposed on the partitions; and a color filter disposed between the partitions.
US 2014/0211430 A1 to Sato relates to an electrical device including a first substrate with a first side and a second side, a second substrate opposed to the first side of the first substrate, and a functional element between the first side of the first substrate and the second substrate.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MIKKA LIU whose telephone number is (571)272-2568. The examiner can normally be reached on 9AM-5AM EST M-F.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eliseo Ramos-Feliciano can be reached on 571-272-7925. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/M.L./Examiner, Art Unit 2817
/ELISEO RAMOS FELICIANO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2817
1 U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0285048 A1 by Chung et al. discloses in paragraphs 135, 141 and 144 that ITO and IZO are transparent conductive materials.
2 U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0285048 A1 by Chung et al. discloses in paragraphs 135, 141 and 144 that ITO and IZO are transparent conductive materials.
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