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
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.
Claim(s) 1-13 and 15- 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Byun et al. (U.S. 2021/0066419 A1, hereinafter refer to Byun).
Regarding claim 1: Byun discloses a display apparatus (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown below and ¶ [0005]) comprising:
PNG
media_image1.png
549
743
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
312
772
media_image2.png
Greyscale
a substrate (100) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above);
at least one thin-film transistor (T) disposed on the substrate (100) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above);
a pixel electrode layer (310) disposed on the at least one thin-film transistor (T) and including at least one pixel electrode (310) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above);
a pixel-defining layer (113) disposed on the pixel electrode layer (310) and covering edges of the at least one pixel electrode (310) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above);
a spacer (115) disposed on the pixel-defining layer (113) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above); and
a first protective layer (320) disposed on the spacer (115) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 as shown above),
wherein the pixel-defining layer (113) includes a trench arranged around the spacer (115) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 2: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an opposite electrode layer (330) disposed on the pixel-defining layer (113) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a second protective layer (330) disposed on the first protective layer (320) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 3: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the second protective layer (330) and the opposite electrode layer (330) include a same material, the second protective layer (330) being separated from the opposite electrode layer (330) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 4: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an encapsulation layer (430) disposed on the opposite electrode layer (330) and the second protective layer (330) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a filler (420/410) disposed between the opposite electrode layer (330) and the encapsulation layer (430) and disposed between the second protective layer (330) and the encapsulation layer (430) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 5: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 4 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the first protective layer (320) covers an upper surface of the spacer (115) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 6: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein at least a portion of lateral surfaces of the spacer (115) is in contact with the filler (410/420), between the opposite electrode layer (330) and the second protective layer (330) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 7: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 6 as above. Byun further teaches wherein, in a plan view, the spacer (115) is surrounded by the trench (TH) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 8: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the opposite electrode layer (330) covers an inner surface and a bottom surface of the trench (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 9: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the pixel electrode layer (310) includes a first pixel electrode (310) and a second pixel electrode (310) apart from the first pixel electrode (310) (note: each pixels in Fig.3 necessarily have the second pixel electrode) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 10: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 9 as above. Byun further teaches wherein, in a plan view, the spacer (115) is arranged between the first pixel electrode (310) and the second pixel electrode (310) (note: each pixels in Fig.3 necessarily have the second pixel electrode) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 11: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 9 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the pixel-defining layer (113) covers edges of the first pixel electrode (310), includes a first opening above at least a central portion of the first pixel electrode (310), covers edges of the second pixel electrode (310), and includes a second opening above at least a central portion of the second pixel electrode (310) (note: each pixels in Fig.3 necessarily have the second pixel electrode) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 12: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 11 as above. Byun further teaches wherein, in a plan view, the spacer (115) is arranged between the first opening and the second opening (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 13: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the opposite electrode layer (330) and the second protective layer (330) include a same material and have a same layered structure (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 15: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1 as above. Byun further teaches wherein a material forming the first protective layer (320) has an etching selectivity different from an etching selectivity of a material forming the pixel-defining layer (113) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 16: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the first protective layer (320) has a convex shape facing upward (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 17: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 2 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the second protective layer (330) exposes at least a central portion of the first protective layer (320) to outside (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 18: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 17 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an upper surface of at least a central portion of the first protective layer (320) is flat (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 19: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 1 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the spacer (115) and the pixel-defining layer (113) include a same material (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 20: Byun discloses a display apparatus (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above and ¶ [0005]) comprising:
a substrate (100) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above);
at least one thin-film transistor (T) disposed on the substrate (100) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above);
a pixel electrode layer (310) disposed on the at least one thin-film transistor (T) and including at least one pixel electrode (310) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a pixel-defining layer (113) disposed on the pixel electrode layer (310) and covering edges of the at least one pixel electrode (310) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above);
wherein the pixel-defining layer (113) comprises:
a spacer region (115) having a first thickness (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above);
a protrusion region having a second thickness less than the first thickness (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a trench region (TH/UC) arranged between the spacer region (115) and the protrusion region, in a plan view, and having a third thickness less than the second thickness (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above and Fig.3), and
wherein a first protective layer (320) is disposed on the pixel-defining layer (113) in the spacer region (115) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 21: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 20 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an opposite electrode layer (330) on the pixel-defining layer (113) in the protrusion region and the trench region (TH/UC) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a second protective layer (330) disposed on the first protective layer (320) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 22: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 21 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the second protective layer (330) and the opposite electrode layer (330) include a same material, the second protective layer (330) being separated from the opposite electrode layer (330) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 23: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 21 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an encapsulation layer (430) disposed on the opposite electrode layer (330) and the second protective layer (330) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above); and
a filler (410/420) disposed between the opposite electrode layer (330) and the encapsulation layer (410/420) and disposed between the second protective layer (330) and the encapsulation layer (430) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 24: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 20 as above. Byun further teaches wherein, in a plan view, the spacer region (115) is surrounded by the trench region (TH/UC) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above, Fig.3, and ¶ [0108]- ¶ [0112]).
Regarding claim 25: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 21 as above. Byun further teaches wherein the second protective layer (330) exposes at least a central portion of the first protective layer (320) (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
Regarding claim 26: Byun discloses a display apparatus as set forth in claim 25 as above. Byun further teaches wherein an upper surface of at least a central portion of the first protective layer (320) is flat (see Byun, Figs.4-5 and 6F as shown above).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Byun et al. (U.S. 2021/0066419 A1, hereinafter refer to Byun) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Sugisawa et al. (U.S. 2023/0116067 A1, hereinafter refer to Sugisawa).
Regarding claim 14: Byun discloses a display apparatus as applied to claim 1 above. Byun is silent upon explicitly disclosing wherein the first protective layer includes indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO).
For support see Sugisawa, which teaches wherein the first protective layer (131) includes indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) (see Sugisawa, Fig.1 and ¶ [0240]).
Byun discloses the claimed invention except for the material of first protective layer. Thus, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Byun and Sugisawa to enable the protective layer material as taught by Sugisawa in order to obtain a higher resistance than the second protective layer, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the base of its suitability, for its intended use involves only ordinary skill in the art. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BITEW A DINKE whose telephone number is (571)272-0534. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7 a.m. - 5 p.m..
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, Davienne Monbleau can be reached at (571)272-1945. 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.
/BITEW A DINKE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2812
Prosecution Insights