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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Invention I and Species 1 (encompassing claims 1-8 and 15) in the reply filed on 7/13/26 is acknowledged.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) were submitted on 4/26/24, 1/20/25, and 4/1/25. The submissions are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
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 7 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.
Regarding claim 7, it is unclear to the examiner what is meant by the limitation that the side of the groove and the side of the light-blocking layer are “in direct contact not in direct contact” with each other in the groove. The first limitation that the groove and the side of the light-blocking layer are in direct contact would seemingly contradict the later limitation that they are not in direct contact. For the purposes of examination, the examiner interprets claim 7 as “the side of the groove and the side of the light-blocking layer are in direct contact or not in direct contact with each other in the groove.” However, appropriate correction and/or clarification is requested.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1 and 4-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim (U.S. 2024/0130206 A1).
The applied reference has a common assignee with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) if the same invention is not being claimed; or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed in the reference and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement.
Regarding claim 1, Kim discloses a display device comprising:
A substrate (SUB, Fig. 16) ([0061]);
A light emitting element layer (EL, Fig. 16) disposed on the substrate, the light emitting element layer comprising a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light ([0064]);
A light control layer (RCL, Fig. 16) disposed on the light emitting element layer, the light control layer comprising a light-transmitting layer (CF1-3, Fig. 16) configured to transmit the light and a light-blocking layer (BM2, Fig. 16) configured to block the light ([0061], [0115]);
A first layer (ENC, TCL, Fig. 16) comprising at least one of a thin film encapsulation layer or a touch sensor layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the light emitting element layer (EL, Fig. 16) and the light control layer (RCL, Fig. 16) ([0065]-[0066]); and
A groove (OP1, Fig. 16) passing through at least a portion of the first layer, wherein the light-blocking layer is disposed on the groove ([0155]).
Regarding claim 4, Kim discloses a width of the groove (OP1, Fig. 16) is greater than a width of the light-blocking layer (BM2, Fig. 16).
Regarding claim 5, Kim discloses at least a portion of the light-transmitting layer (CF1-3, Fig. 16) is disposed in the groove (OP1, Fig. 16).
Regarding claim 6, Kim discloses the light-transmitting layer is disposed between a side of the groove (OP1, Fig. 16) and a side of the light-blocking layer (BM2, Fig. 16) in the groove.
Regarding claim 7, Kim discloses the side of the groove (OP1, Fig. 16) and the side of the light-blocking layer (BM2, Fig. 16) are in direct contact or not in direct contact with each other in the groove (OP1, Fig. 16).
Claim(s) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (U.S. 2023/0255093 A1; “Kim 2”).
Regarding claim 1, Kim 2 discloses a display device comprising:
A substrate (BS, Fig. 2B);
A light emitting element layer (LED, Fig. 2B) disposed on the substrate, the light emitting element layer comprising a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light;
A light control layer (CCL, Fig. 2B) disposed on the light emitting element layer, the light control layer comprising a light-transmitting layer (CCP-B, Fig. 2B) configured to transmit the light and a light-blocking layer (BMP, Fig. 2B) configured to block the light;
A first layer (TFE, FML, Fig. 2B) comprising at least one of a thin film encapsulation layer or a touch sensor layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the light emitting element (LED, Fig. 2B) layer and the light control layer (CCL, Fig. 2B); and
A groove (step in FML, Fig. 2B) passing through at least a portion of the first layer (TFE, FML, Fig. 2B), wherein the light-blocking layer (BMP, Fig. 2B) is disposed on the groove.
Regarding claim 2, Kim 2 discloses the light-blocking layer (BMP, Fig. 2B) overlaps the groove (step in FML, Fig. 2B).
Regarding claim 3, Kim 2 discloses at least a portion of the light-blocking layer (BMP, Fig. 2B) is disposed in the groove (step in FML, Fig. 2B).
Claim(s) 1 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jung et al. (U.S. 2020/0234186 A1; “Jung”).
Regarding claim 1, Jung discloses a display device comprising:
A substrate (SUB, Fig. 9A);
A light emitting element layer (CFY, Fig. 9A) disposed on the substrate, the light emitting element layer comprising a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light;
A light control layer (BY and CFY, Fig. 9A) disposed on the light emitting element layer, the light control layer comprising a light-transmitting layer (CFY, Fig. 9) configured to transmit the light and a light-blocking layer (BY, Fig. 9A) configured to block the light;
A first layer (ECL and IS, Fig. 9A) comprising at least one of a thin film encapsulation layer or a touch sensor layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the light emitting element (CFY, Fig. 9A) layer and the light control layer (BY and CFY, Fig. 9A); and
A groove (opening in IS-IL2) passing through at least a portion of the first layer (ECL and IS, Fig. 9A), wherein the light-blocking layer (BY, Fig. 9A) is disposed on the groove.
Regarding claim 8, Jung discloses the touch sensor layer comprises at least one touch electrode (SP2, Fig. 9A), and the groove does not overlap the touch electrode (SP2, Fig. 9A).
Claim(s) 1 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jung et al. (U.S. 2021/0217831 A1; “Jung 2”).
Regarding claim 1, Jung 2 discloses a display device comprising:
A substrate (SUB, Fig. 6);
A light emitting element layer (EL1, EL2, Fig. 6) disposed on the substrate, the light emitting element layer comprising a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light;
A light control layer (LS, TM, Fig. 6) disposed on the light emitting element layer, the light control layer comprising a light-transmitting layer (TM, Fig. 6) configured to transmit the light and a light-blocking layer (LS, Fig. 6) configured to block the light;
A first layer (TFE, LTF, Fig. 6) comprising at least one of a thin film encapsulation layer or a touch sensor layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the light emitting element (EL1, EL2, Fig. 6) layer and the light control layer (LS, TM, Fig. 6); and
A groove (hole within LTF containing LS, Fig. 6) passing through at least a portion of the first layer (TFE, LTF, Fig. 6), wherein the light-blocking layer is disposed on the groove.
Regarding claim 15, Jung 2 discloses a bottom surface of the groove (hole within LTF containing LS, Fig. 6) overlaps the thin film encapsulation layer (TFE, Fig. 6).
Conclusion
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christine Kim can be reached at (571)272-8458. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/REEMA PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
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